Her Billion Dollar Man

*****

Debra could hardly concentrate on what she was doing.  Some new products had come and they were stocking them and in between, customers were coming around for samples and for purchasing. She saw Ana looking at her strangely throughout the day and knew she was going to have to answer questions. Her life was going to be turned upside down from now on and she knew she was not ready for that. But for now all she could think about was Tyler and how the news of both of them together was going to affect him.

“Here you go and enjoy,” she told the girl with a smile as she handed her the package of make-up she had purchased. So far she had not been pointed out by anyone but she had a feeling it was just a matter of time.

There was a lull in customers and their sullen supervisor was nowhere to be found when Ana pulled up a stool and gestured for her to sit. “I need details.” She said firmly.

“About what?” Debra asked innocently.

“We are not leaving right here until I get answers and you know me,” Ana said blithely, crossing her long legs.

With a sigh, Debra sat. “It happened so fast,” she shrugged. “I met him when he came by one Wednesday to check up on his brother and we started talking.”

“It must have been some conversation,” Ana said with her thin brows raised. “So how is he in the sack? I read somewhere that he was a very good lay.”

“We have not gone that far yet and you really should not believe everything you read in those trashy papers Ana,” Debra said reprovingly.

“The totally hot and popular Derek Mitchell has not taken you to bed yet,” Ana asked incredulously. “What on earth is going on?”

“We decided we want to be friends for now.”

“What world are you living in?” Ana looked at her and shook her head. “If I did not know for sure that you grew up in a group home I would have deduced that you were bred in a castle or some very remote place where men did not exist.”
“Why do you find it so hard to believe that some men are prepared to wait?”

“Because men are not made to wait, certainly not on s*x.”

*****

Tyler found out at school. He was just ready to leave for home when one of his friends came over to him. “Your brother certainly knows how to choose them.”

Tyler looked at the boy with a frown. He was not exactly a friend but was a rich snob who only spoke to him because his name was Mitchell. He handed Tyler his phone and touched the screen to bring up the photo. Tyler felt as if every breath had left his body as he stared at the picture and read the caption. It couldn’t be her! He wouldn’t do that to him, as despicable and promiscuous he was, this must be a mistake.

“Who is she dude?” Ralph Greenwood asked him curiously, seeing the startled look on his face. Tyler stared at the boy in front of him with his green eyes and dark brown hair and suddenly wanted to tell him to go and take a hike. But instead he forced himself to respond genially. “I have no idea.” Before walking away, his body trembling with the anger and the betrayal he was feeling. He hated them both.

*****

Derek was waiting for him in the living room when he got home and saw from the look on his face that he had found out. “You know?” he asked his brother quietly.

“That you are screwing Debra?” Tyler’s lips curled into a sneer. “Of course.” He flung his backpack on the floor for once not giving a damn what Maude was going to say.

“It’s not like that Tyler, I am really into her.” Derek told him coming to stand in front of him and forcing him to stay where he was.

“You mean she is not like all those women you are photographed with, who open their legs for you because they want to be famous?” Tyler wanted to smash his face in. he did not know who he hated more, his brother or her.

“Watch it bro,” Derek said, his tone like flint. “I will allow you to go so far and no more.”
“Do you think I give a damn?” Tyler shouted stepping back a little bit, his hands clenched at his sides. “Does she know that you are incapable of loving anyone? Or have you dazzled her with your so called machismo that she does not really care? How long will it take for you to use her and put her aside Derek? A week? A month? Or maybe she is special and will actually last a whole year?”

“Get the hell away from me and go to your damned room!” Derek told him through gritted teeth, his hands clenched at his sides.

They stood there staring at each other for a spell, both of them not willing to give in until, with a contemptuous look Tyler went towards the stairs and went up to his room.

Derek heard a sound behind him and turned around to see Maude looking at him with her arms on her hips. “Not now Maude, I am not in the mood for it.” He bit out impatiently.

“I am going to say it anyway. That boy there is your flesh and blood and you need to find a way to fix what is wrong with him. You are the only one he’s got.” With that she turned and went back into the kitchen.

*****

There was pandemonium the minute he came into the store. It was almost four o’clock and time for her to sign out and as soon as Debra heard the confusion at the door she knew it was him. He had brought two body guards with him but women were flocking him and asking him for autographs and he was obliging them. It took some time for him to get to where she was and by that time she was ready to leave. She could see all eyes on her and she hurriedly introduced him to Ana.

“I love your songs,” Ana told him with a smile, taking his hand in hers.

“And I would love to have you in one of my videos,” he told her looking at her in cool appraisal.

“I would love that,” Ana said trying to be cool but failing miserably.

“Good I will let my agent contact you.” He turned to Debra. “Ready?”

She nodded and he took her hand and guided her through the throng of people. There were cell phones going off as their pictures were taken and Debra knew that the world was going to know who she was by this afternoon and they were going to be digging into her past.

He had driven himself, a red Corvette, and he opened the door for her to get in before going around to let himself in the driver’s side. His body guards were behind them in a black SUV and followed closely as they drove away. “Tyler is past pissed,” he told her briefly. She noticed that apart from touching her hand to lead her out the store he had not done so again and he was not even looking at her. “He found out at school.”

“What did you say to him?” she asked feeling as if her world was taking a nose dive into the dark. She was no longer living her life in anonymity; everything she did from now on was going to be scrutinized.

“I told him we just happened and that you were different,” he shot her a cool glance. “He said I am incapable of love. What do you think?”

“What are you asking me?” she felt herself sinking into despair and just wanted to get away from it all. Who was she in love with?

“Do you think I am capable of falling in love?” he asked her.