WestFiction- "If You Love Something" by Mary

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If You Love Something...> chapters 31-32

Mark took of his jacket and dropped it on her floor where his shoes were abandoned. He arrived in JFK airport an hour ago and came straight to the hotel via a helicopter which landed on the building’s rooftop. The lads arrived here yesterday and were now probably out partying at a local club.

He went to see Samantha, on Rowen’s insistence, just before he left. She was improving and Mark prayed that she’ll only get better not worse. Samantha walked quite a distance, six miles. A local police stopped her and took her back home. He didn’t want to leave her but the concerts were all planned two years in advance and there was no way he could get out of it. The show must go on regardless of personal matters. The price you pay of everyone knowing your name.

He slumped on his bed when he realized there was someone beside him.

“Judith! What are you doing here?” he asked. She was the last person he wanted to see. He wanted her to leave.

“Well, seeing I was stood up in the Caymans,” she said. Mark gave out a loud groan, they were supposed to go holidaying in the Caymans the past week. She continued on, “I went to Dublin looking for you, only to be told by Nicky that you were somewhere where you can’t be reached. And with all the messages I left you, I was beginning to wonder if you were even alive. Plus after what I heard happened with your friends, I thought you would want to take your mind off things.” It took considerable effort on Mark’s part to put his arm around her and pull her close.

“I am really sorry,” he said, realizing he needed to take his mind off them, “I’ll make it up to you. We’ll go somewhere after this tour. Where do you want to go? Paris? Bali?”

“I can’t. My tour starts right after yours ends,” she replied, “How are they?”

He leaned back and closed his eyes, “Not good. The odd part is that Rowen’s walking around gloomily as if she called it off”

“Why did he call it off?” she asked as she snuggled closer to him.

“Only God knows. He won’t talk to me about it. And Samantha was taking it worse than I expected, from what Bry observed, but she’s getting better. She’ll be okay, she’s a fighter. She won’t let this control her life.”

“That’s odd. I’ve seen them on numerous occasions. They were very much in love.”

“I know what you mean. Even the day before the wedding, he gave no sign that he wasn’t sure. I was his best man, I was with him the whole three days, I would have sensed something, but I didn’t.” They were silent, digesting what they said. More than anything he wanted both of his best friends to be happy. But now both were hurting. He gave out a heavy sigh.

Mark gazed down at Judith for awhile and mulled over it for awhile and wondered out loud without intending to, “Why can’t everyone be happy like us?”

“Hey, I know you are in an awkward position. But don’t worry too much about it. Maybe time would sort the mess out.”

“I hope so.”

~ ~ ~

"How do you live like this?" she asked Mark in amazement. He came up to England for the first ever play production by Micah Productions. Samantha had been toying with the idea of a theater act for about a year. And she finally summoned up the courage and after a few months of hard work, yesterday had been the opening night for 'Joe's Summer' a comedy-drama.

Today Mark and Samantha were having lunch at an Italian restaurant. She refused but Mark wouldn't take no for an answer. Since it was a beautiful day they decided to walk there. Halfway there, they a few girls recognized Mark and being the polite person he was he signed autographs and took photos with them while walking as fast as he could. Some even asked Samantha for hers!

Mark shrugged as he took his seat across from her, "Bad idea, walking." After ordering their food he also requested the mornings paper. Samantha had been dreading the review she would receive.

"So, how's Kian doing?"

"Much, much better. Last week we went to a dance club. He didn't enjoy himself though and left within an hour, but even that is progress," he paused and looked at her meaningfully then asked, "Did you by any chance talk to Rowen?"

"No." she said shortly," and never want to."

"You should you know." Samantha nodded, it has been nine months since she last saw him, she knew she had to clear it up between them someday, but not anytime soon. She found it hard, going back to work, to continue as if nothing had happened, nothing had changed. It was in the some of the papers across Europe. Founder and CEO of Micah Productions, dumped at the alter. Or worse, Samantha Micah businesswomen/producer/songwriter but not wife? The world brought her down to her knees and she was not about to give in. She just picked herself up, dusted off and kept going. The weird thing is, she didn't love him, the way she did anymore. The love got...lost, as weird as it sounds. Frankly she felt freer now than she was with Rowen. She wondered what went wrong, but she still hates him.

"Did he by any chance tell you why..." she asked casually. Mark understood what she was asking, "No. And even if he did, you know I won't tell you."

"I know," she said quietly. "So, how's your solo project going?" she asked him praying the attendant would forget about the papers. Mark was doing a solo project this year. Shane and Kian successfully launched their solo career a year ago alongside Westlife.

"Good. My first single should be out in four months time," he said smiling, "You have to collaborate with me on my next project." He knew Samantha was hoping he would forget the purpose of the lunch. Along came the newspapers and Samantha hanged her head in dread as Mark handed her a paper. She sighed as she took the paper from him, flipped to the page she was looking for, skimmed through the article and dumped the paper on the vacant chair at their table.

"Well?"

"Samantha Micah should stick to what she does best: producing T.V drama serials. She is not suited for the world of theater. The acting cast couldn't act to save their life which is a pity since Joe's Summer had a very strong story line," she recalled it from memory. Mark stared at her then picked up another paper, read it then flipped it onto the seat. Samantha groaned, another bad review.

"Here's one. Joe's Summer is about seeing the world through the eyes of a young adult...blah, blah, blah. Damon James, an Oscar-winning actor makes his stage debut here. Though he may seem jittery at times he had given a good performance overall as Joe...yadda, yadda, yadda...Samantha Micah producer/director/songwriter makes her debut in theater direction...blah, blah... may have made theater appealing to teenager and youths through the portrayal of the character Joe...yadda, yadda, yadda... I am personally looking forward for the next of Micah Productions," he read out loud. At that time their food arrived. Mark collected the papers and returned it to the attendant, "See, it's not that bad."

"Ok, so it's a mixed reaction," said Sam who was beginning to relax, then she said, "Thank You."

"For?" he asked as he cut his steak.

"Pushing me into this. It's the best thing I've ever done," she admitted.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You had to hear it from someone else beside yourself this time."

~ ~ ~

CHAPTER 32

Samantha and John Doe (Writer’s Note: For the lack of a better name), her co-producer, had just finished a session of recording Judith’s new single. Now she knew why most producers are not happy working with her even if she was a multi-million dollar singer. Samantha could tolerate her away from the studio, but she was temperamental during the recordings, very unprofessional. She made a mental note never to get involved with anything that has to do with Judith. Now, she wondered what Mark saw in her. Well love is blind, she concluded.

After recording she made a hasty exit, she had an appointment in half an hour. It was in her jeep that she realized she had left her electronic organizer in the studio. Things like this always happen at the wrong time. Samantha cursed herself as she made her way through the parking lot. She took the stairs instead of the lift up to the fourth floor where the recording studio was. She dug for her keys in her bag when she noticed that the door was not locked. This irritated her immediately. The company had a policy where studios are to be locked when not in use. She made another mental note to talk about it to John.

She pushed the door open and was shocked with what she saw. John and Judith in a lip lock. Immediately she closed it as quietly as she could. She looked around, there were no one in the hallway. She made her way out of the building, in a daze.

She sat on the front steps of the building and took deep breaths. All she could think about was how heartbroken Mark is going to be when he found out. She froze, when he found out or if he found out? She started debating with herself, whether or not to tell him.

Her thoughts turned to John and Judith and she felt sick in her stomach. How could Judith do this to Mark? How could she even consider it? And John? The guy she worked with for years? John knew very well that Judith was dating Mark. Her impression of them both dropped immediately.

Samantha canceled her appointment and made her way home while her conscience was battling the right thing to do.

~ ~ ~

Samantha was at her office working, when her Personal Assistant knocked and came in, “A Mr. Feehily is here to see you,” Adrian announced. Most would think it was weird to have a male secretary. But Samantha was fine with it as long as he got the job done. Besides he stuck with her when Micah Productions started out and she wouldn’t trade him for the world.

“Show him in,” she said. Mark came in and commented, “Nice office.”

“Thanks,” she said, not taking her eyes of the PC, “So what brings you here? Business or pleasure.”

“Pleasure. I was in the neighborhood,” he said as he looked out her window.

“Aren’t you always!” Adrian came in with two mugs of tea and handed one to Mark.

“Thanks,” said Mark.

“When was the last time we saw each other? Three months ago?” he asked as he sipped his tea, still admiring the view, “Three months in my world is a very, very long time.” Samantha rolled her eyes at this.

“I’ll be with you in a minute,” she said as she continued hitting the keys on the keyboard.

“So what’s new with you?” she asked him when she sat on the couch beside him.

“Nothing much. Things are pretty quiet lately,” he said, but he was beaming with happiness, “Well, actually I’ve been thinking of proposing to Judith for sometime." Alarm bells went off in Samantha’s’ head. He took out a small velvet box from his coat pocket and showed it to her, a heart shaped diamond ring, “Well what do you think?” He doesn’t know.

“Beautiful,” she managed to say. Don’t butt in, she told herself over and over again. She can come up with 100 reasons why she shouldn’t tell him. It wasn’t her business. He won’t believe her. He would hate her. It would ruin their friendship forever. It was between him and Judith…But she can only come up with one reason why she should tell him: Mark deserved better. Samantha got up and paced around her office.

“Is something wrong?” Mark asked concerned.

“Mark, there is no easy way to tell you,” she went straight to the point and put it as mildly as possible, “I saw Judith kissing someone.” She braced herself for Mark’s reaction, “A really heavy duty one.”

“When?” he asked.

“Two weeks ago,” Two weeks ago Mark was promoting his solo album around Europe.

“There must be a mistake,” he said.

“I saw it with my own eyes. I’m sorry Mark,” she said as she put her hand on his shoulder.

“NO! I don’t believe you,” he said pulling himself away from her and began shaking his head. Halfway towards the door he turned back and faced her, anger and hatred in his eyes, “Just because it never worked out between Rowen and you, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work out with the rest of the world. Just because you are unhappy doesn’t mean everyone else should be too. You know something Samantha, it hurt me to see you hurt because of what Rowen did to you. That you didn’t get to patch things up with your dad and all that. Well not anymore. You deserve whatever comes to you!” With that he stormed out of the office. Samantha winced as he slammed the door behind him.

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