Chapter 1
Adam Martinez
You know, it’s not easy being handsome, charming and rich, but I pull it off with aplomb. Okay, I’m also a little vain, outspoken and an extravert. At least I admit to having all these attributes and I would never hide any of them away. Did I also mention that I’m a famous actor and producer? My name is Adam Martinez. I’ve played many an intense leading role in many a blockbuster movie. Winning Academy and Golden Globe awards in my career, along with many other accolades. I’m not bragging, well maybe a little, but I do feel pride in who I am and what I’ve achieved.
My life’s been shaped by a strong matriarch, who also happens to be a famous movie star too. My mother is an amazing woman and I adore her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a “mommy’s boy,” far from it. From my first role in a commercial at the age of eight, my mother told me to call her by her name, and not to call her “mom” ever again. She knew it would be awkward for me, calling her “mom,” as I grew up by her side in the movie industry. I have a great amount of respect for my mother. She brought me up single-handed and still managed to continue in a very demanding career.
It was only natural that I would follow in her footsteps as I grew up surrounded by actors. Over the years, I’ve played roles from Henry VIII to Batman, war heroes to cowboys, sci-fi movies to vampire romances. I’ve enjoyed every single moment and even managed to become a bit of a sex symbol in the public eye. To live up to my reputation, I do my best to maintain a well-muscled body. One of my favorite sports is the practice of martial arts, something many macho movie stars take on.
What I am not is a husband or a father, which is exactly how I want it to be. I do have another woman in my life who I love tremendously, other than my mother. Tessa Anniston is my best friend and someone I trust implicitly. She too has a career in acting and is a famous actor in her own right.
As you can see, acting is my life. It’s in my blood and a part of my soul. I live and breathe only to be in movies. This is my main role and desire in life.
Of course, there are other people in my life besides my mother and Tessa. My relationship with Tessa is one that switches on and off as life allows. Neither of us has a place we call home. Most of the time we’re overseas shooting movies at other ends of the world to each other. Needless to say, we don’t get together very often. But, when we do, it’s like magic.
I’m also a family kind of person. I have aunts and uncles and two amazing cousins who are more like brothers to me. Not forgetting my adorable niece. Well, technically she’s my first cousin-removed, but we don’t go by those rules. Rosie is my cousin Brett’s daughter, and she too has a special place in my heart. My pet name for her as a youngster was Rosie-Posie, as she was such a beautiful baby. Although she’s now seventeen and furious with me if I ever use her pet name these days. After my grandpa passed away recently, our extended family is now led by my Grandma Dawn. She is revered by everyone who knows her.
And there you have it, my life laid out bare for all to see. This is who I am and who I’ll be until I leave this world. You may ask why I’m sharing such details? That, my friend, is because I have a tale to tell that’s about to unbalance everything I know. Never, even if my life lasted a million years, did I ever think I would, or could, change. Yet, something triggers an event that is about to turn my life upside down, my road to Damascus moment. I thought I’d achieved everything I ever wanted in life and had everything I needed. Yet, it takes a very special person who helps me find my true calling.
Tessa Anniston
I wish I were back in Italy where I recently had an amazing mini-vacation with Adam’s family. At the time, I was filming in Venice but managed to escape work for a few precious days. Not with Adam though, he wasn’t there. Instead, I got to spend time with his cousin’s family, who I know well.
It’s been several weeks since I last met up with Adam. To some extent, it’s my own fault. He recently upset me over something that I saw as important. I know it sounds childish, but that’s the way I am, I sulk.
Ever since we met in our younger days at acting school, we’ve had a strong bond between us. For a while, we were both stage actors and we lived together. Oh, I remember well, our tiny apartment in Brooklyn, but then the movie roles started to come his way. For me, dancing was my passion and I took that career path for a few years. The massive difference in our work meant we drifted apart. I toured Europe for six months. Adam was rooted in Hollywood where he was offered endless opportunities. I’ve heard the snide comments about how it’s been easy for him because of who his mother is. It’s all bullshit! He worked hard to get where he is and he’s a damn fine actor.
We promised ourselves that we’d vacation together a few times a year, and we’ve managed it up until a couple of years ago. Sometimes we come together with important family events, on both sides. That’s because we’re both from strong family networks and we view family as important. For the rest of the time we work, and we both work long and hard. I returned to acting years ago and I’ve done well for myself. But, you can’t afford to let your foot off the brake, or they stop picking you for the best roles. It’s kind of true what they say, you’re only as good as your last role. Life was so busy for us that we agreed to have an open relationship.
What did that mean? Well, I know that I love Adam with all my heart, but I do have other intimate relationships and feel no guilt. Most of the time we’re at the other ends of the world, and so we agreed we both needed some outlet of release. That’s how our relationship and understanding was born. We were free to sleep with whoever we liked. Yet, in our hearts, or at least mine anyway, there would only ever be room for each other. Our vacations together cemented our bond.
So far it’s worked out well. When I’m not with Adam, for most of the time he’s not on my mind. Now though, I’m in my thirties and it feels like something’s missing out of my life. This has been building up for a couple of years, and I’m trying to fathom what it is that I’m yearning for. Why do I not feel content with my life? I’m rich, and I’m famous and can have anything I want. Eventually, I did find the answer though it took me a while to work it out. The trouble is, to find the fulfillment I’m craving, it means confronting Adam with an ultimatum.
That’s because what I want is him. Being apart all the time is getting harder and lonelier. Going out with other men is getting to be hard work. When I’m with Adam, I can be myself but with other men I have to put on an act and I’m fed up with it. I thought I’d found the perfect answer when I put it to Adam that we should work on a TV show together. It would have been perfect for bringing us together. The show I’m signing up to is going to be a long-running one, if it’s a hit. It’s very character-based so the show can become a part of the viewers’ everyday lives. I’ve decided it’s time to give up the heavy commitment to movies. Being in this show would allow us to stay in one place and be together. Sadly, Adam didn’t see it that way.
It stunned me when he refused. He doesn’t know it, but he broke my heart. Our acting careers have been an important part of our lives, but we’ve both reached the pinnacle of our profession. Though Adam doesn’t agree because he’s been offered the leading role in an upcoming movie trilogy. I haven’t spoken a word to him since his refusal.