Page 78 of All That Glitters

Her phone buzzes, and her expression goes apologetic. “Sorry. I know that ringtone.”

It’s something familiar I’ve heard before and can’t place. Sherry answers the phone with “Hello, boss man,” and my heart starts to throb.

Marcus is on the other end of the phone. I grip the pen tighter and move on to the next page, the line empty and ready for me to scrawl my name.

I’m on the last one, and my eyes are blurred, tension spreading through every part of my body, but it’s worse in my jaw. I grind my teeth together, clenching hard enough to try and keep the cry inside.

I’ve done enough crying.

Acid eats its way through me as bile burns the back of my throat, but I somehow manage to scribble out my signature on the last bit, whatever Sherry is saying to Marcus turning to unintelligible syllables in my head.

Whatever they have to say to each other is none of my business.

Right now, the only business I need to focus on is the one right in front of me. Marcus wants our ties severed, and he has for a long time now. Was he thinking about it while he went down on me? While he demanded I suck him off? My cheeks heat, and my hand shakes on the folder.

Drawing in a deep, calming breath, I smile over at Sherry as she ends the call, and I slide the entire folder back to her.

“Here you go. All done,” I tell her.

My voice doesn't tremble at least. It’s a win. Each word is solid and, if not cheerful, then resigned.

“Great! Now we can get these filed for you.” Sherry grabs the folder and tucks it under her arm.

Marcus hadn’t told me a single thing about any of this. It would have been nice to have a heads up that he wanted nothing more to do with me. After last night… He promised to do whatever it took to protect me.

He’d told me so many things last night, but nothing regarding the conservatorship.

None of it makes sense, not one bit of this whole damn thing. I know he said there was no chance of a relationship between us, but from the way he kissed me, I thought he’d at least continue with the guardianship. I was wrong. On all levels, I was wrong.

I can’t let Sherry see any of it.

Drawing back my shoulders, I show her nothing but confidence, but inside, I’m struggling not to shatter.

“Aw, honey, what’s the matter?” she asks, patting the top of my knee. “Have things been stressful with the movie?”

“Things are going okay with the movie. I’m lucky. My contract states I don’t have to be available for those long shooting days.”

“Oh, gosh, very lucky indeed! I’ve heard horror stories from people. What about you personally, though? Have you been well? Marcus says nothing but good things about your talent.” She chuckles lightly. “He doesn’t tell me any of the details, but I know he’s so proud of you. He said once that the part was made for you, that there is no other actress he’d rather represent.”

I swallow hard, my stomach swirling, my throat dry. More of those sweet, gilded lies he must tell everyone. He doesn’t mean any of it. “It’s been a learning experience for sure,” I hedge. “I went to several sets with my parents, but it’s a completely different experience when you’re on the other side of the camera.”

“Aw, honey. Are things not what you thought it would be?” Sherry presses.

Nothing is the way I thought it would be. Not Marcus, not my life, and certainly not my acting career.

I press a hand to my gut, but it does nothing to stop the churning feeling. “I guess I never got to really see the ins and outs when I was on set before. There are a lot of different moving parts to consider, as well as relationships with the other actors and actresses, you know?” I force my smile to broaden. “I don’t want to mess anything up, especially since the hype is already starting, saying the movie is going to be a contender for awards.”

It’s a little bit of truth from me and has Sherry nodding. “A completely different beast, huh?” she replies. “I’m sure it is, which is why it’s a good thing you have Marcus there to guide you.”

Hearing his name spoken out loud has me laughing, a little bit of hysteria bubbling up. I don’t have Marcus at all. These papers ensure the separation between us. I've been trying to come to terms with everything, but this newest betrayal, on top of the rest…

It’s too much.

He wants to get away from me?

I’m such a problem that he has to make our separation legal? Well, then, things are done. What he talked about the other night when he said we can’t be anything because he isn’t a good man? He must have meant these papers.

It’s a betrayal of everything we ever had, the relationship we started to build.

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