Chapter 5: The Reckoning

In Daniel's hotel room in Beverly Hills that night, loud echoes of music were still heard from the thin walls, chattering glasses,  faint moans of sweet young princesses and shouts of potentially drunk low-life celebrities or rather Megastars as seen by fans.

 Daniel had played the video for the third time.  

Daniel sat on the edge of his bed, the glow of his laptop casting sharp shadows across his face. The footage was clearer now—June 12th, 3:17 AM, the winding halls of Luca’s Beverly Hills estate after some industry award party.

On-screen, Luca was seen arguing with a dark, 8-foot-tall man. Then a fast forward, Luca stumbling slightly, his dress shirt rumpled, untucked, his cheeks flushed. He leaned heavily against the wall, rubbing at his left ankle—already swollen, already bruised.

Then **Charlie** appeared.  

Tall, tousled dark brown hair,  charming blue eyes, perfectly broad shoulders, handsome and charming, the kind of effortless beauty that came from old money and good genes. He caught Luca’s wrist, pulling him close.  

"You’re drunk," Charlie murmured, but he was smiling.  

"Not drunk enough," Luca slurred back.  

The kiss was messy. Desperate. Luca’s fingers tangled in Charlie’s shirt, the same way they had in the leaked photo.  

Then—  

A crash off-camera. Raised voices. The footage was cut out.  

Daniel exhaled. *Three questions burned in his chest:*

 Who was filming?  

What happened before—to Luca’s ankle?  

Why did Charlie look so damn familiar?  

His phone buzzed.  

Luca: Where are you? Meet me at the rooftop now.

*****

Luca stood by the infinity pool, staring at the city below. He just had a good time with one of his “hit and run” beauties. He held two glasses of whiskey, the ice long melted.  

“You can go now,” he said with a commanding voice.

He stared at the stars and moon filled with nervousness and a mix of anger. Lately, he's been showing serious generalized anxiety symptoms.

"You watched it," he said to Daniel, not turning around.  

Daniel didn’t bother lying. "Who’s Charlie?"  

Luca’s knuckles whitened around his glass. "An old friend."  

"Bullshit." Daniel stepped closer. "You were wrecked. And your ankle—".

"I fought with Philip," Luca cut in.  

Philip Vaughn. His biggest rival. The internet loved their feud—two Hollywood darlings and starboys who couldn’t stand each other.  

Luca finally turned. Moonlight caught the scar on his jaw. "We got into it at the party. He said some shit about my dad. I swung first and punched his face. Nobody talks bad things about my dad even if we seem distant from each other.

Daniel studied him. Half-truths. He could taste them.  

"And Charlie?"

Luca downed his whiskey. “I was angry. I was drunk. He was there."

A breeze kicked up, carrying the scent of chlorine and Luca’s cologne. Daniel exhaled.  

"Is Jordan aware of this,” he asked.  

Luca’s jaw tightened. "Jordan knows everything, that's why he's my manager”.

He drops his glasses beside the soft couch and walks away gently

Daniel sneaks into Lucas's Home Office in Beverly. He hadn’t meant to snoop. But after the dialogue at the rooftop, Luca had vanished, and the office door was slightly opened.

Inside, the walls were lined with awards and framed magazine covers. But one photo stood out—younger Luca, arm slung around Charlie, both grinning in Harvard sweaters.

Daniel’s stomach dropped. “Charlie wasn’t just some hookup or a random guy at the party; He was related to him, but how?“.

His phone buzzed.  

** Unknown Number:** Ask him about the internship.  

Before he could react, the door creaked open.  

“Found what you were looking for?"Jordan leaned against the frame, smirking.  

Daniel didn’t flinch. "Just admiring Luca’s taste in friends."

Jordan’s smile sharpened. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Charlie Whitmore. Old money. Smarter than Luca. Better connected." A pause. “And very, very married now."

Daniel’s pulse spiked. *Blackmail material*. He was the one orchestrating the blackmail to ruin Luca's, He probably hired someone to take the photo for him.

Jordan plucked the photo off the wall. "Luca’s problem is he gets attached. You’d do well to remember that."

The threat hung between them.  

Then—  

"Daniel?"Luca’s voice from the hall.  

Jordan slid the photo into his pocket. "Our little secret, nosey man”.

*BACK AT THE GUEST SUITE*

Luca paced like a caged animal. "What the hell were you doing in there? Why can't you let things be? Why do you creep around like a cat?”.

Daniel didn’t back down. "Who filmed the video?"

"I don’t know!" Luca ran a hand through his hair.  “Some opponent.Some assistants. Some fans. Who fucking cares?"

"I do." Daniel stepped closer. "Because someone’s using it to control you. And now they’re coming for me."

Luca stilled. "What?"

Daniel showed him the latest text.  

Unknown Number: Tell Luca the internship mishap wasn’t his fault.  

Luca’s face was drained of colour; his jaws dropped to the ground.

"What internship?" Daniel pressed.  

For a long moment, Luca said nothing. Then—  

"Harvard," he whispered. "Charlie got me the interview. I blew it. They wanted him, not me."

The pieces clicked. The adversary. The resentment. The way Luca kissed Charlie like he was drowning.**  

Daniel’s phone buzzed again.  

Unknown Number:Poor Luca. Always second best.  

Luca snatched the phone, his hands shaking.

 "This ends now."

I hope you have been enjoying my story so far; continue reading to find out more scenes unfold.