Chapter Two
Freddie
“Can you repeat that?” My heart rate accelerated as I met Hallstein Bauer’s gaze. My boss was one of the best studio security chiefs in the business, and I’d been thrilled when he hired me last month. I just hadn’t expected my first assignment to be— “Right, you said Andreas Elliott?”
“Yes.” Hallstein examined me carefully. “Look, I know that whole debacle might make you uncomfortable. Those videos…” He winced.
“Revenge porn is a horrible thing. Valentino is incredibly sympathetic to what Andreas has been through. He might’ve consented to the videos being taken—” Another wince.
“Maybe not the brightest move. I mean, I love my boyfriend, but he’s not getting a camera within a hundred feet of me. Especially naked.”
Myles, Hallstein’s eccentric boyfriend, was the set decorator for the upcoming film.
The upcoming film starring Andreas and Norah.
“It’s not the porn…” How do I get the fuck out of this assignment without actually quitting this amazing job.
“Is it because he’s gay?” Hallstein cocked his head. “I didn’t peg you as a homophobe. If you are, you might want to find your way out. I can’t fire you, of course—”
“I’m not a homophobe. Not at all.” In fact, I’m gay. I just haven’t found the courage to tell you…despite the fact you’re gay as well.
“Is it Andreas who is the problem?”
“Uh…” I cleared my throat. “There’s no good way to answer that.”
He frowned. “I’m not understanding. Freddie, you just need to ensure he stays out of trouble.
I doubt he’ll need your bodyguard services.
I hired you as a security guard, but you’re so good with people that I want you to work directly with the actors instead of guarding a perimeter or a gate. Am I clear?”
Great. Those interpersonal skills I’ve worked so hard on means better jobs…and Andreas. “I’m really honored. I’ll always work a gate if you need me to, but yeah, I prefer working with people. I mean, personal trainer was okay, but I wanted something…more diverse.”
Hallstein chuckled. “I’m not certain sitting around all day on set is all that stimulating, but you’ll get some variety.” He tapped a few keys on his laptop. “Andreas finally cleared the border twenty minutes ago.”
“Finally?”
“It doesn’t normally take two hours in an interrogation room.
I was checking with studio lawyers to see if we needed to send someone down.
I was assured his work permit was in order.
He said something about too many possessions in his car and that the guard thought he was trying to move to Canada.
” Hallstein sight. “Actors can be…eccentric.” He straightened.
“I’ve forwarded you the file I have. He’s staying in a hotel arranged by the studio.
Your job is to pick him up each morning and deliver him back at the end of the day.
He’s supposed to stick close to the hotel.
If he wants to go out, he’s to ask you. We’re talking about twelve-to-fourteen hours-a-day assignment.
You said you were available for that, right? ”
“Yes.” Would make studying a challenge, but I’d manage. I always did.
“No dogs, cats, or girlfriends who might miss you?”
I shook my head. No boyfriends either. There’d been no one since…never mind. “I swore I could do this. And I can.”
“Great. I’ve got Colette working with Norah.
I’m not expecting any real problems. Vancouverites are pretty chill about film shoots.
My biggest concern is Andreas. The tabloid reporters are probably going to try to catch him in a compromising position.
With his new notoriety—and his big break starring in a film with Norah—he’s ripe for the picking, so to speak.
You might also be facing down fans who want a piece of him.
Thinking he’s available because of that entire thing down in LA. ”
“The debacle.” Repeating his word to show I was paying attention.
“Right.” He nodded. “So, we’re good? He’s got orientation first thing. I’ll be on hand for that.” He squinted. “Oh, you have any plants?”
I shook my head, unclear where this tangent had come from. “I kill everything I touch.”
“Ah. So do I. So I leave it up to Myles. Of course we have to have cat-safe plants because, you know, our four rescue cats.”
“Sounds adorable.”
Hallstein laughed. “They keep me on my toes. And have an entire room to themselves. You should come over and meet them. I think Claude would like you.”
“Uh…”
“Once filming is over, of course.”
“Of course.” Say something a normal human being would say. “I love cats.” Not a lie…I just didn’t spend much time around them, and they didn’t tend to love me. Oh well, I’d figure this all out before I ever had to show up at Hallstein and Myles’s house in North Vancouver.
“Great. Sorry for the short notice on Andres. I had someone else lined up, but his girlfriend’s mother just died, and my guy wants to be supportive.” He sighed and picked up a folder. “I also wanted to wait until you agreed to this before… Yeah, so here it is.” He handed me the folder.
I opened it—completely baffled. As I quickly shuffled through the papers, I understood. “You’re worried about Andreas’s fans.”
“There’s nothing in there to intimate violence. Chances are, this will be a run-of-the-mill assignment for you.”
Impossible. I held my focus, though. “Run of the mill sounds good. Keeping our talent away from these…” I squinted. “Okay, men and women.”
“And girls and even a couple of boys. Some of those accounts are from folks who are underage. Our cyber person hasn’t detected anything worth reporting to the authorities, but I need you to keep an eye out for anything untoward. You know we have amazing security—”
“Yep.” The team had been fantastic before Hallstein had taken over—at least that’s what I’d understood. Since he’d taken the helm? Rock solid.
Of course, that had been about three months after the shooting on the set. Nothing any security personnel could’ve done about that one—a member of the catering staff had shot a lead actor out of jealousy. No one had seen that coming.
“Thanks for this. I think I can handle it.”
“Don’t get cocky. Cocky leads to mistakes.”
I nodded. “Of course. I just…I’ll keep him safe.”
“You might need to be more concerned about saving him from himself. Val…” Hallstein rubbed the back of his neck. “Val’s worried about self-destructive tendencies.”
My ears perked. “Does he know something?” As one of the most talented executive producers—as well as just a guy able to read people—Valentino Langston was an invaluable member of every movie or television show he worked on.
“He didn’t offer specifics. Just that Andreas comes across as happy-go-lucky, but has some depth. Capable of introspection. And that introspection can get…serious.” He winced. “I might be reading too much between the lines.”
Nope, that’s Andreas nailed perfectly.
And I can’t say anything. “His performances can be intense. I think…” I searched for the right words. “People underestimate him because of his looks. They just see the pretty face.”
Hallstein nodded. “Yes. Like people think Cole Hamilton’s all about his looks when vain is the last thing he is.”
Cole was one of the studio’s greatest assets—star of their biggest network show. And the sweetest guy.
“I’ll watch out for Andreas—I promise.”
“Yeah. I trust you.”
I departed mere moments later, chased all the way to the security office by my boss’s words.
I could’ve interpreted them as flippant—or merely stating a fact.
They weren’t, though. As I flipped through the folder, I tried to tell myself I had my shit together.
It’s been seven years. He’s not even going to recognize you.
He’s a different person. I’m a different person. We’re different…
Telling myself I’d be cool and actually maintaining my composure when we finally met proved to be two entirely different things.