30. Sierra
30
SIERRA
It wasn’t until hours later, after they’d shown the entire movie, that I even got to talk to Carter, Tristan, and Drew. I’d barely paid attention to the movie, even though it was the first time I’d seen it in its entirety, because I just couldn’t believe they were here.
In a way, the distraction was an especially good thing, because I was too busy wondering about their presence here to focus too much on the original version of the sex scene that had been leaked.
After applause and a short speech by the director, Aiden escorted me to the after-party, and I couldn’t wait any longer to find my friends, both new and old.
Ronnie had found a table for the group, and she popped right up when I came over, giving me an extra-long hug. Alyssa and Kylie did the same, but I only had eyes for three people.
“What are you doing here?” I asked when Carter took his turn. His hug was over far too quickly. Perhaps he thought I’d been the subject of too much gossip already. Or maybe not. I still didn’t know how things stood between us. I’d left the cabin on such a horrible note.
Tristan also gave me a quick hug. “You look gorgeous,” he whispered in my ear.
Drew had a message when it was his turn, too. “You were amazing in the movie.”
Before I could question them further, Ronnie gave the guys a pointed look and suggested they get some drinks for the table. The minute they left, she pulled me down to a seat between her and Alyssa.
“I don’t understand,” I said as Kylie pulled up a chair across from us.
She grinned. “We didn’t want to have to choose between our men, so we figured we’d each bring one of yours.”
“That Drew is a cutie,” Alyssa said with a smile.
“So is Tristan,” Kylie said. “In a brainy, hot kind of way.”
But my attention was only on Ronnie. “But—but—how did you even get in touch with them?”
“They found me,” Ronnie said. “Your men are very resourceful.”
“They’re not my men.” Had they ever been? My mind was a jumble of questions and confusion. I wanted to grab Tristan, Carter, and Drew, and go someplace private so we could really talk. I glanced over at the bar, hoping to see them, wanting to convince myself that they were really here.
But they weren’t at the bar. I looked far and wide, but I couldn’t see them at all.
Alarmed, I stood up.
“They have some business to take care of,” Ronnie said, but I had no clue what that could mean. Surely they weren’t trying to make the movie industry more environmentally friendly? “They’ll be back.”
“I have to find them.”
“Wait, Sierra…” Alyssa reached for my hand, but I stepped away from her. I couldn’t wait one more second to talk to the guys.
But they were proving to be elusive. They weren’t by the lavish buffet, the grand piano, or the stage in the front of the ballroom. I was half tempted to kick off my four-inch heels, climb on a chair, and scan the crowds until I found them.
And then I did. They were huddled in a corner on the far side of the room. It wasn’t until I was ten feet away that I realized the three people I wanted to talk to the most were with the man I wanted to talk to the least.
I skidded to a stop, almost overbalancing on my heels. What the hell were they doing talking to the assistant director? Just the sight of Walter Henderson made my stomach seize up painfully.
More cautious now, I stepped up between Tristan and Drew. Neither of them acknowledged me. Their entire focus was on Henderson.
“If you had proof, you’d go to the police,” the obnoxious little man was saying to Carter.
“It’s still an option,” Carter snapped. Despite the fact that I had no idea what he was talking about, he looked menacing as hell.
“And there’s precedent,” Tristan said, stepping toward Henderson. “We’ve already found three women who will back up our story.”
Carter spotted me and scowled. “You shouldn’t be here.”
I ignored that. “Precedent for what?”
“There’s been more than one time when an actress or member of the cast has turned down this creep’s advances,” Drew told me, looking as angry as I’d ever seen him. “And in each case, a revealing picture or video of her showed up online or on a revenge porn site.”
“Or she was doxxed,” Tristan added.
As the pieces came together, I felt faint. Then I turned Henderson almost as if in a trance. “You did that to me? You leaked the video of the sex scene?”
“He did more than that,” Tristan said. “We’re pretty sure he delivered it right into the hands of the slimeball who made the deepfake.”
He’d done that. This man, standing in front of me, had caused me all this pain and humiliation on purpose.
He’d done that on purpose .
My hand formed into a fist, and I lunged forward before Carter grabbed me around the middle. “Easy, now,” he whispered. “If we could beat the crap out of him without getting arrested, we would’ve done it already.”
“You piece of shit,” I hissed at the evil man. “I already knew you were a creep, but I never knew you were this big of one.”
Henderson gave me a dismissive glance. “Are we done here? You four have already proven that you don’t have any clout.”
“But I do,” a new voice said. Aiden Hunt had joined our little circle.
“Aiden.” Henderson’s face paled. “We were just talking.”
“I know what you were talking about,” he said, his expression showing his disgust. “And here’s what I think of it.” He stepped forward and got in Henderson’s face. “You will never, ever, work on any production I’m a part of. What’s more, you’ll never work on any of my friends’ movies, either. And trust me—I have a lot of friends.”
Henderson looked genuinely shocked. “If you tell them, they won’t believe you,” he squeaked.
Tristan scoffed. “Yeah, because that’s the definition of a friend—someone who doesn’t believe you.”
Aiden shook his head. “All I need to tell them is to not work with you. And I will. Everyone I’ve ever worked with, and that’s a lot of people. Now get the hell out of here before I let these guys hold you while Sierra kicks you in the balls.”
“Repeatedly,” Carter added.
Henderson squeezed his legs together defensively before turning and making a beeline toward the exit.
Feeling weak, I leaned against Drew as I tried to sort it all out. “I can’t believe he did that,” I said slowly. “He caused all that pain and humiliation, just because he’s a self-centered prick of a man.”
Drew put his arm around me. “We only found a little online, but we’re still digging. If there’s a way to prove he did this, to you and the other women, we will.”
“You guys were amazing,” I said. “I never would’ve even known if you hadn’t figured it out.” Then I turned to Aiden. “And thank you so much for telling him off. He’s obviously scared of you.”
Aiden smirked. “He should be. I pack a mean punch.”
There was something a little off about the way he’d said that, but at first, I couldn’t put my finger on it. I stared at him for a long moment, and then my jaw dropped. “Tanner?”
Aiden’s twin grinned at me. “My brother got trapped in a conversation with the studio head, so I thought that as his stunt double, I should do my part.”
My jaw hung open as I gawked at him. “I totally believed you were Aiden, and I just spent half an hour in a car with him.”
“You what?” Carter asked sharply, but I ignored him as I gave Tanner a hug.
“Thank you so much.”
He gave me a slightly shy smile, and now it was easy for me to tell who he was. “It was no problem. Once your friends here explained what was going on, we wanted to help. Aiden’s on board with everything I just said here. He’s going to spread the word about not working with that asswipe.”
I couldn’t help it—I had to give him one more hug. As I pulled away a second time, I said, “Ronnie’s a really lucky woman.”
“We’re the lucky ones,” Tanner said, presumably speaking for himself, his twin, and their best friend Ford. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get out of here before anyone else thinks I’m Aiden.”
Tristan, Carter, and Drew shook hands with Tanner, and then he walked away, which left me with the men I’d thought about every single second for the past few weeks. “I can’t believe you’re here. Or that Henderson did that. Or that Tanner did that . It’s a lot to take in.”
“Why don’t we go back to the table and sit down,” Drew suggested.
“Would you like something to eat?” Tristan asked.
“No,” I said.
“What would you like to do?” Carter asked.
“I need to leave. Now.”
“But what about the premiere?” Concern filled Drew’s voice.
“I have to go back to my room,” I insisted. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carter and Tristan exchange a look.
“All right,” Carter said. “Should we get one of your friends to escort you?”
“No.” I took a deep breath. “I want you three to come.”
They stared at me, but this time, no one questioned me. No one suggested that I stay.
“All right,” Tristan said.