Madness or Love (Be With Me Book 1) (5 page)

***

Victoria looked around in the fog between dreamland
and reality. Her phone on the nightstand rang again, sending vibrations all the
way to her sleepy brain. She moaned but grabbed it. The neon alarm clock said two
a.m.

“It’s two in the morning; this better be good!”

The silence on the other end stretched.

“Victoria?” Ian’s hesitant voice came on the line.
“I’m so sorry. I totally forgot about the time difference. I’ll call later . .
. I mean, during the day.” Ian felt genuinely ashamed and embraced by the anger
that showed through Victoria’s voice.

“Ian?” The confusion took over her annoyance in an
instant. “Ian Young?” There was no mistaking it, and her tone softened.

“Guilty,” came his response. “In the end, I’m clearly
the asshole you thought me to be. I’m sorry I called you in the middle of the
night. I’ll hang up now and leave you to sleep.”

“No, wait,” she said in a hurry. “I’m awake now. I’m
sorry I snapped at you. Can we start over?”

“You sure?”

“Yes. Hi.” She paused, suddenly overwhelmed by worry,
sensing his distress. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Her questions made him smile. “I’m fine.” Who was he kidding?”
He sighed. “Actually, I’m not.”

“Tell me!” She sat upright in bed, and a frown formed
on her forehead.

He hesitated. Victoria Dean was a stranger despite
their brief encounter and the wonderful evening they’d spent together. But
still, in that precise moment of despair, she was the one he had called. 

“I lost a job today; a job I thought was a done deal.
And I was so excited about that project, the chance to work with a director
that has been nominated for an Oscar
—
” He
stopped abruptly and tried to control his raging anger.

Victoria held her breath and gave him a moment to cope
with his emotions.

“Then they cut me off like I meant nothing and tapped
someone else. I can’t give you more details, but I can tell you that I felt
betrayed and used like never before. And that’s not the worst part. They made
me doubt myself and question my abilities as an actor.” He stopped, and the
silence stretched. Ian wasn’t sure why he saw fit to tell Victoria his fears,
but the words slipped anyway. “It means I’m not good enough, right?” came his
barely-audible question. 

Victoria gripped the phone tighter. “Was the project
really important to you? And I don’t mean your career—you.” She asked a
question of her own. “Just think about it. Would it have been challenging? Were
you excited to play the character? Or was it the fat paycheck and the possible
bump to your career that appealed to you?”

Ian listened to her calm and comforting voice,
questioning his motives for the first time. “I guess, no. It wasn’t about me.”
He sighed. “Everyone believed it would become a huge franchise, and if I would have
gotten the chance to become a part of the craziness, sure, my career would
skyrocket.”

Victoria didn’t need more. “Then forget about it,” she
said quickly. “Let it go! If it wasn’t important to you, then it wasn’t
important at all.”

“Easier said than done.”

“It’s all about perspective,” she continued. “Think
about it this way—a door has been closed, but there could be hundreds more to
open, countless chances to take and explore. Now you’ll be free to choose and
pick a project that is close to your heart, something that will bring you
satisfaction, something to be proud of.” She took a breath and realized how much
easier it was to talk to him when she wasn’t distracted by his blue, enchanting
eyes.

Ian already felt lighter. Victoria had managed to lift
the weight with a few words spoken over the ocean. “Do you know what I think?”
he asked. “I’m gonna stop paying my shrink and start calling you instead.”

“You have one!” She faked horror but then laughed.
“Please, don’t. I don’t want to be responsible if you have a nervous breakdown.
I’m not a professional, remember? I can only give you the truth and my honest
opinion.”

“And that’s all I can ask from you.”
It’s all I
want
, he thought. 

“Then we might get along pretty well, but that’s only
if you stop calling at two a.m.,” she teased.

“I promise,” he vowed. “Your turn now. How’s life?”

“I almost forgot. Thank you for that letter you sent
to the general manager.”

“It was nothing,” he said humbly.

“No, that’s not true. I was promoted right after, and
it’s thanks to you.”

“It’s not. It’s all you. I told the truth, no more.”

“If you don’t want to take credit, fine, but I’m
grateful anyway.”

“I can tell you’re super excited for that new job.”

“I am. And I’m one step closer to the end game. Do you
remember
—
”

“Yes, your green hotel. I remember,” he said.

“I’m surprised,” Victoria responded. “You have
probably met hundreds of people since our dinner date. I thought you’d erased
me from your consciousness,” she teased.

His low laugh made her shiver. “There are some people,
Victoria, whom you can’t shake off, no matter how hard you try. You are one of
them.”

Shocked, Victoria fell silent.

“May I call you again?” Ian interrupted the electric
silence with his soft voice.

Sitting alone in the dark room, a bright smile lit her
face up. “Yes.”

“Thank you for listening to my ramblings.”

“You’re welcome. Good night, Ian.”

“Sweet dreams, Victoria.”

They will be
, she thought, and pressed the red
button on her phone.

From the ashes of Ian’s contract a friendship had been
born. The whole concept of maintaining any kind of relationship over the phone
was ludicrous, but they managed it really well. At first, Ian hadn’t been
calling very often. Busy life, his career, the countless castings, and reading
scripts got in the way. But he always sought her honest advice when desperation
punched him hard. He valued her opinion and knew that Victoria would never lie
to him, no matter how painful the truth. She had become his true critic.

In time, their conversations took on a different
course. He felt the need just to hear her voice, to share a laugh with her, to
say good night. They learned each other’s secrets and shared deeply hidden
desires and hopes. And in no time, they became inseparable and important like
the air they breathed. Although connected only through a phone line, their bond
grew stronger. She changed him a little with every conversation, and he
welcomed it. Victoria was the spark he had always needed—a memorable, determined
woman, a true fighter that was relentless at her work but could also be
wildfire, glowing with life, a volcano full of life force. There were days when
her laughter was the only remedy for his bruised soul. And even though
separated by an ocean, she was there for him, caressing him with her soft
voice, giving him a piece of her strength. The distance didn’t matter. She was
at the other end of the line to cheer him up when he couldn’t get a job, and
she celebrated when he finally made his breakthrough. He listened when she was
about to cry about the latest rejection letter from the bank and when she felt
hopeless and filled with doubt.
In sorrow and laughter
was their motto.
The bond of their souls became indestructible, and they silently labeled it “friendship”.
Both had no idea how wrong they were.

* * *

Victoria was still at work when the phone rang. Pun
intended, she had put the intro from
Friends
to Ian’s number, and the
words “I’ll be there for you” filled her office. She smiled and picked up.
“Hi.”

“Hello, lovely lady! What are you doing?”

“I’m working. You?”

“I’m supposed to meet Jeff, my agent. He’s late, as
always.”

“And you don’t like to wait.” She laughed.

“Damn right, girl. Listen! You’ll be home around
seven, right?”

“Yes. Why?”

“How about dinner at eight?”

“Dinner? I thought you were in the USA,” she said,
confused.

“I am. We can have a skype date. I just met someone
who opened my eyes about online relationships, and since we have one . . .”

“Ha, ha, funny guy!”

“And besides, I miss your charming face.”

“Hmm, we can have a dinner-slash-lunch skype date, I
guess, and I can wear my slippers instead of stilettos. Cool.”

“It’s a win-win, you see?” He laughed.

“Is there something special you want to tell me?”

“Maybe.”

“Oh, no, tell me now,” she insisted.

“I won’t. Be patient! I’ll see you at eight.”

“I hate you,” she pouted.

“No, you don’t.” His simple words came over the line.
“Bye, lovely. Jeff is here. I’m gonna hang up now.”

“Okay. Bye, Ian.”

She put down the phone but didn’t stop thinking about
the dark-haired, gorgeous friend she had, and his magnetic blue eyes.

* * *

Later that day, Victoria stood in front of her dining
table feeling satisfied. The formal setting was perfect—white plates over
burgundy table runner and matching serviette. And to top it all off, her laptop
stood propped up on the opposite side of the table. Her outfit was simple but
elegant—a sparkling sleeveless top and a tulip skirt in olive green. She looked
down at her bare feet and smiled. The laptop sprang to life. She sat down and
pressed the green button. Ian’s slightly smeared face smiled back at her.

“Hello, beautiful. You look amazing. I thought it was
a casual dinner-lunch.”

“I don’t wear shoes. Is this casual enough? I bet you
have only your boxer briefs on.” She winked.

“Or maybe I’m naked besides my shirt,” he threw back.

“It’s my lucky day, then,” said Victoria, and they
both laughed. “Why don’t you drop this and tell me what’s going on?” she asked
with her sweetest voice.

“Hey, I’m hungry; it’s a dinner.” He ditched her
question.

Victoria took the serviette and casually placed it on
her lap. She reached over, took the salad, and placed it in front of her. He
watched, amused, while she calmly chewed a small cherry tomato.

“I’m eating, you see. Your turn!”

Ian knew he could not put the conversation off any
longer. “Okay, you remember when I told you about my second thoughts regarding
the promotional tour the studio wants me to do?”

“Yes. What about it?” Her curiosity pricked up.

“I decided to do it.”

“Why the sudden change of heart?” Victoria asked, and
mindlessly played with the wine glass.

“My manager thinks it will boost my career—a free
publicity I can’t deny. And the studio didn’t give me much choice in the
matter.”

She frowned. “Will you tell me the real reason? You
know I don’t care much about what Jeff thinks.”

“You got me.” He smirked. “I often forget I can’t get
past your intuition.”

“I wonder why you even try.”

“The truth is we’ll be setting off from the UK.”

Victoria held her breath. She didn’t dare hope, but
still.

“I have some extra time, and I will arrive in London
the day before.” He paused. “Which gives us one day or, more likely, an
afternoon to spend together.” He waited for his words to sink in.

Victoria leaned back in her chair, and with a dead-serious
look, asked, “You’ve agreed to one month of madness just so you can fly to
London and meet me?”

“I’m getting mixed-up signals here. Are you happy?”

The joy she tried to contain touched her eyes, and she
grinned like a little kid. “You have no idea. So, you’ll be all mine for the
night, right?”

“Yes.” He beamed but wondered what her plans were.

“Perfect!” A devilish smile rose on her face.

“Do I need to be worried?” he asked, pretending to be
terrified.

“Definitely!” she stated, and nonchalantly continued
with her salad.

Ian’s eyes flashed with a new feeling, one that he had
tried to bury deep.
Thank God
Victoria couldn’t see the sparks of
passion on the low-quality video display.

Ian stepped into the foyer, squinting for a second,
and tried to adjust his eyes from the dim street light to the bright sparkling
glimmers of the crystal chandelier.

Then he saw her. Victoria’s hair was styled
differently—big, glossy locks in a half updo. He liked it. He knew she would
turn any second and meet his eager eyes. The black skirt she wore enfolded her
thighs, and the sight sent unexpected warmth through his body. She turned on
her heels as if sensing his presence, a slow movement with a hint of
hesitation. He made a step toward her, craving to touch her, to hold her tightly,
to feel, to sense, to be in peace. But he restrained himself.