Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Ignacio Santana and Delta J Were Spotted House Hunting in Atlanta
Wedding Bells Soon?
H olding his phone, Ignacio stared at the headline and accompanying photos from several days ago. Living with Delta was either the smartest or dumbest move he had ever made in his life. He hadn’t decided yet.
He went over to the window and peered down at the front of the house. He had moved in several days ago and watched a small army of men unload Delta’s clothes and furniture and carry them into the house. How much stuff did she have?
He left the room and walked down the hall. The men called out to each other, and he also heard Delta’s voice, softer and more measured as she directed them on where to take the boxes they brought in from the truck.
Passing by the open door of the primary suite, he spotted containers and luggage on the floor near the bed. They’d be sleeping in that room together every night.
For six months.
Ignacio rubbed tension from the back of his neck. He needed a cigarette but fought valiantly against the urge. At least the publicity was already paying off, and he’d find out how much during the scheduled meeting with his manager and assistant in a few minutes.
He entered the office he had set up in the bonus room. Crystal, his assistant, glanced over her shoulder at him when he came in. In her late twenties, she had worked with him for several years now. Her glasses, casual clothes, and perpetual bun fooled people into thinking she was a pushover, but she was far from it. More like a pit bull.
She was an integral part of his team, not only because she ran his errands and made “anonymous” phone calls to alert the media to his whereabouts from time to time. She was also his first line of defense with fans. She went through his mail, checking for outrageous requests and declarations of love. Anything deemed out of the ordinary or hinting at danger was turned over to the authorities—a thankfully rare occurrence.
Every few months she threatened to leave him based on some request she deemed extreme, but she hadn’t yet, and he knew why. She loved a challenge.
“What do you have for me?” Ignacio asked, taking a seat behind his glass-topped desk.
Other than the chairs, it was the only furniture in the room. The walls were bare, but Crystal would make the place look livable soon enough. Or would Delta? He’d only expected her to bring clothes, but the movers had already unloaded a few pieces of furniture.
Crystal lowered her gaze to the tablet in her hand, using the electronic pen to scroll through her list. “I have mostly good news. Here are some of the headlines: Are Ignacio Santana and Delta J the Country’s Hottest Romance? ”
“The hottest in the country?” Ignacio repeated with a laugh. Despite being in the entertainment industry for years, he had never gotten accustomed to the hyperbole used to sell magazine copies and prompt clicks.
Crystal shrugged and continued.
From Teenage Sweethearts to Hollywood’s Hottest Reunion—Ignacio & Delta Are Back, Baby!
Sorry Ladies, Ignacio Santana is Off the Market, Thanks to Delta J
Caught on Camera! Hollywood Heartthrob Ignacio Santana and R&B Songstress Delta J Are Giving Love Another Try
Inside Ignacio Santana and Delta J’s Sudden Reconnection
“That one lists insider sources as having the scoop,” Crystal explained.
“Of course,” Ignacio said dryly.
“Nothing too scandalous though. Basically, that the two of you have moved into a home in a gated community in Atlanta, blah, blah, blah. A couple of photographs of you going into one of the houses and pulling up to the front gate here.”
She showed him the pictures, and he took a moment to examine them. Delta looked great, as was to be expected. The top knot showed off the graceful lines of her neck, and the joggers hugged her ass and showed off her delicious curves. Feeling his blood heat up, Ignacio thrust the tablet back at Crystal.
“What else?” he asked in a gruff voice.
Crystal didn’t seem to notice. “Here’s where it gets interesting.” She made eye contact with him, silently telling him to get ready, and he braced himself.
PR Stunt or Lovers Reunited? Inside Ignacio and Delta’s Rekindled Love Affair
From Heartbreak to Headlines: The Explosive Return of Ignacio Santana & Delta J’s Romance!
“And the last one is… He Left Her Once—Will He Do It Again? Ignacio & Delta’s Shocking Reunion! ”
“Of course they would think I was the one who left,” Ignacio muttered.
“You didn’t?” Crystal arched an eyebrow.
His breakup with Delta occurred long before Crystal started working for him, and despite their close relationship, he had never told her what happened. There had never been any need to, and he didn’t plan to start now.
“No comment.” He gave her one of his practiced red carpet smiles to soften the words. “Is that all?”
Knowing better than to continue prying, Crystal moved on. “Those are the most interesting ones. Not too bad, and nothing harmful in any of them that you’d need to take a look at. I already talked to Liz, and she’s not worried,” Crystal said, referring to his publicist.
He was about to speak when the laptop screen beeped and flickered to life.
“Hey, anybody there?” Yvonne’s face appeared on the screen. A light-skinned Black woman with freckles, she currently wore her shoulder-length brown hair secured at the nape. Her brown eyes squinted at the screen, and Ignacio turned on the camera.
“There you are,” she said, smiling and sitting back in her chair. “I see Crystal is there too.”
“Hey, Yvonne.” Crystal waved.
“Hi, honey. How’s it going?”
“Keeping this man straight, as usual.”
“It’s more than a full-time job, isn’t it?”
“Who you telling?”
They cackled.
“Very funny, ladies.” Ignacio crumpled a Post-it note and tossed it at Crystal’s head.
She batted away the paper and glared at him. “How’s the hubby?” she asked.
Yvonne had been happily married to her high school sweetheart for almost forty-three years.
“We’re giving our kids a break and keeping the grandkids over the Christmas holidays, and he’s already started making all kinds of improvements to the house.” She quietly laughed, shaking her head.
“All four grandkids?” Ignacio asked.
“Yes.”
“The holidays are two months away,” Crystal said.
“You know how my husband is. He likes to be prepared, and I’m not going to bother him. Projects keep him busy and happy, and if he’s happy, so am I.”
Ignacio considered their marriage one to be admired. They were both deeply in love and happy to have found each other and stayed together all these years. He and Delta could have done the same, but….
Shaking off the thought, he pushed it aside.
“Okay, down to business,” Yvonne said. “I have great news. I received a call from Brockwell Media.”
Ignacio straightened in his chair, and so did Crystal.
Yvonne was grinning from ear to ear. “They want to invest in your film.”
“No fucking way. Yvonne, are you serious?” Ignacio asked.
“I would not kid about something like this. I know how much you’ve been wanting to make this film happen, and they are very interested.”
Crystal squealed and danced in her chair, while Ignacio pumped his fist. If Brockwell Media signed on, then other investors would be willing to sign on too.
“They want to meet with you as soon as possible. I checked your calendar, and it looks like you have an opening next Tuesday and one on Thursday. Which one should?—”
“Tuesday, of course,” Ignacio immediately said.
“Crystal, can you get a proposal to them before then?” Yvonne asked.
“I will hand-deliver it myself,” his assistant vowed.
Ignacio sat back in amazement. “This is happening.” Finally, after dealing with doubts because of the lack of interest in his project, the tide was turning.
“It’s happening,” Yvonne confirmed. She flipped a page on her pad and checked her notes. “Your meeting is with the oldest son, King Brockwell. He wants to meet with you privately first. He works very closely with his father, but this project is his baby.”
“You make it sound like a done deal,” Ignacio said.
“I shared the movie premise, and he loved it. He’s looking to forge his own path in the company, and your film is his way to do that.”
“What do you need from me?” Ignacio asked.
“Nothing, except make sure you’re on time on Tuesday. Crystal…?”
“I’m on it, don’t worry, he’ll be early,” Crystal assured her.
They spent the next few minutes discussing the details before Yvonne had to go. When she was gone, Ignacio turned to Crystal, who wore a huge grin on her face.
“This is amazing!” she exclaimed.
Chuckling, Ignacio stood. “I know, but I don’t want to get too excited. One step at a time. We get the proposal in King’s hands, and then we go from there.”
“I have absolutely no doubt they’ll finance the movie. It’s a great story.” She had been one of the few people he let read an early draft of the script. Crystal checked her watch. “I’m on my way to the store to pick up your snacks, and then I’ll work on the proposal package when I get back.”
“Did you?—”
“Yes, I already printed out the NDAs for the new staff. The landscapers will arrive on Monday afternoon. I’ll show them around and get them to sign the agreement. Maria won’t arrive until Wednesday, by the way, which means you’re on your own for meals until then. Do you want me to check into a food service for you and Delta?”
“No, that’s not necessary. We can figure out our meals until Maria gets here. I might even do some cooking.”
“Ooh, that’ll be nice. Put in some work in that beautiful kitchen. If you make your grandmother’s chicken mole, you better save me some.”
“When have I ever not saved you some?”
She grinned. “Just making sure. Alrighty, I’m heading out. Later.” She saluted and left him alone.
Ignacio lingered behind in the office, listening to the distant sound of the men moving through the house, bringing in Delta’s belongings.
Delta .
He used to keep her updated on all his wins and losses, and each time he had professional success and signed a contract or booked a gig, she celebrated. He had done the same for her.
He had a sudden urge to share his good news with her.
But things were different now, and there was animosity between them instead of friendship and affection.
Would she even care?