Ebony&Ivory-Chapter 14

*In the morning, Luke had already left*

Illust: *still asleep in her bed*

Lisa: *at the back porch, having her breakfast*

Luke: *rings the doorbell*

*the housemaid answered it*

Luke: I'm here to see Lisa

Housemaid: Yes, sir *leads him to the back porch*

Lisa: *looks up* Ur early

Luke: I had to when Illust was still asleep

Lisa: Fair enough. Breakfast?

Luke: Thanks. *Sits down*

Lisa: *told the housemaid to get another helping of breakfast for Luke*

Luke: So, why?

Lisa: You're reli dwn to the point, aren't u, Luke? Just like ur brother

Luke: Well, we were a lot alike

Lisa: I can't keep her. It violates my contract

Luke: Contract?

Lisa: My career had been a little...behind ever since I divorced Michael. We were the American sweethearts, and as much as I love him, I still have to admit it boosted both our careers at a certain stage. When we divorced, there were a lot of setbacks, n I had to cut corners

Luke: You love her...but you're not allowed to contact her.

Lisa: Something like tht. My marriage with ur brother was not intentional. He knocked me up when we had a one night stand aftr celebrating Mike's birthday. It was roughly a few mths after I divorced Mike. We married in secret, out of convenience because the tabs will have a field day n my agents would have asked me to terminate Illust bcoz having a child so soon aftr the divorce will spark off bad rumours on both me, ur brother and Mike.

Luke: That's right. You divorced Michael cause of the tabloids hounding you

Lisa: I did love ur brother for a time wen he reli cared for me, bt when my agents found out my secret marriage with ur brother n my pregnancy, they were putting pressure on me to get rid of Illust. I was too far into the pregnancy to have it aborted, so they made me sign a contract tht they will carry on with my career if I give her away and promise nvr to contact her under any circumstances

Luke: *scoffs* Agents...Tom's the only agent and bodyguard I trust

Lisa: *sighs* It's the entertainment world for u, Luke. It's cruel and harsh. I loved ur brother to an extent, n though ur brother loved me only as a best friend and a sister, he was fully responsible towards my pregnancy. I allowed him to date ur then sister-in-law because I knew I couldnt make him love me like I did, n she acknowledges my existence. She was the one to suggest I give Illust to them instead of having Illust adopted to some stranger, so you can say I gave Illust to them almost like a wedding present, because in all honesty, she revealed to me tht she was infertile due to an accident wen she was a teenager

Luke: I know. I remember that. I'm nervous about the concerts

Lisa: Ah. Getting the butterflies, eh?

Luke: Yea. I'm really nervous.

Lisa: Just suck it in, remember Mike n everything will be fine, Luke. Btw, Illust is not her complete name

Luke: It isn't? What is her name?

Lisa: It's a very long one *chuckles*

Luke: Try me

Lisa: Illuscia Nester Himawari Presley-Oliva

Luke: Where did the two middle names come from?

Lisa: Illuscia is like a tweaked version of Illusion ur brother came up with. Nester is more of a fancy name I came up, doesn't have a meaning. I just wanted her to sound special. Himawari is Japanese for 'sunflower' because the day she was born, sunflowers were blooming outside the hospital

Luke: no wonder

Lisa: She is my little sunshine. She's my everything. I'm sorry I acted the way I did to her tht day, bt if it weren't for the contract n possible ppl spying on me, I would've taken her bk there and then

Luke: Can you talk to her over the phone?

Lisa: I dunno. I guess so, bt then I'll nvr knw who to trust evn in my own household

Luke: Damn, that is tricky.

Lisa: I'm just glad tht she's alive n well n tht she was with u. I cried for almost a week wen I thought she died with ur brother in the accident

Luke: Then you kinda felt relieved when you saw her, even though you acted the opposite

Lisa: Yes. Actually I wanted to just break into tears n hug her for all its worth bt...I couldnt

Luke: I thought about it and talked it with her...she wants to do an album

Lisa: Reli? Has she got wht it takes?

Luke: She was rusty, but then I took her to a vocal coach. She's like a young Celine Dion. she and I will work with lyrics, Anita and I are gonna do the music

Lisa: Thank goodness. It seems tht she will live up to be like her grandfather when I couldnt

Luke: Hey, I got both your solo albums. You did pretty good for a contry-rock sound

Lisa: Thanks. I'm now just happy tht Illust is in good hands. Promise u'll take good care of her?

Luke: *holds his hand out* I promise, Lisa

Lisa: Good. Tell...Tell her I love her for me

Luke: *Gets up and hugs her* I will

Lisa: *hugs him bk, trying to hold bk her tears*

Luke: I got a recording of the rehearsals. wanna see?

Lisa: Will Illust be there? *looks worried*

Luke: This was a couple days ago. she wasn't around

Lisa: Then I guess I wouldn't mind. Do u have rehearsals of her in it too? I'd reli like to see her, if not directly

Luke: Sure. *puts in yesterday's rehearsals*

Lisa: *watches eagerly*

Luke: *they reach the scene where Luke, Illust and the back-up singers join in We Are The World*

Lisa: Oh *covers her mouth, touched to see her* Oh my little girl...

Luke: She sang beautifully. *Luke starts to get everyone watching to clap their hands in the air*

Lisa: She...looks so much like her father. She's so beautiful

Luke: She thought she had a crush on me...only to find out she really admires me for what I've done

Lisa: She has a crush on you? *laughs* Didnt think u were such a ladies man

Luke: Yea, but I think she's into my agent's younger brother

Lisa: U dont say? Intriguing. She sure has matured a little emotionally

Luke: *The clip shifts to Luke performing Smooth Criminal

Lisa: *watches n chuckles* Still as multi-talented as ever, arent ya, Luke

Luke: *blushes at the thought* Sure am. Think the outfit suits me. What almost made me cry...it's that is the same outfit he wore during the rehearsals

Lisa: Yeah I knw. *rubs his back* I remember whn u were younger, u always liked to sneak into Mike's private wardrobe to try on his clothes n pretend to be him

Luke: And who would've thought...I'm in the same league as him

Lisa: Life works in mysterious ways, I suppose

Luke: You got that right

Lisa: I've read the news recently. Did tht...tht bastard reli rape my little girl?

Luke: And several other girls too

Lisa: My god, tht man should be given the death penalty

Luke: I know. *checks his watch* I better get going. I'll see you soon, ok? *hugs her*

Lisa: *hugs bk* Give my regards bk home, also to Illust

Luke: I will. *waves and heads to his car*

Lisa: *watches him leave, praying silently tht all will be well with her daughter*

Luke: *he stops by McDonald's on the way to get something to eat*

Drive-thru attendant: Welcome to McD's. Can I help u?

Luke: *dons a cap and shades* Yes, I would like the two cheeseburger meal, plain. with a coke please.

Drive-thru: That'll be $5.90, pls

Luke: Thanks *heads up to the window*

Drive-thru: *passes the food to him bt she recognized the car and the cap he was wearing* Oh...my...god... *was shocked speechless*

Luke: Shhh. I'm trying to be low profile

Drive-thru: *nods listlessly* C-C-Can I...? *takes off her cap to ask for an autograph*

Luke: Sure. *signs it with his signature* there ya go.

Drive-thru: Thank u...Thank u so much~! *takes her cap with trembling hands*

Luke: Make sure no one tries to steal it* pays her*

Drive-thru: I'll...I'll guard it with my life! *takes the money, was tempted to keep the money as well as she rubbed it on her face where Luke had touched it*

Luke: *waves and drives off with his food*