"Hello?" Jeff answered, his voice smooth and untroubled.
"Hey, Jeff. Sorry I was busy when you called earlier," his manager's voice crackled through the line. "You have a shoot tomorrow. I was calling to remind you so you could practice your lines."
"Sure thing," Jeff replied with a confident smirk. As a top-tier actor, he was used to the grind, but tonight, his mind was elsewhere.
"Sir," his head of security, Ken, interrupted as Jeff hung up.
"Yeah, Ken?"
"We discovered someone was tailing you on your way back."
Jeff leaned back, unfazed. "Oh, yeah. I noticed. Probably just a fan."
"No, sir. They looked professional, high-end. Our research shows they followed you directly from the residence you visited."
Jeff's eyes darkened slightly. "Don't worry about it, Ken. I'll handle it."
He retreated to his bathroom, sliding into a deep tub filled with scented foam. As the steam rose, he thought of Tasha. She had been a fan of his since the beginning, or so he'd heard. When he discovered her father was a powerful Mafia Don, he'd been intrigued. He had asked her out, but she had been hesitant, claiming she already had a man.
"Who the hell is he?" Jeff muttered to the empty room.
Despite his onscreen reputation for playing cold-blooded villains, Jeff was the backbone of his family. He had raised his two younger siblings since their parents died, ensuring they lived in luxury and never felt the sting of loss. But tonight, the "villain" in him was curious.
He stepped out of the bath, dressing in a sleeveless top and dark denim that showed off his gym-honed physique. Pushing his hair back into a sharp, effortless style, he grabbed his jacket. He was a creature of the night, and a colleague had just invited him to the opening of a new underground club.
Meanwhile, across town, Liam was a whirlwind of rage.
"Son of a bitch!" he hissed, pacing Tasha's living room.
"Who are you talking about?" Tasha asked, watching him with growing concern.
"I need to go. I'm sorry, I'll talk to you later," Liam snapped. He leaned down, pecking her forehead with a cold, distracted kiss before bolting for the door.
"Liam?" she called out, but he was already gone.
"That son of a bitch wants trouble? He's got it," Liam growled into his phone as he dialed Ben. "Keep an eye on him. I'm on my way."
Liam drove like a man possessed, weaving through traffic and cursing under his breath. When he arrived at the club, Ben was waiting. "Sir, he's inside."
"Wait for me here," Liam commanded.
He stormed into the neon-lit chaos of the club, his eyes locking onto Jeff immediately. He marched over and spun Jeff's chair around with violent force.
"It's you, right?" Liam spat.
Jeff looked up, unfazed by the aggression. "The hell are you talking about?"
"You think you can take my girl?"
Jeff let out a short, dry laugh. "Hah! So... you're the crazy boyfriend."
"Fuck you!" Liam's fist connected squarely with Jeff's jaw.
"Hell!" Jeff stumbled back, the music seemingly dipping as heads turned.
"Yeah, call me crazy one more time," Liam challenged, stepping into Jeff's space.
"Calm down, dude," Jeff said, wiping a bead of blood from his lip. "I don't want to fight you."
"Oh, really?" Liam swung again, but this time, Jeff was ready.
Jeff's large hand shot out, catching Liam's fist mid-air. He stood up, towering over Liam. For a moment, Jeff froze. Up close, Liam was... striking. Dark, fierce, and strangely adorable in his fury. Wait, what? Jeff shook the thought away. This guy is insane.
"Seriously, man, you need to chill," Jeff said, his voice low. "I'm just talking to her. We haven't even started dating."
"Let go of my hand, freak!"
"Calm down first."
Liam's chest heaved as he forced himself to breathe. Jeff let go and signaled toward the exit. "If you want to talk, follow me."
Outside in the alley, the tension snapped. "Look, man," Jeff began, "I like Tasha, and I don't think you give her the attention she—"
Liam didn't let him finish. He lunged, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks. Jeff took the hits, doubling over as Liam's rage peaked.
"Stop... stop, please," Jeff gasped, clutching his stomach.
"Oh, you're begging now?" Liam sneered.
"I don't want to fight," Jeff warned, his voice straining. "But you're going to make me retaliate."
"Go on then! Fight me!"
Jeff's vision blurred with pain and rising heat. He looked at the smaller man for a heartbeat before his training took over. He delivered a single, swift blow to Liam's temple. Liam's eyes rolled back as he slumped to the pavement, his last conscious word a desperate cry for his assistant: "Ben!"
Liam woke up to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the hum of machinery.
"Where am I?"
"Hospital, sir," Ben replied, stepping into view.
"What? Who brought me here?"
"We don't know, sir. Someone called and informed us you were here."
The memories flooded back—the club, the confrontation, the strange look in the actor's eyes before everything went black. "He hit me... and then he brought me here?"
"Who, sir?"
"The guy. Who is he, exactly?"
"The famous actor, Jeff Collins."
"So he's famous," Liam murmured, a dark plan forming. "Good. Now leave. I want to be alone."
Liam reached for his phone on the pillow and searched for Jeff. The images showed a man who was undeniably attractive, poised, and—Liam hated to admit—significantly taller. It made Liam feel small, a sensation he detested. This isn't over, he thought. I'll deal with Jeff Collins on my own terms.
At the same time, Jeff was home, nursing a bruised ribs and muttering curses at the stinging pain. He lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his head as he replayed the night. Liam was aggressive, crazy... and yet, there was something about him. Even after the fight, Jeff had felt a pang of pity, ensuring the man got to a hospital before alerting his guards.
He picked up his phone and called Tasha.
"Hey, Tasha."
"Jeff?"
"Your boyfriend is one hell of a lunatic. He attacked me at the club tonight."
"What?!" Tasha cried. "I'm so sorry, Jeff. I'll talk to him."
Jeff hung up, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. He wasn't going to walk away. He was going to stay and see exactly how this drama ended.