The proof we all need

The proof we all need
I blinked at Jamie, still trying to wrap my head around what he’d just told me.

“What? No way. That’s not possible.” I laughed, incredulous. “I mean how do they know me? I’ve barely been here for what, six months?”

Jamie laughed with me, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe I was this clueless.

“Aiden, baby, in case you keep forgetting, you were once a global star and you were known by a lot of people. So just because you’re tucked away in this small town, making a small-town movie, doesn’t magically make all that disappear. People still know you.”

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I knew he was right. Sometimes I liked pretending I was invisible, but fame doesn’t exactly grant you that kind of luxury.

“Look, baby,” Jamie continued, his voice softening, “I don’t want you stressing over this too much. Just focus on handling it, and sorting it out once and for all.”

He glanced at me, with sincerity written all over his face.

“Should I drive you back to your hotel?”

“Well yeah,” I sighed. “I have to get ready, I guess. At least now I know why Victoria has been calling me nonstop. I wonder what she’s been doing to curb all this. As a matter of fact, let me give her a call.”

I dug into my pocket and dialed her number. She picked up on the first ring.

“Aiden! Oh my God. What happened? I’ve been calling you nonstop, didn’t you see my missed calls?” Her tone was frantic, and motherly, nothing like the sharp, clipped PR tone I was used too.

“Yeah I’m sorry, Mom,” I said instantly. “I didn’t see your calls. I was asleep when you called.”

“I’m guessing you already know why I’ve been calling. Where are you? You know we should—”

“Yes, Mom, I know,” I cut in gently. “And I’ll be on the next available flight back to LA. So don’t worry about it.”

She exhaled so heavily I could practically see the relief wash over her face.

“All right then. I’ll be expecting you.” She said and hung up.

I dropped my phone dramatically back into my pocket and turned to Jamie, who was quietly smiling while focusing on the road.

“What’s making you so happy, babe? Did I say something funny?”

“What? No, baby. It’s not you .” He grinned. “I just remembered something funny and it made me smile.”

I nodded, and stared out the window again as the car hummed softly around us.

“I wonder how far Marcus is willing to go before he ruins me completely,” I muttered, just as Jamie pulled up in front of my hotel.

He turned off the engine and angled toward me. Then he gently turned my face with a warm, grounding touch before leaning in to kiss me softly.

“Aiden,” he murmured, tapping my forehead lightly, “Marcus isn’t worth your time. Thinking about him or whatever he claims he can do to you, it’s meaningless. You’ll always be bigger and better than him in every way and that eats him alive, it makes him so envious. So don’t let him get inside your beautiful head.”

I felt my face turn red and warm. Jamie always had this way of saying the exact thing I needed, even when I didn’t ask for it.

We stepped out and headed inside. I collected my room key from the receptionist and we went upstairs. When I unlocked the door, Jamie stepped in behind me and let out a teasing whistle.

“Oh wow! This looks good,” he joked.

I snorted. “Yeah, yeah. I know it looks good. It’s simple, and ofcourse it’s nothing compared to my hotel back in LA, but this one? It’s…homely.” I shrugged as I dragged my suitcase out. 

Jamie was typing on his phone with laser focus. Meanwhile, I moved around packing like a tornado, folding clothes I knew damn well wouldn’t fit. After about thirty minutes of back-and-forth packing, I finally shot him a look.

“What's got your attention so badly that you’ve barely said more than two words in the last thirty minutes?” I teased.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he smirked and said, “And bam! That’s how you get it done.” He collapsed back into the chair, dropping his phone on the table like he’d just cracked some secret code.

My phone chimed instantly. I pulled it out and my eyes nearly popped out of my skull.

“No you did not.” I gasped. “Jamie! How the hell did you pull this off in such short time? I’ve been trying to see if I could get one under such period of time but I couldn’t, and yet somehow you just what?—snap your fingers and made it happen? Thank you so much, poodle!”

I darted to his side and hugged him tightly. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me.

“I was your assistant, you know, and I have my way around things like this. How do you think I was able to get you last-minute flights when you had urgent shoots or events to attend? Especially when you weren’t using the PJ? Come on—I was really good at my job.” He nudged me playfully. “So it’s fine honey.” he said, pushing himself up, “let’s just hurry up and finish packing so we don’t miss your flight.”

“We?” I froze. Then realization punched me. “Oh no, Jamie. You’re not coming with me.”

“Oh yes, Aiden, I am. I’m not letting you deal with this alone.”

“No way.” I shook my head firmly. “You’re not. The last thing I want is for you to get dragged into my mess again. It took you so long to finally walk away from all this, and now letting you back in? No. That’s never going to happen.”

“Aiden…” He held my hands, his voice soft. “I hear you and I understand. But times have changed, it’s different now. There’s nothing they can say about me that will affect how—”

“If you really want to help me,” I cut him off gently, “please stay back, Jamie. Trust me, this is a personal fight between Marcus and I, and I won’t let him get to me by using you again like he always did. So please, just stay back here and wait for me. I’m going there, and I’ll make sure I come back victorious.”

His brows knit together.

“What do you mean by ‘using me again’? Wait did you get into a fight with Marcus?”

I laughed softly. “No, Jamie. What I meant is, if you tag along, I won’t be able to fight him head on and confront him properly. You’re going to be a beautiful distraction, an although I don’t mind you being my distraction every time, I just don’t need one right now, okay baby?” I said and winked at him.

He stared at me for a long moment, then sighed in defeat.

“Okay, fine. I’ll stay back like you want, but you have to promise me you won’t stoop to his level while trashing this out. You’re going to settle this amicably like a matured adult. Alright poodle?.”

“I promise,” I nodded. “And I promise to get back to you as soon as I can too” I quickly added, and he smiled at me.

He helped me finish packing, and soon we headed downstairs. I returned the room key, letting the receptionist know I’d be away for a while and wouldnt need housekeeping. She nodded, and wished me a safe flight. 

The drive to the airport was smooth and quiet, and in no time we got there. Jamie walked me in, waited until my ticket was checked, and didn’t leave until he watched me step into the waiting area. He stood there with his arms folded, his eyes locked on me, until I finally disappeared from his sight.

The four-hour flight felt longer than usual. And by the time we landed, Victoria was already waiting. The second she spotted me, she rushed forward and threw her arms around me like I’d been gone for years.

“It’s nice to see you too, Mom,” I laughed as she grabbed my bag and tossed it effortlessly into the trunk. You look really good, I almost didn’t recognize you behind all this beauty,” I teased.

She swatted my arm with a laugh and climbed into the car and the moment the engine started, her tone shifted into something very serious.

“So aiden…what do you suggest we do?” She asked as I stared out the window, watching LA blur past in a familiar rush of chaos and brightness.

“Mom,” I finally said, turning back to look at her, “if we’re going to win this fight… we’re going to need proof.”

I inhaled slowly.

“And I mean a lot of it.”