HARLEM
A MONTH LATER
I'm currently setting up the tripod Lexi got me at one corner of the stage. Lexi told me I need to have my own internet presence, that is; personal branding. She even went ahead to manage my social media for me. So… I'm going to be doing a trending TikTok dance on stage. I fully set up the tripod and choose a sound, then dance it the way I see other people dance it. Maybe if I'm lucky, one of my future fans will scroll past this and say, 'Damn, that's Harlem Tamrin.´
The other cast members look at me funnily but I laugh and keep dancing. I myself know the benefits of having your own social media presence.
When I'm done and have posted the video, I spot Lucas staring at me with a smile and I wave at him. He walks up to me. "Did you just dance?" he asks. I laugh
"Yup, I'm pretty sure that's what it looks like." He laughs shaking his head. "Well, that's good to know." I smile at him and thank God I met someone like him in this generation where men are as good as placeholders.
I get back to shooting and Lucas and the other producers help us to touch up on some areas that we are rusty. We're going to be done in a month and I can't wait. I'm basically done learning and rehearsing my lines but I'm still practicing my actions and movements. This has been hands down the best 5 months of my life.
When we're done for the day, I decide I need to the gym as it's been a while. Those glutes aren't going to grow themselves. When that is done and dusted, I decide to visit Gio and the others at the bar. It's been a while and I don't want them thinking I've forgotten about them.
I pull up into the parking lot and walk inside. The place is pretty filled up and there's loud music as usual playing in the background. I see Ted seated close to the door. He sees me and smiles, walking up to me. "Hey buddy how's it been? You miss me?" He scoffs and we hug.
"Barely" he says and I laugh. "Yeah, sure. Hope these assholes haven't been giving you trouble?" I ask him. "Assholes will be assholes" he states.
"Well spoken T. Is Gio in?" He nods and I walk in the direction of his office. I see a few people I used to serve and they smile at me as I walk by to which I reciprocate, only for those who didn't piss me off anyways.
I am on my way to Gio's office when someone clears their throat behind me. I turn thinking it's Layla or Karmen but I'm met with the cold eyes of Little Miss Blondie, funny enough I still don't know her name. She's wearing a hoodie and looks like shit though. I fold my arms and stare at her; I can smell trouble radiating off her.
"What do you want? And what are you doing here?" she walks closer to me and I steel myself to retaliate if she tries anything stupid.
"I know you've been seeing my fiancé" she laughs a sadistic laugh and stares me down. What the actual hell? Did she track me here? What is she, some undercover jealous wife?
"What are you on about?"
"I know your name is Harlem. The girl I met at this bar when I came with my friends and my fiancé. I just didn't expect that you would steal him right from under my nose. So, I came here to let you know that I'm going to fuck you up if you don't leave my husband alone. I know sluts like you think you can prey off other people's husbands, but don't you fucking dare with mine."
I stare at her then I smile at her. Her eyes narrow at me. I step closer to her and look her in the eyes. "Whatever the hell your name is, I don't care to know. First off, you don't get to do this, you don't get to come to my workplace; the same workplace you slapped me by the way and rage bait me; I won't allow it. And secondly, I don't fight over men so you can bitch about it or you can go talk to him directly. And finally, Sweetheart I was never the one doing the chasing, he was."
She looks at me with hatred burning her eyes and I shrug. I didn't lie about a single thing. She can either face the truth or jump off a goddamn building. She takes a step closer to me. Uh Oh. Here we go but she stops when Gio's door opens and he stares shocked at the two of us.
"Harlem? What are you doing here? Who's this?" I want to know as well. "Hey Gio, I was just having a conversation with a customer. I was about coming to your office. Can we talk?" I ask and walk up to him. He nods "Of course." He also nods at Little Miss Blondie. I look back at her to see her standing there and staring at me. God, that woman gives me goosebumps, and to think she came back here to threaten me. Ezra might have it rougher than I do because I'm not the one marrying a crazy psycho bitch.
I close Gio's door and breathe. I take two to three breaths and calm down. Ever since I met that woman, I haven't known peace. It's getting really out of hand. And I'm so angry that she thinks I'm stupid enough to submit to her bullshit. Mind her, I don't work here anymore. It's bullet for bullet now.
"You okay? You seem tense." I sigh and look at Gio. "It's nothing really. Just feeling tired. Anyways, I stopped by to say hello. I miss y'all" Gio smiles. "You didn't have to. We missed you greatly. Especially Ted. He keeps saying, protecting you gave him purpose." Oh, my goodness. Would you look at that? I smile forgetting all about the big problem in the hallway.
Gio and I talk a bit more and I invite him and the others for the play. I leave after a few minutes through the back door, to be on the safe side and drive away.
I think about Ezra when I arrive home. I guess even the rich have problems. Because Little Miss Blondie is a big fucking problem if I have to marry her. I haven't seen him for a whole month, again. And I keep thinking back to how we ended things the last time we met. I should stay away from him for real though, because he's getting married and it won't look so good for me. But even as I fall asleep, I'm left with the thought that maybe seeing him again wouldn't be so bad.