Fire
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Eddie sat in the dim light of his lavish living room, his face uncovered—a rare privilege for the few people who ever saw him in private. He ran a hand through his dark hair, staring at the images of Abigail, the girl who had fled his home. She had seen his face, but she had no idea who he really was. The Fallen Angel—that's what the world knew him as, the masked enigma on stage. But here, in the quiet of his home, he was just Eddie Riggs.
On the screen before him were clips and photos of Abigail, the young woman now at the center of a public scandal. His assistant Jane had gathered everything, and as Eddie scrolled through the material, the image of her rushing into her car, surrounded by paparazzi, lingered in his mind. She was wearing his grey t-shirt—the one he had bought but never worn. A small connection, but one that had pulled him into her world.
Abigail Pierce.
She wasn't broke like he'd first assumed. Instead, she was enrolled in a prestigious program preparing her for a career as an actress. Yet, despite her promising future, she was now entangled in a scandal that threatened to overshadow her hard work. Her boyfriend, Ace, had accused her of cheating, but Eddie could see the truth behind the headlines. There was something deeply wrong with the way this story was being spun.
The ring of the doorbell pulled Eddie from his thoughts. He quickly closed the laptop, the information still fresh in his mind, as George, his lifelong friend and A-list movie star, arrived.
George barged in, his usual energy filling the room. "Ed!" he shouted, pulling Eddie into a tight hug.
Eddie gently pushed him back with a smile. "Careful, George. You're gonna knock me over."
George laughed, playfully tapping Eddie on the chest. "No mask today, huh? Guess I'm one of the lucky few who gets to see the real you."
Eddie motioned for George to follow him upstairs. "Let's talk in the cinema room."
Once they were settled on the second floor, surrounded by the plush seats and the hum of the projector, George leaned back with a smirk, already pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "I've got a good one for you, Ed. You're gonna love this."
Eddie nodded, though his thoughts kept drifting back to Abigail. But he let George have his moment.
"Remember Kara? The movie star my parents have been pushing me to marry?" George started, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Well, I finally put an end to that nonsense. Told my parents at dinner the other night that I'm impotent."
Eddie raised an eyebrow. "You seriously told them that?"
George leaned forward, grinning. "Yeah, you should've seen their faces! Kara didn't know where to look. She excused herself pretty quick. My parents were stunned, and now, thank God, they'll stop trying to play matchmaker."
Eddie's face remained neutral, but he asked, "Were Kara's parents there?"
George waved it off. "Nah, just my folks. Why?"
Eddie's voice grew more serious. "You'd better hope she didn't have a recorder on her. Something like that could ruin you."
George chuckled, patting Eddie's arm. "Don't worry. I've got enough dirt on Kara to sink her career if she even tries something."
Eddie didn't respond immediately, his thoughts slipping back to Abigail. George noticed his silence and narrowed his eyes, sensing something was off.
"What's going on, Ed? You called me over for a reason, right?"
Eddie straightened, his fingers clasped together as he gathered his thoughts. "Last night, I almost hit someone with my car," he said, his voice calm but focused.
George sat up, surprise flashing across his face. "You? You almost hit someone? What happened?"
Eddie nodded. "Yeah, she ran out into the road. I stopped just in time and helped her. She was shaken up, so I brought her back here, had the doctor check her out. She seemed okay, but when I went upstairs to grab my keys and drive her home, she just… vanished. Took off without a word."
George frowned, intrigued. "So, she just left? No explanation?"
Eddie shook his head. "None. But I couldn't get her out of my mind, so I looked her up. Turns out she's Abigail Pierce, an actress-in-training caught up in a scandal with her boyfriend, Ace. He's claiming she cheated on him, but from what I've seen, I'm pretty sure he's lying. Something about it doesn't add up."
George leaned back, recognition dawning on his face. "Wait, that's the girl from that viral clip, right? I saw her getting swarmed by paparazzi the other day. So, she's in some deep shit, huh?"
Eddie nodded again. "Yeah, and it's unfair. She's worked hard to get where she is, but now she's being dragged through the mud because of Ace's lies. The way the media's spinning this, it's clear they're trying to paint her as the villain. But I can see right through it. Ace is the one who's been cheating, not her."
George sighed, sipping his whiskey. "Ed, I get it. You don't like seeing people get screwed over. But why are you getting involved in this? You don't know her. She's not your problem."
Eddie's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone firm. "Because it's wrong. She doesn't deserve what's happening to her."
George shook his head, still smiling. "Yeah, but think about it. If the media gets even a hint that you're mixed up with this girl, it'll explode. 'Fallen Angel' involved with some scandal-ridden actress? That's front-page material, and not the good kind."
Eddie's expression darkened, but his voice remained calm. "No one knows what I look like, George. That's why I wear the mask. If I go out as myself, no one will even recognize me. I'm just Eddie, an ordinary guy."
George raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ed. You've got a new song to finish. You should be focusing on that, not chasing after a girl who's knee-deep in drama."
Eddie's voice grew colder, more resolute. "I'm not risking anything. I'm going to meet her, as an ordinary person. It was my public persona that scared her off. She doesn't know me, but I'll make sure she knows I'm not involved in the scandal. I just want to help."
George laughed softly, sipping his whiskey again. "You? Go after her as an ordinary guy? Well, I've gotta see this. But be careful, man. You're playing with fire, and the media loves to burn people like us."
Eddie's voice remained icy but determined. "I'll be fine."
George shook his head, still unconvinced but amused. "Alright, but watch your step, Ed. The last thing you need is to get sucked into a scandal when you've got so much going on."
"I know what I'm doing," Eddie replied, his tone final. But the tension in the room remained as George gave him one last look before leaving.
As George exited, Eddie sat back, his thoughts once again consumed by Abigail. He knew George was right about the risks, but he couldn't ignore what he had seen. It wasn't about love—it was about doing what was right. And if no one else was going to help her, then he would.
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Sorry guys made a mistake with the chapter this is the original chapter, chapter Four is chapter five sorry for the mistake.