30 - the eavesdrop

West Hollywood, Los Angeles

"I'm so confused. Please answer my questions and I won't have to speak to you ever again... if you don't want me to."

"What if you're pregnant?"

"Gia... Please. I can't sleep."

"I hope you're alright. I love you."

Michael rolled his eyes to the ceiling as he kept deleting the never ending voicemails, mindlessly tapping his finger on the button over and over again. As much as the plan made sense in the beginning, it seemed like his problem was bigger now. Gia didn't satisfy Brock. She made him completely smitten.

He heard her voice from the living room with the morning cartoons on and the morning sunshine spilling throughout the luxurious house. "Aiden, what sound does a train make?"

"Choo choo!"

"What sound does Luna make?"

"Meoooow."

"What sound does daddy make?"

"Heehee!"

Michael's heart nearly burst into pieces hearing that. He left the bedroom and made his way down the staircase. Giovanna was sitting on the couch with Aiden on her lap smoothing his tight curls out with a brush. She refused to ever cut it and Michael didn't want her too anyway. 

"You're so smart baby boy," she cooed as she tied his hair in a bun.

There was a clanking sound in the kitchen as the stranger searched through Giovanna's culinary sets. The sound of her voice made Michael want to puke. "When are you going to cut his hair? He looks like a girl."

"And you look like a man," he clapped back swiftly.

"Is that why you've been checking me out? Interesting," Vanessa smirked and plopped down on the couch, changing the channel to the morning news and the sight of her alone made him want to choke her to death. 

She had interrupted their movie bonding the night. Giovanna groaned into Michael's chest as they laid together in his grand bed in Neverland as the phone rang for the 57th time.

"I think you should pick it up, baby."

"But it's our night, Michael" she whined, trying to cling on to the actual time she had with him. His music and tour plans consumed him daily and it was only a matter of time before he had to go back. They continued to watch the James Bond film until it the phone vibrated once again.

Michael swiftly picked it up before she could protest. He cleared his throat and used a disguised lower tone. "Hello?"

Gia looked up at him and watched the corners of his mouth form into a scowl. He hung up without saying another word.

"Who was it?" she asked as he placed the phone on the night stand on his side this time.

He inhaled, smoothing his hair behind his ear and plastering a fake smile. "No one, Frecks. Let's just watch the film."

She stared at him as he refused to look at her, attempting to keep his eyes glued to the screen and off the voice he had just heard through the call. Suddenly Giovanna reached over Michael's chest and snatched the cellphone from the table and slid off the bed before Michael could react. She walked to the bathroom hearing Michael suck his teeth behind her, but as soon as she heard him get up she rushed to through the sliding bathroom door, locking it behind her before he could get to the doorknob.

He grunted her name, rattling the knob left and right with no avail. "Gia she's going to use you like she's always done, hang up the phone."

She leaned against the sink in her silk panties, crossing her arms as she listened to the voice pick up on the first ring.

"Michael I swear if you don't put Giovanna on the phone I will slice your throat in your slee--"

"Vanessa..." Gia breathed, taken aback by the sound of her voice. She couldn't remember the last time she heard it... the time she showed up at her house while Gia was 8 months pregnant seemed so long ago.

There was a silence before Gia heard the crack in her voice. She was... crying?

"I'm in so much trouble Gia please let me inside... the security wouldn't let me come to your gates. They don't know who I am."

"What happened?!"

"I'd tell you but this phone isn't a burner. I think he found me again. I'm bleeding on my face real bad--"

"Woah woah woah, wait. He hurt you?!"

"Gia... you know I can't go to the police, my ass is grass."

Michael's muffed words came through the door and he was clearly pissed. 

Gia glanced at the door and attempted too make quick decisions. "I'll be there in two hours. Let them know I said Mia. That's the code word to let you in, ok?"

"Ok."

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Michael cut his eyes at Giovanna, shrugging at him as she lifted Aiden up in her arms and handed him over. "Here. Your responsibility." 

Before he could even utter a protest at her walking away, she turned to him. Even past all of her beauty you could tell exhaustion was taking over. "What are you gonna do about it, hm? Pimp me out to her too?"

"... Pimp?! Why the dramatics?!"

She continued outside and Michael let her be upset. Her anger will pass anyway, it always does.

Aiden smacked his lips and observed his father's tension melt at the sight of him, the worry in his stare turn into joy. Michael kissed his baby cheek, whispered Good Morning in his ear, and carried him with him upstairs. He walked past Vanessa chewing potato chips obnoxiously as she watched this week's weather report. "Hey, Michael," she chirped, cocking her head.

"What?"

"Still popping?" she asked with a sinister smile as Michael didn't quite understand her question. "Come on, you know what I'm talking about. Still want some? I've got a lot." She reached into the pocket of her pajama pants and revealed the prescription bottle in her palm, rattling the pills inside.

Michael snatched the bottle out of her hand reading the label with alarmed eyes as Aiden rested his head in the crane of his father's neck looking timidly at the stranger. "Daddy..."

"I'll even give you a discount," she winked, making the money sign with her fingers of her hands.

"Unbelievable," he scowled, throwing the bottle back on the couch. He heard Vanessa's chuckle as he made his way back to the master bedroom, groaning at the red light on the telephone receiver. More voicemails.

The phone rang and Michael picked up screaming into it. "One more call and I'm reporting you to the police for harassment, okay fucknut?! Leave her alone."

An unfamiliar voice spoke on the other end. "Mr. Jackson, are you going through a crisis?"

"... I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, feeling Aiden pull on his hair for Michael's undivided attention. "May I ask who's calling? Giovanna is outside."

"I wanted to speak to you. Who were you screaming at?"

"Aiden," he mumbled sternly, pulling the toddler's tiny fist from his hair. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear your name."

"This is Detective Karl Smith from the Los Angeles Police Department."

He paused, growing apprehensive. "Have any of you found anything about the person who tried to assassinate my wife? We paid for the best legal team only to result in dead ends."

"Mr. Jackson, I understand your frustration but that is not my department. We are looking for someone connected to your wife. Do you have any knowledge--"

Michael cut him off before he can even involve him into whatever mess they were trying to pull. It's not that Michael hated the police, but he definitely have grown skeptical since they raided his home for lies and bullshit. "Giovanna is outside... I can get her for you."

"I think it's better if we talked to you first."

"No thanks," he replied, hanging up the phone abruptly before the conversation could continue. Gia's giggles came throw the window and Michael peeped through the shades, watching her and Vanessa roll around in the grass as she tried to escape Vanessa's tickles.

Gia struggled trying to get away from her fingers. "Vanessa I'm laughing but I'm actually going to kill you. Stop!"

She pouted. "Why? Is your little boyfriend going to cry about it?"

As soon as the words boyfriend left Vanessa's mouth, Gia's eyes went dark. Her foot struck Vanessa in the stomach, making her wheeze as she clutched her stomach on the ground. Gia stood up and smoothed out her shirt. "I told you not to talk about him. He's my husband."

Michael smirked at how cute she was defending him. He couldn't care less about an ex-convict-druggie opinion, but it was nice seeing Gia proud of him.

"You're such a bitch."

"I'm a bitch with a roof over my head and money in my bank accounts. You're a bitch who practically lives in her car." The two stared at each other as the lighthearted mood completely came to a halt. Giovanna immediately regretted the words as soon as they flew out of her mouth. Why did she say all of that?

"You must've been dying waiting to throw that in my face. And you know something? Even with all of that classism high society wealthy bullshit you're trying to use as some clout, I'm still happier than you. You don't even know how dead your eyes look. Yeah, I'm fucked up, I'm real fucked up, but you, Gia..."

Giovanna's mouth grew into a scowled as she watched her old friend stomp back inside, brushing past Michael grumbling words under her breath.

"Vanessa?!" she snapped, attempting to take her words back but Michael wrapped his fingers around the small of her waist before she past him.

"No," he said flatly. "Just let her be. Can you come over tonight, wife? Can we sleep together tonight like the married couple we are? I'm going back to work soon."

Gia's nodded automatically, still eying through the door of Vanessa storming upstairs. "Sure. Vanessa has to come with me though."

"That's a lost cause because I will never allow that woman in my house."

"And I won't leave her here alone." She tugged onto his shirt, letting out an innocent whine to get what she wants. "Please Michael, pleaseeee. Just for tonight. You say your house as if it's not an entire city. You'll forget she's even there!"

"... Frecks, no."

"Please. Blowjob included... a token of my gratitude."

Michael dodged the offer, trying not to let his hormones change his mind. "The police called."

Gia's face froze. "Did they find..." she asked, not even being able to say it. Every time the incident was mentioned her mind goes right to Brock.

"No, I think they're looking for Vanessa. They tried to get me to talk but--"

"They mentioned her name?!" Gia asked, alarm in her eyes.

"No. But my gut feels like she's who they're talking about. Meaning she's not entering my house. It's bad enough she's around Aiden with her... stench."

"Then I'm not going!"

He shrugged. "Okay. Then don't. Me and Aiden are having our own party, right Aiden?"

Aiden only wined in Michael's arms, pointing to the ground to walk again. Michael groaned and let him down. "Unloyal."

"So, Vanessa can come, yeah?"

"That blowjob better be world class. VSOP. Top shelf, Giovanna... Giovanna?!" he called as she walked away. "My balls too."

"Is your asshole included? I know you like that," she winked.

He groaned, forgetting he even mentioned the Lisa situation to her. "Whatever."

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Neverland

Michael's staff opened the grand doors to his Neverland home as the four walked past the doors as the maids quietly greeted Mrs. Jackson, always pleased to be in her pleasant presence. Vanessa rolled her suitcase behind her with widened eyes at Michael's fantasy atmosphere with Aiden trying his hardest to keep up next to her. Michael frowned at his baby so close to his nemesis and quickly swooped him up in his arms as if Vanessa had the plague.

They continued until they reached her designated room for the weekend. Gia rolled her eyes. Of course petty Michael chose the smallest guest bedroom in the home.

"Okay," he said, turning the knob. "This is your room. No eating, no touching, no looking, no breathing."

"Oh, eat my ass," Vanessa scowled, throwing her small suitcase on top of the perfectly made king sized bed. 

Gia reached and hit her arm. "Stop."

"Tell him to stop!" she returned, rubbing her now throbbing arm.

"Tell him to stop." Michael mocked, amused at her childish plea.

"Michael, may Vanessa and I have a moment?" Gia asked, her eyes darting between Michael and Aiden in his arms.

Michael shrugged and shifted Aiden to his other arm. "I have business to attend to anyway."

"God he's such a female. And not the kind that turns me on," Vanessa dug into her side pocket for her pack of Spirits and shook the box, the cancer sticks rattling in her palms. Vanessa chuckled, pulling a cigarette out with her teeth. "Can I smoke outside? Or?"

Giovanna smacked the cigarette box out of her hands and snatched it off the ground before she could reach. "Do you know Michael will break my neck if he caught you with these in his house?!"

"Geez, break your neck, Gia? Is Michael the Massa of the house or something? Is Massa gonna put me back out on the fields too?!"

Gia took the cigarette out from between her lips and broke it in half, ignoring Vanessa's gasp of disbelief. "You know what I mean. The police called my house."

"What did you say?!"

"I never spoke to them. Michael had the phone... and no he didn't snitch. You just need to lay low here for a second."

"Is your husband on board with that?"

"He will be."

Vanessa walked to the window and observed the grand view of the ranch. Despite the beauty around her, the future she has created, her past wouldn't seem to leave her alone. "That man has so much dirt on me. And all the police are gonna view me as is just one of his pimped out dirty, sleazy prostitutes that did all his dirty work. He got busted and now he's telling everything."

"Everything everything Ness?" Gia fearfully asked, memories of her turbulent years with Vanessa flashing in her mind.

She tried everything to get Vanessa out of the game but she kept running in circles. Drugs and crime, drugs and crime, drugs and crime despite all of the offers Giovanna provided. There was a time where she devoted her career to Vanessa... but she was too hooked to the lifestyle and that will always be her demise.

"Everything everything. Some sort of police deal... I can get put up for murder, Giovanna."

"But you were forced to! It was fucking self defense!"

Vanessa plopped down on the bed next to her open, tangled suitcase and pressed her head in the pillow. "Doesn't matter. Was never reported."

"But..." Gia blinked, feeling her eyes moisten.

"I think I'm going to take a nap. I'll be up for dinner."

Gia sighed and nodded, sauntering out of the room to leave her alone. Everything was so overwhelming.

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10:52 pm, Neverland

Vanessa hazily walked through the dimmed hallways of the property trying hopelessly to find the kitchen in one of Giovanna's silk lingerie gowns. She yawned, moving one of her wispy hairs from her top knot out of her face. She had slept longer than she intended to and she was so hungry it felt like a burning pit in her stomach. She needed food. And also her cigarettes.

As she crossed the library she heard Michael's angry voice through the door, a voice she only heard with her. 

"Again, I would like to know who tried to assassinate my wife. I don't believe it was 'just some crazy kid' with a gun like that. I don't know about guns but I know that wasn't something you can buy at a California gun shop."

Vanessa's eyes widened as her nervousness increased. She heard footsteps around the room too heavy to be Giovanna's. He was pacing listening to the detective on the phone.

"Mr. Jackson, there is no record of any sort of affiliation or conspiracy. The man is dead now. Please find peace."

"Death is not what I call reparations, officer. We have a family now. We can't be living in fear... Giovanna is afraid to even think about making another public appearance."

"We have tried everything."

Vanessa saw a shadow in the distance and jumped, her arm hitting against the door and she silently cursed once she realized it was only Gia's bengal, Luna.

There was a pause in his footsteps and Michael fell silent. "I have to go."

Vanessa heard the beep for the end of the phone call as his footsteps approached the door. She immediately ran, trying to get some distance away so it wouldn't look like she was eavesdropping. Until she heard the phone ring again.

"Hello? It's he," Michael answered, becoming distracted again. "Oh hey Debbie."

Vanessa tip toed back, trying to get more information.

His temper faded as his voice cracked with joy, turning back to his angelic tone again. "Oh m-my god, r-really? You'll do this for me? Are you serious?!"

This time the phone wasn't on speaker and Vanessa decided this wasn't worth her time anymore, until Giovanna was brought up again.

"I haven't discussed it with Giovanna yet.. I know, I know. I will... What? I'm sure she'll be okay with it... Of course. Why would she be upset with you? She likes you a lot, after all of the time you were there for her during the... thing." Michael cleared his throat uncomfortably. He never was able to say the word miscarriage out of his mouth even months after. 

"I'm actually kind of afraid to talk to her. How can I even ask?"

Vanessa tightened her eyebrows, trying to figure out Michael's secret with this Debbie mystery woman.

"Me too. I think another child will bring her out of her depression."

"...Oh shit," Vanessa mouthed, the side of her face nearly smushed against the door at this point.

"Ok. I'll update you with what she says. Thanks again, Debbie. I owe you so much."

Vanessa heard the end of the phone call and waited for Michael to exit, having no fear to face him now. 

Michael turned the knob and found Vanessa with crossed arms and a sneer across her face. Michael jumped back, clutching his collar like he had just seen a ghost.

"Scared, Michael?"

He frowned, closing the door behind the two. "With that face who wouldn't be?"

"I understand. Secrets make me anxious too. That's why I don't keep them."

Fuck, fuck, fuck, Michael screamed in his head as he stared at her, trying to keep it cool. 

Vanessa twiddled her fingers sarcastically, enjoying every moment of this. "Especially from the woman I love. And definitely to the woman I'm married to."

"You don't know what you heard," Michael challenged, trying to create a bluff. "And you're also known to be a compulsive liar. Gia would never believe you over me."

She pursed her lips. "That would be true until I mention the name Debbie. I don't know who Debbie is but it seems like she does, and she knows that I don't. How could I be lying then? Tread carefully with me, Michael," she warned, walking away. Michael observed the tattoo on the back of her neck. Giovanna it read in a neat script. Her loyalty to Gia was unmeasurable and Michael found himself alone and already sweating.

At the end of the hall, she faced him again. "Where's the kitchen, Michael? I think I should know since this will be my home for a while. Right?" she inquired, already knowing he had no choice but to make this her safehouse. All because she had over heard his conversation.

"T-to the left," he stuttered, trying to sort his thoughts. Michael couldn't believe this. Vanessa, of all people, has made him vulnerable. He had to tell Gia before Vanessa could.

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A real messy bitch. A liar. A SCAMMER. 

I'm back babes!!! - V