Chapter 4

The Lies Between Us

4 - Don't Let Me Catch You

Tait was sure he saw Lisie Moore running away at the sight of him. It was as if she got terrified the moment he looked at her.

He smirked to himself and thought that maybe she was in a hurry that she got no time to say Hi.

Still, it was cute. It's just too bad because he really wanted to chat.

As his feet made unhurried walks inside the party, his close friend Irene Kim greeted him for coming. She's one of his few "friends" who stuck with him when his career hit rock bottom. When he was at the top everyone wanted his attention but when he crashed, they don't want nothing to do with him. He smirked, seems like the only way to find out if a person genuinely cares is that if he or she sticks with you until you're rat poor.

Maybe it was a good idea to be back after all now that he's gotten a lot wiser from experience.

When he closed their distance they both beamed at each other and then he saw another model running away as if she's looking for someone.

"Congratulations, Irene." He greeted when he reached her. He saw her calling the model back but shrugged when said model did not turn her back.

"Thank you. I'm glad you made it." The fashion icon said giving him a friendly kiss on the cheek. Dragging him away from the nosy crowd wanting to hear their small talk. "So I heard you're finally back."

Tait made a face. He couldn't believe that his sister made him accept the part.

*what happened last night...

He was peacefully watching an episode of Hero Academy while enjoying his snacks when the penthouse door was slammed open revealing his brat of a sister.

She removed her Chanel sling bag from her shoulder and tossed it harshly on his stomach making him get up from the couch like he'd waken up to a nightmare.

"You think your art crap can pay all the debts you owe dad's company?"

"This isn't the warm welcome I was expecting. Good to see you, sis."

She ignored him and threw him a couch pillow. Which hurt because it hit his head pretty hard.

"When you said you're going to work things out, I expected to see you work like a dog not slack your ass off!"

They're not really blood related but his dad married her mom when they were both five. And from then on they treat each other like they're real siblings.

So he wasn't exactly surprised she was acting like this. Maybe a little because she's busted him out earlier than expected.

"Jane, I'll pay you and dad in less than a year." He sighed pausing his anime. Before he got home his family has paid for the damages the scandal had caused him. It was a huge fight between him and his dad. And in the end, he conceded and accepted his faults and their help.

"Oh no no no. If you think 10 Billion dollars is easy to earn in a year with your art then you're dreaming. You're going back to Star Avenue. You're going to bag Princetown and you're going to act again."

Tait's eyes widened hearing what came out his sister's mouth.

"How did you... It's that dwarf is it." He concluded mentally cursing Jeremy.

"Jim was just concerned. You never get out this place ever since you got back."

Tait was secretly panicking because he could feel this argument will be over as soon as it started. He hates it whenever his sister owns the conversation.

"I'll never come back. No matter what you say, you can't make me." He retorted. Sometimes his own sister scares him. The way she can manipulate anyone is beyond reason.

"I'll put dad's company in your name then."

That did it. It was like a canon ball launched in mid air aiming for his head.

"Hello Jim tell the producers I'll accept the part." He called Jim on his phone before his sister could successfully give him a heart attack.

--------------------------

"I was forced to."

"I'm sure you'd do well. Princetown is going to be big and speaking of which, you're leading lady is here... I was just talking to her friend earlier...they came together..."

He watched Irene search for Lis and as they were both busy surveying the crowd, someone caught his attention.

Her hand was already on his arm when he looked at her.

"Tait..."

Yana spoke, her eyes full of hope.

He knew this day would come, in fact he looked forward to the day that they'll see each other again so he can officially end it. But it didn't seem like a good place to talk it out.

"I didn't know you were invited" He started sounding aloof.

"Well, I knew you were." She said stepping into his space when he created distance.

"Good to see you." Tait replied coldy trying to leave her in place. But she was fast to catch up.

"Hey can we talk..."

Tait ignored her and continued his pace. He saw someone he knew from one of the tables.

"Tait please!" Yana called gaining attention from the guests.

Tait kept his composure and stepped back to warn her.

"Not here, Yana."

He knew from the moment she touched his skin that there were no feelings of bitterness anymore. His attachment to her that he interpreted as love was long gone. The only thing he needs from her was closure.

That was why it was not a surprise when she pulled him forcefully towards her. Yana didn't like being ignored.

"Don't do Princetown...please."

"What's this, Yana? I don't think that's any of your business."

Tait noticed the circle in her eyes and the hollow of her once healthy cheeks. She has lost weight and it was even more noticeable because of the dress she picked tonight.

"Can't you see how miserable I was when you left? Why did you leave!"

"I'm not you're fucking puppet anymore." Tait almost rolled his eyes. Why didn't he notice this before? The way she acted was childish and as much as he wanted to care for her like he did before, he knew it will only be useless. For loving someone who doesn't so much love herself is self-destructive, toxic and livid.

"If I can't have you, no one will. And I can assure you, no one will make you feel it the same way you felt it from me." She warned in a hush whisper.

"How much drink did you have, Yana?" He asked ignoring her antics. He knew better that it's all for show.

"I'm fine." Yana was delighted with the concern Tait was showing her. It meant a lot to her.

"You should go home," He said making her lips twist in disappointment. She was annoyed that his reaction wasn't as she was expecting.

"Tait..."

"We'll talk. But not tonight." He said his words with finality. And before she could add anything, Tait was already out of her grasp.

He felt a whole lot better after talking to her.

Irene Kim's party became the talk of the town the next day. Tait Kingston and Lis Moore's appearance made it even more pronounced. But his confrontation with his ex made their relationship a lot complicated as people still strongly believe that it's far from over for the two of them.

When Tait got back from his early morning jog, he found Jeremy back in the penthouse making out with his girlfriend on the couch.

He made a face when he saw them going passionately with each others' mouths. He grunted and went on to the kitchen to drink his protein shake.

"Tait, you're back!" Jim's voice shook when he called him. It was obvious he was ashamed of what his best friend had witnessed seconds earlier.

Tait couldn't help but smirk when he noticed a faint blush on Rian's face.

Rian Yoo was a beauty queen from Korea. He still couldn't believe his best friend ended up with his sworn enemy. Their love story was quite a roller coaster and looking back it was hard to believe that these two would be inseparable love sick idiots sucking face so early in the morning.

"Yeah"

"Rian's just visiting. She'll stay with Aunt Kris back in West Lake."

"You're mom's in West Lake?" Tait turned to Jim's girl.

"Mm. She's meeting my new agent." She cleared her throat before speaking. "Can I use the bathroom?" She excused herself too embarrassed of what they were caught doing. She didn't even wait for any of the boys' response and took off.

Then Jim cleared his throat when she's already out of sight. "Sorry about that..."

"Nah man, that's normal..." Tait bit his cheek to keep from smiling. It was the first time this happened between them. They were both experts in keeping their relationships private and even when he was serious with Yana, it never came to a point when Jim witnessed how intimate they were...

He didn't expect he'd enjoy seeing their reactions now.

"So...you're really back now huh?" Jim said quickly averting the topic to his career.

"You think I'd forgive you quickly after what you told my sister?"

"It was a slip!"

"Man, you're tongue really likes to slip."

Jim groaned at his banter. He felt more embarrassed now that Tait's making fun of him.

"Don't let me catch you when it's your turn."

"I think I'll be single for a while so good luck."

The doorbell rang seconds later and Jim already made his way up to his room. He was sure Rian would never show her face after their passionate encounter this morning.

So Tait ended up getting the door. At first, he didn't recognize his face and why this person was standing by his door that day when he realized Jane hired him a new manager.

"Tait Kingston?" A tall lean guy, with a baggy shirt and loose pants asked.

"Yes?"

The man with twin dimples smiled so warmly at him. "Nash Rayman, you're new manager." He reached out his hand to Tait and invited himself in.

"Nice place you got here." The new guy commented.

"I'm sharing the place with my man, Jim Cross." Tait added while scrutinizing Nash Rayman's choice of clothing. He didn't look like the typical manager. Normally, managers would arrange a meeting in closed doors and offer him a 10 page contract stating the terms and conditions but this guy looked more like a rap god than a business manager.

"Do you guys every throw parties here..."

"Er...I've been away for about two years so I don't know with Jim..." He contemplated for a while and thought Jim likes to socialize but he's not the type to throw big parties especially when he wasn't around.

"That's good. It'll be best for you to stay away from too much noise after what happened."

Tait was already making him a drink when he paused. "Did Jane tell you what happened?"

"Yeah. She told me everything. We're cousins."

"Huh, that figures. You're not only my manager but you're also related to my sis. Damn, it'll be difficult to get rid of you." Tait half-joked. If Jane did this to him before, he'll probably put up a fight because he didn't like being controlled. His family likes control and that was the main reason he pursued acting in the first place.

But after the traumatic incident his previous manager did to him 3 years ago, he couldn't trust himself to look for a decent one.

"Damn straight, dude. By the way, we have an 11 o' clock. We're meeting with the director and your stylist for the movie. You should get ready, oh and I already emailed your schedule for the next three months. You should be good...hmm what else...oh yeah, the contract will arrive next week."

"Am I supposed to expect that I'll see you ever so often?"

"Why? What's wrong with my face?"

He chuckled at his attitude. He was starting to like the guy. "I'm not sure if you believe what they say about me out there, but I'm different behind that bad boy image."

"Yeah, Jane already told me you have a boring personality. I could deal with that."

Tait gasped at his bluntness.

"Anyway, I'm not always going to be around as often as you expected. I'm used to managing athletes but never celebrities so I'm going to trust you with a bodyguard."

"A bodyguard?" Tait gaped at him in disbelief. Yeah, it was a good idea for a relative to be his manager but a bodyguard? In all his years in show business, he's never gotten a bodyguard.

"He's at the lobby. I'll send him in now so you can officially meet."

Nash Rayman took something from his fridge and pour himself a glass of water which made Tait raise his eyebrow.

"I still have some brewed coffee," He offered but Nash refused politely.

"It was really great meeting you Tait, I'm sure by now you could tell that I'm not the type of person who beats around the bush. I always tell it like it is..."

Tait looked at his guest in amusement. "And?"

"Let's get some things settled." Nash smirked at him like he was the villain and showed his forefinger. "First, stop seeing your ex."

"That's easy." Tait scoffed.

"Second, don't accept any offers without it getting through me."

"Does marriage proposals also count coz I get dozens of those everyday and it gets difficult as the babes get more and more beautiful each day..." Tait muttered which Nash ignored.

"Lastly...you have a very beautiful costar..."

Tait clicked his tongue when he remembered seeing Lis that night. He couldn't argue more because she was not only beautiful but she's classy as well.

"What about her?"

Nash looked at him like he's figured him out.

"You have a rep to make your costars fall for you."

"I don't think she'll fall for me."

"Yeah but you might."

Tait gulped before laughing at Nash's assumption. He'd love to say she's not even close to his usual type at all but then, Lis Moore surprises him with every chance she gets.

"Please avoid developing feelings for Lisette Moore. I get she's new at this and you'll feel the same since you were on a long break so it's going to be easy to relate to her once the cameras stop rolling."

"That's true but I don't think you should worry about that aspect. You already know I just got out from a very toxic relationship. Getting into one would be my least priority." Tait poured his own glass of water.

"Besides, I don't like our fans celebrating my relationship just because our ship became real. If I'd ever fall for her, that would be the most unprofessional thing I'd ever do. I'd quit being an actor first before falling for her."

"I just hope you won't eat your words soon, man." Nash held out his hand and Tait shook on it.

"I don't think she's worth it. She's just a model."

"Why don't you tell that to me after the movie premieres."

To Be Continued...