Star Struck(29)

Davey brought up the idea of Ethan doing the duet with Zuriel. Ethan  tried to get Jaime to do it instead. After all, Jaime played lead guitar  and sang, so he would duet fabulously with Zuriel.

But Zuriel's record label wanted Ethan, even though he would only  feature his playing. He wasn't going to sing. Zuriel would handle the  vocals while switching up a few of the lyrics to make it more tailored  for her genre.

And now here they were, him and Zuriel on their first day of working  together at the studio. Ethan was too distracted by thoughts of Mandy to  feel anything other than indifference about being around Zuriel again.  Whatever he felt for her was long dead, and he certainly didn't care for  the idea that they had to start dating again to promote their new song.

He wasn't even sure how they got started with talking about Mandy, but  there it was, and before he knew it he was opening up to her about all  that he felt, everything he wanted, all he had hoped for and how it had  come crashing down around him. Zuriel drew him closer and ran her  fingers through his hair, her voice soft. "It's okay, darling. She  doesn't deserve you. I was the only one who truly understood you. And  I'm here now. I'll always be here for you. Always."







Marcus was fiddling with the radio stations when suddenly, there was that song.

He turned to Mandy with an apologetic look. They were driving in his  Mercedes, heading to a benefit dinner. She smiled at him to show it was  okay. Hearing the song didn't hurt as bad as it used to. Ethan singing  her song … with Zuriel. It was the number one hit for eight weeks running  now so there was no escaping it. Her heart ached every time she saw them  together both on screen and in all the usual celebrity magazines, but  they were everywhere - unavoidable. Ethan and Zuriel, the power rock  couple. Their fans set the gossip sites on fire as everyone went crazy  over the speculation that they had reunited, that their song was meant  to symbolize their undying love for one another.         

     



 

Mandy had been dreading hearing about their engagement, but the news never came.

Everything else Zuriel had promised that day in Mandy's office did come  true though. Ethan recorded the song with her and now that her album was  out as well as The Strum's, they'd be respectively promoting their new  music at the upcoming world tour. The one she was supposed to have been a  part of.

Mandy had thought she could handle working with Ethan and the rest of  the band. But once she'd seen the first photos of Zuriel and Ethan,  cozying up in the studio as they worked on their single, she'd lost her  nerve. Once Ethan had showed no signs of pulling out as a client when  Mandy opted out of the assignment, Jessica had been happy to put Mandy  on other vital projects instead. She already had someone lined up to  take her place to go on tour with the band to be in charge of wardrobe  and costume changes.

Mandy knew she should be relieved that Ethan had given her the clean  break she'd begged him for. But she'd be lying if she said it didn't  hurt like hell that he had let her go without a fight.

"You know he's going to be at this dinner, don't you?" Marcus asked when the song ended.

Mandy nodded, looking out of the car window. The Strum was performing  that evening for charity and it had been all over the news. So it wasn't  like she didn't know. But she'd steeled herself against backing out of  the dinner, which she'd gotten an invite for months in advance. A few of  her clients whom she'd styled for the evening would be present and it  was important Mandy appeared, not just for professional reasons due to  the chance to network but because it was also one of her favorite  charities as well.

"It doesn't matter anyway," she said, glancing Marcus's way and seeing  his quizzical look. "Soon, it's not going to matter at all. I'm  resigning from Jessica Charles."

Marcus's surprise caused his driving to slow down as he looked her way with arched brows. "Why on earth would you do that?"

Mandy shrugged. "I used to think I wanted to style movie stars, singers,  dance performers, and the like. But becoming a celebrity stylist isn't  really what I'm cut out for. I want to make my services more accessible  to the women on the street or the guy self-starting his business. You  know, ordinary people. I've done some research on it and I'm sure I'll  have a healthy enough client base when I branch out on my own," Mandy  explained quietly.

"You've been doing a great job so far," was Marcus's encouraging response. "I'm sure this too, will work out for the best."

Mandy wasn't sure she shared his total conviction, but at least she was  ready to give it a try. She found herself smiling at him for a moment.  "Thank you, Marcus. For agreeing to come out with me tonight."

He smiled back with warmth even as he shrugged. "Friends help each other  out, don't they? And I do like the chance to dress up and escort a  gorgeous young lady for a night of glamor."

Mandy shook her head at him and laughed, looking away again with an  inner sigh. It was great that Marcus was happy to settle for them being  just friends.

When she'd broken up with Ethan, he'd shown up ready to help her through  it. Once he found out she was the one who'd walked away and the reasons  behind it, he told her it was the right decision. And that when she was  ready, he'd happily take her back.

Mandy felt touched that he still cared. But she knew she'd never start  up with him again. She'd changed; love meant a different thing to her  now. And she might never feel it again for anyone else, so why rush into  another relationship so soon?

Marcus had been supportive in the way he gallantly stepped back and was  seemingly contented to just be friends. He'd only just started dating  again himself; a woman he'd met through friends who was a few years  older and shared many of his interests. Mandy was happy for him.

They arrived at the black-tie event and Mandy felt her confidence rise  knowing she looked more than appropriately dressed. Her outfit was a  flatteringly cut red dress with matching pointed heels. Her red lipstick  added to the bold ensemble and she'd done little with her eyes, only  dabbing on a hint of kohl. Her thick brown hair was done in a simple  plait at the base of her head, leaving her face free of wisps or  strands. Marcus had already told her she looked stunning, and she'd  thanked him with a pleased laugh. One could never go wrong with red, she  said. And the bright color gave her a feeling of poise she didn't  really have deep down.

She was going to see Ethan again. And even if it was from a distance, it  was going to rip her apart. What she dreaded was that Zuriel might be  there, too. Mandy wasn't sure she could handle seeing them as a couple,  posing for the cameras and acting like they were in love for the world  to see.         

     



 

The benefit dinner was a success, the high point of the night being The  Strum's performance. Mandy had watched them from her table and thought  they all looked amazing, especially Ethan. Their presence had drawn a  big crowd and this in turn had translated to more funds being raised  that night, particularly when the time came for the auction.

Watching Ethan had its bittersweet moments. She did not take her eyes  off him the whole performance, and part of her had wished he would look  her way just once. But she was sure he didn't even know she was there.

It had been tough these past several weeks without him. There had been  no backlash from the public; at least not as much as she'd expected.  Just a few words about "Ethan now back to being single  –  female fans  ecstatic."

It felt weird being in the same room with him and yet so far. In fact,  it hurt like hell. He still had it; that pull, that energy and magnetism  that had all the women in the room thinking dirty thoughts. Knowing  she'd walked away from all that had her reaching for more and more of  her wine to distract herself from her hidden despair.

"Enough, Mandy," Marcus said gently in her ear just as she indicated to a passing waiter for a refill of her glass.

"Not nearly," she murmured, but then nodded with a deep sigh. Marcus was  right; getting sloshed wasn't the answer. There was music playing. Some  other high-profile band was performing and people were dancing where a  section had been cleared for just that purpose.

Mandy took Marcus's hand, her smile adventurous. "Let's dance."

Marcus grinned. He could be spontaneous too, his smile said. And Mandy  knew he could move surprisingly well. The music was upbeat, modern, and  seemed to put everyone in a party mood. Marcus and Mandy got on the  floor and for a few minutes, Mandy gave in to the music. When it slowed  into a classical number, she went into Marcus's arms readily. Her hands  on his shoulders and his on her waist, they moved easily to the waltz.

She looked up when she felt Marcus's gaze on her face. She wasn't sure  what she read in his eyes: regret, resignation, defeat? Could he tell  that even now all she could think of was Ethan and wishing he was the  one who held her in his arms?