It was only day two in the aftermath of the break up and the media had practically exploded. All kinds of rumors and speculations were buzzing around including mentions of suspected third party interference……one Ms. Kiki Lewis.
The paparazzi descended on Kiki like vultures and interrogated Justin about her almost as much as they did about him and Cameron. Despite all the pressure - Justin, Cameron and Kiki stuck with the unspoken agreement to keep quiet about the secret that Justin had cheated with Kiki. It was a truth that would never be made public. Kiki simply strapped on her armor daily and pushed through the harassment, on top of the guilt that was building with each new accusation of an affair. Being in the middle of a media scandal like this didn’t compare to her first experience and it wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Especially when the roles were reversed and now she was one of the guilt parties.
While Kiki was becoming more and more emotionally bothered by the scandal, Justin was just getting really annoyed. As always, he got the brunt of the media pressure and then lectures from his record label and members of his management. To his relief, Johnny was not one of the people in his camp harping on him about the backlash from the end of his relationship. Johnny had quickly figured out that Justin had made the choice to go back to Kiki and he didn’t judge that. As a long time friend, he knew Justin was happier and that was all that mattered. As a manager, he ultimately had no say in Justin’s personal life. What was done, was done and Johnny was just relieved that they all were thinking straight and laying low so he could concentrate on damage control. After Justin sat through a five minute bitch out session from Sonja, she suited up and went to working her magic.
Poor Rachel. She had just graduated and arrived in LA for her new job when the scandal hit. Barely having time to settle into her new home in Justin’s guest house, she already had her work cut out for her.
“Thanks a lot guys.” She grumbled to Justin and Kiki, but dived right into her work.
Jive’s execs were the ones making the most noise. They wanted the statements retracted and for Justin and Cameron to play happy couple until after the album release. Of course Justin refused and once again they were left without a leg to stand on. There was too much anticipation over the album “ all the promoting, the club tour, the up and coming performances and appearances “ and the buzz hadn’t died down at all. If anything it shot up. As the saying goes: any press is good press.
As for the public, who the label claimed would turn on Justin, it was the same back and forth between his fans defending him and his haters who had another reason to criticize him. It was nothing new and there was no less support than the norm for him. Some were actually happy about the end of him and Cameron and the possibility of a reunion with Kiki. The public definitely helped keep the cheating rumors circulating with their fanciful blog theories, but there was no solid proof. Unless Cheyenne was involved Justin and Kiki kept their distance……Publicly.
Privately, they were sneaking around behind closed doors once again. The only difference this time was that it was just the two of them, like the first time they were together during the tour. They were making the most out of it rather than letting it get to them because despite the circumstances, it felt really good being together again. It wasn’t the ideal reunion, having a case of infidelity hanging over their heads, but they were trying to make their peace with what they’d done.
When it came to the opinions of their mothers, the ones they respected the most, it was a whole different story.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I swear I just don’t understand you two. You make it so much more difficult for yourselves than it has to be.” Lynn said with the shake of her head while she and Justin sat in a booth at Ruth’s Chris for lunch. “You both knew a long time ago that you weren’t over each other. Jumping into that relationship with Cameron only made it worse.”
“I know Ma. I’ve been an idiot for a long time, but I got everything on track now. That.” He said flicking his fork towards the entrance where a pack of paparazzi were stationed outside. “Will blow over soon like it always does.”
Distracted by her own train of thoughts, Lynn nonchalantly nodded and muttered. “Me and Nina could be planning a wedding right now if it weren’t for you two drama queens.”
Around his bit of food, Justin let out a choked laugh, glad to see the mood was lighter. That was until Lynn snapped out of her revere.
“This may be funny to you, but I’m sure it’s not funny to Cameron or Kiki.” She retorted. “You can’t go around playing games with people’s hearts Justin. You need to figure out what it is you want.”
“I have.” He answered immediately and with conviction. “I’m sorry I hurt Cameron. I made a mistake getting involved with her. But I made an even bigger mistake losing Kiki in the first place.” He admitted. “I can’t fix what I did to Cameron; I can fix what weren’t wrong with Kiki. And Ma.” She looked up and saw a big smile sprout on his face. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. Kiki’s giving me second chance. We’re gonna do it right this time.”
She smiled lightly. “The circumstances could be better baby, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you happy like this and I’m glad that you and Kiki are finally working things out.”
Justin could see her disappointment being replaced by approval and he couldn’t help but feel relieved that he and Kiki had his mother’s support.
The same conclusion wasn’t so easily achieved from Kiki’s confrontation with her mother.
“So how long have you been sleeping with that girl’s boyfriend Kiki?” Nina asked bluntly, shooting a glare at her youngest child as the two of them sat together folding the laundry in the den.
She wasn’t born yesterday. Those weren’t just rumors about her daughter and Justin having an affair. Her husband might want to believe that and run around threatening to suit people for slandering Kiki, but she’d noticed the way Justin and Kiki were around each other for awhile now. She had her suspicions that the two still had feelings for each other beyond friendship, but she brushed them off, thinking there was no way her daughter would go back to him. Furthermore, he had a girlfriend.
Well apparently that wasn’t an issue for either of them.
Kiki wasn’t at all surprised that her mother knew the truth or that she was being so blunt about her opinion on the matter. The only thing she felt was shame in the disappointment she could feel radiating from her mother’s intense gaze. She couldn’t even look her in the eyes when she tried to defend herself.
With her head tilted down, she fumbled with the ball of socks in her hand. “We never meant for it to get that far Mamí.” Kiki said, knowing it was a weak excuse. “It just happened.”
“Sandeces, hijita!” Nina fired back, tossing the half folded t-shirt aside. “You know it doesn’t ‘just happen’. And more importantly, you know what that betrayal feels like, how painful it is. How could you do that to someone else honey?”
Kiki could feel tears stinging her eyes as she felt an extreme amount of guilt weigh her down. She knew no matter how happy she was to be back with Justin or how much she tried to rationalize it, her and her actions caused someone else pain. Honestly she felt like shit about the whole situation. Her unaffected façade was just that, a façade. But what could she do? She couldn’t let Justin go and she seriously doubted she would be allowed to make an apology to Cameron. The damage was already done and she could only wallow in her just deserved guilt.
“I made a mistake and I’m sorry.” Kiki looked up at her mother, deep regret in her eyes, needing some comfort, but Nina ignored it. She had more to say.
“I didn’t raise you to be disrespectful or so inconsiderate towards other people.” She chastised earnestly. “I didn’t raise you disrespect yourself like this.”
Kiki’s spirits sunk even lower, knowing her mother was right. She had compromised herself as well in this situation. “I know I’ve disappointed you Mamí.” She said sorrowfully. “I can’t undo what I’ve done. I don’t know that I would if I could.” Nina gave her an incredulous look and she explained herself. “I love Justin. I always have and I probably always will. I can’t help it.” Asking her to stop loving Justin would be like asking her to stop breathing. Her mother had to know what that felt like. “You’ve always said to follow your heart remember Mamí?”
Nina felt a bit of anger melt away as she looked at her daughter’s face. Regret was definitely there, but so was a longing for her to understand. And Nina did understand “ she did believe and preached to her children to do what made their hearts happy. She just meant it in a different context, a positive one, not something like lying and cheating. She was not happy with Kiki, but she could sympathize with her. Love could be a very complicated and reckless. It made people do irrational things. She’d experienced the wild side of love before and she was realizing that her daughter wasn’t immune to the same faults.
“Hijita all I’ve even wanted was for you and your brother and your sister to be happy. I just wish you could have gotten that without this mess.” She swatted her hand around in reference. Sighing in resignation, she shook her head. “I gotta say thought, you and Justin sure know how to keep the excitement in your relationship.”
Understanding and forgiveness shown on Nina’s face now and tears welled in Kiki’s eyes. In light of everything, she knew in her mother’s own way, she had given her approval of the relationship. Grown woman or not, it was something that Kiki wanted and needed. It would have crushed her if the mistakes she made caused a rift in the big family unit they had created.
“Thank you Mamí.” She threw her arms around her mother and Nina returned the hug.
“I love you baby.” She kissed the top of her head and squeezed her once before pulling away. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
“Yeah.” She nodded and then grimaced at the thought. “Except “ how am I gonna tell Daddy the truth?”
“Oh don’t worry about that. We won’t be telling him about this until he’s been dead for a few years.” They both giggled at the quip, knowing that it really would be awhile before Frederick was told what really happened. “Now one last thing honey - promise me for the sake of my grandbaby that you and Justin are done with this back and forth.” She asked with a serious tone once again. “It’s one thing for his girlfriend to get caught up in your foolishness, but it’s another when Cheyenne is affected. And sooner or later, if you two keep on with this drama, it will start to affect her.” Nina stressed, her second biggest concern in this clearly identified.
Kiki made her promise and they went back to folding and catching up. But in the back of her mind, Kiki felt like a complete heel again. Yes Cheyenne was a resilient kid, but eventually all of it - the intense media attention around her, her parents’ indecisiveness “ would catch up to her. What kind of mother let her stupid drama touch her child?
It was crunch time. One way or another, together or apart, her and Justin had to get their shit together for themselves and their daughter.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“You okay?”
She sighed. “I don’t know.” Looking into his eyes from across the island counter, she confessed. “I think it’s starting to get to me.”
A mixture of frustration and fear came over his face. “Why? I thought you said you could handle it.”
“I’m trying to deal, but I have more than myself to worry about.” His rising emotions quelled a bit and he calmed for her explanation. “I was talking to my mom about the situation last week.”
“What’d she say?” He interrupted, afraid to hear her say Nina hated him now.
“She called us both stupid. Me - in so many words “ a homewrecker, and then she forgave me and gave us her blessing.” Justin smiled in relief, but Kiki wasn’t finished. “Not without a warning though. One that I completely agree with. I mean I even said something to you about it before, but I was being too stupid and selfish to take my own advice.” She shook her head, getting her focused back on the matter at hand and not berating herself.
“What?” Justin asked, on pins and needles.
Sitting up straight on the stool she sat in, Kiki got straight to the point. “We need to be serious about what we want from each other. We’re not kids anymore. We’re adults, parents.” She stressed. “Cheyenne is what I’m most worried about. She’s just a baby and she doesn’t deserve to have her life turned upside down every time her parents change their minds about what they want. She needs stability and we need to stop think about ourselves so damn much.”
The room went quiet with the undeniable truth in that statement. Propping her elbow on the counter, Kiki rested her forehead in her palms, her mind taking stock in respect to what was best for Cheyenne.
The silence was broken by the sound of a stool scraping across the kitchen floor and Kiki found herself being turned to face Justin who now stood at her side.
Placing his hands in her sides, he smirked. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever again. And you aren’t either. One way or another, Cheyenne’s gonna grow up with parents who are together and happy.”
She exhaled in relief and smiled big. In her heart, she knew that, but she just needed to hear it out loud.
Caught up in that smile of hers once again, Justin’s grip on her tightened and her pulled her body flush against his for a searing kiss.
Kiki moaned as she was swept up by him and felt her resolve for “dinner only” starting to fizzle away.
For the last couple of weeks, albeit in secret, she and Justin were really making an effort to start over. With that came a hold on the physical aspect of their relationship. Sex was the last thing they needed to work on plus it was one of the things that got them into this mess. Neither were particularly happy about the compromise, but Kiki was being vigilant about keeping the pact.
Which meant, like always, she had to be the voice of reason and she pulled out of the kiss first. But just barely. Justin’s kisses were such an addiction for her. They needed distance so she pushed him arms length away. He chuckled at her.
“Shut up.”
“Just stop fighting it baby.” He teased and grabbed for her.
“No Justin….Stop.” She squealed when he began tickling mercilessly. “Stop!” She laughed out loud, barely able to catch her breath and unsuccessfully trying to squirm away from him. Justin was laughing madly too as he tormented her, pissing her off. “Stop it you asshole.” She yelped. “I hate you.”
“You hate me huh?” She nodded and he finally let her go, backing away. After catching her breath, she was just about to thank him when he grabbed her again. She squeaked from the shock and he hauled her hips to the edge of the seat, firmly setting himself between her legs. “I’ll give you something to hate me for.” He threatened and dove into the crook of her neck to tease her with kisses and nibbles.
Giving in to his persuasion, she didn’t pull away from this brand of attention. If anything she welcomed it and wrapped her arms around his neck.
The playfulness of the moment started wearing off and the couple merely sat there, faces buried in each other’s necks, holding one another.
That was until they heard a throat being cleared behind them.
Facing the kitchen door, Justin was the first to see their visitor and he almost froze. “Cam.”
It was like ice coldwater had been thrown on Kiki. She immediately pushed Justin away and jumped off the stool in a flurry to face Cameron.
A pin dropping could be heard in the room and all three of them were feeling tense and flustered. The time had finally come for their face to face confrontation.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Cameron spoke first. “I just came to get my stuff. Remember?” She said pointedly to Justin.
Closing his eyes regrettably, he felt like a complete ass for forgetting and planning this date with Kiki at the worse possible time.
“Yeah. Sorry. I ah, did get Debbie’s message so let me go get your stuff.”
Cameron only nodded, standing aloof and cold. Justin exchanged a glance with Kiki to make sure she’d be okay being left alone with her.
Breathing deeply, Kiki nodded. She didn’t know what exactly, but something was going to happen between her and Cameron as soon as he left the room. It needed to happen though. She deserved whatever was coming, so she wasn’t going to run from it.
Justin was hesitant to go, but he did none the less. Kiki wanted, maybe even needed this to finally purge herself of all the guilt she felt.
After Justin passed Cameron on his way out, that cold mask of hers slid off and she glared at Kiki. “Anything to say for yourself?”
Shifting uncomfortable on her feet, Kiki said clearly, yet lowly. “Only that I’m sorry. I know-“
“Oh save it.” Cameron snapped. “You’re not sorry. You got exactly what you wanted. And I knew, I knew, it was all an act. The way you walked around like the sweet, accommodating mother of Justin’s child - wanting nothing, but friendship from him.” She scoffed. “I played right into it. What an idiot.”
“Cameron, you’re not-“
“Don’t!” She yelled. “Do not fuckin’ patronize me.”
Kiki shut right up and shrunk back in her shame as anger, but more profound, hurt revealed itself in Cameron’s features. She knew how that felt and now see her in the flesh, she couldn’t believe she did that to another person.
The room went silent again “ each woman wallowing in their pain, Kiki in her additional guilt.
Composing herself again, Cameron finished saying her piece. “You know I don’t have time for this and I’ve said all I care to say to you.” She sneered with disgust. “For your sake, I hope it was worth it.” With one last haughtily look, she dismissed Kiki. “Have a nice life.”
Kiki stayed silent and motionless. There was nothing to say or do, not to mention she was too shaken to the core to do much.
At that moment, the sound of foot steps entering the room behind Cameron, announced Justin’s return. She turned to see a bin of her stuff in his hands. Knowing this was the final send off, the end, there was an awkwardness between them in the exchange. Plus Justin heard part of the conversation between the two women and he didn’t know whether he wanted to snap at Cameron for putting all the blame on Kiki or brace himself for the same treatment.
Cameron was too through with the two of them being in her life so she yanked the bin out of his hands and muttered a “thanks.” She moved to side step him and get out of that house once and for all when Justin stopped her.
“Listen I want to say thank you.” Her eyebrows arched disbelievingly. “I know everything’s been crazy lately and I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you being….discrete.” He said for lack of a better word.
Chuckling hollowly, she said. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not keeping you precious little squeaky clean image in tack for you. And I’m certainly not doing it to protect her. I’m doing it for your daughter.” Kiki shuttered at the mention of Cheyenne. “She’s the only innocent in all this and she doesn’t deserve to have her life screwed with anymore than it already has been.”
Feeling put in his place Justin could only nod and say. “Then thank you for Cheyenne.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and meaninglessly said. “Take care.” She made her way to the front of the house, not once looking back, and walked out of the door and Justin’s life forever.
Letting out a deep sight of relief, Justin approached Kiki. “That was rough huh? I’m glad it’s over.” He placed his hands on her arms, giving them a comforting rub and kissed her forehead.
The contact broken Kiki from her trance and she flinched back.
“You okay?”
“No.” She started trying to wriggle out of his grasp. “No! And I don’t understand how you are.”
“I’m okay because I have you.” He answered honestly, reaching up to stroke her face. He could see that her guilt was at an all time high, but she needed to get over it. Being direct about their actions and their true motive since their affair started was more effective than sugarcoating things.
Forcefully pushing out of his embrace, Kiki circled him to reach the other side of the kitchen and get some space between them. She couldn’t think when he said things like that and held her that way. Now was not the time to act blissfully happy, like everything was all fine and dandy.
“Can’t you even act the least bit guilty? I mean did you not see her and hear what she said?” She asked, her hands up in arms over the way he was simply disregarding the pain they’d caused. “She hates me, rightfully so. She’s hurting because of us, yet she’s still the only one doing what’s right for our daughter.”
“Oh don’t do that. Don’t let her play you like that. She’s not some fuckin’ martyr.” He understood how she was feeling, but he wasn’t about to let her beat herself up anymore especially because of a little mind game Cameron had tried to pull. “Cheyenne’s only part of the reason she’s keeping quiet about us. It’s just as much about her protecting her own ass. She doesn’t want the world to know how much of a fool she was.”
Kiki was gob smacked by his word and she proclaimed. “This is not her fault.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just trying to make you see that we made an honest mistake, but it doesn’t make us bad people. We’re not cheaters.”
“Don’t kid yourself Justin. You can justify it all you want, but we are.” She said forcefully and drooped back against the counter’s edge, turning her face away from him.
Groaning, Justin moved to stand before her. On hand took hold of her hip and the other moved up to lead her head back towards his. “Fine we’re cheaters. Whatever. I don’t care. All I do care about is that I got you back.” He squeezed her waist with both hands and pulled her close, dropping a kiss to the tip of her nose. “And I won’t apologize for being in love with you or for wanting you.”
Touched by his words and feeling the same, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bring their bodies even closer for comfort. “What are we gonna do?”
“Be happy.” He kissed her cheek. “The deed’s been done Baby Doll. You need to let it go so we can move on with our lives. Huh?” He nuzzled the hollow at her neck asking for compliance.
Resting her forehead on his shoulder, she finally relented. “Yeah.”
He was right. What they’d done was in the past. She felt bad, apologized, and faced her judgment. There was no more she could do. It was time to move on and make sure this whole mess never happened again. Meaning, they had to make their relationship last this time. And that was something she was more than determined to do.
“Yes? We’re gonna put this behind us and move on with our life?” Justin asked for confirmation, pulling back to see her face as she gave into his surmise. She nodded and he beamed. “I love you Kiki.”
“I love you too.”
He smiled. “And that’s all that counts.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Within the walls of Justin’s house, in their cocoon, all of his preaching was taken in and followed, but in the public spotlight, with their indiscretion continuously being thrown in their face, it was hard to live by for Kiki. She still needed some time, alone time, to get sort things out and as a result she started pulling away from Justin.
He understood what she needed and grudgingly gave her the space to deal with this in her own way. In the meantime, they both spent there time apart leaning on their friends for support.
“Are things getting better?” JC asked while he, Justin and Joey watched Trace tee off.
“Well you know the media will believe what they want so I just ignore them. It’s not affecting my work, my mom and dad aren’t thrilled about how we did it, but they’re happy for me and Kiki.” Justin explained. “And so is her family.”
“Except for Freddy who doesn’t have a clue what’s really going on. If he did you would have gotten the ever loving shit kicked out of you by now.” Joey joked, eliciting laughter out of JC and Trace.
Justin glared at them. “Like I was saying: my only real concern is Cheyenne. I mean she seems fine. Me and Kik are keeping her pretty guarded like before and luckily, she doesn’t even understand what’s happening.” He explained. “I just hope me and Kik get our shit together before she’s old enough to remember any of this.”
“Yeah because the last thing this town needs is another spoiled brat heiress with mommy and daddy issues.” Trace said.
“Not even funny. I’d shoot myself if that happened.” Justin volleyed back among the chuckles from the others. “I just can’t wait for them to get over this shit and move on.”
As much as he hated to admit it, he was worried that with the media hanging on their speculations, Kiki would never get over this hurdle and she’d start slipping even further away from him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“This will blow over Kik. Stop worrying. One of my talentless, prostituted their way into fame, ‘peers’ will do something insane and voila! You’ll be off the hook.” Eva tried cheering her up during their girls’ day at the spa.
“Ranking me on the same level as tabloid whores is not helping my self esteem Evie.” Kiki said dryly.
“Oh then how about this.” She began with a no joking tone this time. “You fell in love and stayed in love. Last time is checked that wasn’t a crime.” She said. “Being in love makes you crazy. Everyone knows that and sometimes you do things that hurt people, but they get over it, just like Cameron will.”
“Why because she’s famous and you guys bounce from one relationship to another?” Kiki’s guilt fired back sarcastically, not ready to let herself off the hook just yet.
“No because she saw the writing on the wall. We all did Kiki.” Maya spoke up, completely over her sister’s moopiness. “She just chose to put blinds on to it.”
“No she’s not saying it was Cameron’s fault Kiki.” Tami cut in this time, seeing Kiki’s defense on the rise. She too, was tired of watching her sister torture herself over this. “The situation was just never right for the beginning. Cameron never had a chance with Justin because he was still in love with you.” Kiki stayed silent and still, knowing Tami was speaking a truth her guilt couldn’t twist. “She was the only one in the relationship from day one so unfortunately heartache inevitably for her.” Tami continued. “It’s shitty that it happened like it did, but Kiki, you have to stop doing this to yourself. It is over and done with.” She announced sternly. It was a side of her that only came out when there was no room for bullshit and it struck a cord in Kiki.
Once again everyone besides her was right. Her penance was done and now forgiving herself was the most important thing to do. Letting her guilt consume her wasn’t healthy. Life, including hers, goes on.
“So what country is the next kid coming from Brangelia Jr. ?” Maya quipped casually to break up the tense moment. Using the nickname OK! had branded on her and Justin, and the one Alex and Reed had taken to call them was bound to get a laugh out everyone.
Sure enough, try as she might Kiki’s glare wavered and she soon joined in with the others’ giggling.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
From that day on Kiki’s inner turmoil easily faded away. She decided to stop distancing herself from Justin; however, with peak season starting and Justin’s album release date quickly approaching, it was impossible to find any alone time. Sure they had family time, but they couldn’t have the conversation they really needed to have with Cheyenne around. They were good now, that ease between them was back so their alone time could wait. At least that’s what Kiki felt like.
Justin….Well Kiki was about to find out that he wasn’t feeling so secure in their relationship.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Leaving her office, Kiki was walking the perimeter of the fitness floor, reading a sales report and not paying attention to where she was going. So it was inevitable that she plowed into a solid mass.
“You gotta watch where you’re going Ms. Lewis.” A familiar voice teased and the hands belonging to that voice grabbed her arms to keep her upright.
Shaking her hair out of her face, Kiki looked up to see Elli grinning down at her.
“H-hey. What are you doing here?” She asked and winced, hoping he missed the irritated suspicion in her voice.
Despite her clearly stated declaration that she did not want to pursue a relationship with him, Elli would occasionally ask Joey if she was reconsidering his offer. Which told Kiki that this run was most likely no coincidence.
“Doing some gym shopping. Thought I’d stop in, get a tour and some information.” He smiled what he probably thought was a charming smile. It only served to provoke Kiki’s annoyance. “I was hoping you’d be the one I’d get to scope the place out with, but I was told you were in a meeting.”
His suspicion of being had was clear to see and Kiki peered over at Jade standing next to them. A look of understanding passed between them.
Jade knew all about Kiki’s train wreck of a “date” with Elli and had thankfully played interference when he came into the club.
Well, Kiki wouldn’t dream of getting in the way of this diversion. “I actually do have a meeting. I was headed that way right now.” She pointed to Kevin’s office across the way with the paperwork in her hand for effect.
“Oh….damn my timing sucks.”
“It’s okay. You’re in good hands with Jade.” She assured with phony sincerity in her voice. “I have to get to my meeting so have fun and I hope you find what you’re looking for.” She smiled quickly and turned to leave, facing Jade. “Do not sell.” She mouthed. They really couldn’t deny a person a membership unjustly or on a whim, but they certainly could turn a person off of the club. Luckily Jade was the perfect person for that job. She had the power of persuasion, in both directions.
Leaving Jade to do her work, Kiki kept up pretenses and motored over to Kevin’s office, closing the sliding glass door and blinds behind her.
After ten minutes of listening to Kevin laugh at her once she filled him in, Kiki pecked out of the blinds to see if the coast was clear. No Elli in sight, so with a quick goodbye, she creep back to her office to pack up. She had been done with her work for the day before her potential stalker showed up and she was more than ready to go home now. She managed to collect her things and her child, and was loading it all into her car when her luck ran out.
“Hey Kiki. Wait up!”
She didn’t have to turn around to know who was calling her. “Shit.” She muttered.
“Ooh.” Cheyenne admonished, eyes glued to her book.
“Nosey.” Kiki answered with a tickle to her belly. “Read your book and here’s your juice. I have to talk to a friend real quick, then we’ll go home.” Cheyenne nodded and Kiki closed the door, keeping her out of view.
“Hi. How’d it go?” She politely asked once Elli reached her and they were face to face.
“It was good. Your place is really nice. Pretty steep rates. I have a lot to consider.”
“Well that’s fine. We don’t fit everyone’s taste.” She smiled pleasantly, all the while thankful that Jade’s tactics had worked. There was no carbon copy of a signed contract among the brochures he had in his hand.
“Very true. I’m gonna have to do a little comparison shopping before I make a decision.” Kiki laughed inside, thinking Jade must have really jacked the rates up. On the outside, she only nodded with a neutral face. “But I’m glad I ran into you again because I wanted to ask you- Feel free the tell me to mind my own business, but uh…..What’s up with you and your ex? Is any of that stuff true?”
Now as of late, this wasn’t an uncommon question for Kiki, but in Elli’s case she knew he wasn’t just asking to get the gossip. He wanted to know where she stood: single or taken?
Unfortunately, Elli wasn’t one of the people she trusted with the truth. If he was, she would have told him in a heartbeat to get him off her back once and for all. Until she and Justin went public, she’d just have to keep lying, but he was going to get one with a specialized twist.
“Ah yes. Am I or am I not a homewrecker? The question that’s on the minds of every person I so much as walk pass.” She said sarcastically. “The answer is no. Me and Justin haven’t been together since we had our daughter.” The lie never slid off her tongue more easily than it did in that moment. And as for her little twist on it. “Between my munchkin and this place, especially now that we’re in peak season, dating period, is my last priority.”
“Oh.” It was mean, but Kiki wanted to cheer at his crestfallen face. “Well that’s good I guess.”
“Of course, always.” She chuckled casually. “So um I gotta run. Whether it be here or somewhere else, good luck finding a gym.”
“Yeah.” Kiki nodded and moved to part ways, headed to the driver’s side, but Elli stopped her. “Listen whenever you’re free, you have my number. Give me a call. We’ll go out for dinner or something. Just the two of us this time.”
“We’ll see.” She responded non-committally, having no plans whatsoever to follow through. Ever. “Oh!”
Catching her completely off guard, Elli pulled Kiki into a hug. Unexpected and unwanted, she kept her hands up at her side, not knowing what to do. When the hug didn’t end and continued into the embrace phase, Kiki’s discomfort became too much. She placed her hands on his side and kind of patted/pushed him away. Elli back off and peered down at her with a hopeful look, but that hug was not going to change her mind.
If anything it weird-ed her out even more and she made a quick getaway. “See you later.” She called out over her shoulder as she hurried around her car and climbed inside. Not even bothering to wave or even glance his way as he stood there watching, she started the engine and peeled out of the parking lot.
More than a mile down the road, she was still checking the rear view mirror, just in case. “What a creep.” She said to herself and prayed that that would be the last time she saw him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A week later, Kiki may not have seen Elli again, but unbeknownst to her, that run in had left a big impression.
Apparently a paparazzo had been lingering on the perimeter of Key West’s property the day he stopped by and got some interesting photos. They were featured nice and big in the week’s weekly mags, plastered all over the net and on all the nightly entertainment shows.
Caught in a steamy embrace! Kiki Lewis - ex-girlfriend of Justin Timberlake, rumored cause for his recent break up with Cameron Diaz “ is having a torrid affair with an unidentified man!
Kiki Lewis isn’t a homewrecker. She has her own boyfriend. Justin and Cameron broke up on their own.
Kiki Lewis is so stupid! Why would you cheat on Justin Timberlake with some nobody loser?
Kiki couldn’t believe this. First of all, it wasn’t a steamy embrace. She was barely touching him! Secondly, when was this going to stop? It was ridiculous. Were they going to follow and document every move she made for the rest of her life? Even if Justin was no where around?
Yes. She answered her own question immediately. She would most likely, always be in the spotlight. She and Justin were together now and once they went public, people would forever what to know about her. She was officially famous by association. Oh joy!
Instead of getting mad, which she very well could have, especially with the slut comments being slung around about her, she ignored it. There was no point getting upset over exaggerations and stupid irritants. This would be old news by tomorrow anyway.
After Kiki’s initial burst of anger over the latest tabloids, she calmed down and went about her work day.
That was until she got home and found Justin pacing her living room. In totally tantrum mode.
“Who the fuck is this?!” He barked.
Watching Justin “ red faced, shaking the magazine in the air, Kiki thought. “Talk about déjà vu.” Not too long ago that was her and things got blown way out of proportion over a big misunderstanding. Not wanting to repeat that, Kiki kept her cool.
“Hi to you too.” She quipped and managed to close the door despite the small amount of space his crowding gave her. Boy was she happy Cheyenne went home with Robbie for the weekend and wasn’t here to see this.
“Who. Is. He?” He asked, slowly this time, but no less furious.
“Chill out Justin. It was only Elli.” She laughed and squeezed around him to put her stuff down by the foyer side table. Turning back towards him, she saw that chilling out was the last thing he was about to do.
It looked like he had gotten redder; the tips of his ears included now, and his eyes seemed ready to shoot fire out of them. Not to mention the flaring nostrils.
Kiki probably should have been worried, but it only humored her further and she wanted to crack up. She kept it in though, knowing it would only anger him more. Justin’s possessiveness was in full swing and that was no joking matter. Only for him of course. Still he had to be handled with kid gloves or things would only get out of hand. Especially now that there was a very familiar face to the mystery man.
“Elli?” He questioned, gritting his teeth. “That dude that was all over you at Tam’s party? Are you fuckin’ kidding me?! You’re still talking to him?”
“No actually I’m not.” She emphasized. “He just showed up at the club that day.”
“And what? You just couldn’t keep your fuckin’ hands off him? Did you miss him that fuckin’ much?”
“Okaay… You need to get a grip.” She advised. This discussion had to be nipped in the bud right this minute before he said something stupid and got himself smacked. “I was barely touching him. He hugged me out of no where and I pushed him away, then booked it.” She enunciated to make sure the truth of the matter was crystal clear to him. “It was a weird and uncomfortable situation that got twist into something its not. I have absolutely no interest in him Justin.”
“But he wants you right?”
Rolling her eyes, knowing where this was headed, but wanting to always be honest with him, Kiki admitted in a huff. “Yes, he does.”
There was no point in being vague, Justin would have to get used to other men wanting and hitting on her. Just like she had to get used to the same thing. On a global level.
“Got damn it Kik!” He roared.
“Justin I can’t stop someone from being attracted to me any more than you can stop the millions of people wanting you.” She volleyed back, arms crossed over her chest in finality.
He had no come back for that so he huffed and puffed for a bit before resigning. “I know.” He was noticeably frustrated, but his anger had cooled. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it though.”
He was pouting at this point and always a sucker for it, Kiki walked over to stand in front of him and slid her arms around his waist. “Well, now you know how I feel sometimes.” Jealousy was more of his thing, but she was never immune to women flaunting and throwing themselves on him. She leaned up to kiss the underside of his chin and asserted. “It doesn’t matter though because at the end of the day, you’re all mine and I’m all yours.”
“Better be.” He muttered and dipped his head to kiss her. “And you’re teaching me Spanish.”
“What?”
“If that little shit or anybody else starts whispering Spanish in your ear again I wanna know what they’re saying.”
At first Kiki thought he was just kidding, but his face was dead serious. She busted out laughing.
“It’s not funny.” He gritted through his teeth.
“Yes it is. My poor baby is always so jealous when you have absolutely no reason to be. Usted es el único que que jamás me ha tenido y el único que jamás hace.” She whispered the foreign phrase seductively into his ear and lightly sucked on the lobe.
Justin’s eyes damn near rolled into the back of his head and he swallowed thickly. “Shit. What did you say?”
“What do you think I said?” She breathed against his neck before laving kiss up and down it. Her hands had snuck under his shirt and she was dragging her fingers up and down his back, sending chills through his body.
“I don’t know and I don’t give a damn.” He growled and swiftly boosted Kiki into his arms. As far as he was concerned that little no sex deal they had was officially off.
Squealing and giggling, she held on tight, arms and legs wrapped around him, as he practically sprinted up the stairs with her. Busting through her bedroom door, Justin strode purposely over to the bed and tossed her onto the mattress.
“Wow someone’s really anxious.” Kiki teased as she watched him stripping at the foot of the bed. She knew it wasn’t nice, she had been suffering from withdrawal too, but he was always the one with the bigger libido. She couldn’t pass up this chance to pick at him. “Have we been feeling a little sexually repressed lately Mr. Timberlake?” His eyes narrowed at her and she giggled. Despite his earlier impatience, Justin was only down to his jeans and boxers, and Kiki knew why. He didn’t want to “one minute man” her, but instead of giving him a break, she kept prodding at him. “Need some help down there cause you’re certainly taking your sweet ass time.” Scooting up to the top of the bed, she crossed her legs and put her hands behind her head for effect. She was about to start laughing until he finished undressing and put all his attention on her. Kiki gulped hard.
Okay so maybe teasing a sexually frustrated Justin wasn’t such a good idea.
A calm had come over him, a dangerous one. He stood tall, hard and eyes burning into him. He was like a hungry predator, completely composed and focused, ready to pounce.
The room was thick with tension, really hot, sensual tension and at any second it was going to pop.
Kiki was afraid to even breathe, but she blinked and that was all she wrote. Justin lunged onto the bed, roughly pining her arms to the mattress.
A little scared, but totally turned on, she looked up at his manically grinning face and said. “I’m in so much trouble.”
Those were the last words she said before her clothes were practically ripped off her body. From that point on, the only things to come out of her mouth were loud moans and screams for the rest of the night.
