Only Have Eyes for You(1)

Author: Qiao Ke Li A Hua Tian

1

During those fervid few years as Jack Cameron's lover, my acting career waned into one that was entirely dependent on his resources, with no accolades to speak of.

As I was wallowing in the bliss of my romance, he initiated a breakup.

After leaving him, I restarted from the bottom. I painstakingly forged my way back up as I brushed up on the acting skills I had disregarded earlier.

Three years later, I encountered Jack again on set. This time, his girlfriend and I were competing for the same role.

He cornered me in the dressing room and demanded, "Name me a price and you'll give up your role when I grant it."

I pulled him towards me as my lips grazed his collar, staining it. I suggested sultrily.

"Accompany me for a night, and I'll fulfill your fiancee's wishes."

I had been a struggling actor receiving mostly insignificant roles when I first met Jack.

Although I had the relevant acting accreditation, I could never thrive in the seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry with my lack of connections.

I had finally landed a role as the fourth female lead when it was snatched from me by another actress who had earned herself some sexual favors from the director. My role was demoted to become her sidekick.

"Tiana, as I have mentioned, this role is yours as long as you're willing to come to me."

The director sucked on his cigarette and smirked, as he blew a puff of smoke ring at my face.

I deftly removed myself from where his hands rested on my shoulder and forced a smile.

"Director, I'm truly sorry but I already have a boyfriend."

"Who is it? Tiana, don't lie to me."

He stretched his hand out unyieldingly, as his expression became increasingly salacious.

In a moment of panic, I randomly singled out a passing man and shrieked, "It's him! That's my boyfriend!"

The man stopped in his tracks and stared at us.

I registered, in that instance, the piercing gaze and well-defined features of the boyfriend I had chosen so spontaneously.

I jogged towards him and proceeded to link my arm through his as I grinned at the director. "Director Wilson, this is my boyfriend."

"Mr... Mr. Cameron?" The director asked in surprise.

I was momentarily stunned before a vague recollection struck me that one of the major stakeholders of this production... was a certain Mr. Cameron.

To be exact, Jack Cameron.

He had an imposing stature, and I had to lift my eyes to face him even with heels on.

He glanced down and swept an impassive gaze across my face before facing Mr. Wilson again.

"You may go now," he ordered.

He had indirectly validated my claims.

Mr. Wilson paled, and he offered his sincere apologies before he left.

Jack instructed grimly, "He's gone now. You can let go of me."

The inexplicable ridicule in his tone made me stop my loosening hold on him and I tightened my grip instead.

Jack frowned and I explained coyly. "Mr. Cameron, shall we just give it a try and turn this pretense into reality?"

It had not been my intention to seduce Jack. I had merely wanted to get back at him because of his underlying contempt.

I was taken by surprise that very night as Jack's assistant came to deliver a hotel card.

"This is for a presidential penthouse suite. Tiana, Mr. Cameron has taken a liking to you. You've hit the jackpot!"

My manager, who had been indifferent to me all this while, perked up at the mention of Jack.

Jack was rolling in wealth. Coupled with his handsome features and prominent status in the industry, obtaining his favor was the classic ticket to overnight stardom.

As I stood at the doorstep clutching the card, the scenes from when we had met earlier replayed in my mind.

His frigid gaze had seemed completely devoid of emotion.

My thoughts wandered, ''But if that glacial expression is mixed with some lust, would that not be alluring?"

When I entered the room, Jack was positioned by the window, clicking away at his keyboard.

The ends of his hair were still dripping, showing traces of a recent shower. However, he remained clad in a meticulously buttoned-up suit, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses resting atop his nose.

He exuded elegance.

I snickered internally as I headed over and murmured, "Mr. Cameron."

Jack stopped his work and looked up.

His steely gaze fell on me and turned lustful.

I knew the exact reason why.

Before I arrived, my manager had abruptly gotten me a slip dress, and the translucent fabric could barely cover my entire body.

I had shielded myself with a coat as I made my way up but discarded it immediately upon entering.

Jack scrutinized my body and smirked.

"I thought you were vehemently against giving in to Harvey Wilson. Why are you so proactively offering yourself to me instead?"

I raised my eyebrows and sauntered forward before dramatically tipping myself over in his direction.

I was taking a gamble.

I was gambling that he would catch me.

Jack swiped away the notebook in front of him before enveloping me in his embrace.

We were in a lascivious position.

The warmth from his fingers set my skin alight through the thin fabric as he caressed my waist.

Jack remarked pointedly, "Ms. Tates, I have to say your acting was not the most impressive earlier."

"Well, it was intentional."

I grinned, stood up and whispered in his ear.

"I agreed to your invitation only because you're so much more dashing."

Jack's smoldering eyes darkened.

He lifted me up and strode to the bed before leaning forward to kiss me.

After that night, the production crew officially recognized me as Jack's girlfriend.

The previously undecided casting of the second female lead was naturally handed out to me, without a single audition.

Jack was quite simply, the perfect lover.

He was an eligible bachelor with accompanying looks and wealth. Although he was my senior by eight years, he had a great physique from regular exercise and was considerate as well.

Most importantly, Jack provided me with the best resources that I could never have envisioned achieving by myself.

I received two top-tier endorsement offers by the third month into our relationship.

Succeeding my previous film, I went through the motions of an audition before clinching the female lead role.

In return, I had to play the role of Jack's delightful girlfriend on all public occasions. I would be wherever he needed me, whenever he needed me.

Initially, we mainly stayed in a hotel suite near the production set. Subsequently, he went straight ahead and purchased a luxurious apartment for me in the city center.

As long as his schedule allowed him, he would spend the night at my place.

His assistant, Diego, mentioned that I was the only woman present in Jack's life.

It was the perfect business deal.

That was until I fell in love.

2

It had been a trivial matter that sparked the blossoming romantic feelings in me.

Diego had phoned and informed me that Jack was drunk and I was required to pick him up as he had wanted to see me.

Jack's drunk behavior was vastly different from his usual collected demeanor as he leaned against the passenger seat with a hand across his forehead. After a long silence, he started, "Tiana."

"Mr. Cameron."

He chuckled and with a husky tone, he asked, "Tiana, why are you dressed so casually?"

I realized at that moment that because I had been rushing out of the house, I only managed to switch out of my slippers. Otherwise, I was still wrapped in my pajamas, with a head of unkempt hair.

He did not seem to be waiting for an answer as he gently ruffled my hair. He remarked, "This is nice. If I get drunk again in the future, I'll have you come and pick me up."

In the future.

That phrase sent me reeling.

I had been involved in several romantic relationships since university, but most of them were mutually beneficial. I took what I could get out of them to make up for the love I had not received in the eighteen years prior. I knew better than to allow myself to be too emotionally invested.

This was the first time a ray of possibility shone through my bleak future, as I contemplated a future with a partner.

However, I was also acutely aware of our situation.

Jack and I had no future together.

I had been assigned the role of a materialistic but alluring girlfriend, asking to be showered with luxurious gifts aligned with my portrayed persona, but I could never probe into his personal matters.

He spoilt me in every way possible, satisfying all my whims as long as they were not unreasonable. I did not have to hone my acting skills to land any role or endorsement deal I had fancied.

Over the course of three fervid years, my acting career consequently waned into one that was entirely dependent on his resources, with no accolades to speak of.

The backlash I had received from netizens typically spelled out. "Did Tiana Yates really graduate from acting school? Unless acting school taught her how to serve men?"

It did not take long for me to also lose this opportunity to "serve men".

That fateful afternoon, Jack could not make it personally to visit me on set, so he had arranged for a driver to fetch me to his hotel.

After entering the room, I habitually took a shower and emerged scantily clad in a slip dress. I was faced with the sight of Jack by the bedside, well-dressed and neatly clad.

He regarded me stoically, "Tiana, let's end this."

End.

He had not even bothered to use the word "break up".

I steadily clasped my hands together behind my back and surveyed him.

His gaze was aloof, with a similarly detached expression. Even as I stood so racily dressed in his line of sight, his calm facade never faltered.

It seemed as if the person who had once desired the same fervor as me was no longer him.

I lowered my gaze and was silent for a moment. I had already skillfully plastered on my well-versed smile when I agreed, "Sure, Mr. Cameron."

Jack nodded and observed me. His lips parted slightly as if he had more to say.

However, he ultimately left without another word.

Perhaps he had been afraid that if he did not sever our ties cleanly, I would cling on to him.

I stood rooted to the ground in the oppressively vacant room for a long while before I slowly brought my hands back into my vision.

The glitter on my pristine white nails sparkled as I had gotten a manicure the day before.

It had been in preparation for the upcoming event I was scheduled to attend but they were all splintered now, leaving four bloody imprints in my palms.

The pain was palpable.

Gossip always spreads like wildfire.

Our breakup was followed by the swift termination of all the resources I had used to have at my disposal.

My upcoming female lead role was replaced. An agreed endorsement deal went down the drain. My spot at the upcoming event had also been abruptly canceled with some perfunctory excuse.

It took mere half a month for me to plummet from a superstar back to an insignificant nobody, competing with other obscure actresses for minor roles.

My previous association with Jack had ensured directors always treated me politely, excusing my awful acting.

However, every mistake I made now earned me a harsh scolding.

I had prioritized the relationship over acquiring legitimate acting skills previously but I was gradually sharpening my skills again, one step at a time.

In addition to all the obstacles I had to overcome, my dwindling love for Jack also gave way to hatred.

He had personally propelled me to the peak and watched as I crashed and burned as he turned away.

The reason was unbeknownst to me.

In the past three years, this question had haunted my mind and burdened me with several sleepless nights.

I questioned incessantly, "Why did he suddenly leave me three years ago?"

However, I no longer desire an answer to that question.

This time, I forged my own path to the top based on my own capabilities. I earned my right to compete for the role with Jack's new girlfriend, Cathy Bradshaw.

All the signs indicated that the director preferred me.

Jack cornered me in my dressing room and demanded, "Give up your role. I'll grant you whatever price you name."

As I grabbed his collar, only one thought surfaced in my mind.

I wanted to be the one to ditch him this time.