This is what happems when you have a public life... and even still I gave her a lot of freedom, because I cannot yet fathom this kind of popularity.


Dodging the Paparazzi

I went back to London after a week in Pakistan. I had spent some more quality time with the baby, and had Maddy meet him.

She was in love with him and quickly bonded with him. When we had to come home and leave him behind, Maddy was extremely saddened. Frankly so was I. My heart ached to watch him go, but I knew that he would be in my arms soon.

As soon as I got back home though, there were already rumors of me adopting some Russian baby. Not that I have a problem with that or anything, but is absolutely nothing sacred to the paparazzi?

Not only that, but they had to continue to delve in speculation about Jayden and I. They said that we must have had something because of our chemistry on film, or because we seemed to be avoiding each other all the time. "God, It's like I can't stay out of the stupid papers one freaking day!" I said to mom one night at her London Flat.

"It comes with the job," She said patting my back, "On the up side, your movie is going to sell out."

"Great, make money and look like a home wrecker, or fight back and still look like I'm guilty."

"You probably need to just be seen with someone else." She leaned back in her seat, "Start right now. Leave Maddy with me and go out for a while"

"I don't want to be seen with anyone else... I don't even know why I care, except that in these times people are so much more relentless in celebrity hunting."

"At least, you know you're doing your job right when they care enough to follow you around with a camera." She said.

"Oh please, I didn't get followed around this much right after I got the Oscar." I mumbled, "I must have been doing it right then."

"You were also married to a loony redneck. Everyone thought it was gross."

I laughed and stood up, "Hey Maddy... You want to stay here with Grandmare?"

"Yes!" My daughter said and ran to hug me. I held her tightly "Bye Mom."

"Bye baby." I said and hugged Gabrielle goodnight, "Thanks Mom."

"Anytime."


I couldn't bring myself to an A-lister hang out that night. I was going to go, but I didn't feel like dealing with so many paparazzi at once. So I made my way to a Pub not too far from where I lived. I sat at the bar and watched a game of footie or soccer. There was someone watching me I could feel it. But for the most part the guys just ignored me. I looked around and spotted the source of my unease.

It was an Asian girl, Long and slender. She was sitting at a booth in the far corner of the room. I smiled and headed her way; "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's not polite to stare?"

She quirked a brow at the cliché, "She also told me never to take my sight off of lethal weapons."

I smirked at the back handed compliment and sat across from her. "Hiding from the cameras too Ji?" Ji Lee was a supermodel. One of America's top models.

"You know I'm not much into that party scene." I smiled, "How about you Abby?"

"Are you kidding?" I asked.

"Right... The bevy is probably outside waiting for you to come out now." She answered.

I looked at her, "It's been a while Ji. How are things with Amanda?"

"Did I like make the biggest mistake leaving you for her?" She covered her face; "Amanda nearly outed me."

"You know what my stand on that is." I said to her in Amanda's defense, "You shouldn't have to hide who you are for a job."

"But I'm not ready yet... You know as well as I do that timing is every thing." This was true; it was the reason why I hadn't pressured her much when we were together.

"You up for any movies yet?" I asked with a shrug.

"Yeah... They want me to do some artsy film about a geisha." She cocked her head as if she was asking my opinion.

"Sounds interesting already." I said with a grin, "I would do it, you get more respect if you start with art films than if you start with blockbusters."

"That's what I thought, but some of the girls think that it would mark me as a little boring."

"Not if you follow it up right. Line your next movie up now and make it an action or comedy." I said with a shrug.

"I heard you did a comedy!" She brightened changing the subject, "I never thought I'd see that day."

"It's a romantic comedy, so it's probably not as funny as most would imagine."

"You need to do a physical comedy... you're totally funny." She said and then we were silent. She looked at me and stared up my arms to my chest, I could see her eyes landing there and I could smell the lust emanating from her.

I like Ji, she and I were lovers at one time and she still turned me on. I rationalized that maybe I should just be with her, I haven't gotten any in so long and damn it I was horny. I scooted next to her in the booth and kissed her softly. She placed her hand on my thigh and ran it up so that her fingertips touched the inseam of my jeans. I took a deep breath at the sensation, "Let's go to my place." I whispered.

"'Kay," She said softly as we both slid out of the booth leaving a fifty pound note behind.