Chapter 25

Leila POV

I walked through the foyer of Effigy, waving at the receptionist as she smiled at me, letting me through into the main offices and studios and made a beeline for Monicas office, passing a studio on the way.

"Lala"

I frowned backtracking "What are you doing here?"

"Denaun invited me to share some of my beats!" Alec said, voice laced with excitement.

Denaun nodded from next to him "Yeah Marshalls not in until later so I figured I could check them out and pass any the ones I like on to him"

"Get ready to see him fangirl like a 16-year-old" I joked rolling my eyes.

"I do not fangirl" Alec snorted.

"Good luck passing these beats on the fussy guts" I said with a small smile as I waved then continued to walk to Monica's office.

"Hey girl, won't be a sec" She said nodding to me as she finished on the phone.

I sat down pulling lunch out and sat it on the desk.

After finishing up she hung up the phone.

"Well, things have been crazy, Marshalls having personal half-day and won't be in till later and suddenly shit hits the fan"

Personal day?

Mr workaholic?

"Is he okay?"

"Oh yeah" She said and gave me a weird look "He's helping one of his daughters with something"

I nodded.

"So I see Alec is here" I said with a sly smile "Hows that going?"

"Your cousin is a kind-hearted funny man" She said with a smile "A little elusive emotionally sometimes but I understand he's busy"

"Elusive? Please that man is as transparent as glass"

She got up and closed the door and sat back down.

"Do you think he's into me?"

"He asked you out and you've bee on a couple of dates right, spent time together?"

"Well yes but in this day and age-"

"If he was just fucking you he wouldn't take you out to dinner, trust me" I said with a shrug "He actually had a range of emotions, when you get more comfortable together he'll show them"

"Ok, that's good... I think" she said with a nervous laugh.

"He hasn't been this interested in a woman for years, normally he's too busy fucking women and spending his money, but I guess you caught his attention, I'm happy for you both, I know I can't trust him to look after you and not break your heart, don't worry, trust me, he's into you"

She gave me a grin "I hope so, because, I'm really into him"

------

I was standing in the kitchen making dinner when I hear the front door open and close, and Alec's tall frame enters the room, throwing the keys on the bench sitting down.

"Wheres the fire?"

"He took some of my beats" Alec said in shock "Eminem liked my fucking beats, Lala, can you fucking believe that? Denaun just called me, said Marshall was excited to use them in an upcoming project"

"That's great, I'm so happy for you" I grinned spooning food into the bowl and placing it in front of him.

"I can't even believe it, I didn't even have the intention, Denaun kinda asked me out of the blue because Trick has said I produce beats as a hobby"

"Do you think he doing a new album?" I asked, squinting suspiciously.

"Who knows these days" Alec said, changing his expression to concerned "Hey Lala, I hear something today and I think you should know about it"

"Ok, shoot"

"Well Denaun was talking to Stella today, and she said that she and Marshall are no longer together, that she ended it, and I can't help to think that maybe she found out that Marshall stayed the night with you, maybe she thought he cheated?"

"What? She broke up with him?"

"Yeah the day after he was here"

I sat down on the stool next to him "Oh no no"

"What?"

"They broke up because of me"

He shrugged "Well maybe he told her he slept in bed with you? I know I would definitely break up with someone over that"

"I feel terrible, they were so into each other.."

Alec snorted "Lala please, this is music to your ears"

"No, not being the cause, you know my stance on that, I pride myself on bringing people to justice that cheat and now I'm going to b accused of breaking people up, Marshall didn't cheat"

"What are you going to do about it?"

I thought for a moment, sure I was glad I didn't have to see them together, but I felt guilty, I didn't know how this could have happened.

Well, I do but it wasn't as sinister as it sounded.

He wasn't a cheater and I jade to set it right, I had to fix this but how?

I sighed out loud and Alec looked at me "Maybe he broke up with her, I mean I did warn him"

"I don't know"

Silence fell again as we both sat there eating for a moment.

Alex cleared his throat and moved in his seat.

"What do you think of Monica?"

"I think she's great she's a beautiful intelligent woman"

"And you like her?"

I nodded "I've become close friends with her have I not?"

"Good because I think I'm gonna you know, see her more often, like I don't know maybe invite her to stay the night or something"

"I'm so glad, she really is amazing, and she could use a man like you in her life"

He smiled at me "Hey I wouldn't have met her if it wasn't for you, so thanks"

"I shouldn't have to say it but you hurt her and I will end you, and then give your body to Christian to feed his dogs"

He laughed holding his hands up in defence

"You have my word, Lala"

------

I stood at the counter waiting, thinking about what I would say.

I had set aside my pride to come and speak with Stella, if I didn't, I would have driven myself crazy.

My body of work was everything, cheating was something I was against, I didn't want Marshall going down for something he hadn't done.

"Leila, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to come to talk to you, about Marshall, you got a minute?"

She nodded and gestured for me to follow her into her office, and asked me to sit.

"I just wanted to clear a few things up" I said, then cleared my throat continuing "I heard you broke up with Marshall, I just want you to know that nothing happened between us, I make a living at catching cheater, I'm not one myself, and neither is Marshall, this is all a huge misunderstanding, Marshall stayed with me because I wasn't in a right mindset, he saw me after ingot attacked and... Well everything was a mess"

Stella let out a soft laugh "Leila it okay, I know nothing happened, I know it was innocent, I didn't break up with him because he was there with you"

"Oh, thank God because I've been beating myself up over it thinking I was the cause"

She thought for a moment still looking at me, tilting her head "We wanted different things, he needs someone that matches his energy... Something that been in front of him all this time, but I really appreciate you coming to try set things right, but it was mutual in the end"

I stood, at the same time she doesn't while she was walking me out, she turned and gave me a kind smile.

"Leila, there's a sky full of stars to light up the night, and he's only ever looking at you"

I looked at her confused as she nodded and went back to her office leaving me standing there.

What is she even taking about.