Rowan
The after-party is a mandatory event after the show.
At least according to Ray, it is. He’s in his element, swimming to different sections of the venue to mingle with all the other like-minded people. I’m almost dizzy watching him zoom around so quickly that I swear I see afterimages of him.
Meanwhile, Milo looks dead on his feet. His expression doesn’t show it, since he’s still wearing his picture-perfect smile like armor, but it’s the way he’s dragging his feet that tells me he’s done with this scene.
I’m lurking in the shadows along with the other bodyguards, away from the main partygoers but following close enough behind Milo so that I can intervene if anything happens.
One person after another comes up to Milo to exchange greetings and polite conversation, and he doesn’t get a moment’s rest. When the last group of influencers finishes taking selfies with him and leaves, I sneak closer to him to suggest he take a break.
My justification for intervening is that I’m worried he’s going to fall flat on his face if he keeps this up. It’s been a long day, and the man has barely gotten any food inside him today, claiming he couldn’t stretch out the fabric of his borrowed suit or get it dirty.
Before I can, another person slides up beside him, and I slink back into the shadows to give them space.
Milo’s already smiling toward the newcomer before we can really see who it is.
His smile freezes when the man who’d been sitting beside him during the show pulls him into a hug before he can react.
My guard is instantly up, but I keep my distance. Sometimes intervening too soon can make things worse, so I wait for a signal from Milo.
“Lance, fancy bumping into you here again,” Milo says, flashing his smile like a weapon.
Even from here, I can hear the fakeness in his tone. Either Lance is oblivious, or he’s ignoring the obvious, but his smile remains easy, almost a little sleazy.
“Why wouldn’t I be here when you are?” he says like it’s an obvious fact.
Milo laughs despite the dude sounding like a stalker. “I didn’t realize you were spending your days as a pap these days? Are you giving up acting to follow other celebrities around?”
Lance chuckles and shakes his head. “You’ve always been a jokester, Milo. You know I don’t care about the others. Just you.”
Fuck, this guy is even sleazier than I imagined, and he’s clearly unable to read the room. Milo could have received the best media training in the world, but this situation is clearly proving impossible for him to keep a straight face. Anyone with eyes can see that Milo is uncomfortable.
“Yes, as you’ve made it clear,” Milo grits out, not even trying to hide his annoyance now. “I was surprised to find you seated beside me earlier. I thought the front-row seats were only for the VIPs.”
Lance laughs again, like he wasn’t just snubbed. “I managed to pull some strings,” he says with a smirk.
“Really? Whose strings might these be? You must share.”
“My lips are sealed,” Lance replies with a wink. He takes a step forward and lowers his voice when he adds, “But I might be persuaded. Let’s say tomorrow night?”
Milo steps back, thank fuck, because I’m two seconds from putting my body between Milo and this fucker.
“Let’s say never,” Milo shoots back. “I don’t date, and especially not you.”
Milo turns to walk away, but this man must have a death wish because he puts his hand on Milo.
“C’mon, man. You don’t know what you’re missing until—”
“Is there a problem here?” I step forward and interrupt whatever batshit-crazy thing was about to come out of his mouth. I pull his grubby fingers away from Milo while I’m at it too.
Lance doesn’t even attempt to conceal his sneer. “Who the fuck are you? Why are you butting into private business?”
He tries to size me up and look intimidating, but it’s hard to feel intimidated when I’m a head taller than him and double his size. I cross my arms over my shoulders, causing the suit I’m wearing tonight to strain. The action makes my forearms look extra huge.
I have to give Lance kudos for not backing down, but judging by the stink of alcohol on his breath, I’m guessing that has more to do with liquid courage than anything else.
“Listen, I don’t know who you are, but you should go back to where you came from like a good boy,” he growls like an angry Pomeranian and tries to scare me by jabbing a finger into my chest.
His touch barely tickles, and it doesn’t take much force to push him back out of my personal space.
He almost stumbles on his feet, but manages to catch himself upright with a curse and a glare that’s burning with fury. “Why you—”
“I think you need to get some water and cool down,” Milo interjects. He comes between us and holds a hand up, the palm facing Lance as if that would stop him from advancing.
I’m frustrated that he thinks he needs to protect me, or maybe he’s just trying to de-escalate the situation.
Either way, that’s supposed to be my job, not the other way around.
I try to gather Milo safely behind me, but he gives me a look that says he’s determined to see this through.
So the best I can do is look like a menacing force who’s got Milo’s back.
Milo leans into Lance’s ear and whispers low enough that I can barely hear him despite being this close to them.
“If you don’t want to cause a scene and lose your chances to be in that movie you’ve been bragging about to anyone who’ll listen, you’ll walk away.”
Chills go down my spine at the ruthlessness in Milo’s tone. It says he’s done with the games and won’t take any more nonsense. It’s fucking sexy as hell.
“Are you threatening me?” Lance asks, eyes wide at Milo as if he’s seeing him for the first time.
“I’m saying it’ll be a shame if a little birdie goes whispering in the director’s ear about you. You’re not the only one who can pull strings.”
His tone is piercing, and even though it’s not directed at me, I have to resist the urge to bow down and offer my neck to him.
Lance doesn’t stand a chance and is physically shaking under Milo’s words. He clenches his fists, and the lustful eyes he once had toward Milo are now filled with pure rage.
“So why don’t you run off like a good boy and stay the hell away from me?” Milo says. He gives Lance a condescending pat on the chest before straightening and turning to me.
“I think I’m ready to turn in for the night. Let’s go find Ray,” he says.
I nod and follow him through the crowd, glancing back every so often to make sure Lance got the hint and doesn’t follow us.
We find Ray in a corner chatting with a handsome man I don’t recognize. From the way he’s laughing a little too hard and feeling up the other man’s muscles, it’s clear he’s off the clock and schmoozing for his own agenda now.
Milo shakes his head, and I wonder if he disapproves of Ray dating while at a work event, or just him dating in general?
Is it jealousy that’s making him frown at the sight of them?
Something that feels a lot like jealousy smacks me right in the face at the idea that Milo might want to keep Ray all to himself. It makes sense. They’re close, and the way Milo slept on Ray’s shoulder was filled with a sense of familiarity you can only have with someone you’re comfortable with.
Does Milo have a crush on Ray?
Once again, it’s none of my business, yet I’m still agonizing over the thought.
“I’m gonna take off. You good here?” Milo asks.
Ray glances over at us and nods, tells me to get Milo home safe, then goes back to hanging all over the guy he’s with.
Milo’s frown deepens, but he doesn’t say anything and leads me downstairs. I suggest he wait inside while I get the car, but he insists on walking the short distance with me to the parking garage where the car is parked.
He’s opening the door and climbing into the passenger seat before I can even open the back door for him. I pause my step and pivot directions to take my spot in the driver’s seat.
“What?” he asks when I give him a questioning glance. He’s already buckled in and made himself comfortable.
“You’re going to sit in the front with me?” I ask.
This has never happened before. My clients always sit in the back, drawing a clear distinction between them and me. I’m the bodyguard, and they’re my employer.
“There’s no point in me sitting back there all by myself,” Milo says with a shrug. He looks out the window as I start the car, and even in my peripheral vision, I sense an air of loneliness from him.
“Do you not approve of Ray dating?” I ask cautiously, once again toeing the line and pushing the boundaries of our relationship.
Milo is not my friend, and bodyguards shouldn’t ask such an invasive question that doesn’t help with the job in the slightest.
My fingers clench the steering wheel, and I wait for Milo to brush me off or put me in my place by telling me it’s none of my business.
I’m starting to learn that Milo never does what’s expected.
“No, I want him to date. Ray deserves someone who makes him happy, but he’s always attracting jackasses instead. I would know,” he says with a depreciating chuckle.
“How do you mean?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him turning his body toward me. “You’re the one who reminded me you signed the NDA and that I can sue if it’s breached, so keep this to yourself, or your ass is mine,” he says.
I don’t need to look at him to know he’s smiling. I can hear it in his voice. He might be entirely serious about any retaliation if secrets are broken, but he’s currently teasing me.
I’m glad I have to keep my eyes forward, because keeping a straight face would have been impossible if I were looking at him.
The promise of being his isn’t the threat he thinks it is, but I nod and promise to keep my mouth sealed anyway.
Milo makes a noise of satisfaction at my answer. “Ray and I dated the same guy. At the same time. Andrew.” He says the name like it’s poison on his tongue. “The bastard was two-timing us, and we didn’t even know.”
“Shit,” I say with a wince.