Chapter 6 #2
He fiddled with his tie, still blushing furiously. I’d bet my very extensive car collection that me being a guy wasn’t what was holding him back. “You’re…you. And I’m me. You’re literally the most famous person on the planet right now. I’m…I’m a nobody.”
“Not to me you’re not.”
Ollie finally met my eyes. “You barely know me.”
That was irrelevant as far as I was concerned. I knew that letting Ollie slip out of my life as suddenly as he’d entered would always leave me wondering what if. “That’s why you should see me again. So I can get to know you better.”
Ollie was already shaking his head, and my heart sank.
“No, I don’t think so. It’s not…I think you’re great, but…
fuck. I hadn’t even considered fooling around with a guy until today.
Obviously, I’ve got some shit to sort through in my head.
But asking me to be seen in public with you?
That’s too much. I can’t have my life and sexuality up for debate when I haven’t even figured it out for myself. ”
“We don’t have to meet in public.” The resignation on Ollie’s face was making me desperate.
He gave me a small smile. “Okay, say we do that. How long are you willing to hide? How long before word gets out? These things never stay hidden, Luca. You know that.”
My heart sank. That was the one argument I had no comeback for. It was one thing to open myself to the spotlight, but to ask someone else to do it?
It was a lot.
Just then, the lights flickered on.
We both blinked at the sudden brightness, our arms jerking out to the sides when the lift began to move.
Neither of us stood. As the lift smoothly glided upwards, we stared at each other.
There was so much I wanted to say to him. I wanted to persuade him to give us a chance. To tell him I’d felt more alive in the couple of hours we’d spent trapped in this tiny space than I had in years.
But he’d just got out of a long-term relationship.
He thought he was straight.
And I was out of time.
There was a quiet ding, and the metal doors slid smoothly open.
The cacophony of shouts and flashing lights shattered whatever had existed between Ollie and me.
It seemed as though every press member within a twenty-mile radius was waiting for us in the corridor.
Cameras were going off everywhere like they were hoping the doors would open to reveal Luca Weston in yet another scandalous position.
A little while ago, they would’ve done.
I stumbled to my feet while Ollie did the same. His lips were in a grim line as he took in the sheer number of people battling to try and shove forwards to get into the lift.
Then he did the last thing I expected. Reaching out to grab my arm, he yanked me behind him, stepping forwards so his slightly bigger frame shielded me.
“Back up,” he barked. “Give him some space, for fuck’s sake.”
If anything, the press went wilder. Shit. While Ollie’s protective behaviour was enough to give me butterflies, it was the one thing guaranteed to open him up to scrutiny.
“Maybe you should let me go,” I said quietly, staring at the tense lines of his broad shoulders.
“Not until I know you’re going to be safe,” he said through gritted teeth. “Don’t you have security or something?”
“Move!” As if Ollie’s question had summoned him, I heard Jack’s firm voice cutting over the din. “Back up unless you want to be escorted from the building.”
With a lot of grumbling, the press slowly backed away. Jack appeared, his face stoic. The only giveaway that this situation was more stressful than usual was the small lines at the corner of his mouth.
He also wasn’t alone. Bustling after him, out of breath and covered in sweat, was Kevin.
Judging by the scowl on his face, he wasn’t loving the fact I’d managed to get more press attention mere hours after he’d told me to lay low.
It wasn’t like this situation was my fault. One of my fans or someone who worked in the building must’ve tipped off the press that I was trapped.
Even with the appearance of Jack and Kevin, Ollie hadn’t moved. Still shielding me from the press, he waited like a statue as Jack cleared a path.
I watched over his shoulder as Kevin took in Ollie’s protective stance. His scowl developed into a sneer, and suddenly, I wanted to switch our positions. I wanted to hide Ollie from that look. To keep anything negative in my life from tarring him.
Then Kevin’s gaze met mine, and I could read his thoughts clear as day.
It’s obvious something happened here. I can see it, and so can the press.
Why are you always getting yourself into these situations?
Can’t you go one day without fucking up?
If anything gets out, you’ll fuck up negotiations with the label.
Panic filled me. I’d told Ollie so much. Given him insight into my life that I never gave anyone. Small details people would pay a fortune to get their hands on.
And that was even before we got into the fact I’d gone down on him. Seduced him into wanting a man despite him never wanting one before.
Just imagine what people would say about that.
What the fuck had I been thinking? Ollie was a stranger.
Kevin drew closer, his eyes narrowed. Before he could speak, I stepped around Ollie and held my hand up to stop Kevin. He paused, and I could see in the set of his mouth what he expected me to do.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to face Ollie, speaking in a low whisper so no one would hear. “I need you to sign an NDA.”
Ollie’s eyes widened. “What?”
“A non-disclosure agreement,” I whispered quickly, all too aware of the many eyes watching us. “Promising you won’t tell anyone about what happened in there.”
“I know what a fucking NDA is,” Ollie hissed. “I told you that you can trust me.”
I could feel Kevin’s gaze burning into the back of my neck. “I know, but I can’t rely on that. I need you to sign it. Please.”
That was the moment. I saw it happen. Saw the change shift on Ollie’s face. The instant that whatever tentative hope I might have for our future shattered.
Ollie nodded sharply, stepping back to put some distance between us. “Sure. If that’s what you need.”
The impassive mask he wore was like a kick to my gut. But this was for the best…right?
I opened my mouth to apologise. To take what I’d asked back. But that was not what came out. “Kevin here will collect your details and arrange the documentation.”
A muscle jumped in Ollie’s jaw as he looked past me. “Great.”
I needed to leave. The longer I stayed here, staring at this man, the more the rumours would grow.
But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Ollie…” I stepped closer, my voice dropping pleadingly. For what though? What did I want from him?
“Leave it,” he said sharply. He still wasn’t looking at me. “You need to go.”
Jack’s hand gripped my shoulder. “He’s right, Luca. I’ve got the press held back, but they won’t stay long.”
“Okay.” I drank in every detail of Ollie, knowing it was the last time I’d do so. “It was great to meet you.”
“You too.”
Then, like he couldn’t resist the temptation any longer, his gaze met mine. The hollowness he’d exuded earlier was back.
I hated that I’d put it back there.
But with Jack leading me out of the lift and Kevin swooping in to clear up my mess, there was nothing I could do.
Nothing except leave and hope the memory of Ollie would vanish from my life as suddenly as he’d entered it.