Chapter 1: Bittersweet

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Present day Los Angeles, California…

A female with long burgundy hair sat in a large leather chair, adjusting her knee length form-fitting black dress. She was also wearing big dark, black-framed sunglasses, to hide her bloodshot evergreen colored eyes. Her hair framed her face with its layers.

Across from her sat a man in a black and pinstripe 3 piece Armani suit, behind a large mahogany desk. His hair was black and cut short on the sides but a bit longer on the top; just enough to comb it back and look very professional. He’s build was thick; not fat and not very muscular. His suit was tailored very well to his body.

His office had matching mahogany shelves with several law books, gold frames, and other trinkets. There were also frames places amongst the shelves and on the walls, displaying his family and achievements. The carpet was a deep royal blue from wall to wall; it was very thick and cushy to walk on.

“So you are planning to divorce your husband, correct?” He clasped his hands in front of him on his desk, slightly leaning forward. He wore a very nice looking gold Rolex and a gold wedding band.

She nodded. “Yes, that is correct.” She smoothed the front of her dress. It was a habit she had when she felt nervous or uncomfortable; at the moment, she was feeling a bit of both. She still loved her husband, but couldn’t deal with his problems and addictions anymore. She was tired of waiting for him to change; it was obvious he wasn’t going to, so it was time to call it quits.

“Have you started the paperwork?”

She nodded, reaching over for her purse and pulled out some papers. “He’s out of the country, can he still be served?” She reached over and handed him the papers.

“Yes, he can still be served; it might be a bit harder if he’s traveling through different countries.” He looked over the papers briefly. “You filled these out pretty well, Mrs. Davis. Did you have any help?” He slightly chuckled and leaned back into his large black leather chair.

She gave a weak smile. “Yes. A friend, who was also married to a rock star.”

He nodded and leaned forward again. “Well, it’s good you have some support, one that can understand what you will go through. I can’t promise this is going to be clean and easy, but I will try to make it as much as I possibly can. Seeing how there are no children; that will make it a bit easier. What could make it difficult; is that there is no prenuptial agreement. He could drag this out for a long time if he wants to fight for anything.”

She nodded. “I understand.” She sighed. “He can have the houses and vehicles. I just want my pets and what money is mine. No alimony either. I just want my life back.” Her voice cracked.

He grabbed a box of tissues and reached out with it. “That will make it easier. But if he wants to fight over how much money you get…”

She grabbed a few tissues and dabbed the tissues under her eyes, lifting her sunglasses a little, revealing eyes severely red and puffy eyes. The redness made her green eyes a much more intense green with gold flecks. She placed the glasses back down on her face and nodded. “I don’t think he will, but with his odd behavior changes, who knows.” She smirked.

★★★★★★★


For her, things began to fall apart from the beginning of their marriage. She’d curse him out for his recreational drug use and binge drinking, leaving him and staying with friends or going back home. Yet, he’d beg for her forgiveness and promise he’d change, which he would for a bit. She’d accept and go back to him. This went on for at least five years. It wasn’t so bad in the beginning of their relationship.

They were both in high school; she was 15 and he was 16. He was always in his friend’s garage playing the guitar with his buddies, fantasizing about how awesome it would be to be famous and how many people would hear this music. Of course, his friends would talk about how many girls would be all over them, but he’d just turn and look at her and say “Babe, when I get famous, you’re coming with me and sticking by my side. We’ll be famous together. Sound good?” Her heart and stomach would flutter, and she’d smile and kiss him.

She was pretty much always there for every one of his shows. Always cheered him on when he felt that the band wasn’t amounting to anything. Helped him figure out songs when they didn’t sound right to him or when he’d hit a wall in the creativity department. She gave him unconditional support and stuck by his side through everything.

Then when he was 21, the band blew up. It seemed like overnight to everyone involved. A famous music producer happened to be in the audience during a show, approached them with a contract and the next thing they knew they dropped out of college and moved to California. He kept his promise about taking her with him, but some where along the way, he forgot about her.

Now here she was, sitting in some well-known lawyer’s office preparing for a divorce. She finally took her family's and friends’ advice. Only, he didn’t know she had left him yet. She could never get a hold of him anyways and he barely called her.

★★★★★★★


She left her lawyer’s office about two hours later. They discussed everything from the houses, vehicles, pets, money, and how this could turn into the biggest fight she’s ever fought. By the end of her appointment, she gave him the information of her husband’s lawyer. Maybe his lawyer would have better luck contacting him about the divorce.

“How’d it go?” Walking next to her was one of her best friends and assistant. She was about five feet, four inches tall, very petite frame as well. A deep purple cowl neck sweater clung to her body with the black tights she wore. The black leather below-the-knee boots made her a bit taller. Her shoulder length hair was pulled back into a messy bun and black Louis Vuitton sunglasses pushed back on her head.

“It was… fine, I suppose.” She said as they crossed the parking lot. Her black Dior heels clicked against the cement. “As good as a meeting with a lawyer for a divorce would go.” In the corner of her eye she saw someone ducking behind cars. “Shit.” She muttered under her breath.

“There are two more on my right over here. I guess I should have parked closer.” She unlocked a black Mercedes-Benz GL550 SUV with its keyless entry remote.

Sighing, she got her phone out and began to punch in numbers. They finally reached their car and she got in on the passenger side. “It’s fine. I guess if she or someone close to him reads the gossip sites or magazines, he’ll find out about the divorce this way.” She spoke to her lawyer’s secretary, telling her that she was just photographed walking out of his office and to let him know. Hanging up the phone she slouched into the cashmere nappa leather seat. “I need to call movers to…”

“I did that. They’ll be there in the morning. I’ll go so you don’t have to.” She had started the car and was getting ready to turn on to the road.

Giving a weak smile and closing her eyes. “Thanks, Liz. You’ve been the best. I should give you a raise.”

Liz smiled as she turned on to the road. “You’re welcome. Don’t worry about a raise, just buy me lunch. I’m starving.”

“Now that you mention it, I am pretty hungry too. Alright, lunch is on me. I feel like Yamashiro.”

“Oh, that sounds good.” She nodded. “So…” She started off slowly. “Are you going to change your name?”

Shrugging, she sat up. “Maybe, I don’t know. I’ve established myself pretty well with this name. I’ll see what Mich says. Speaking of which…” She pulled out her phone and scrolled through a few names before hitting talk.

Mich was her public relations representative. Mich always tried to give her the best advice she could and was almost like another best friend, just one who would clean up any public messes that were made around her.

“Hello, Lovely.” A voice on the other end chimed.

“Oh god, Mich. Please don’t call me that.” She cringed back into her seat. It was a nickname he had given her in high school: "Lovely Lady". He had also written a song of the same name for her, which was the band's first single, and it had shot them up to stardom.

“Okay, okay…” She laughed. “What’s up?”

She gave her a run down of her day and what else was planned during the days ahead of her.

“Geez, I thought you’d wait until he got back from the tour.”

She sighed heavily. “I’d rather get it started now than wait for the impending doom.”

“And he doesn’t know?”

“Nope. Not a clue.”

“Alright, I’ll do what I do best.”

“Thanks, Mich.” She sighed in relief.

“I’m just doing my job. Just call me before you go to your lawyer’s office next time or plan to do anything else big. Take care.” Mich laughed.

She smiled. “Will do.” She hung up the phone and stared out the window, watching buildings and trees pass by. They were almost at the restaurant; which was a good thing, since her stomach started to grumble.

Characters

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"Lovely Lady"/Scarlette (26) - We first meet her in a lawyer's office, filing for divorce from her rather famous rock star soon-to-be-ex-husband; who is on tour in Europe and finds out the termination of his marriage by celebrity news gossipers'. We find out early on that her nickname is Lovely Lady, and she is a well-known model who has a knack for modeling the alternative lifestyles. Now she's finally moving out and on, buying her own home and other personal properties without having to constantly stress over the soon-to-be-ex-husband and his party all the time lifestyle.

Liz (23) - Scarlette's personal assistant and one of her best friends. Even though she's young and hasn't been involved in the entertainment industry for long, she tries her best to give Scarlette advice and a shoulder to lean on.

Mich (35) - Scarlette's public relations representative who also could be her best friend or her mother. She handles all the dirty work that LL digs up for herself or what Scarlette's husbands recklessness causes.

Rob/Ex-husband (27) - Little is known about him except for the fact he's going to be Scarlette's ex-husband. He's upset over the fact that Scarlette has filed but promises to win her back. He also, gave Scarlette her nickname, Lovely Lady; to which she now despises. Wrote a song, by the same name, about her. Also, enjoys the rock star lifestyle a little too much.

D (28) - Good friend of Scarlette, probably one of her best guy friends. Tries to support her every decision, even if he thinks it's a bad one, and has giving Scarlette a shoulder to lean on whenever she needs it. Offers her has much advice as he can, when she ask for it.

Lara (24) - D's fiancée and friend of Scarlette. Offers moral and fashion support. Always has a guest bedroom to crash in when Scarlette needs a break from life.

Christine (42) - Is an agent for a prestigious model agency. She's the one who discovered Scarlette in Saks Fifth Avenue.

Sophia (26) - Good friend of Scarlette and fellow model. Tries to help Scarlette out by setting her up on a date. Means well, but can sometimes come off as ditzy.

Matt (38) - Is the lead singer in the rock band Dysmorphic Sound. Currently dating Scarlette's friend Sophia.

David (35) - Is the lead guitarist in the rock band Dysmorphic Sound. Sophia thought he would be good for Scarlette, perhaps as a rebound if not more. Seems friendly and genuinely interesting in Scarlette.

Daniel (37) - Works at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV as a concierge. Becomes friends with Scarlette because of her calm and coolness, helps get her ready for her surprise wedding.

Alexander Volkov (33) - An up and coming designer and good friend to Scarlette. Has a "tell it like it is" attitude.