The Last Round (11 page)

Most people say, you never know what you’ve had, until it’s gone. And what was a part of me for almost half my life vanished, just like that.

What people fail to advise is that once it’s gone,

fight like hell to win it back.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Natalia

I TWIRL BEFORE
the mirror. My eyes scan over the silky fabric hugging the curves of my body. The heart-shaped neckline of the gown looks absolutely stunning, but I’m not certain if the color or fabric looks well. Hopeful to have feedback, I turn around, and face my stylist and hair dresser. Heather’s eyes gleam. “Yes, this is the one. I love this one so much better than the black gown,” Heather exclaims, nodding in appreciation.

I smile at Heather then trace my stare toward the one and only well-known celebrity stylist and my good friend, Victoria Wolfe. I trust Victoria’s opinion more than anything, not that Heather has bad taste in fashion, but she is very supportive of me. I mean, if I was standing in front of Heather wearing a trash bag as a dress, she’d yell from the rooftops how fabulous I look. Whereas Victoria has no filter in telling me how it is, and she’d probably rip the trash bag right off of me.

Victoria examines me with approval in her eyes. “Yes, Natalia. This is the one. It looks absolutely striking and it flatters your body so beautifully. Perfect color too. You will
definitely
turn heads for sure.”

Grin widening, I twirl back around and get one last look. “Okay. I’ll take it off and we’ll start on hair, then makeup?”

Heather turns on her four-inch Louis Vuitton’s and walks toward the setup she has in my hotel suit. “Yep, and the dress inspired me. I can’t wait. I’ll set your hair in rollers, by then Jamie should be here and she can start your makeup. When she finishes, I’ll remove the rollers and style your hair.”

“I need a glass of wine.” I exhale, exhaustion seeping through me. I slip out of the dress and hand it to Victoria, and put on a robe. As I settle in a chair, Heather runs her fingers through my hair. I moan. “That feels so good.” I love when people play with my hair. It gives me comfort.

“Your hair has gotten so long.” Heather looks at me through our reflection in the mirror.

“I know. I’m thinking of chopping it off,” I add, tugging at the long locks.

“I need it long for this style, but we can chop it off tomorrow morning before your interview. Oooohhh!” She jumps up and down excitingly. “You would look so good in a choppy bob, shoulder length. We can add layers, and to give it dimension we add heavy highlights toward the ends, more of an ombre.”

“I love that idea! I need something new.”

Heather grips a strand of hair and begins the rolling process. “It will give you a mature, sophisticated look.”

As I nod in agreement, Viviana, hands me a glass of wine. I thank her as she looks through her phone. I hired my sister as my manager about four months ago and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. She hated her job working at the firm and she’s been great at dealing with all of my contracts, scheduling interviews, events, and photo shoots. The major plus is we get to spend more time together and travel together.

“Okay, Nat.” Viv gets my attention. She continues to scroll through her phone. She’s always on that thing since she became my manager. “You’ve had a busy week while we’ve been here in LA. I’ll brief through what’s left on the schedule and for next week.”

I sigh. After filming
Perfectly Damaged,
my life has changed. For the better, but I’m so swamped with interviews, appearances, and photo shoots. I don’t have time to breathe, let alone have a meal to myself. The premiere of the movie will be in three weeks. I’m excited yet nervous and scared. I have so many feelings, tangled with a hint of anxiety, just to say the least.

The movie trailer looks amazing and the feedback has been better than expected. I have been offered three new lead roles for other films and
Perfectly Damaged
isn’t even released yet! So, yes, I’m blessed, and definitely exhausted. But I know this is the price I have to pay to continue a career I’m passionate about.

In a way, it all has been a welcome distraction with everything going on in my personal life. So I guess my career taking off when it did, worked in my favor. There are times I try not to think of Julian, but of course it’s difficult. One would think even though I have so many people who surround me, I wouldn’t feel so lonely. Yet I do. I feel lonelier in my life now than ever before. I can’t explain why, and when I try to, I can only think of Julian. He’s been a major part of my life for so many years and this split is destroying me, emotionally.

I sometimes cry myself to sleep.

As usual, to distract my thoughts, I take a mouthful of the Merlot as Viv chats away about the schedule for the week. “Tonight at the Charity Gala, you have two brief interviews. It will only be two minutes tops. They’ll ask you questions about
Perfectly Damaged
, the premiere, and who you’re wearing.” I nod and she goes on. “The event ends at eleven. We don’t have to stick around that long, but just know you have a ten a.m. photo shoot tomorrow morning. After the shoot, you are free to roam or do whatever you want for that day and the next. Then we fly back to Philly to spend a couple days with Mom for Thanksgiving.”

I smile. “I plan to sleep!”

She laughs, knowing that would be my answer. “When we come back from the holiday break, you’ll be busy that week filming a few extra scenes they need you to redo in a studio before they begin edits on
Perfectly Damaged
. On Black Friday, you’ll have an interview with Rose Jefferson from LA WEEKLY. It’s the premiere of her new TV show.”

“That bitch,” I mumble as I take another gulp of the delicious wine. She’s the one who spread so much gossip about Julian and I, even after we announced our split six months ago. I swear she has it out for us.

My sister sinks in a chair by the living area of the suite. “I know, I know. I tried to get you out of this one, but Jefferson was determined. She promises not to ask questions about your relationship with Julian.”

I narrow my stare. “She’ll find ways to get around it.”

Heather continues with my hair as she states, “I’m sure she’s going to ask what your feelings are about his loss last weekend.”

The room goes quiet. Julian had his first loss in his boxing career. He lost the champion belt to Trevor Merit a week ago, and it has been the topic of the week. Of course, the breakup of our relationship was also a topic on all major tabloids as the reason behind his loss.

“Do you think he’ll be there tonight?” Viv asks.

I haven’t seen Julian since the night I left him on the football field. As much as I try to desperately avoid him, I know there is going to be a day we run in to each other, but I hope tonight is not that day. I shake my head. “No, I asked Jonathan not to tell him I was going.” I assure her. But deep down I know Julian and after a major loss like last week, I’m sure he will not want to show his face at a large charity event, where hundreds of celebrities, paparazzi, and reporters will be.

It’s an annual charity gala to help raise money for cancer research. I usually went alone or with my sister, since Julian was always busy. But he always made a hefty donation. That’s one of the good things about Julian, he’s very generous when it comes to cancer research. After losing his mother at such a young age due to lung cancer, this is his way to give back somehow to help others.

Though in the last six years, he probably went to two of the charity events. This year my sister can’t make it, so I’m going with Liam Matthews. We have grown closer in the past few months, especially since we’ve spent a lot of time together on set. He’s been a great friend throughout everything, and he’s even went as far as helping me find a new home in LA. I’ve been renting in Jersey while I was filming. But now that I’m back in LA, I need to find a more permanent place.

Just as I think to change the subject, Jamie stumbles in; her bright smile and bouncing energy tugs a smile at my lip. “I’m here!” She raises both hands, dropping her suitcase aside. “Your glam team is finally complete!” she cries out. Jamie is my makeup artist and she’s damn good at it.

I imitate her British accent. “Make me stunning!” I beam, tossing my head back and throwing my arms in the air.

“But you already are, darling. I’m just going to heighten your beauty.” She winks.

And just like that our conversation changes. We laugh, talk about fashion, makeup tips, and the latest gossip regarding different celebrities over a few glasses of wine. I’m getting giggly as I usually do when I consume too much liquor. But at least my mind is off Julian and I can live easily, even if it’s just temporarily.

Julian

LEG BOUNCING, I
jerk at the tie snug against my neck, and then huff out. My glare looks straight ahead. I find Kim’s eyes on me as she stares me down from across the limo.

“What?” I ask, irritation slowly sweeping through my bloodstream.

“You’re nervous,” she states rather than questions.

“No, I’m not.” I lie. “I just don’t see why I have to go to this. I’ve already donated.”

She sucks her teeth, then brings a hand at eye level, examining her long, black polished nails. “I’ve told you, Julian, as your PR rep this is good for your image. You hired me for a reason. Trust me. If Jonathan was here, he would agree.”