“He trusted you with the Chrysler situation.”
“Because I’d told him he was gay from the start, anyone he thinks isn’t, is fair game to be suspicious of, Quinn.”
“He’s in love with you Bella; everyone wants to be in his place. They want to be the one you smile at, the one you wrap your arms around; he’s worried he’s going to lose you.”
“If he keeps this up, he will. I cannot live with him questioning every male I get close to in the most innocent ways.”
“Just let it cool down before you go home, but in the meantime, want to run our lines for tomorrow?”
“Anything to keep my mind off my life is welcome,” she laughed as he tossed her the script. By the time she went to bed she felt better and once they were on set no one could tell that she wasn’t happy as a lark after spending the weekend with her husband.
***
“Would you like to explain this?” Steven demanded barging into his son’s office with his wife trailing after him. He slammed the photo down onto the desk as Tyler reluctantly took his gaze off of the billboard.
“What is that?” he asked.
“A photo of you and that…womanright here in your office,” Steven stated. “How could you do this to Bella?”
“I didn’t cheat on Bella;yes, Penelope came onto me, but I pushed her away and turned her down flat. The only person I want is Bella.”
“Then where is she?” Vivien asked. “She’s not at home. I’ve tried her cell, her assistant…it’s been three days since that story came out and no one’s seen her.”
“She’s working on the movie Mom.”
“Where has she been sleeping Tyler? Kelsey said she’s left the set each day like normal but that she hasn’t seen her afterwards.”
“Bella said she was going to stay with Kelsey for a few days after our fight,” he said as fear gnawed at him.
“Fight…about this photo?” Steven asked showing it to him again.
“No, I’m sure you’ll find out anyway. Bella believed me when I said I hadn’t slept with Penelope, unfortunately I couldn’t reciprocate.”
“You accused her of sleeping with Quinn?” Vivien asked in shock. “Tyler what were you thinking?”
“That it’s impossible to resist her and she was upset, leaning on him when that’s always been my job. You don’t have to tell me I’ve messed up. I know that but Bella doesn’t want to talk to me,” he stated, hating that she wouldn’t. He wanted her home, needed her with him desperately.
“Why should she? You accused her of sleeping with another man Tyler! Bella would never do that,” Steven said, and he could hear the disappointment in his voice. “Do you even know what today is?”
“Of course, I know what today is, Dad. I haven’t missed Bella’s birthday in years, but she won’t answer me. I was planning on dropping by Kelsey’s later and surprising her with dinner and a huge apology but if she’s not there…”
“What?” Vivien asked seeing his face fall.
“She’s with Quinn; she said she was done.”
“After one fight, that doesn’t sound like Bella,” Steven argued.
“It’s not the first time I’ve asked her about her relationship with Quinn…don’t alright,” he said seeing the shock and arguments on their faces.
“Find her Tyler,” Vivien stated. “She is too precious for you to lose. We will not stand around watching you hurt her; she’s had too much of that in her life.”
“That’s why she left; she told me once that if we ever got to the point where we weren’t Tyler and Bella anymore, we should end it and it looks like she’s reached that point. I let my jealously get the best of me and now she’s gone.”
“The only time she’ll truly be gone is when she’s no longer on this earth,” Steven stated. “You two are perfect together. Find her, apologize—show her how much you mean it and how much you love her because I do not want to lose her and that’s what will happen if you let your stupid pride get in the way.”
“You’re right,” he admitted scrunching up the photo and tossing it into the trash. “Beverly I’m leaving for the day,” he said to his latest assistant as he strode out.
“Where are you going?” Paul inquired spying Tyler’s parents in the doorway.