Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
AIDEN
I can’t stop staring.
Charlotte is a vision in a long, amber dress that accentuates her hair. It hugs her narrow waist, and then a single piece of draped fabric crosses her shoulder. Her arms are bare. And when she takes a step forward, the dress reveals a high slit in the flaring skirt, and a flash of a long, lean leg.
Fucking hell.
Some kind of magic happened with her hair. The light-brown waves are glossy, falling around her face and down her back like a waterfall. She’s wearing red lipstick and there’s darkness around her eyes.
“Thanks,” she says.
Her voice brings me back to the here and now. She is made up like a goddess, but she’s still my Charlotte. Charlotte of the late nights on the couch, of the sparring matches in my office, of the banter and quick-witted comebacks.
My eyes snag on her shoes. They’re black and strappy, and fuck , those heels. They look deadly.
“You’re not saying anything,” she says. She grips a clutch in front of her. Good. I’m glad they persuaded her on the full getup. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to convince her to treat herself to even more.
“You look…”
“It’s too much. Isn’t it?”
I close the distance between us. There’s no resisting it. I put my hand on her waist and rub a thumb over the silky chiffon. “You’re a vision. A dream, Chaos.”
She smiles a little. There’s hopeful excitement in her eyes that robs me of breath all over again. “Really?”
“Yes. I’d kiss you right now if it wouldn’t ruin your lipstick.”
Her gaze widens, and I realize what I just said.
But I don’t take it back.
“Oh.” Her smile is soft and gentle, and she looks down at my tux. “Good thing I’m wearing lipstick, then.”
“Mm-hmm. What did those people in the salon do to your eyes?”
“My eyes?”
“They’re… I’m… I don’t have the words.” My hand is still on her waist, tracing little circles.
She reaches up and smoothes the lapels of my dinner jacket. “It’s a smokey eye. I wanted to look different. Unlike myself.”
“You do.”
“In a good way?”
“That’s a trick question,” I say, and her red, glossy lips tip up into a smile that is still familiar. My favorite expression of hers. “You’re just as beautiful with as without all of this, Chaos. I’ve always thought that.”
Her fingers tighten around my lapel. “You’re a charmer.”
“I’m honest. There’s a difference.” I reach down and find her hand. The need to touch her is always strong. Right now, it’s invincible. “Come on. Let’s get you to the premiere. You’ll outshine all the movie stars.”
The car drive to Hollywood Boulevard is surprisingly fast. Distance-wise we’re not far, but distance has little to do with travel time in LA. One of the cardinal rules of traffic.
We bypass the red carpet, arriving instead behind the Dolby Theatre directly at the VIP reception. It’s held in a secluded area set up like a garden terrace, away from the prying eyes of the press and the public alike. I show my invitation to the man at the entrance, and then he eagerly waves me through.
Charlotte gives a low whistle at my side. “It’s that easy, is it? To be Aiden Hartman?”
It’s not easy at all, I think. All these people wouldn’t take the Hartman name in their mouth two years ago. It’s only by relentlessly clawing our way back to the top of this industry, and ensuring I can offer them something they covet, that I have this kind of access again. There is no genuine friendliness in Hollywood. It’s all fake smiles and trading favors. And always, always , the neverending game of fame.
It’s the currency everyone is aware of. It hangs over people’s heads like a counter. Of the followers, the gross revenue stats. I’ve seen plenty of people who let that consume them.
But that’s not what Charlotte asked. So I put my hand on the small of her back, feeling the faint shiver that races through her at the touch. “Sometimes,” I say. “When I have something they want.”
“Leverage,” she murmurs. “That’s what this industry runs on. Right?”
I look at her for a second before answering. “Yes. It is. You catch on quick.”
“It’s sort of my job,” she says with a slight smile.
“No,” I say. “I think it’s just you.”
Her gaze lingers on mine. The makeup emphasizes the blue of her eyes, and I can’t seem to look away from her depths.
“Aiden,” she murmurs.
Whatever else she meant to say is drowned by the sudden applause. Excitement ripples through the well-heeled crowd around us, and I search the mass of producers, actors, and musicians.
Ah. The lead actors have arrived. They walk into the VIP reception area like conquering heroes—big smiles on their faces. Four of Hollywood’s leading young stars.
“Wow,” Charlotte breathes beside me. “I can’t believe I’m actually seeing this.”
“It’s real. Believe it.”
“They’re much smaller than I thought.”
I laugh. “Yeah, film people always are. Don’t say that to them, though. Logan put on forty pounds of muscle for the role.”
Her eyes turn to me. “You don’t know them, do you?”
“Not all. Him, I do.”
“You’re lying.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’d never lie to you, Chaos. Want me to prove it?”
The fire in her eyes is back. I love that expression. The one that tells me she’s game, she’s down, she wants to play just as much as I do. I’ve never met anyone like her.
“If you can,” she says.
I grip her hand again. It fits easily into my palm this time, her fingers curving over mine. Like they belong together. “Come,” I say.
Three and a half hours later, Charlotte is smiling by my side. She’s also wobbling. The steps from the theater to the after-party aren’t many, but for a woman not used to heels, it’s a trek.
I wrap my arm firmly around her waist to steady her. “As soon as we get out of here,” I say against her temple, “you’re taking those shoes off.”
She giggles. “But they’re so pretty.”
“They’re also hurting you. Aren’t they?”
She shoots me a look. But then she sighs. “Yes. Is it obvious? I wanted to look all ethereal and cool for an evening.”
That makes me smile. “If it’s any consolation, you do look very ethereal and cool.”
“It is. Thank you.” She leans into me a little.
There’s chatter around us. Behind us. In front of us. As the hordes of guests migrate from the theater to the after-party, with the film screening done. There was a Q&A with the actors and then the director, as well. Charlotte had been on the edge of her seat. I watched her more than I watched either of the discussions or the movie.
“Maybe I should just carry you.” I move closer, like I’m reaching for her.
She laughs and swats at my arm. “No, you won’t. Not in front of these people!”
I’ve never had this much fun at one of these events before. It’s always been work. Networking. You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.
We arrive at the after-party. The venue has been decorated like a desert landscape, to make it feel like the scenery in the movie. And I have to give it to them, it’s a stellar job. The large room, the DJ’s stage, the area for taking photos. It all looks appropriately beige.
Charlotte marvels by my side. Her wide eyes take in the space, and a broad smile lights up her face. She’s beautiful.
She always is.
But when she has that look about her…
“Thank you,” she says. “Thank you for taking me here. I know I’m just shadowing you today, but… You could have decided to go somewhere else. To Costco, for example, to do a giant grocery run.”
I shake my head. “Right. That’s on tomorrow’s agenda, actually.”
“Whew, thank god.” Her smile widens, and she looks back out at the people. “I never thought I’d get a chance to speak to Logan Edwards! Or any of them. Even to see any of them. This is the sort of thing that—” Her voice dies abruptly, eyes locked on something across the party.
Her body tenses.
On instinct, I take a step closer to Charlotte and look where she’s staring. But all I see are other people mingling about. Some are close by. A few individuals are standing in a half circle, chatting. There’s a beautiful Hollywood actress I vaguely recognize as an up-and-comer. A reality star that, if I recall correctly, has been on a few of the shows Titan had produced. Not someone I’m going to talk to tonight.
“Chaos. What’s wrong?”
She grips my forearms and turns us abruptly, so I’m blocking her view. “Shit. I… nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”
I push back a tendril of her hair. She’s gone white. “Something’s wrong. What can I do?”
Her eyes flick from mine to something over my shoulder. Someone over my shoulder.
“They’re walking past.” Her voice is a frantic murmur. “I need to hide.”
There’s only a split second to make the decision. She’s clinging to me, curving into me, like she wants to disappear entirely. And if she doesn’t want to be recognized…
I pull her tight and fit her mouth to mine.