Illusions of Love

by Michelle Betham

  ‘JJ’s arriving back in L.A. today,’ she said, not looking at Kenny, but he looked at her.

  ‘I wasn’t aware he’d left. Where’s he been?’

  This time she did look at him. ‘Didn’t you know? He’s been in Vegas. To see India.’

  ‘Not giving up without a fight then?’ Kenny sighed, knocking back a mouthful of thankfully strong coffee. Layla knew just how he liked it.

  ‘Seems not. Although, from what he’s told me, it’s a fight he’s all but conceded.’

  Kenny looked at her again. ‘The divorce is finally happening then?’

  ‘That’s the way it seems to be heading, yeah.’

  He watched as her expression changed, her eyes looking down as a sadness washed over her.

  ‘She told him it had nothing to do with Michael.’

  Kenny sighed again, sitting back in his chair. Hearing that was a relief in one respect, but it must have been one hell of a kick in the teeth for JJ. She was still leaving him, even if there didn’t seem to be any valid reason why.

  Everything had seemed so good between them at first, but beneath the surface it was quite obvious that India had never been able to love him the way she should have loved him. And that was sad – for both her and JJ.

  Kenny looked over at Layla, who was still staring into her coffee, and suddenly he just wanted to reach out and take her hand. She looked so beaten, and Kenny didn’t think she deserved to be that down. Even though she’d entered into a relationship with Michael with her eyes wide open and the knowledge that he would never love her as much as he loved India, she still didn’t deserve any of this. It was all such a mess. India and JJ divorcing, and Michael and Layla’s relationship on the edge of breakdown, for a reason so clear to everyone. Michael just couldn’t put India behind him, even if she was happy to forget him. Layla knew that. Everybody knew that. It was just harder for those more closely involved to handle the reality.

  Layla looked up at him. ‘It all seems such a waste, Kenny.’

  He put his coffee down and reached out for her, pulling her into his arms as she started to cry, holding her tight as all the frustration finally spilled out of her. She’d really loved Michael, although Kenny couldn’t for the life of him understand why, but she had – she still did. And once again that man was hurting people. Even if, in reality, Layla had always known this day would come.

  ‘How about we go out tonight, huh?’ Kenny smiled, stroking her baby-blond hair from her eyes, gently wiping her tears away. ‘I know some great places where we can just hang out and not be disturbed. Let’s try and forget all the shit that’s going on. You with me?’

  She smiled too, even though he could still see the sadness in her eyes. ‘Yeah. I’m with you. Why not?’

  He pulled her into his arms again, just letting her hold onto him. They needed each other, him and Layla, because both of them were trying to put behind them the two people who’d put the pair of them in this situation – Michael and India Walsh. So, for Kenny and Layla, maybe together that job of forgetting would be a whole lot easier.

  ***

  Dominic lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, his hands clasped over his chest. He had too many things on his mind, so many things to think about, because this plan of his was starting to veer slightly off-course. Things were happening that he hadn’t banked on; things were going on in his head that he hadn’t expected to feel, and, if he wasn’t careful, it could all get in the way of what it was he was really here to do.

  He sat up and pushed a hand through his hair, throwing his head back, sighing heavily. A few days. He’d known India Walsh a few days and she was messing with his head already. What was it with that woman? He had to knock these feelings out of himself; he had to forget they were there because none of this was going to work if he let them take over.

  He had a point to prove, that was all; a point to prove to himself more than anybody. That he could get one over on Michael Walsh, that he could take something from him that most people thought impossible. Most had even stopped trying. Even JJ Foster had failed, and everyone had thought he and India were solid, after everything that had happened. So this wasn’t going to be easy. But Dominic had to succeed. And only then could he finally tell everyone the truth.

  ***

  Vince watched from the sidelines as Michael directed India in a movie she was fast making her own. He loved watching her work. She was the ultimate professional but with an air of fun about her whenever she was on set. She was always smiling, always willing to talk to anyone, and the crew loved her. After every movie she’d made in recent years she’d always rewarded everyone with gifts, making sure they all knew how grateful she was to them for everything they’d done, and that’s why everyone loved her.

  But no-one loved her as much as Michael, Vince could see that now. Michael was the ultimate professional too, when he was working. But, as Vince watched closely, watched the way Michael looked at India, the way he watched her on set, it was obvious there was more to their relationship than just actress and director. Oh, he knew India had no intention of revisiting the past, she’d made that perfectly clear to anyone who asked, but it didn’t seem to be stopping Michael from still loving her the way he always had. And that was what made Vince nervous. Because it was becoming increasingly obvious to a lot of people working on this movie that a new relationship could be on the cards, and it was the last thing Vince knew Michael would want to see.

  His eyes moved over to catch a glimpse of Dominic MacDonald, who was standing on the other side of the set, arms folded, dark glasses pushed down, disguising eyes that were quite obviously looking at one person and one person only – India.

  In a way Vince almost felt sorry for him, because fighting Michael over anything concerning India – well, unless you were one hell of a person that was going to be one pretty tough, full-on battle. And Vince wasn’t sure if Dominic was ready for that. Or if he even knew exactly what he might be getting himself into. Vince just hoped that he knew what he was doing because, if he didn’t, there could be one hell of a mess to clear up.

  ***

  ‘Okay, everybody! Take half an hour while we set up for the next scene. Back here at ten past!’ Michael turned to India, who was loosening her hair from a particularly uncomfortable ponytail. ‘Shall we let Ethan watch this afternoon? It’s all pretty harmless stuff going on after lunch…’

  ‘No mummy kissing strange men, you mean,’ India smiled.

  Michael couldn’t help smiling back, even though the thought of her kissing Dominic MacDonald wasn’t one he wanted to linger over. Even if it was just for the cameras. ‘No. No mommy kissing strange men.’ He couldn’t help but throw a quick glance over towards Dominic, who was still leaning against the wall, dark glasses covering eyes that Michael knew were staring straight at his ex-wife. It wasn’t his intention to miss a thing, and Dominic needed to know that. He turned back to India. ‘So, what do you say? Shall we let the little guy on set this afternoon?’

  India shook out her hair and looked at her ex-husband. ‘That’s up to you. You’re the director. Just don’t forget, he’s only seven-years-old and his attention span isn’t all that great. Not to mention the fact he’s still over-excited at having his mum and dad in the same place for more than five minutes. And I’m still not so sure we should be encouraging that, to be honest.’

  ‘Encouraging what?’ Michael asked, looking at her as she stood up and stretched out, trying not to stare at this still-so-beautiful woman.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. Seeing you and me together, it might be confusing for him.’

  ‘In what way?’

  India looked straight at Michael. ‘He’s seven-years-old, Michael. And, yeah, he might be used to the fact that his mum and dad have never been together for the majority of his lifetime, but that doesn’t mean to say that he wouldn’t love us to get back together. And I don’t want to give him any false hope.’

  Michael looked down at the ground, his hands in his poc
kets. ‘False hope, huh?’

  ‘It isn’t happening, Michael. I meant what I said, and if you can’t deal with that…’

  He looked up at her. ‘And what about Dominic?’

  India stared back at him. ‘What about him? He’s a dream to work with, he’s an incredible actor…’

  ‘Don’t play games, India.’

  She couldn’t help laughing, shaking her head as she continued to stare at her ex-husband. Sometimes he made her realise that the decision she’d made to walk away from him had – beyond any doubt – been the right one. And yet, at other times, he made her wonder if second chances really were something she should have taken a risk on. ‘I don’t play games anymore, Michael. But it seems you still do, but, let me tell you one thing, okay? There is nothing going on between me and Dominic, but even if there was, it would have nothing to do with you. I’m going to find our son.’

  He grabbed her arm, swinging her round, and she stared at him.

  ‘Whatever you thought was going to happen when you asked me to do this movie, Michael, forget it. I never gave you any reason to believe there could be some kind of hope so I don’t want you to spend any more time thinking it could ever go back to the way it was. You got that? It’s over.’

  ‘Is it?’

  His blue eyes bored right into her and no matter how much she wanted to break that stare, she couldn’t. She couldn’t even get the words out that she wanted to say to him because her mouth had gone dry, so it was time to dig out that strength she’d worked so hard to build up and make him realise how she really felt. Although, that wasn’t all that easy when she wasn’t entirely sure how she really felt herself. ‘It’s been over for a long time, Michael, so please, let it go. Because the only person you’re going to end up hurting is yourself, and I really don’t want that to happen.’

  ‘I still care about you, baby. I always will, can’t you see that?’

  She looked at him for a few seconds more, staring into those piercing blue eyes, trying to believe that every decision she’d made had been the right one. Because it had. Hadn’t it? ‘Just leave it alone, Michael. Please.’

  He let her go, watching as she walked away, watching as Dominic MacDonald stopped her in her tracks and the smile she gave him almost broke Michael’s heart, because it was the smile she’d used to give him. The smile that said she wanted to be near you, she wanted to spend time with you. Michael hadn’t had that smile from her in so long.

  He wanted back all those times when they’d been so close nothing could tear them apart. The days when their lives had revolved around each other. But then, his life had never really stopped revolving around her. Never. And he couldn’t see a day when that would ever change.

  ***

  Dominic watched India talking to Michael, watched their exchange with interest as the expression on Michael’s face changed the longer his ex-wife spoke to him. That relationship was so one-sided; only an idiot would think otherwise.

  Sliding his dark glasses up onto his head Dominic knew he’d seen enough. He’d gauged just how high the stakes were and now he was ready to play hard. Michael Walsh hated surprises, he knew that much. But he’d better be ready for what Dominic had in store, because, as far as surprises went, this one would floor him. And nothing he could do would stop it from happening.

  ***

  ‘Callie! Your model, sweetheart, where is she? She needs to be ready in five minutes… Alan, you’re next – Alan! Come on, quickly! This is it, it’s finale time now guys, move it, move it, move it!’

  Charley was almost hoarse with shouting but the chaotic atmosphere and the cacophony of noise backstage wasn’t something you could whisper over. You needed a voice, and her good old northern English mouth was proving to be very useful indeed right now as she tried to gather her team together and get everyone’s models out on time.

  The show was going like a dream and Candice was more than happy with what Charley’s girls and boys were coming up with. They were sticking to her brief but also putting out their own creations that she’d chosen to compliment her collection, and Charley could only stand back and watch as the models walked that runway looking absolutely fabulous. All thanks to the team from Charley’s.

  She couldn’t wait to get home though, and sink into a nice, hot bath. It had been a long day, but an experience she’d never forget, sealing the deal, in Charley’s eyes, that this was where she wanted to be. This was a world she loved, but she also loved her husband and she couldn’t wait to finally get to Vegas and spend some time with Vince. She also couldn’t wait to catch up with India and find out all the gossip on her and Michael and the mysterious Dominic MacDonald, because that’s how India had described him to her when they’d spoken on the phone last night. Mysterious. Charley was intrigued, although she was more intrigued by the relationship between her best friend and her ex-husband. India and Michael getting back together wouldn’t exactly be a surprise to Charley, but she couldn’t say she wouldn’t be shocked if that did happen. But then, she was all too aware of the power Michael had over India. Everyone was. Everyone except, maybe, India herself.

  With the show finally over and just one more day to go before she could pack her bags and head to Vegas, Charley declined the team’s invite to a nearby club for a bit of a post-show party and headed back to the salon to grab a few bits and pieces for tomorrow. It was late and she was doing an elaborate up-do first thing in the morning on a rather famous young actress who was walking the runway tomorrow for Candice’s closing show, so she didn’t want to leave anything to chance. She was shattered, and all she could really think about was that hot bath and a glass of wine followed by bed and a good night’s sleep so, letting herself into the now empty salon, she threw her bag on the floor and headed straight over to her work station, gathering together everything she needed, singing quietly to herself as she thought about Vince and that much-needed break awaiting her in Vegas. She couldn’t think of a time when she’d been happier, a time when she’d felt more settled, more in control of everything, and her smile grew even wider as she picked up the picture of Lily she kept on her work station.

  ‘Pretty girl, your daughter.’

  The voice came out of nowhere, and Charley felt her blood run cold as that all-too-familiar drawl echoed round the empty salon. A voice she’d never wanted to hear again, but a voice she could never forget. Was she dreaming? Had she suddenly fallen asleep and this was some nightmare she’d been thrown into because, if it was, then she wanted to wake up and never go back into that world. She’d left it behind without a backward glance and that’s the way she’d wanted it to stay.

  ‘Leaving doors open, Charley – very careless. If you don’t want unwelcome intruders.’

  She turned around slowly, not really wanting to see who was behind her because she already knew; that voice was unmistakeable. And, as her eyes met his, a black Stetson casting a shadow over his expressionless face, she felt her whole safe and secure world come crashing down around her.

  ‘But then, I’m no intruder, am I, Charley? I’m an old… friend.’

  ‘Get out of my salon,’ Charley whispered, because that was about as loud as her voice would go.

  He just laughed, a small but heavily loaded laugh, his eyes refusing to leave hers until he finally turned to leave, walking slowly towards the open salon doors, turning round and fixing her with that steely glare one more time. ‘It’s good to be back, Charley. Because that’s what I am, darlin’. I’m back, and we got a whole lotta reacquaintin’ to do. A whole lot, sweetheart.’

  And, with an ice-cold smile that froze her heart, he walked out of the door, and back into Charley’s life. Her worst nightmare. Her past. Jimmy Cash.

  CHAPTER 10

  Dominic couldn’t help noticing how quiet India was on set that afternoon. Whenever she wasn’t needed she’d sit on her own, away from everybody else, watching the goings-on from a distance, but he could tell she wasn’t really concentrating.

  ‘Everything ok
ay?’ he asked, sitting down beside her, taking his chance to make that all-important in-road. Now was the time, and it seemed the perfect opportunity to start playing the game properly. No more waiting, no more hanging about.

  She looked up at him, taking a few seconds to register his presence but when she did, she smiled a small smile and he was surprised to find his heart skipping a little beat. It wasn’t a sensation he was overly familiar with and it knocked him sideways for a few seconds, which didn’t escape India’s notice.

  ‘Maybe it should be me asking you that. You alright?’

  He breathed out, smiling that killer smile and she couldn’t help laughing. ‘You have so got this movie star thing down pat, haven’t you?’

  The killer smile showed no signs of disappearing. ‘Haven’t you? I mean, you’ve been doing it for twenty years now.’

  ‘Another twenty years and I still wouldn’t be as confident as you.’

  ‘At least you didn’t call me arrogant.’

  ‘Is that something you get called a lot?’

  ‘By some, yeah.’

  She looked over towards the set, briefly making eye contact with Michael before turning her attention back to Dominic.

  ‘So,’ he continued, sensing her mood had changed the second she’d looked at her ex-husband, and he needed to get her back. ‘Is everything okay?’

  She sat back in her chair and threw her head back for a second, closing her eyes as she pushed her hands through her long blond hair. She had the most incredible neck, Dominic couldn’t help noticing. Sexy, long and smooth. The kind of neck he just wanted to reach out and touch.

  She sat up straight and sighed, fixing Dominic with a look that caused his heart to skip that little beat again. ‘You’re not needed here for a while, are you?’

  He shook his head and she stood up, still looking at him.

  ‘Well? Do you want to come for a coffee or something? Because I sure as hell could do with getting away from here for a while.’