Star-crossed double-cross 24

Chapter 24 – You can do it if you put your back into it

“Ok, cut. Take five, Bianca,” called out the snarly music video director.

Lucian glared at the man, tired and annoyed. After dancing to the same routine for hours, his muscles were cramping, and his legs were killing him. Wanting to punch the director in his chubby face, the comments he’d received all morning played through the sexily dressed boy’s mind. “Smile more, Bianca. Come on, shake that backside, and thrust those hips. Straighten your back and give me some sex appeal.”

“You try dancing dressed like this, arsehole,” Lucian thought, sending the man evils. “Did we really have to do that routine like sixteen times? The first one was fine.”

Hearing the clattering of feet approaching, Lucian turned to his left to see two over-enthusiastic makeup artists bounding towards him. “No, he shouted forcefully. Stretching out his arm to halt the women with the palm of his pink-nailed hand. “Not now. I need to rest, he added in an angry tone.

The feminised man then turned before strutting loudly across the room on the six-inch pumps he’d been forced to wear all morning. The funny thing was, after the operation on his calves, he no longer felt any pain, even after long sessions in the tallest of heels. A small mercy on a day like today, but overall, a terrifying thought. Now unable to place his feet flat on the floor, Lucian had all but resigned himself to a lifetime of having to wear high heels just to be able to walk about.

Heading towards the restroom, the only place he’d have any peace, Lucian strode through the exit, being careful not to slip on the polished wooden floor beneath his elevated feet. Uncomfortable after hours of shaking his booty inside a tight leather miniskirt, he couldn’t wait to close the cubicle door and relax for a minute. As his long curly hair bounced up and down in rhythm with his augmented chest, Lucian felt his damp pantyhose clinging to his legs and made a decision to take them off as soon as he was alone.

“Ah, there you are, Bianca” came a familiar voice, stopping Lucian dead in his tracks. “I love that outfit. Very sexy.”

“Yeah, why don’t you wear it then?” Lucian replied while folding his arms, far from pleased to see Raul blocking his path.

“Less of the attitude, Chica. Remember your place,” Raul shot back angrily.

“Sorry, Mr Jimenez. How awesome it is to see you. How can I please you today?” Lucian answered back, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

ignoring the tone, Raul linked his arm through Lucian's. “Well, it's awesome to see you too," he said giving the feminised man a kiss on the cheek. "And you can please me by listening to what I have to say. Now come, it's been too long since I've been able to check in on my favourite girl,” the slick-backed-haired man said as he guided Lucian back into the room he had just exited. “I hope all is going well with the recording?”

“Yes, no problems,” Lucian replied as he forced a smile on his large glossy lips and allowed the Latino man to guide him to the centre of the room.

“Perfect,” Raul said, smiling back. “With the recording of your new album complete, we’ll be able to start the publicity tour next week."

Taking the opportunity to release his arm and step away, Lucian looked Raul dead in the eyes. “Publicity tour?” he stated confused. He, of course, already knew about the existence of an album. For days now, he had been recording the music video to the debut single, ‘fill me up,’ but having not recorded the album himself, the word tour scared him.

“Yes, publicity is an important part of promoting any new album,” Raul replied with a nod. “We’ll get you on the usual morning and late-night talk shows and get you on a few magazine covers. Oh, talking of photoshoots, you're scheduled for one with Melena Gomez tomorrow. Someone will fill you in on the details later today.”

Lucian’s mouth fell open in surprise. “What? After you forced me into that sham relationship with Zane, she hates my guts.”

(See image 24.1)

“Don’t worry about Melena, she will do what we tell her,” Raul replied with a smirk. “And you should stop referring to your relationship like that. Not only do you never know who’s listening but from what I hear, young Zane is quite taken by you.”

Lucian Shuddered at the thought of Zane’s hands running down his body, playing with his… “And what if I refuse?”

“You won’t,” Raul responded confidently. “You have nowhere to go now that you have Bianca’s face. And I don’t have to remind you of the care we are providing your dear mother, now, do I?”

“I want to see her,” Lucian shot back, stamping his high-heeled foot. “I haven’t seen her in months.”

“Impossible,” Raul blurted out, “Well, at the moment anyway," he quickly added in a softer tone. "The treatment she is receiving, although going well, is at a very delicate stage. I can assure you she’s being well taken care of. And If you play your part, you’ll see her fit and healthy soon enough.”

“How do I know you’re telling me the truth?” Lucian asked while pouting.

“You don’t. But the way I see it, you don’t really have much of a choice.” Raul answered while looking down at his watch. “Now, I’ve got to go to another meeting, and you’ve got to wrap this shoot up. We need you done by four so Zane has time to film his parts too.”

Seeing Lucian looking back at him with a stupefied look written across his pretty face, Raul chuckled. “Did no one tell you this single is a duet? The public love this kind of stuff. They are going to lap it up, “Raul announced as he motioned to leave. “Once your boyfriend's done in makeup, you two can film the bed scenes together. Now, If you'll excuse me. I really must be going. Be good, Bianca. I’ll check in again in a few days.”

As Raul took his leave, Lucian slowly turned. Blinking a few times as his heavy fake lashes wafted through the air, his darkly lined eyes fell upon the bed behind him. Previously thinking it to be just a prop, with a camera now set up to face it, its presence on the set suddenly took on, a completely new, and quite frankly, horrifying meaning.

“They need you in wardrobe and makeup, Miss Cabello,” a perky-sounding assistant announced from behind.

Lucian didn’t respond. Instead, with his long auburn locks gently swaying from side to side and his long-nailed hands pressed up against the sides of his surgically altered nose, he just stared blankly at the bed in disbelief.

“Miss Cabello, are you alright? Miss Cabello? Bianca?”