Free Second Chances by Christle Gray

think she could control every aspect of his life with her threats? She and her family were powerful, sure. But would she really make his career suffer if he didn’t play along with her rules?
    Angrily, he walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet and splashed water onto his face. He examined his features in the mirror. Sophie had left an outline of her lips in lipstick across his cheek. He grabbed a washcloth and rubbed the imprint away, his good mood from earlier totally ruined.
    First thing tomorrow, he was having his locks changed.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    David plucked a T-shirt from his closet and slipped it over his head as he yawned, having woken later than usual. It was a good thing he wasn’t due at the theater for another hour.
    He had been up late, talking on the phone with Kristin. Despite Sophie’s warning last week, he’d been spending time with his new “friend” as often as possible.
    Probably not the smartest thing for him to do, because he really wasn’t sure what Sophie was capable of anymore. But, she was still in Glasgow, for the time being.
    David hurriedly ran his hand through his hair and walked into the kitchen. His mind screamed at him for a cup of coffee to function properly. Yawning again, he grabbed his cup from the counter and poured the dark liquid to the top. One cream, two sugars, and he was well on his way to caffeinated bliss.
    As the coffee warmed his body, David turned to the laptop that sat on the counter to his left. Might as well check his e-mail while he had a spare moment.
    He hadn’t checked his e-mail for a few days, so things had piled up a bit. Sifting through the junk, he clicked the delete button repeatedly. Then he saw a message marked confidential from Sophie, and his heart skipped a beat. Whatever she had to say probably wasn’t pleasant. Sighing, he opened the message.
    David Darling,
    I’m afraid I was cornered by a reporter from that dreaded mag The Sun while on location the other day. Some of the questions turned personal, as they are wont to do, so I had to improvise on the spot. I’m sending you an advance copy. It’s due to be published in tomorrow’s paper, so you might have to contend with some reporters of your own, wanting a response.
    Kisses,
    Sophie
    David craned his neck, the muscles suddenly tight with tension. “That’s just bleeding wonderful.”
    This wouldn’t be good, at least for him as Sophie had never been unprepared for any kind of interview. Her agent was as ruthless as she was. He clicked the attachment and perused the article.
    … Much speculation abounded around the movie lot where English actress Sophie Miller is filming her first major movie role in Glasgow. Are they, or aren’t they? With her fiancé David McDougal spending most of his time away from her, is everything hunky-dory with their relationship?
    Well, we have been assured personally here at The Sun that all is well. Miss Miller confirmed that wedding plans are underway with the nuptials scheduled to take place sometime soon after she completes the filming of her movie.
    When asked if the couple had any plans to start a family any time soon after the wedding, the actress replied…
    David stopped reading and actually felt the color drain from his face. Was Sophie off her rocker? Why had she told them all those lies? After this article hit the stands, his and Bernard’s phones would never be silent, because all the other tabloids would want a response.
    He closed the laptop and searched his living room for his cell phone. Finding it on the coffee-table, he quickly punched in Sophie’s number. Her voicemail answered. Bloody Hell. Of course she would be unavailable, when he wanted to speak with her.
    He tossed the phone on the counter. It skidded across the surface and crashed into the computer with a crack. He still had to finish getting ready for the theater. Kristin had agreed to meet him there later, and then they were