I walked off the plane, glancing down at my phone; pretty bummed that Howie hadn't said anything. I mean, I didn't either, which I was still scared. I let out a breath as I glanced around, looking for Alexa and shoved the phone back in my back pocket. I really felt like crying, oh and sleeping. I was past worn out and honestly, wasn't sure I could take anything else being tossed my way. But that wasn't my luck as I stopped short from running into someone. His arms caught mine and I had to blink a couple times.
"Resa!" he exclaimed before his mouth was on mine. I held on to his shoulders to try and keep my balance, along with what was let of my sanity. What the fuck was going on? Why was he here? And why was he kicking me in a very public spot?
I glared at him as I finally pulled away, the urge to slap him very strong, but I couldn't do that; he was still my artist. And Lord knows I didn't need any cases against me or my company. I shook my head, took a few steps back and crossed my arms, arching a brow at him.
"What the hell are you doing here? Even better yet, how the fuck did you know when I was coming in?"
"I might have overheard a conversation and thought I'd surprise you."
"Are you kidding me? What about your wife? Don't forget that you were the one who called us off."
"My wife flew out for a few weeks to see her family in Peru." I stared at him for a couple moments before I started laughing, hard. Oh, God damn, it all made sense now. She was gone, no one to come home to, no one to hold questions over his head. He was free and thought he could weasel his way back into my graces. I maybe a lot of things, but an adulteress was not one of them.
He offered marriage to one woman but wanted nothing more than a sex deal from another. I really saw him in a whole new light right now. He was a world class, grade A, asshole. And sad to say that I really needed to find a way to let him go.
"Mike, I'm not your friend or your lover. You wanted to get married, which means you lost all rights to being with me. I would never dare to cheat. Maybe I should tell your wife about those gorgeous roses I got, huh?" His eyes narrowed and I shook my head. "It's not even worth my time. I only hope that one day she see's the kind of man she really married." I grabbed my bag and started to walk away, but paused and looked over my shoulder. "I also hope, for your sake, and that of the bands, I don't find a way to let you go for getting into my business affairs." I shrugged and turned back around to go outside to wait for Alexa. I let out a breath as I saw her and she just looked at me as I got into the car.
"The fuck happened to you?" I licked my lips, took a deep breath and quickly leaned over to hug her as I broke out in tears.
-----
Four hours later, I saw on Kris's couch, surrounded by Ash, Alexa, Kris, and about five empty various liquor bottles. My eyes were puffy and red and I wasn't sure I had any more tears left to give out. I had just got done explaining everything from getting on that boat to having the encounter with Mike.
"You mean, we sent you on that cruise to get away from heartbreak, and you come back with an even bigger one?" Kris asked and I kicked her with my foot.
"It's not like I wanted to do that you know." I rolled my eyes at her and she laughed.
"I know, we know. It's just…" I rolled my eyes again at her.
"I get it. But he is…and what we shared…you have to see." I grabbed my phone and showed them the final picture, trying to control my shaking heart.
"You both look properly fucked."
"Oh my God Ashley!" We all laughed and I looked at the picture again.
"I don't know if I will ever see him again. I mean, nothing, I heard nothing from him."
"Why don't you text him, Resa?" Kris asked as she sat next to me.
"I'm scared and worried shitless. He just got out of a relationship and you all know I cannot do another friends deal. That's not me, and that's not this; I already care too much for him." I sniffled and leaned against Kris as she wrapped her arm around me. Her eyes looked up and glanced at the other two ladies, being as much as a loss as what to do, just like me.
-----
Two weeks later, I grabbed my folder as I made my way to my conference room, fresh hurt consuming me as I reached out to Howie with, yet again, no word back. I really had no choice but to believe that he wanted nothing more to do with me. And that was the biggest slap I could get; he treated me just like a fuck buddy, knowing that I just got done with that.
But, I had no time to dwell. I had artists to promote and award shows to get ready for, he needed to be the last of my concerns. Of course, like anything, that was always easier to say, then to do. I shook my head as my heels echoed down the hallway, feeling like a broken bass against my head. 'Ugh, fucking stop, he isn't worth it,' I kept that mantra running through my mind, but my heart kept fighting me. I sighed as I looked into the room, looking over the current R&B group I was working with and sat down.
"Hello." I smiled at them and opened my folder. "I see you guys are up to start a new album. Why don't you give me some ideas as to who you like to work with so I can start putting some propositions together for promotion?"
"Actually, we have one we want to work with, but we are asking the favor of you contacting them as you have the connections." I eyed Joey, the lead vocalist and leaned back in my chair.
"Well, one name on a list is hard, I would suggest more."
"We know. But he is the best and is the one that would be the best fir for the sound of our next album."
"Very well. I can reach out and try to get you all in to meet with them, but I make no promises. What producer are you wanting?"
"Howie, from HowieDoIt." Fuck. ME!