[Yacht Party – 8:30 PM]
The ocean breeze was light. The yacht rocked gently on the waves, large and bright with glowing lights and soft music playing in the background. Laughter and clinking glasses echoed across the deck. Champagne flowed freely. Everyone was dressed to impress.
Charlie walked beside Joline, her arm wrapped around his. They both held glasses of champagne as they slowly moved through the crowd.
He looked around and his eyes widened.
Jessica Alba laughed by the pool with Angelina Jolie, who wore a black dress and looked just as stunning in person as she did in the movies. Cate Blanchett stood near the railing, talking with Alicia Keys, both of them looked too beautiful.
Charlie leaned in toward Joline and whispered.
"Are we at the Oscars?"
Joline chuckled and took a sip of her drink. "My dear, this is what happens when money marries power and both invite fame."
He blinked. "I didn't know yacht parties came with an A-list guest list."
"They do when she's involved," she said with a wink.
'She? Probably some big deal in the industry. Well, who cares,' Charlie thought.
They passed Rihanna, who was surrounded by two bodyguards and holding a cocktail with a straw shaped like a flamingo. Kate Beckinsale strolled by in a white dress, looking effortlessly cool. Charlie tried not to stare.
Joline noticed. "Eyes forward, tiger."
He cleared his throat. "Sorry. Hard not to admire the scenery."
Joline pulled him closer and led him through the crowd, her hand resting lightly on his arm.
"Come on," she said with a smile. "I want you to meet the host."
Charlie followed, taking another sip of champagne. He figured it was just another rich socialite, someone Joline knew through her usual circles.
They reached the front of the upper deck, where a small group stood laughing and talking. In the middle of them was a woman in a silver dress, her back turned, holding a glass of white wine. She was talking to a group of girls.
'Huh?! That voice... Sounds very familiar. I got a very bad feeling about this,' Charlie thought.
Joline stepped forward.
"Rose, darling," she said cheerfully. "I want you to meet someone."
The woman turned around.
Charlie's breath caught in his throat.
It was Rose.
Her hair was perfectly styled, her makeup flawless. She looked stunning as usual, but there was something different about her expression. It was like a completely different version of the chaotic, obsessive woman he used to know. But it was her. No doubt about it.
Charlie stood frozen for a second.
'I knew it! So, this is what she was planning over the week,' He thought.
Rose didn't react. No surprise. No smile. No narrowed eyes.
Just polite interest.
Joline continued, oblivious. "This is Charlie Harper. A friend of mine. Songwriter, and currently on the rise again. Charlie, this is Rose, a very close friend of mine. She's hosting tonight's party."
Rose extended her hand and said with a sweet smile. "Nice to meet you, Charlie."
Charlie forced a small smile and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too. This is a nice party."
"Thank you," She said as her eyes went toward Joline and then back at Charlie.
Rose looked him dead in the eye, calm as still water.
Not a flicker of recognition.
Not a single hint that she had broken into his house countless times, stalked him for years, glued his balls to his thighs, or carved their initials into his mailbox.
She acted like they were strangers.
And that, somehow, was more terrifying than anything.
Rose gestured to a nearby bar with white stools and a glowing countertop. The bartender, dressed in all black with sunglasses even though it was dark, wiped down glasses like a man who knew too much.
"Why don't we sit?" Rose said with a smile, calm and friendly. "It's too nice out tonight to stand around."
Joline nodded. "Perfect. I could use another drink anyway." She tugged Charlie gently by the hand as they followed Rose to the bar.
The three of them sat down, with Charlie in the middle. Joline on one side. Rose on the other.
The bartender brought over a tray of drinks without being asked.
Charlie stared at his glass. His hand didn't move.
Rose looked over at him with a pleasant smile.
"So, Joline tells me you're a songwriter," she said. Her tone was light, curious. "Have I heard any of your work?"
Charlie cleared his throat. He tried to look relaxed, like his whole body wasn't screaming danger.
"Um… yeah. Maybe. I did a few jingles for commercials. One of my songs was picked up recently for a cereal ad."
"Oh?" Rose tilted her head slightly. "Which one?"
"It's called Crunch Commander Returns," Charlie said.
Rose's lips curled slightly. "Catchy name. You always write commercial stuff, or do you do real music too?"
Charlie glanced at Joline, who was sipping her drink and smiling like this was just another night on the water.
"I've started writing some more personal songs recently," Charlie said. "Trying to do something new for a change."
Rose nodded, taking a slow sip of wine. "Good. It's nice when artists stop hiding behind jingles and get honest."
Charlie's eyes narrowed slightly. He couldn't tell if that was a normal comment or a jab.
Joline smiled brightly and turned to Rose.
"By the way, thank you again for that donation," she said. "It really helped get the university's art and music program off the ground. And, of course, the Lamborghini was a bit much, but I'm not complaining."
'Of course... Fuck! She brainwashed this golddigger with money and a car. Classic Rose,' Charlie thought.
Rose smiled softly. "I support what I believe in. You're doing great work. It deserves to shine."
They continued to chat for a while...
Then...
Rose slowly swirled her wine in the glass, her eyes never leaving Charlie's face. She looked calm. Too calm. That was what unsettled him most.
Joline suddenly perked up beside him.
"Oh! There's Damien," she said, spotting someone in the crowd. "Investor from my textile line. I need to say hi before he leaves." She looked at Charlie. "I'll be back in five minutes," she said playfully, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "Be nice, you two."
And just like that, Charlie was alone.
With Rose.
He turned to her slowly. The fake smile dropped. His jaw tightened.
"What are you playing at?" he asked quietly, eyes locked on hers.
Rose took a long sip of wine, then calmly set her glass down on the bar.
"Playing?" she repeated. "Oh, Charlie. I'm not playing anything."
Charlie leaned in slightly, his voice lower.
"You hosted this party. You knew Joline would invite me. You've been quiet for a week. And now, I'm sitting on your yacht. Next to you. With no warning."
She gave a soft shrug.
"Maybe I just wanted to see how you're doing."
"Cut the act," Charlie said. "This friendly stranger thing? It's creepy. Even for you."
Rose tilted her head, the soft smile still on her lips.
"You seem tense. Why so defensive? I thought you'd be happy to see me acting… normal."
"Normal?" he scoffed. "You once tried to tattoo my name on your leg with a steak knife."
"That was a different time," Rose said with her usual cute smile. "People change, Charlie." She touched his hand and gave it a light squeeze.
He narrowed his eyes.
"You don't change. You just switch costumes."
Rose looked down for a moment, then back at him with a softer expression. Her smile was gone now. What replaced it looked... almost genuine.
"I'm trying, Charlie," she said quietly. "Just like you."
Charlie didn't speak. He just stared at her, waiting for the punchline.
Rose let out a slow breath. Her voice was calm, steady. "I know I was... intense. Obsessive. Crazy, even. I hurt you. I scared you. I know that."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "You think?"
Rose looked away for a second, like she didn't want to meet his eyes. "I've been seeing someone. A therapist. For real. Twice a week."
"Is the therapist's name starting with the letter C?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes. Charlie Preston," She answered.
'This lunatic,' He sighed.
She continued her speech...
"I stopped doing what I used to do," Rose added. "Stopped all bad things. No more late-night visits to your house. No more kissing when you were asleep. No more messages. No more keys made without your permission."
Charlie studied her face. "Why now?"
She looked at him, eyes clear. "Because I saw what you were doing. Changing. Letting go of your old habits. Loving someone new. And I thought... if you can do it, maybe I can too."
Charlie crossed his arms, still not trusting any of it. "So, what? You just woke up one day and decided to become a saint?"
"No," Rose said honestly. "I decided to become someone I didn't hate."
He didn't know what to say to that.
She smiled again, but this time it was small. Tired. "I used my father's money. Started small. Invested in a couple of indie films. One got into Sundance. Then I got offers. I'm a producer now. It's real."
Charlie blinked. "You're producing movies?"
Rose nodded. "And no, I didn't do it to impress you. I did it because I was tired of being someone who only existed in other people's lives. I wanted something of my own."
Charlie looked down at his drink. "That's hard to believe."
"I know," she said. "And I'm not asking you to believe it. I'm just telling you."
He looked up again, still unsure. "So this whole yacht party? You hosting, inviting Joline, letting her drag me here without knowing..."
"Oh, I knew," Rose cut in, gently. "I just didn't plan it. That part was a coincidence. Lucky me, I guess."
'Coincidence my ass. You planned everything,' He thought.
Charlie shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or run.
"I didn't come here to mess with your life," Rose said. "I came to prove something. To myself. Maybe to you too. That I can be normal."
He looked at her, carefully.
"Are you?" he asked.
She smiled softly. "I'm trying. That's all I can say."
A long pause settled between them. Then she picked up her glass again.
"You're happy now," she said. "I can see it. It's good on you."
Charlie stared at her. For the first time in years, Rose didn't seem dangerous. Not angry. Not obsessed. Just... tired.
"Lisa's good for you," she added. "Don't screw it up."
That caught him off guard.
'I'm pretty sure she's trying to mess my relationship with Lisa. I mean, what are the odds? Just when I'm trying to make a break in the industry, here she is, a producer out of the blue, and in a single week too...'
He gave a cautious nod.
"That's the plan."
Rose took a slow sip. Then stood up, smoothing her dress. "I'm going to talk to some people about a film deal. Enjoy the rest of the party. And don't worry. I won't bother you again."
Charlie stayed seated. Watching her walk away. Watching the woman he once feared more than anything melt into a crowd of celebrities and millionaires like she belonged there. She was now mingling with a couple of man, touching their arms, laughing, drinking...
The old Charlie would have felt jealous of that. But this isn't the old Charlie. He knew all her tactics, and she had used this kind of tactic before in the show. So, it won't be easy to make him jealous.
'Gotta be careful. Keep my ears and eyes open.'
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