Chapter 47 Elijah
FORTY-SEVEN
ELIJAH
“Times Three!”
“Smile here!”
“Times Three, look over here!”
“Give me your best smile!”
Camera flashes that feel like punches to my face temporarily blind me. My smile twitches, reminding me I’ve been posing for photos for almost half an hour.
“Times Three, where are your significant others?” someone in the sea of paparazzi shouts.
Would it be rude if I shouted back, None of your fucking business? It would be. I’d find my face on magazines and social media, shaming me.
Meanwhile, the paparazzi’s harassment is okay because that’s their “job.” My smile falters, and everyone’s faces become blurry with rage. What brings me back to the present moment is Leonidas’s fingers pinching my back.
“You look like a cold-blooded murderer. Smile, bitch,” he grits between a fake-ass smile no one sees through as they continue snapping pictures.
Throwing my arm over his shoulders and squeezing him in a brotherly embrace, I say through a smile, “So, I look like you? That’s always been my dream.”
Amelia chuckles to my left, but she somehow remains looking like a perfect princess pop star.
“I’m going to punch you when we get home.”
“Same. You’d better hide,” I chirp back, letting go as the train of celebrities in front of us on the red carpet moves up, allowing us a moment to breathe.
“Did that feel extra-long today?” Amelia mutters nervously while glancing around at the bustling fundraiser party. Fanning herself with a portable fan, she walks in the middle of my brother and me.
“Instead of spending millions of dollars to throw this party, why don’t they use this money that’s being wasted and donate it themselves?” Leonidas accepts a glass of champagne that a server extends out to him.
“Then all these rich-as-hell people wouldn’t be in the same room.”
His eyebrows quirk up. “Would we still donate if we weren’t able to make it?”
One of our main priorities is donating to a bunch of charities. We always said we’d support people in need if we had more money than we could think of. Today, we are attending my favorite charity of all time. The cause is getting mothers and children away from dangerous homes.
Not sure if it’s because I have been there and watching your father become a monster is like living in hell or … maybe there isn’t an or.
“I’d give them all my money.” I steal my brother’s glass and take a big gulp.
“Oh my goodness, look who it is!” A girl appears, stopping all three of us in our tracks. A memory of her is fuzzy in my brain. “Let me tell you, I am absolutely starstruck.”
Amelia laughs anxiously. “No need to be starstruck. We are just human after all.”
The girl pulls my sister into her arms and shakes her with passion. “Says the real-life Barbie!” She gestures to Amelia’s sparkly Barbie-pink mermaid-style dress that falls to the floor. “Everyone in the room is looking at you, darling.”
Music to my sister’s ears …
“Sorry, it’s been a crazy year. Can you remind me of your name?” Amelia sends her a small smile, but the girl appears to be shocked.
“I was in a music video of yours a couple of years ago.”
Immediately, I want to pull away—not only did our old team hire her, but we worked with her as well. I send both my siblings a look; call it the triple telepathy, but we know to watch what we say.
“Why do you look so scared all of a sudden?” She casts us all funny looks as a fake nervous laugh leaves the back of her throat.
“I can assure you, we are not scared,” Leonidas says, sounding angrier than he should have.
Rolling back her shoulders with confidence, Amelia interrupts, “Parties as big as this one are just a bit overwhelming—that’s all.”
The redhead, who screams mean-girl energy, takes Amelia’s hand in hers. “I totally understand you. I feel the need to talk to everyone here, but that’s not possible.”
Because she’s the type of person in Hollywood who is more of a leech than a human. Sticking to anything that has money and sucking all wealth and life out of them, and the more people she talks to, the more opportunities arise.
“Normally, we linger on the sidelines.” Amelia’s smile falters. Stealing the glass in my hand, she downs it in one mouthful. Reaching past me, she hands the empty glass back to a grumpy but polished-looking Leonidas.
“I can’t imagine how tired you must be feeling. With the ongoing tour and the legal battle, you must not have any time to wind down.”
I smell bullshit.
I wouldn’t put it past our old record label to set up a microphone on this girl to catch us saying anything that could tarnish us in court.
“We are not speaking about that matter.” Amelia, who is hard to piss off, sends her a firm glance.
The girl’s shoulders tense up. Is her usual facade trying to rip its way through this fake one?
“I wasn’t snooping, just stating something obvious.”
Leaning back casually on the wall, Leonidas sneers, “Bye. Have a good night.”
Right as she turns and leaves with a glare, her middle finger shines in this low-lit venue.
“There it is; she’s finally showing us her true colors.” My older brother chuckles under his breath.
I can tell he’s already thinking of leaving.
“That’s only music to our ears.” Amelia watches the girl disappear into the crowd, dancing. “It’s just more evidence for us.”
“And it seems the judge is siding with us,” I point out. “All we need is to lead this case with honesty and passion.”
Leonidas pushes off the wall and beelines for the open bar. “You guys are driving me to drink.”
Everyone thinks Leonidas is this grumpy, hardened guy. In reality, he is the biggest drama king I have ever encountered.
“I forgot to say, you look absolutely stunning in your suit,” I call out to his back, and I’m met with a held-up fist.
“It’s like watching our child walk into kindergarten for the first time.” Amelia twirls her curly blonde hair around a perfectly manicured finger. “Should we start putting him on a leash? What if he gets lost in the sea of vultures?”
“It’s packed like sardines in here; he won’t go far.”
Following him with my pristine eyesight, I see as he moves around the room, avoiding any social interaction. Head high, mouth pulled into a frown, the man looks like a walking Doberman in a suit.
“Levi and I are thinking of buying a home.” Amelia’s voice is above a whisper.
Shocked at the sudden news, I twist around and take her into my arms. “That’s amazing, Lia! Tell me about it.”
I see her giant smile when she pulls back.
“It’s just a ten-minute drive from your place in the cutest little gated neighborhood. It has a white picket fence, with a flower garden to die for, and the yard is amazing for Stella. You should see it; it’s huge!”
My heart hurts. Not because I’m sad for my sister, but because life is so drastically different.
We are not the naive kids we used to be when we signed with our first record label.
From arguing about who has shotgun to who eats the last cookie—that’s the past. Now I’m thinking about how far of a drive we are from each other’s houses.
We’re fucking adults. When the hell did that happen?
“I’m so happy for you. Are you going to put in an offer?”
“Fay hired someone to handle it all for us since we’re on the road. Fingers crossed.” Nodding, she looks up at me nervously. “Anyway, how are you feeling?”
I’m assuming she’s talking about me getting off my anxiety medication. “I’ve seen worse days.” I shrug, grabbing another glass from a waiter and casually sipping on champagne. “I still feel like I’m going to die when I’m onstage, but other than that, I’m doing okay.”
Eyes glistening with emotion, she squeezes my shoulder. “I’m proud of you—you know that?”
The soft spot in my chest for Amelia is throbbing. “Same for you, kiddo. For a while, I thought we’d be doomed forever.”
Buzzing in my pocket catches my attention. When I fish my phone out, my throat closes when I read what’s on my screen.
Sweet Cheeks
I need you to come back.
Sweet Cheeks
Please.