Lovestruck (Kane's Side)

Prologue

The Prelude

It’s my turn to step out onto the red carpet.

Camera flashes are blinding, but years of exposure have trained my eyes to tolerate them.

I scan the crowd, my heart pounding against my chest. The voices of men shouting pulls my attention in all directions.

My practiced movie-star smile is plastered across my lips, and I wave to the crowd.

I find myself taking shallow breaths as panic starts to seep through my skin, and I think about what I found in my hotel room just earlier this afternoon.

Several hours earlier:

I drop my bag onto the floor next to the hotel bed.

The room has already been set up: champagne on ice, my suit for tonight hanging on a hook, bottles of imported water lined on the dresser, and my clothes stashed away in drawers and the closet.

A bouquet of roses is centered on the table nearest the window.

Usually, hotels leave more neutral flowers, so I find it odd.

I pluck the card from the center of the arrangement and pull out the contents of the envelope.

I read the card first: “I can’t wait to see you tonight.

I’ve missed you. ?” The note is unsigned, but I notice something stuck to the back.

A Polaroid. But not just any Polaroid. A shot of me sitting on a sofa in my backyard, a glass of scotch in my hand, looking out over the horizon, completely oblivious to what was happening just a few feet away.

My heart drops into the pit of my stomach, and my hands start to shake.

I swipe the vase off the table and watch it shatter on the carpet, grab my phone, and almost run from the room.

“This was in your room?” Joseph asks, looking at the photo and card, his brows furrowed in disbelief.

“Yes. There was a bouquet of roses, and that card was in it.”

He falls silent, burying his forehead into the heel of his hand.

“Listen, man, this is concerning, and I’ll do everything possible to advocate for you,” he pauses briefly, his voice dropping an octave, “but the producers won’t be happy if we start up a scandal.

It’s going to put everything on pause and cost a lot of people a lot of money.

We’ll keep an eye out for you, but the best thing we can do right now might be to wait it out a little longer. ”

I sigh. I know Joseph’s right. There’s not much anyone can do for me, and it’s not like it hasn’t happened before, but it’s still chilling to think about. “You’re right.” I nod.

“I’ll get you moved to a different room. I’m gonna call the office and let ’em know what’s up. Do you want to come with me, or would you like to stay here?” Joseph stands and pushes the semicircular fabric chair back under the table.

“I’ll stay here and order a drink. Just let me know when they get the room moved. And tip the ladies. That room’s probably a mess.”

Joseph pats me on the shoulder and walks off. I take another deep breath and loudly exhale before making my way up to the hotel bar and sit down.

“What can I get you?” The bartender asks.

“A sco—just a beer. Anything domestic.”