Moving on 1

"Looks like someone is bent on me not having peace of mind."

He observed the video keenly, trying to decipher the exact angle at which the video was taken. He stood up with his laptop in hand and walked towards the couch where the first scene of their intense fucking took place. He spun around, looking at every angle of the room and scrutinizing the video to get the perfect angle match. Just then his eyes caught on something.

"Got ya!" He exclaimed in what almost sounded like a whisper. He walked towards the kitchen arena, stretched his hand and took out what looked like a ping pong ball. It was painted greyish-black, camouflaging perfectly among the oval-shaped dishes on the top shelf of the cupboard.

He spun it around in his hand, bringing it close to his face.

"Hey, Mikey… I was hoping you'll go for a more professional method." He said with a mechanical smile spread out on his face. He dropped the ball in the jar of water standing idly on the kitchen table. "That should do the job." He said aloud as he dusted imaginary dust off his palms.

'Come sweep my house for bugs.' He sent a short message.

Neon, one of his longtime friends, is a technology wizard. He's got the funding too. Both of them spent the entire morning cleaning up Lara's house to make sure there were no hidden cameras aside from the one he took off immediately after she left. Neon made sure to put an anti-bug. Just in case anyone came again later, their devices would be jammed.

He wanted to install his cameras but decided to give her her privacy.

He heard the phone ring. He walked back towards the living arena and picked it on the second ring.

"You said you'd be gone for two weeks, it's already over two weeks Alex. Where are you?" A female voice said as soon as the line connected.

"Good evening to you too Mom. And what are you still doing up at this hour?" He asked dryly.

"Watching porn…" his Mom said bluntly.

Good thing he wasn't drinking, cos he probably would have spilt the content in his mouth. "Ok… that's understandable." He nodded in embarrassment.

He began strolling casually across the room as he walked towards the switch.

"I did not know that my son was now acting porn." She added.

He froze.

"What do you mean Mom?" He feigned ignorance.

"One of your fans sent me a video of you having anal sex with a woman. Thank God it wasn't a dog." She said sarcastically.

He remained silent. ' Shit!!' he cursed internally. He couldn't help but pace about in the room.

"You care to explain to me what's going on?" His Mom asked gently.

"Nothing, I can handle it, Mom. I'm sorry you had to see that." He said assuringly. But it did not help with the embarrassment and nervousness. His mom wasn't the problem, his father was. He prayed silently that they wouldn't involve his father.

"It's the most disgusting thing I've ever set my eyes on. Now my eyes need cleansing."

"Mom…"

"I couldn't even think that you'd do that kind of thing. What happened to the front that you decided to use the back…?"

"Jeez, mother!! Can we please not have this conversation right now. It's embarrassing." He pleaded. He continued pacing, pinching his temple occasionally. Well, he'd already developed a headache long before Lara left.

"Looks like this shit is more serious than I thought."

"What??" His mom yelled over the phone.

"Nothing Mom." He quickly replied.

"Listen, son, I don't mind who you spend your time with, but I don't want to know what you do with those women, especially something like this." She scolded.

"Mother, can you do me a favour and delete it. Please."

"Nope. I'll keep it." She replied bluntly and cut the call.

"Fuck!!!" He cursed aloud. He kicked the air in anger and frustration. He quickly scrolled through his contacts and dialled a number.

"What the fuck are you doing? You were supposed to have deleted every fuck'in video by now." Alex yelled over the phone when the call connected.

"Ok, first things first, I don't work for you. secondly, I already deleted the video, it doesn't exist anywhere anymore. Thirdly, you asked me to sweep your house for bugs and I've done that. I'll pass there in the morning to tie up all loose ends. So…"

"There's a second video." Alex cut in.

"Wow, damn bro. You really can't keep your third leg asleep huh?" The voice over the phone mocked as a peal of soft laughter escaped over the speaker.

"It's not funny, douchebag." Alex snapped.

"Oh my… hohoho!!"

"What is again, douchebag?" Alex yelled over the phone.

"Damn bro, you hit her this time in the back, damn you guys just met. Don't tell me that the front is just too sloppy."

Alex heard him laugh really hard.

"Screw you!!" Alex cursed out loud as he angrily ended the call.

"This shit is more serious than I thought, fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" He cursed over and over, and he slumped down on the couch.

*******

Three days passed by in a flash. Lara still wouldn't let him anywhere close to her. She'd just give him the bicycle wave in the mornings and shut her door on his face in the evening.

He wasn't upset. He understood perfectly how she must be feeling. Her life turned upside down in just 24 hours, anyone would want to stay away from him. He'd stay away from himself too if it were possible.

He had to fix his problems and win the girl's heart too.

"Hey, welcome home sweetheart." And there he was, standing on her doorstep with a bouquet of red roses, all polished up in a blue tuxedo. His black hair was well gelled up and combed back, leaving a few short stray strands to fall freely on his temple. Of course, he had his charming ear to ear smile on, concealing his nervousness.

She paused in her tracks, and stared at him in astonishment.

"What are you up to this time Alex?" She asked dryly, rolling her eyes. She took slow steps towards him.

"Can I buy you a meal?" He asked instead.

She smiled. "So you are all dressed up just to buy me a meal?"

"Do you like the dress?"

"I wouldn't deny the fact that you look really charming."

"Thank you." He bowed majestically.

"So what do you say?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Sort of…"

She bent slightly to take a look at herself. "Take a look at me, I'm in no state to go out on a date with a guy dressed up like that…" she said motioning with her hand to him.

There was really a visible contrast in both of their attires. She was dressed in a simple white shirt and dark green knee-length skirt. She looked cute still, with her hair held back. But she wasn't good enough for him dressed up like this. She couldn't deny the fact that he was irresistible.

"I don't mind waiting." He replied.

"I don't remember agreeing in the first place." She was now standing a few steps away from him.

"I don't remember you denying either." He said in a deep voice as he took a step forward, handing her the flowers as he leaned forward and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Good one." She extended her hand and took the flowers from him.

"Listen Alex…" she started. "But every time I hang out with you, it turns into a fiasco. I don't want that kind of trauma again, so just give me a break." She handed him back the flowers, walked past him, opened the door and shut it behind her without taking a second glance at him.