The Stars Trilogy (87 page)

They were again at the center of gossip all over the world. The curious thing was, the paparazzi seemed to know what was going on in their lives. They were updated. Were they in the Philippines spying on them already? She shuddered at the thought. Dare was so famous that gossip would follow him wherever he went.

She had been found out by the Daredevils, too. Her pictures at the website had given her identity away. It was easy for them to connect the dots. She was forced to shut down the guest book of Daredevils Philippines because it was full of comments and questions regarding her and Dare. She didn’t want to acknowledge anything about them for now.

The formal announcement of their engagement to the press would happen in a few days at their mansion.  Her mother invited only a very select group of media people to cover the event. Of course, it would be exclusively aired at AZN. Her folks were making huge money out of her love life, too. She resented it all.

Every day, she had received exquisite flower arrangements coupled with mouth-watering sweets from Dare. He probably rented the entire shop of her favorite flower shop Fiori di M to send her the flowers and sweet stuff daily. Despite her resentment, she couldn’t help but appreciate the beautiful flowers, but when she’d remember the ocean of tears she’d wasted on him, she wanted to throw them in the trash.

Dare was at their mansion every day. Since she refused to see him, her Mom entertained him like a visiting royalty. Marjorie was really taken with Dare now. She even spent more time with Dare than her own children!

She didn’t want to admit it but she was jealous. She missed him so. But her pride won’t let her forget.
He treated you like dirt! He thought you were a cheater! You’ve loved him like a stupid fool for a decade and he threw it all away. Just like that. He didn’t even say why. He just called you a liar and a cheat and you have loved no one else, kissed no one else but him! He   shut the door on your face, just like that. So why would you listen to him now? He does not  deserve your love! Not even a minute of your time!

She closeted herself in her room and shut off her phone, too. Her friends were calling her every hour. She was so sick of people asking about Dare!

He was sitting with the bigshots in this country, he knew.

Dare was having dinner with four of Jordan’s closest friends inside an exclusive lounge at Lothario. Jordan introduced the guys as Lucky de Angelo, a casino and hotel chain owner, Blue del Rosario, a computer software tycoon, Nico Sanvictores, an investments whiz and Alexis Benedicto, a banker and the owner of Lothario. Just the kind of men he wanted to meet in this country if he wished to call it his second home soon. Men of power.

In just under an hour, he was given a rundown of the Philippine economy and how to make big money in South East Asia. He was fascinated, to say the least.

“So, we’ve heard about your desire to make movies here, Dare,” Lucky said.

“Yeah. I’m producing this film, still in the works. I’m planning to shoot it in Thailand but looking at the Philippine terrain, it is very possible that I’d shoot here instead.”

“Is film-production really profitable in the US?” Alexis inquired with interest.

“Well...if it stars me, I can guarantee a full return of investment plus a really fat extra,” he replied jokingly. But it was the truth. The men looked really interested now. Hmm, he may have found potential investors in this very room.

“I’d like to discuss that further, man, but in another day,” Alexis said.

“Count me in on that,” said Blue.

“And I, of course,” said Jordan.

He grinned. Man, it was easy to do business in this country!

“So, Dare...you want something tonight?”

He looked at Jordan blankly. “What do you mean?”

“This place is full of the most beautiful Filipinas.”

“Sure…” he said, agreeing to what Jordan said that Filipinas were beautiful.

Jordan’s eyes narrowed a little and then he nodded to Alexis. Alexis called the waiter and whispered something to him. The waiter went out of the room.

“Let’s drink to Dare’s impending doom!” Alexis said with a laugh.

The other guys lifted their glasses.

He smiled and lifted his own glass. They made a toast. Then the door opened and probably a dozen gorgeous women came in.

Alexis grinned. “Take your pick, Dare.”

“Huh?”

“Or you can have all of them, too.”

Okay, now, he understood what Jordan meant. Was it a test of sorts? He knew it was.

Jordan clapped him in the back. “Go on, brother, don’t mind me. My lips are sealed. But this can’t happen after your wedding day, you understand?”

He stared at Jordan. “Or what?” he challenged.

Jordan just smiled dangerously. There was suddenly a palpable tension in the room.

“Nobody tells me what to do,” he replied softly.

He looked at the women one by one. A veritable harem at his disposal. All looked so eager to please him. Daredevils, he could tell.

He met Jordan’s eyes again and said, surprising even himself. “I love your sister. My wild days are over.”

That seemed to please his future brother-in-law. The guys around the table relaxed and continued their business talk. The women left the room with disappointment on their faces.

The highlight of the evening was Drew’s arrival. It was really a surprise.

“Kelsey told me you know Drew. So I invited him tonight,” Jordan enlightened him.

He was just so happy to see his friend again. They hugged like long lost brothers.

Drew was ribbed by his friends about his new state of fatherhood. Drew named his baby girl Blitz, short for Blitzkrieg. Drew explained that the baby’s name was how she was conceived.

That brought a round of laughter. And then Drew turned to him and ribbed him, too. “Hey, you stole that marriage proposal idea from me, Dare. I saw you on local TV. Has she taken you back?”

He grinned. “I guess, yeah,  because I’m chillin’ with my future brother-in-law now.”

DARCEE FEVER IN MANILA!

That was the headline of The Philippine STAR that day which bypassed national issues for gossip. Not that it was ordinary gossip.

Celine was really alarmed now. According to the daily broadsheet, The US paparazzi had descended on the Philippines. They were swarming the Makati area for possible scoops on Darcee. They were reported lounging at The Peninsula lobby pretending as guests, hoping for a glimpse of Dare who was billeted there. They were also seen at the AZN station, hoping for a Darcee sighting. One paparazzo was even interviewed by an AZN reporter.

“Why are you guys here?” asked the reporter.

“Why, Darcee is smoking hot! Dare has left the US and is currently camped at a hotel here. It’s rumored that he is really serious with Celine and is planning to marry her. We’re hoping to be the first to confirm that with pictures. Do you have any idea?”

The reporter shook her head. “Nope.”

Indeed, her entire clan was instructed to keep mum about the engagement until the day of the announcement itself. And that would be tomorrow.

She called Kelsey to complain.

“Hun, you can’t stop them from coming here. Darcee is big business right now. Every US tabloid is after you, guys.”

“But they’ve been taking pictures of our TV Station and even our house! How did they find out where I live?”

“I don’t know. They are very resourceful, you know.”

“I am so not liking this, Kels.”

“Oh hunny, what can you do? You are about to be married to a public property. It comes with the territory. And besides, didn’t you want to be a movie star?”

“I changed my mind.”

“Oh no, you haven’t!”

“I don’t want to be a daily freak show!”

“Don’t say that. Hey, wanna speak to Dare? He misses you so bad.”

“No.”

“Hun, what does he have to do for you to forgive him?

“Oh, you also take care of his pick-up lines?”

“You’re mean lately, hunny. But I understand. You’re pregnant. But your baby needs a father, you know? Come on, forgive him already. Please?”

“Only if he crawls. Bye.”

“Crawl?

“Her exact words.”

“Why do women chase you like a cat in heat and when you oblige them and knock ‘em up in the process, they do a complete turn around and play the cat and mouse game?”

“Not all women. Only this one.”

Dare snorted. “She’s a freakin’ spoiled brat. She’s been pampered by her family like a princess way too long. She should be spanked once in a while.” The thought of spanking her luscious ass made him hard as a brick. Fuck, he had been too long without her.

“Didn’t you just do that bigtime? You crushed the poor little thing under your ruthless boot without even an explanation.”

He gave Kelsey a sour look. “I’ve regretted that already!”

“Well, she doesn’t easily forgive and forget, a valuable lesson you must learn this early.”

He grunted and walked toward a table where his briefcase was lying. He pushed the combination numbers. The lock opened. He took out a small box, flipped it open and showed it to Kelsey.

“How’s this for crawling?”

Her eyes widened like saucers. “Ooooh, major, major crawling, THAT! I’m sure she’ll forgive you in a second!”

He smiled. “She’d better.”

Chapter Thirty-seven

“Okay, this is really destiny, I think. You have been married thrice, 

divorced twice and now divorcing again. Gabby’s announcement that she is filing for divorce didn’t shock me anymore. In fact, it is telling me something really clear. And it’s time I took some real action. We need to meet, Dare. We really need to. I am coming to LA.

And we are going to finally see each other come hell or high water.”

PRETENDING TO BE SWEET to Dare for the benefit of her parents and the select press people who were invited to cover their engagement announcement took some real acting prowess for Celine.

She could act in a play with considerable aplomb but when it came to concealing her real feelings, she was a poor performer. It was a wonder her face didn’t crack from her phony smiles.

Dare, on the other hand, was a cam whore. Well, it was his business to play with the camera and charm the press. She wondered why he never won an Oscar again when he could be so convincing? He looked like he was really enjoying it, too.  

This man  gave opportunism a whole new meaning. She wondered what her father and Dare had come to agree on that he was suddenly so eager to marry her? It must be a sweet, sweet deal.

Her parents’ desire for her to marry became really evident after Jordan’s engagement to his long-time fiancee went to the pits. Now they were focused on finding a suitable husband for her. It was one of the reasons why she hightailed it to LA to move heaven and earth to meet the man she would like to spend the rest of her life with because her folks were machinating to marry her off to the most financially lucrative bachelor in the country, whoever he was.

Her folks were always obsessed with advancing the family business and Dare just became an eligible ticket for AZN’s possible foray in Hollywood. The only thing getting in the way before was Dare’s married state but now that he was single again, her folks were convinced he was the perfect man for her. Well, what a twist of fate then because now that they wanted her to marry Dare, she didn’t want to do anything with the bastard. Dare Montgomery was so black-listed from her heart. 

“What in hell did you do to your hair?” Dare whispered to her as they faced the throng of photographers covering the event.

“It’s my hair. Nonya!” she snapped at him, her lips stiff from smiling.

She went to her favorite salon this morning and had her hairstylist lop her long tresses into a layered bob. It was her badge of rebellion from this ambush engagement.

“What’s nonya?”

“Nonya business! Take your filthy hand off of my butt!” she hissed when she felt him caressing the curve of her derriere.