Chapter Twelve

Better Than Revenge

Chapter 12

“What?” I screeched, wrinkling my nose in disgust. “Are you serious? Why do I have to do it with him? Can’t it be with Jake? Or Savannah? Or even the Creeper?”

I called the creepy man who played my father the Creeper. His name was actually John Wahlam, but that just wasn’t as amusing as the Creeper.

My manager, Lily Kasser, who I’d taken a liking to right from the moment I was introduced to her a few days ago, looked amused as she answered. “You know why, Sophia. He’s your leading man. It only makes sense that he does it with you.”

I had been afraid my manager would be someone I couldn’t stand, but luckily, Lily was easy to get along with and she was great at her job. Plus, she was patient with me and didn’t get mad when I protested—which was often, admittedly. There was too much publicity involved and too much of it involved Christian. I couldn’t help myself.

I groaned loudly. “Why do people keep saying that? Isn’t there some other way of saying it? I hate it. ‘Leading man.’ ‘Leading lady.’ Gross.”

She chuckled as she considered it. “No, I don’t think so…” she trailed of, mulling it over for a moment more.

“Do I have to do this?” I whined, sounding a lot like the kind of girls that annoyed me all of a sudden. I complained a lot, yes, but I didn’t whine like Tori often did. There was a difference!

“Yes, Sophia, you do. But don’t think of it as a bad thing,” Lily said, putting an arm around me as she led me to my trailer. “Being on Janet Wilde is a great thing. It’s an honor. How many girls your age can say they were invited onto that show?”

“I am honored,” I told her, and I was being honest. I really was honored. I was used to watching that show with Tori back in the day, not being featured on it. This was amazing. “And I do think it’s great. I’d just rather not have to do it with Christian.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s too late to change that, anyways,” she said with a grimace. “I couldn’t even if I tried. The announcements have already been made and there are millions of Christian Ryder fans and Kidnap My Heart fans that are anxiously awaiting this.”

I sighed in defeat. “Darn it.”

“Oh, and speaking of this… Frank told me to tell you he needs to speak with you.”

“Frank?” I repeated, puzzled. “Who’s Frank?”

“Frank Renaldo, Christian’s manager,” Lily clarified.

“Oh!” I cried, the light bulb in my head flickering. “I remember him now. Well, I’ve never actually met him, but I remember that Christian mentioned him.”

Lily nodded. “Let’s head over to Christian’s trailer to see what Frank needed to talk about,” she suggested, motioning for me to follow her.

“Fine, I guess.”

I didn’t really want to go over there. I had a feeling that whatever Frank Renaldo wanted to discuss with me wasn’t going to be pleasant. It would probably have something to do with Christian, since Frank was his manager. Anything to do with Christian was always unpleasant for me.

I followed Lily as she made her way over to Christian’s trailer that was, sadly, right next to mine. She knocked on the door to his trailer politely, completely unlike me when I had to knock on his door.

After a few moments, Christian opened the door. Unfortunately for my poor, poor eyes, he was shirtless.

“Gross.” I wrinkled my nose. “Go put on a shirt. I don’t need to see your moobs.”

He looked extremely offended. I guess I touched a weak spot. “I don’t have moobs!”

“Sure you don’t. Is Frank here? Apparently he needed to talk to me,” I stated in a bored voice. I just wanted to go back to my trailer and take a nap. I hoped this would be quick.

“Yeah, he’s in here,” Christian said, moving out of the way and letting Lily and me in reluctantly. He was probably still thinking about the moob comment, I guessed, because he had a weird look on his face.

“Phew,” I muttered to myself when I saw Frank.

“What?” Christian asked curiously.

“He’s wearing a shirt, so I don’t think you two were having a ‘party of two’, as I first suspected when you answered the door,” I explained, the corners of my lips twitching upwards at the mental image. Gross, yet funny.

It took a few seconds for Christian to get it. “Ugh,” he said, making a face. “Stop talking.”

I managed to stop the smile that threatened to show itself on my features.

“Now, this is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about,” Frank Renaldo said grimly, standing up from his seat in Christian’s trailer.

“Is it now?” I challenged, already disliking him for some reason. I think it was the soul patch. Or maybe it was the hairy mole on the side of his chin…

“Yes,” Frank said firmly. “I’m going to have to ask you—no, I’m going to have to demand that you refrain from making those kinds of comments when you and Christian are featured on Janet Wilde in four days. Millions of people watch Janet Wilde. We’re not having that.”

“You’re demanding that I refrain from making those kinds of comments?” I repeated, not quite believing what I was hearing.

Was he being serious? Did he honestly just say that to me? Did he really believe he had the power to control me in that way? He had to be kidding me.

By the look on Christian’s face, I could tell that he was the only one who understood that this talk was not going to work out. He realized this could only end in disaster.

“Yes,” Frank said haughtily, puffing out his chest. “Although you may think you’re being witty and clever, in reality you’re just being rude and obnoxious. And we are not having that on national television. Not if I can help it.”

“No, I’m being witty and clever and rude and obnoxious,” I corrected with a smug smile. “That’s the beauty of it, my friend.”

He shot me an irritated look. “I couldn’t care less. You are not making a fool of Christian on national television again. I couldn’t stop you the first time, but this time, I will.”

I laughed, remembering how I had accidentally done that before. I hadn’t even meant to. Well, I kind of had, but at the same time I kind of hadn’t. “Ahh, good times.”

“This isn’t funny,” Frank snapped in irritation. “Those videos went viral. Christian was ridiculed for a week after that little stunt of yours. It’s not happening again.”

“I thought there was no such thing as bad publicity?” I quipped, raising an eyebrow at him.

Frank scowled at me. “Don’t test me, Sophia Hastings. You’re not going to make a fool out of him this time. Not on my watch.”

I loved how Frank talked about Christian as if he wasn’t standing right there. If I were Christian, I’d be pretty annoyed at Frank by then.

“And who the hell do you think you are, telling me what to do?” I demanded angrily. “I’m not a child you can control. I’m eighteen; I’m an adult. You have no say in anything I choose to do or choose not to do. Got it?”

“When your actions involve Christian, I do have a say in what you do or don’t do,” Frank snapped.

“He might let you control him, but you’re not my manager,” I epmphazised. “I have no reason to listen to some freak old man with a soul patch. The 60’s are over, grandpa. The hippie look isn’t in anymore. You just look like a stoner.”

He glowered at me. “Listen here, you little—”

“Go to hell,” I snapped, whipping around and storming out of Christian’s trailer.

I wasn’t even ten feet away from the trailer when I felt a hand on my arm. When I turned to see who was holding onto me, I saw that it was Frank.

“Let go of me,” I seethed, trying to twist out of his grip.

“Not so fast,” he said through gritted teeth.

When I deduced he wasn’t budging or cooperating, I used a trick my father had taught me a few years ago, bending Frank’s arm painfully and twisting out of his grip.

Frank cursed out loud.

“Sophia, please cooperate,” Lily said into my ear as I smiled smugly at Frank, who was currently in the fetal position on the floor, holding his arm close to him. “I know Frank is being an ass, but believe me, it’s in everyone’s best interest for you to try to make an effort to control your mouth.”

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. “I’ll try to control my mouth. But I make no promises!”

***

“You’re supposed to go in first,” Christian whispered to me.

“No, you’re supposed to go in first,” I corrected in a low voice, shaking my head.

“No, they specifically said—”

“No, they didn’t, they—”

“Would you let me talk?” he snapped in annoyance.

“Would you let me talk?” I retorted, placing a hand on my hip.

“I hate it when you do that!” he whispered furiously.

“Yeah, and I hate you, period!” I whispered back.

We were backstage, just seconds before going on the show, and we were already fighting like cats and dogs.

This was clearly going to be a disaster. I warned Lily, though, and Frank knew what he was getting Christian into! They couldn’t blame us for what was to come!

“Why are you so rude?” Christian asked, shaking his head.

“Why are you so ugly?”

“I’m not ugly!” he cried immediately. “Why do you keep saying that?”

“Um, maybe because it’s true? You’re ugly. Do you need me to say it differently?”

I shook my head sadly. He was so slow.

“No,” he snapped.

“Here,” I said, ignoring him. “If ugliness was a crime… you’d definitely get the death penalty.”

“You can’t honestly believe I’m ugly,” Christian exclaimed, trying to control the volume of his voice. “I mean, look at me.” He gestured towards himself vainly.

I looked at him with a blank expression on my face. “I’m looking. Was something supposed to happen? Some moment of revelation that was supposed to occur?”

He rolled his eyes. “Shut up. You know I’m not ugly.”

“Lies.” My eyes widened and I randomly exclaimed, “Ohmygod!”

“What?”

“Christian, thanks to you, I now understand what’s people mean when they say you're dark and handsome!"

Christian looked smug. “I knew you would eventually.”

“It means that when it’s dark, you’re handsome!”

The smug look on his face disappeared. “I hate you.”

I felt like laughing at that moment. The look of hatred he gave me was just too good.

Now, I knew, admittedly, that Christian wasn’t ugly. I had eyes, after all. He wasn’t Hollywood’s biggest heartthrob for nothing. I was just blinded by my hatred for him. To me, his inner blackness reflected his outer appearance. All I could see was the horrible person I knew he was on the inside.

“I’m seriously not that bad,” Christian insisted, unfortunately for me. I thought he had dropped it already. He then lowered voice. “If you hadn’t been so rude to me right from the start, I would’ve been nice to you. I’m actually a nice guy.”

I bit my lip to keep myself from saying anything I would regret later. “You just don’t get it.”

“I don’t—”

“Let’s just drop it, okay?” I interrupted quickly.

“No, I—” he began, shaking his head.

“Christian, drop it.”

“No, I want to know—”

“Christian, shut up!” I hissed in annoyance.

“Damn it, Sophia! Would you quite interrupting me?”

“Would you quit speaking to me?”

We were interrupted by a guy wearing a headset suddenly. He whispered something in Christian’s ear and Christian’s eyes widened. “We’re what? Shit.”

“What?” I asked slowly.

“We’ve been on air for the past, oh… minute and a half?” He clicked his tongue lightly.

“Oh.

“Yeah…”

“Hi, mom,” I said, waving at the camera I had just noticed was pointed towards us.

I couldn’t help myself. I just had to say it! And even Christian had to chuckle at my comment.

Janet Wilde, who was sitting on a couch out on the set, chuckled and exclaimed, “Please welcome the stars of the upcoming movie Kidnap My Heart, Christian Ryder and Sophia Hastings!”

“Let’s go,” Christian muttered, grabbing my waist and urging me forward.

I slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

He shot me an exasperated look. “I was just—”

“I don’t care! Now, you’re supposed to go in first,” I said, stopping just short of entering the set.

“No, you are,” Christian corrected, stopping also.

“No, you are,” I persevered, trying to push him forward.

“No, you—”

“How about you both come in at the same time?” Frank quickly suggested, coming up from behind us.

Where had he come from? He must’ve run over here when he saw our fight on air…

“But—” Christian and I protested simultaneously.

“Go.”

We stumbled out and Christian smiled his trademark smile at the studio audience. Reluctantly, I followed his lead.

When he took his seat, I followed and took the seat next to him.

Frank, who was standing off to the side of the set, shot me a look. I stuck my nose up in the air snottily in return. I couldn’t exactly flip him off at the moment, so that was all I could do.

“We’re so glad to have you two,” Janet Wilde told us with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Christian, and it’s nice to meet you, Sophia.”

“It’s nice to see you again, too, Janet,” Christian replied.

“It’s such an honor to be here,” I added, nodding once.

“It’s an honor to have you,” Janet said. “I think our studio audience will agree with me.”

She turned to the audience and they all cheered wildly.

After this, I honestly blanked out for a minute, for some reason, but I was pretty sure Christian covered for me. I might’ve replied once or twice, but I spaced out. Thank God I wasn’t alone on this show or I would’ve been screwed.

“What are your characters like?” Janet asked when I finally tuned back in. “Can you guys relate to them?”

“Emma van der Bilt is a great character. She’s fun, clever, and tough and there’s something about her that makes you want to know more. She’s what I would call saucy,” I replied with a smile. “I’m a lot like her, actually, and that probably sounds really vain, but we do have a lot in common.” I looked over at Christian as I said this next part: “And I can definitely relate to being stuck with someone you can’t stand.”

Christian looked right back at me as he said, “Couldn’t have said it better myself. And I can also relate to having to practically baby-sit someone who really shouldn’t need to be.”

I glared at him but bit my tongue. I had said I would try to control my mouth and I would keep to my word.

Janet asked us a few more questions about the movie before, unfortunately, turning to our personal lives.

“Is there anything you miss about your old life, Sophia?” she asked me.

“Yeah,” I said, nodding once. “I miss my family and friends, of course. My best friend, Tori, is staying with me, but everyone else I know is back home. I can’t complain, though. I’m living my dream.”

She smiled widely. “That you are. You’re one lucky girl. And according to Nora Harding, you’re also very talented.”

“Aww, Nora said that?” I asked, grinning. “I guess I’ll have to be extra nice to her tomorrow morning, huh?”

“I guess so,” Janet said with a chuckle. “And I hear things are going well for you, as well, Christian,” she said, turning to Christian. “A new movie, two new commercials and your new cologne.”

“I hope someone puts instructions on this one,” I commented, shaking my head. “I think he bathes in his cologne some days, honestly.”

Janet laughed out loud.

“Excuse me for wanting to smell good,” Christian replied, trying to control himself.

“There’s a difference between smelling good and smelling so strongly, it makes you nauseous,” I told him calmly.

“You’re exaggerating,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“I am not. I know what I’m talking about. I’m the one who’s stuck with you all day.”

“I can smell myself, you know, and I smell fine every day,” he pointed out.

“That’s what you think. You’re used to the stench by now. It doesn’t affect you anymore,” I stated.

“That’s not true.”

“Sure it isn’t.” I rolled my eyes.

Christian pressed his lips down hard. “Why can’t you ever just admit defeat?”

“That’s easy,” I told him, shrugging. “Because you never defeat me.”

“Even if I did, I’d never know, because you never admit to it or show it!”

“Duh,” I snorted, rolling my eyes. “I’m an actress. I’m good at not showing things, especially emotions.”

Christian sighed. “You’re so frustrating.”

“You’re so annoying.”

He groaned. “Ugh, you give me migraines.”

“Good,” I snapped.

“Good?” he repeated, glaring at me.

“Yes, good. You deserve it.”

“How do I deserve it?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” I exclaimed. “You’re a—”

This was where they had to begin censoring us. This was also when they realized it would be best if they went to commercial.

When we were back on air, Christian and I had managed to control ourselves, with a little help from Frank and Lily, of course.

“I have to ask,” Janet told us. “I think this question is on everyone’s mind, after all. Is there something going on between the two of you?”

I grimaced at the thought at first. How could anyone think there was something going on between Christian and I? Seriously?

But then, I suddenly came to realize that it was kind of funny how preposterous that question was.

I burst into a giggle fit and couldn’t stop laughing. I tried several times to stop, believe me, but there was just no stopping me once I started.

Christian looked embarrassed and annoyed as he answered for the both of us. “There most definitely is not anything going on between us.”

***

I like this chapter. :') Actually, I like a lot of chapters... this story's just so much fun to write! And I'm really happy that people seem to like this story a lot. So keep up the lovin'! xD

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But anyways. The next update should be in about 3 or 4 days, as usual. That gives me plenty of time to finish it.

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