9. Paranoid

Briefly, Roger remembered Estella from the party from afar, but up close, she was even more gorgeous.

He met her warm rich eyes and long brown hair that framed her face beautifully when Estella waved at him and let them enter the theater.

Surprised when he saw Estella at the concert theater hall, it sure wasn't out of Roger's purview to ask why she was here-but Freddie interrupted in disbelief. "What are you doing here??"

"Exactly what it looks like." Estella casually brushed her hands down her dress.

Freddie smiled. "Stalking me for sexual favors?"

"I suppose you'd know all about that wouldn't you..." She blew him off with a wave of her hand before continuing in.

Freddie never expected to see Estella again... at least not so soon. Looking for her chocolate-brown eyes again, his heart raced, noting how even more attractive she seemed than last time.

"...I guess you're staying outside then?" Estella said to Freddie while Roger held the door open for her, who enjoyed the view of following behind her inside. Teasingly, Roger shut the door behind him and held it shut, keeping Freddie out.

Freddie flicked Roger off and tapped on the window to Estella. He tapped again, seeing Estella's silhouette tracing through the window and motioning for her to come to him.

Estella peered through the window at him with a sly smile on her face. She mouthed, "Come back later."

Roger let the door go and let Freddie in, laughing at Freddie and shoving him as they both followed Estella's every move inside. She wore a sleek black dress, brown hair wrapped around the edges of her shoulders.

"Give me a little love.." Freddie called to Estella through a cheeky smile. When she walked away from him, he didn't mind the view.

When Freddie stepped into the venue, he could practically feel the mic in his hand, the crowd cheering all the way to the highest overflows. He raised his brows when he passed a golden name plate on the wall that had her family name engraved on it.

Freddie caught up to her and leaned over Estella's shoulder, whispering into her ear from behind. She felt his breath on the back of her neck. "...So will I have to have sex with you to get what I want?" The words were spoken slowly, calmly and softly. They came out like a stream of dripping honey; something sensuous that made her stomach flip.

Estella walked ahead down the performance hall's steps. "Don't know what you're talking about."

"You know exactly what I am talking about." Freddie replied in a low, seductive voice. "Wasn't I clear?"

"No." Estella answered sternly, narrowing her eyes when she turned to face him.

Freddie didn't look surprised by this answer. "Alright then.." he shook his head before walking away from her, continuing his exploration.

He was dating Mary. But he had to admit... Estella was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. Dangerous and forbidden.

Roger and Freddie walked through the lobby of Estella's theater, catching a glimpse of the stage lighting. "So this is your place?" Roger asked, gazing up at the ceiling.

Estella nodded, poised in the lobby while they explored. "My mother insisted on a theater. She loves drama."

She shook her head and ran her fingers along the performance hall's walls, her black heels clicking ahead of them until they reached what looked like a stage door leading out onto where most people would sit.

Estella led them through the theater, her soft eyes darting around. As she turned on the lights, she felt Freddie's breath on her neck behind her.

She let out a long sigh, sitting down at an empty stage table and running her fingers through her hair as they looked around. Freddie settled into the chair across from hers and leaned toward her across the table, interest shining brightly in his brown eyes.

Freddie tilted his head curiously to one side, looking up at her, trying to read her.

"You're wrong." Estella smirked.

Freddie chuckled. "...About what?"

Estella looked directly into his eyes. "Whatever you're thinking."

Freddie laughed, looking up at her under long dark lashes with soft curious brown eyes. He softened his gaze and opened his mouth to speak, but Estella looked up at him for a moment before wiping emotions off her face.

She ran one hand through her hair then reached into her handbag, pulling out a card and leaving it on the table on her way out. "If you'd like to perform here, your management can make the arrangement."

"I'd rather talk to you." The seductive smile on Freddie's face spoke volumes.

He was used to getting what he wanted, but, in her signature fashion, Estella's hips swayed on her way out. "You'll get on just fine without me, Mr. Mercury."

The boys watched the door close behind Estella as she left when Roger turned to Freddie and raised a suspicious eyebrow. "I'd rather talk to you??"

"Yeah." Freddie nodded, casually glancing around the venue, wondering why Trident hadn't booked somewhere nice like this for them to perform. "She's a fun girl, did you see us?" he smiled.

Roger kept quiet until his silence annoyed Freddie. He let out a deep sigh.

"Roger you're being ridiculous—there's no harm in chatting her up. You're so paranoid."

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *

Mary, crossed legged on the couch, flipped through a newspaper, a photo captured of Freddie with her opposite, a gorgeous voluptuous brunette, confirming remarkable paranoia into her bloodstream.

More "work" less time for her-more time on the road with his bandmates-and whoever else...

Keeping his conversations to concerts or recording sessions; hardly ever touching on what he did out in the city anymore...

She threw a couch pillow at Freddie as soon as he walked through the door, bewildering him. "What the fuck??"

"Yes tell me what!" she clutched the newspaper again. "the photos in the paper???"

"Well what have you seen?" he joked to calm her down and took the newspaper from her hands. Mary didn't find it funny.

Thrilled to see Queen in the press, Freddie also saw a picture of himself with Estella that Mary didn't want anything to do with.

"Is this because we're celebrities now? Is that what you're all worked up about?" He joked.

"Tsk," Her cold shoulder turned away from him.

"Don't be ridiculous dear, this is nothing," Freddie shook his head, not sure how to phrase everything in his mind without sounding totally callous and indifferent. "Why can't you just be happy for me??"

She ignored him and left him in the living room, the only response she gave him were clattering dinner dishes on the other side of the kitchen door.

Freddie sighed, uneasy. "I don't know what to say. What do you want me to say?"

He looked down at the picture of his arms around Estella's waist, his hands resting on her stomach. He tilted the newspaper to let in some natural light from behind it, a twinge of guilt passing through him for the fact that there was more he wanted with her.