Chương 22: Come clean

"Are you ok?" He was lying beside her, watching her as she slowly stretched her tired body. She was sure she had slept well because of the sleeping pill he gave her last night, but it still felt like it was not a peaceful one.

He slowly moved closer and placed his arms around her, cradling her in a tight embrace. "Everything will be ok," reassuring her as he placed a warm kiss on her temple. All she could do was snuggled closer to him, taking comfort in his love.

"Jacob, thanks for staying with me." She whispered to him in her hoarse voice. Finally, being able to cry all night made her feel much better. She was able to release all the pent-up emotions she was suppressing ever since the scandal and Brad's abandonment.

In all honesty, there was another reason for her grief. It was the realization that what she felt for Raf was far worse than she initially thought. She had fallen for him. Deep enough for her to feel the fear of losing him.

It sounded impossible since they only met a couple of weeks ago, but somehow, he had found a way to sneak into her defense. Now, even if it was against her will, he owned a part of her heart.

"Sabrina, I'll always have your back." He smiled at her with much confidence he could muster. " I've known this business from the inside and out. I assure you that people will eventually forgive and forget."

She wished to believe him. That everything would be fine, and in time, she would be back to her normal life. Yet, in her case, she was doubtful. Nothing about her life would be the same again.

It was just that she had been in this industry since she was a child. Showbiz's life was what she had dreamed of ever since she had learned that her mom was once a superstar. That was before her mom gave it up to devote her life to her husband and their kids.

Could she ever give up her career for love? She wondered. Then again, did she even have a career to go back after this scandal? What love was she was talking about? Surely, Brad was already a past that she would rather move on with. Then, Rafael was someone she could not even consider because he never knew the real Sabrina Sanders.

"Come on. Let's have breakfast. Lindsey made something special for us," he stood up and excitedly patted her hands while trying to cheer her up.

"Go ahead. I'll be right behind you," she said, rubbing her sore eyes and shaking off her depressing mood.

When Jacob left her room, she stayed in bed for a few more minutes, recalling what happened last night.

After realizing that Raf was possibly on his way to get his dog, she quickly hid in her room, making an excuse that she had to go to the bathroom. She asked Jacob to return the dog to whoever would come for him. Then, she quickly texted Lindsey to make an excuse that she was sick if ever Raf would look for her.

Jacob, who was slightly wary of the dog, wanted to protest. Seeing the uncertainty in her face, he immediately offered his help and let her go to her room.

A few minutes later, as expected, she heard his voice booming from the distance. He was calling for his dog, who must have run away again from him to see her. If only Raf could also recognize and love her just like Baxter did. She would be the happiest girl alive, but that was wishful thinking.

Getting closer to the door, putting her ears on the wooden panel, she heard Raf demanding for his dog back. "Sabrina, I want my dog back. Stop encouraging him to come here," he shouted.

Hearing her name, she realized that he was aware of who she was or the actress that lived in his villa. She thought that he did not get personally involved with the clients of the resort.

Raf was furious that when he opened his backyard sliding door, Baxter immediately ran to the beach and out of his sight. When he finally tried to look for him, he saw traces of his footprint on the path towards her house.

After the first time Baxter went with her, he was curious about her identity. Baxter was not friendly to strangers so that triggered his interest in her. He took her files and learned that she was the famous star involved in the latest scandal. She was using the resort to hide from the press.

He wondered why the dog kept on going to her. There was just no connection at all.

He did not care whoever she was. He despised people like her because of their values. Marriage or even simple relationships should be treated with the utmost respect and not be cheated with disgrace.

He just heard of the latest sex scandal she was involved with. He did not need to see it to know what kind of person she was. He did not want his nephew and his dog to have any involvement with a girl like her.

"Baxter, are you in there?" He shouted again when he was closed enough to the door.

"Yes, he is inside. He just showed up on our doorstep." Jacob answered him calmly.

Raf was a bit taken aback to see not her, but a man, he did not recognize, waiting for him by the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry for my dog's intrusion." He noticed his appearance, the man was wearing only his shorts and the lack of shirt on.

Meaning, this man was no ordinary guest, but someone staying with her. Knowing that this was not the person involved in the scandal since he knew Brad personally. He was sure that this was another man in this actress's life.

Her scandal was not even cold, here she was with another man. He thought. He then concluded the news was correct in their assumption. In his mind, she was not someone he would be interested to be acquainted with.

"Not at all, he was a sweet dog." He said sarcastically. The dog was indeed sweet, not to him, but at least to Sabrina, he thought.

"Then, we better be on our way. Sorry again for causing a disturbance." He acknowledged that it was very unprofessional of him to act the way he did. Even if, his annoyance was directed at her. He was just glad that she was not around.

She strained her ears, trying to decipher if he finally left. Hearing no barking and no commotion, she concluded that the coast was clear. She went back to her bed and sat on it. Unable to make a coherent thought.

She let her back fall on the mattress with her feet still planted on the floor. Looking at the ceiling with a blank expression. Everything that happened started juggling in her head, making her world spin. Closing her eyes, she replayed her once-perfect life and blamed herself for ruining it.

After a few minutes, the vibration and buzzing of her phone woke her up from her trance. She received a text message that he was on his way to her house to pick her up. Luckily, she was able to text Lindsey about another yet of her lies.

After a few minutes, he texted again, telling her to rest and get well soon. She replied this time that she would take a long rest. She would see him again tomorrow after she had fully recovered. She heard her door open and closed, but she never bothered to look knowing it was just Jacob.

He was looking at her funnily with a confused smile. "Who are you texting?" He asked, his detective skills were in full alert.

"No one." She said, not wanting to include him in her lies. It was getting more complicated, she admitted. Coming clean to him would be more difficult with the latest development in her life.

"Stop lying to me. You're keeping something from me," he insisted. He could sense that there was more to her silence that she was not telling him. "Who was that guy? Why was he acting like he was about to go to war with you."

"It's nothing." She tried to act like it was no big deal, but her acting must have failed her when his brows started wrinkling at his nose.

"There it is again. You know you can't hide anything from me." He insisted, sitting beside her on the bed.

Giving up. "Ok. I met a guy. I think I like him." She finally voiced out what she feared in these last few days.

"Oh! Who's the lucky man?" He sounded so gay when he does that, but he was not. He just loved to act in front of her, but not in front of the camera.

"A neighbor I met while I was coop up in here." She wanted to sound vague.

"Wait, are we talking about a hot neighbor with a dog?" He asked, unsure of what was going on.

She could only hide her face under the pillows for the shame of what she was about to confess. "Yes."

Now, he was totally and utterly flabbergasted with the whole situation. "But…" Then again, "He seemed to hate you. So, how is that even possible? Are you high, delusional, or something?" He stood in front of her, scrutinizing her reaction.

"It's a long story." She was not in the mood to tell him anything. She just wanted to hide in her room and drown herself in sorrow for destroying her life.

"We have all night. I'm not leaving tomorrow until I heard all that you have been doing here." He said, acting like a true friend. He came here to make sure that his friend would have someone to comfort her in a time like this.

"Ok. I'll tell you." Although she was not up to it, she had no choice but to tell him everything, from the day they first met because of Xavier to last night.

"Oh, this is bad. Why did you string him along with that lie?" He chastised her.

"I made a mistake again, I know." Admitting it. "Now, I have no idea of how to tell him who I am."

"Just start with the truth. That's the only way." He said.

He was right, just like Lindsey said. There was no other way to fix this but to confess to him.

Tomorrow, she would come clean.