"I don't know why you did what you did even though you are smart and was very much aware of how this would end, why you continued staying with him even though I can tell you knew how very easily you might fall in love with him and at this point, I don't think I care."
"Jessica__"
"No Maya. Just listen to me, Alex is on his way to your office, just follow him without creating a scene. You should be with people especially when you are heartbroken and you'll be staying with us. That would even give Stacey more room to finish decorating your house. That place is depressing,"
"Jessica I'm not heartbroken and whatever happened between me and Xavier, was something I consented to as an adult besides I have work to do and I can't just up and leave."
"Hello bullshit, I'm Jessica, nice to meet you." She snorted, "Can you stop feeding yourself with lies?" she heard a sharp intake of breath from the other line and knew Jessica was on the verge of losing it. She still couldn't handle knowing that Maya was in pain and was determined not to get help.
"I saw the way you looked at him, Maya," the first tear slid from her cheek, "You wore your heart on your sleeve and in just the way your eyes light up even without you being aware of it, the world was more than aware of how deep you have fallen. I have no problem with you trying to fool the world but not us Maya, we are your home, your safe place and we are going to get through this together okay."
She jerked her head into a nod even as tears welled from her eyes and Jessica's voice softened, "And I think Playit has been doing just fine without you for a very long time and won't collapse if you take a break today. So you still have enough time to talk to either of your bosses and meet us at home. We called in sick and technically we are sick of your heart drama."
Maya chuckled despite her tear-streaked face.
The line disconnected even as she dropped her phone and headed to Tyler's office, thankful that he was likely to permit her to leave since they were not shooting that day.
***
"But I thought that Xavier was into Maya." Jared shook his head, "Why would he even want to break her heart with these easy lays." He shook his head in disdain while Tyler chuckled darkly.
"Xavier loves no one, Jared. That's what I've been trying to communicate to you from the onset. He was bound to fuck up and show his true colors and he did do it."
Jared sighed and lazily glanced at the door, sitting upright as he saw a tear-streaked Maya who stood at the threshold of the opened door, a trembling mess making him wonder just how much she has heard because although they haven't said anything to give Tyler's ambition away, they had said enough to make anyone suspicious.
"Bad timing?" Her voice was shaky as she averted her gaze to the ground and Jared could tell she had been crying.
Xavier was a damn fool to throw all they both shared for those damn shanks and he was beginning to believe Tyler because he was aware that pictures of him might be taken. It was a five-star hotel he was walking into for crying out loud and it had a lot of visitors and tourists pouring in and out of the place, who would have easily taken a picture of him and sold it for a few bucks.
He knew Xavier although not personally but could tell with his personality and all he had heard about him that he wasn't one to make such a huge mistake so he had intentionally wanted to hurt Maya just like he did Diane. Just like he ignored Diane and acted like she was no one while he flirted with popular bimbos back then in high school.
"Bad timing?" she asked again. Maya's lips were shaking even as she resisted the urge to break down in front of them.
She was strong. Not some damsel in distress who needed saving. She tried to remind herself again and again but the minutes Jared stood up and enveloped her in a hug, her tears broke free like a dam without restraint.
"I'm sorry, Maya." He whispered again and again trying to push down the overwhelming urge to find Xavier anywhere he is and give him a good enough beating.
She smiled at him even as she dabbed her face with a handkerchief Tyler silently provided her with, while she inwardly cursed herself for just as Jessica had rightly put it given them a preview of the drama that comes with being Maya.
"Xavier huh?" Tyler muttered after she had told him she'll be taking a break today.
She looked away suddenly feeling shame that he had tried to warn her a couple of times but she had turned a deaf ear and although what they had was not true or real, for the sake of all they had shared while at it or even for the fact in the eyes of the public they were still together he could have spared her just this public disrespect.
"I'm afraid so. But I'll be back tomorrow and I'm so sorry that I'm letting my personal life interrupt my working hours..."
"Come off it, Maya," he whispered shaking his head, "I feel embarrassed that you are even replying to me like that. You are first my friend before my worker never forget that. And sincerely, I hate to see you suffer like this," he inhaled and smiled, "You can leave right away. I don't expect you to work when you got hit by the infamous volcano that comes with having Xavier in your life."
"Thank you, Tyler and I'm just so damn ashamed that I didn't listen to you."
He shrugged, "Even my sister didn't and she is gone today so I can't blame you."
Maya gave him a confused glance even as she noticed the look of discomfort on Jared's face as he looked away.
"Who is your sister?"
Tyler shook his head, even as a sad smile graced his face, "Diane. He must have talked about her and called her his best friend right?"
She nodded her head, her brow furrowed.
He gave her a little smile and stood up, "I don't want to disturb you with my dirt. Just go home and try to take it all in, Maya."
She stood up in a jerky movement refusing Jared's help to walk her to her office not liking how it made her feel handicapped and even as she walked back to her office to wait for Alex, she could tell that whatever had made Xavier and Tyler sworn enemies have everything to do with his mysterious best friend, Diane.
So Diane is his sister, which makes Anne Gracie, his mother?