BRANDY PULLED HER away from her Luca as soon as he found her.

He introduced her to all the musicians and producers throughout the club, making sure she wasn't out of his sight, and talked more than she needed to. Everyone she talked to either didn't seem interested enough to keep the conversation going or didn't want to talk about work while at a club-both that she blamed them.

It was like Brandy was showcasing her to everyone like a new product. As if saying, 'I got a new victim! You can collaborate with her or produce a song! She's got the voice!'.

She didn't want to think that way, and she even made herself ignore that thought throughout the night-until brandy wanted to take her somewhere.

"Let's go," Brandy ordered, taking his large rough hand and clasping it around her wrist.

"Where are we going?" Amina questioned, her eyes flickered between his hold on her wrist and the large man in Tony of the VIP door.

"To the VIP section."

Amina stopped, slowly taking her hand back. "I think it'd be better if you stay out here."

She was uncomfortable, and she didn't know why. She'd never felt like this around Brandy, but he didn't seem like himself at the moment. He looked disheveled and almost drunk. His eyes were glossy and red and his body shook slightly from the buzz the alcohol gave him.

"Don't worry Amina it'll be fine everyone who's anyone is in there."

"But-"

Brandy sighed. "You want to make it big?" She nodded her head slowly. "Then trust me."

He didn't leave her time to think about anything before he took her hand again and stopped at the VIP door.

"What are we waiting for?" A familiar voice happily asked over the loud music, causing both Amina and Brandy to turn around.

She let out a sigh of relief, a smile automatically placed on her lips.

"Luca go back to the bar."

He ignored Brandy's order and peered down at Amina with a charming smile.

"Mind if I tag along?"

She didn't, but she knew Brandy would.

She didn't feel comfortable. Maybe it was being somewhere she felt like she wasn't wanted in. Perhaps it was the fact that everyone was staring at her like some sort of animal because of how she looked. She was the only woman of color in the club, and the men and women seemed intrigued but also uncomfortable with that.

She took her hand out of Brandy's hold and brought it to clamp onto Luca's bicep. "Not at all."

"You're not coming." Brandy ordered, his eyes flickering between Amina's hold on him and Luca's face.

"If he doesn't come, then neither do I."

Luca Jackson was the only man beside Noah that Amina trusted. Brandy should be the first one kn that list, but something deep inside her told her to not trust the middle-aged man that was too good to be true.

Brandy exhaled through his nose with a clenched jaw. "Fine."

Brandy turned back around and talked to the large security guard at the door.

"Thought you'd want to stay hidden in your corner." Amina whispered to Luca, having to go on her tiptoes to reach his ear.

Luca grinned, shrugging his shoulders as he leaned down slightly. "Rather be with you then in the dark drinking."

Amina laughed, shaking her head as she and Luca both stepped through the now open curtained area.

"Sorry you can't come in." The guard ordered to Atticus, blocking his way to Luca and Amina.

Atticus opened his mouth to say something, but Luca quickly stepped up and patted his shoulder. "It's fine, big man. Go enjoy yourself."

He said nothing, but the look he gave Luca was something that he only seemed to understand. Stepping back slowly, Atticus walked to the side of the entryway with a straight face.

Amina looked up at Luca, who just sighed and turned back to the dimly that's red room.

Luca walked through first, Amina not too far behind. Although it wasn't as bright as the dance floor, Amina could make out Brandy and two men on a large couch with Mavis in the chair across from them.

Luca stopped at a high chair on the far left side of the room, the only available seat that wasn't next to Brandy.

"You can take this seat." Luca offered, pulling out a tall stool for Amina.

Her eyebrows furrowed when she noticed there were no other seats available around them. "I don't want you standing."

"It's fine," Luca gestured to the chair with a soft smile. "Please sit."

Amina smiled gratefully at him as she sat down. Her body automatically loosened and her shoulder slumped at ease and feet ached less.

She could tell Luca CFC was struggling with something mentally, but she didn't pester him about it. He stood protective beside her chair, his large pale hand holding the back of her seat as his other clung to his glass.

Brandy and the two men that say beside him stood up.

"Amina this is Victor and Micheal. Both are very talented producer." Brandy explained as both men stepped closer to her with an outstretched hand.

"Nice to meet you both." She claimed, shaking both of their hands.

"The pleasure is all ours." Victor said for the two, smiling as he walked back to his spot on the couch.

"We hear you're planning to release your EP soon." Michael said, taking his spot next to Victor.

Brandy and Amina decided on having an EP release rather than a single. It wasn't normal for artists to do that considering price range of EP's and the copies sold and also the fan base. Newer artist needed to release music to create an enormous fan base, but Amina relays had a following and streaming of someone who's been in Hollywood for years.

"Yes, there just the songs I've written on YouTube but studio version. I thought it's be better to get them out of the way so I can focus on my new music."

Victor clapped his hands as he smiled politely. "Well, I'd love to help with your album when it comes time to it."

"That'd be amazing. Thank you."

Victor, it nodded his head as the room went awkwardly silent. Amina exhaled through her nose as she played with her fingers in her lap.

Luca turned his body, causing Amina to look at him in the corner of her eye. Watching as he bent down to open a mini fridge before closing it, Amina's eyebrows furrowed as she watched him open a small water bottle and offer it to her. Smiling thankfully, Amina took the bottle and drank the water in it.

"Luca, how is everything?" Victor innocently asked, him and Micheal sharing a look.

Luca grabbed Amina's water bottle when she twisted the cap. "Shitty."

The men laughed, amused.

"How's the music coming along them?"

"Fine." he deadpanned.

Micheal sighed. "Well, that's good."

Vicodin nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, at least your drinking habits don't impede that."

"Sadly." He muttered, drinking his whisky.

The three men go into their own conversation, leaving Amina and Luca quietly in the corner.

Looking to her side slowly, Amina inspects Luca's large hand that held onto the top of her chair.

"I like your rings."

Luca looked at her, then at his right hand. "Thank you. They were a gift from Nate Silver."

"Oh, I'm jealous then."

He chuckled, shaking his head as he drank the last bit of whiskey in his cup.

He may have drunk a lot, but he didn't act or smell like one. He looked the part though, but it probably was adding to his depression and anxiety that helped him look like Deaths true form.

Putting his glass down and taking a gum from his dress shirt pocket, Luca placed the minty stick in his mouth as he chewed along. His eyes were trained on Brandy and the conversation he was having with Micheal and Victor.

Did he want to be with them rather than her? Was she holding him back from enjoying his night?

Before she count continue overthinking, Luca turned to face her. He studied her face intensely, his eyes examining every part of her face before training on her cheek. Lifting his hand slowly, Luca hovered his finger above her cheekbone.

"Can I touch you?"

He was asking to touch her-a man in Hollywood was asking to touch her. She shouldn't be surprised, but she was. Men she knew were never this careful around woman, nor did they care for their feelings when it came to physical touch.

Amina nodded her head slowly, inhaling sharply when his icy finger grazed her flesh underneath her cheekbone.

"The glitter was a nice touch." He complimented.

"I have an addiction with sparkly makeup." She admitted with a shaky voice.

"It suits you."

He went to pull his hand back, but Amina quickly caught it before he could.

She grabbed his finger, sliding her hand into his palm as she stared at the multiple rings placed on his fingers. Her thumb rubbed the back of his hand as she brought his rings closer for her to inspect.

His hand was much larger than hers. The contrast between their skin colors made Amina smile softly, watching as Luca rubbed his thumb against her hand.

She turned the ring around his pointer finger, staring at the all black band intensely. His fingers weren't skinny, but they were long, and the ring on his pointer finger seemed to be the only one that was slightly loose on him.

Luca let out a shaky breath, Amina automatically looking up at him and stopping her movement. He smiled, shaking his head softly as he rubbed the back of her hand with red cheeks.

"I wasn't aware you two were close."

Amina quickly dropped her hand from Lucas to stare at Brandy, embarrassed. She felt Luca's heated stare on the side of her face, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

It made her uncomfortable with how free and Alice she felt around him. Perhaps it was the tequila shot she had that made her feel so open and touchy. It couldn't be because she was slowly becoming bewitched by Luca Jackson.

Luca sighed, stuffing his hands in his pocket. "No one's aware of anything unless it has something to do with them."

Victor cleared his throat, standing up from his spot. "If you'll excuse us, we'll be going." Micheal followed his movement.

"Amina if you ever need anything just call." Michael informed, smiling one last time at her before walking out the room.

Brandy sighed, running a hand through his hair as he followed behind Micheal quickly. "Don't go anywhere you two I'll be right back."

The room grew quiet again.

Mavis stayed in her seat, the back of her head being Amina and Luca's only access to even knowing she was present with them.

Amina puckered her lips. She wanted to leave. This night was everything Brandy said it would be, and she despised it. People looked at her like some sort of creature, as if her skin color and hair were something beyond the world. Woman complimented her with smiles while others glared at her with hatred. Men trailed their hungry eyes over her figure as if their staring was suppose to make her feel flattered rather than uncomfortable and disgusted.

"Are you okay?"

She didn't look at her as she replied back. "I'm fine."

"No need to lie." Luca said, his eyes looking at her clenched fist.

Amina clenched her jaw as she peered up at him. "I hate being here."

She didn't have a right to, but she did.

How could a woman who can from nothing hate having a soon to be lavish life? People would die to be in her shoes. People who deserved to be here weren't because Amina took their spot before they could. She was ungrateful for what Brandy was giving her, while others would've quickly adapted to the Hollywood lifestyle.

"Then let's leave."

He offered his hand out in front of her, which Amina took without a second thought. Getting out of the chair and rolling her shoulders back, Amina looked at Luca curiously.

Clasping his hand around hers, Luca slowly walked to the closed curtain exit.

"Where are we going?"

She knew exactly where he planned to take her's; he promised her a date-a hot dog date, to be exact.

She didn't understand how a man like Luca could be so open with going on dates with anyone. She had thought artist of higher popularity had to be so secretive with who they were around and where they were planning to go. Luca wasn't like them though from the looks of it. He held her hand multiple times throughout the misty night and repeatedly showed Amina his interest in her.

"I owe you a date."

Amina rolled her eye, biting her lip to contain her smile. "It isn't a date."

Amina stopped walking, causing Luca to turn around to her with his hand still clinging to hers. Turning her head to the side, Amina looks at the red-eyed woman laying lifelessly against the chair.

"You ready to go Mavis?"

She chuckled bitterly. "Fuck off and leave me alone."

Amina should've been taken back by her reply, but she wasn't. She was drunk and high and angry at someone that wasn't Amina.

Scoffing, Luca pulled Amina softly as they both walked out the room and into the busy dance floor.

Atticus quickly stepped beside Luca as Amina turned to the secretory guard.

"There's a woman in there. Please tell brandy Mavis needs to head home."

The man nodded his head as he signaled someone over with his two fingers.

Sighing relieved, Amina turned back to Luca who was diving his head down low.

"Whats wrong?" She asked, concerned.

Luca backed away slowly. "We should go now."

"What about Atticus?"

"Come on," Luca said, backing away from the VIP curtain.

A new voice joined in as a large tattooed hand slapped the top of Luca's shoulder. "Nice try, Jackson."

"God damn it." Luca cursed, causing Atticus to roll his eyes as he looked at Amina.

"Is you're body guard here Amina?" Atticus question hastily, both men turning their heated attention to her.

This was the first time Atticus had spoken to her, and his voice most definitely fit his intimidating persona.

"No. I came with Brandy and Mavis who had their own."

Atticus turned to Luca with a smug smile. "Looks like I'll be tagging along."

"If you can keep up."

Luca quickly grabbed Amina's hand and pulled her to the back of the club.

Brandy had told her celebrities may have entered through the front, but they always left in the back. Paparazzi had their own crowds on both sides of the buildings, but the back was the easiest way for stars to get to their cars without being bombarded. The cars were always ten feet away from the door and because of the limited space between the door and car, paparazzi had to maintain a certain distance if they didn't want to get sued or fired.

Luca let go of her hand and threw open the double doors that anger against the wall. Cold hair hit her sweaty skin as the music died down the further they walked to the glass doors.

Cameras were already set to record and flashing as Luca hated a few feet away from the door.

"You know that as soon as we step out that door their going to headline this."

Amina shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care." She looked at Luca. "Do you?"

"I never did."

Amina laughed at Luca's bluntness. "You know somewhere good around here? I want to walk there, though I haven't been outside in so long."

It wasn't a total lie. Brandy was taking her career more seriously now that her EP was being worked on. The positive feedback and tremendous amount of following over the past few day's after announcing her EP was said to be the best Brandy's ever received from any of his artists.

She was becoming an icon to a woman of color around the world, and Brandy said if she kept doing what she was going, everyone would remember nothing but amazing things about Amina Ryan.

"There's only one good hotdog place that's still open at this hour." Luca explained, smiling. "The driver can drop us off there, then we can walk around if that's better?"

"Great."

Luca inhaled sharply as he bounced slightly. "Brandy's going to be pissed."

She didn't know by his reaction if he was excited or cautious. His eyed were moving to everything around them as he bounced on the balls of his feet softly. He stood out amongst the rest of the men in the club.

While as most were tall and brooding with charming smiles and a confident façade, Luca was anything but that. He slumped his shoulders as if trying to seem shorter and out of everyone's attention. His style was clean and professional like while all the other men dressed like playboys or frat men.

"Why?"

"You're supposed to stay longer." He admitted, continuously looking between her and the closed entry way onto the dance floor.

"I met basically everyone here."

She goes to take a closer step forward to the glass doors, but halted when Luca swiftly grabbed her hand.

"You don't have to do this." He stated, slowly pulling her away from the glass doors that held back the yelling men with cameras.

"I want a hot dog." Amina shrugged casually.

She wanted time with him.

Being in a club taking to Luca Jackson was anything but comfortable. People kept on trying to walk into their conversations or tried to whisk Luca away from Amina without her even realizing it. Brandy was the only one to have successfully done it, but with Amina instead.

It felt like that since Luca was in a public place; he seemed sadder and reserved, like he was in a whole other world mentally but there physically. He watched his words around other artists beside her and Brandy. With Brandy he barely spoke and I'd he did it was a snarky remark while with her it was light and almost lifelike.

"I can ruin your reputation." Luca muttered, shaking his head.

He wasn't wrong. Perhaps this was also another reason why she so desperately wanted to be around Luca.

Hollywood was a sexist place, and surely if the wrong photo and caption was leaked to Twitter Amina Ryan would be cancelled in less than twenty-four hours while Luca's career would still be thriving. Luca Jackson was still the outcast in twitters eyes, and if Amina was seen with him twitter would lash out and believe that she as well held no respect for her fans or is using him to gain popularity.

Twitter held her career in their hands, and Amina had no choice but to pray they chose the path she secretly prayed for.

Amina sighed, bumping her shoulder against his arm playfully. "But maybe I can save yours."

Luca's face grew whiter as he whiffed his head. "I don't want mine to be saved, especially if it jeopardizes yours." He grabbed Amina's hand as he pulled her softly away from the outside door. "It isn't worth it, let's go back."

Amina stood her ground. "If I'm here, then photos of us leaving will ruin nothing." She pulled her hand away from him as she threw her arms up exaggeratedly. "It's disgusting that a woman can get her career ended just by the men she hangs out with or the things she says, but if a man did the same thing they would be applauded and praised."

So many women in Hollywood careers ended as soon as they fell in love with the men in Hollywood or adapted to the Hollywood life. Woman of color never lasted long in Hollywood because of the racist producers and managers and listeners. People looked through everything to find something about a woman to get them cancelled-and it always worked. No matter what their age was or the good they've done-they weren't allowed to be heard.

Hollywood was meant for white woman who didn't care for ambitions, Brandy told her, Hollywood didn't appreciate woman of color or woman. She never saw it like that, and it was like Brandy was trying to make her see it that way.

Hollywood was meant for the evil people who believed that all the disgusting things they've done to people was for a purpose-their wealth. Hollywood was meant to burn to the ground sooner or later, and Amina wanted to be there and watch as it happened.

"Hollywood is a sexist, racist, and disgusting place." Luca admitted with distaste. "This place is evil, Amina."

"Everywhere's evil." She stepped closer to Luca and looked up at him. "But it's not the land, but the people living there that make it evil."

He looked in her eyes intensely, his eyes searching for something she couldn't understand.

"Can I touch you?" He asked, causing Amina to flinch back slightly at his blunt question.

"What?"

"Can I touch you?" He said more slowly.

She looked down at his hands, then back to his face. This could make or break her career, but she didn't care. Why did she have to worry about her career if she was going out with a man? How can one judge her for doing what any other woman was at her age?

'Because not every other woman is going out with Luca Jackson nor are they soon to be pop stars either.'

Amina sighed, taking a step forward. "Yes."

Luca didn't need to be told twice as he brought one large hand to her waist and held on softly.

"Are you ready?" He asked when he turned them both to the large door that flashed brightly with blinding lights.

Amina sighed timidly. "Always."

"Try to keep up big man." Luca said over his shoulder to Atticus.

Amina exhaled as Luca opened the glass door and blinding lights flashed all around them and different questions being thrown at them from all directions. This is what Hollywood was.

A fake picture.