Lennox
I’m no closer to figuring out the fucking mystery of the missing five-hundred grand. How can money just up and disappear like that?
I have some investments I’ve sold and I’m moving money around to make up the total so I’m hoping to be able to pay them what they’re owed by the end of the week.
It’s not going to be easy, but I’ve struggled worse. I just need to figure out how to make it back so I don’t bankrupt myself.
Glancing in the mirror, I take in my ragged reflection. My eyes are bloodshot and dark circles shade the underside. I haven’t eaten much so I see the lack of nutrition in my pale skin and hollow cheekbones.
The last couple days have been stressful, other than last night's hockey game, I’ve been drowning in anxiety knowing that Jace’s court date is Thursday. It’s like a double whammy of pressure weighing on my chest and I have to force myself to breathe.
I finish shaving, dab on some Old Spice, and get dressed in the tux that Sofia sent over. It’s one we had tailored during our fitting for the press tour but never wore because she was saving it for the Silver Screen press conference tonight.
Pierre submitted Iron Horizon for consideration so we'll find out the list of nominees for the movies that qualified for this year's submissions.
Jace is going separately, which I fucking hate. The media went wild with our Kiss Cam photos from last night, showing up on every media outlet and all over Social Share. I don’t think he regrets it but with the court date tomorrow I think he’s trying to lay low.
My phone pings with a text but I already know it’s my ride.
Sofia: We’re pulling up
Lennox: Be right down
I text her back then slip my phone in the inside pocket, grab my wallet and keys, and head down to her car.
“The nominees for best cinematography are—” the announcer calls out four movies, then says “Iron Horizon” for the fifth slot. Pierre glances over at his cinematographer with a thumbs up.
They list off Iron Horizon along with some other films in the ancillary categories, before moving on to Best Actor and Actress along with Best Supporting Actors.
Jace sits next to me tense even though he’s trying to remain cool and collected. I know he wants this. Fuck, he deserved one last year when I, shockingly, beat him out of it. He’s deserved one for years.
“And the nominees for Best Actor in a leading role are; Lennox Rome for Iron Horizon—”
“Oh my god,” I whisper, my expression falling as I turn and look at Jace.
His lips are thinned into a tight smile, he’s happy for me—there’s a sense of pride there—but his eyes are laced with disappointment. He was a fucking lead, too. This can’t be right.
Fucking fuck.
His gaze is short and he methodically turns back to look at the stage. The announcer continues listing off the nominees but I’m only half registering what he’s saying. I’m too focused on Jace.
“Cody Kane for Blinded,” is announced then there’s a long pause before he states, “Now this is interesting.”
I urgently shift my gaze to the announcer. He’s fixing his glasses as he looks down his nose at the index card.
“This has only happened once before and it was well over thirty years ago.” He glances up, his eyes scanning over the crowd. He stops as he sees our table and says, “Jace Wilder for Iron Horizon.”
The entire room claps and my arms fly up to the sky and I stand cheering for Jace with genuine happiness.
“Yes, mate. Fucking, yes!” I don’t even know who I’m talking to as I high five the table causing way too much of a scene but I don’t give a shit about that.
Finally, I sit down after a scowl from the announcer then he continues with the nominees.
I bump my shoulder into Jaces because this is fucking exciting. Sure, we’re up against each other once again, but I couldn’t be happier just to be nominated. Especially for this film that we both poured our hearts into.
“Double nominees in the Best Actor category. You heard him, hasn’t happened in thirty years! We need to celebrate later,” I whisper, wiggling my eyebrows.
“What did you have in mind?” he asks with a seductive little tone. His eyes are trained forward, pretending not to be talking to me.
“Sensual role play, of course. Then we can really see who the best actor is.”
He snorts and Pierre side eyes us.
“Stop,” Jace threatens through tight lips but there’s no real bite behind it.
“Fine, but I’m coming over after, right?” Jace still doesn’t look my way, trying his best to not bring any more attention to us, but he nods.
I hiss out a quiet yes and force myself to look at the stage and not the guy I’m totally obsessed with.
The final nominees for Best Director and Best Picture are announced—Iron Horizon and Pierre included, of course—we all stand, hugging each other, giving congratulations and Pierre comes up to us with a proud glint in his eye.
“I’ve never worked with more talented people than you two.” He smiles as he pats both our faces and steps around us. Pierre is not one to say much, so I’m definitely going to engrave that little compliment on my tombstone.
“The press is outside, we’ll want you to speak to a few of them before you head out,” Sofia reminds us and we agree. Even though I’m anxious as hell to sneak into the back of Jace’s car and spend the entire night worshiping him.
“Let’s go get this over with," I tell Jace with a knowing smile. “I have an acting gig to get to.”
“Role play, huh? New kink?” he asks as we exit the main hall.
We’re following behind everyone else and my eyes peer down an empty hallway with a dark nook.
I push Jace as he’s mid-stride, forcing him into the shadowed corner.
“Lennox, what are you—” I cut him off with my lips, pressing my entire body into him as he leans against the wall.
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” I admit between kissing his mouth and jawline.
My tongue trails back over his lips and I devour his mouth, swallowing his moans.
I need this. Need him.
A throat clears around the corner and I forcefully push myself away from him. Jace’s eyes saucer as he runs the back of his hand over his lips and straightens his jacket, stepping out from the dark nook we were hidden in.
I follow a few steps behind and I see the tension in his shoulders ease as Howard stands at the intersection of the hall, blocking the path toward us.
“Did you find the bathroom, sir?” he asks, emotionless of course.
Jace nods curtly and I give him a guilty smile as he gestures to us to continue following the group we veered off from.
Howard is a legit superhero.
Sofia turns as she sees us trailing behind and hurriedly waves us through a doorway.
We step into a smaller room with a petite stage and a microphone placed in the middle of it. The reporters stand and start spitting out questions, overlapping each other's loud voices, superimposing the camera shutters and flashing lights.
The mediator waves their hands in the air, floating them up and down as he instructs them to sit. Shushing them, he gestures for us to take the stage.
“One at a time ladies and gentlemen, starting with you.” He points at a female reporter, who stands with her notepad.
“Jace, how does it feel to not only be nominated again but against Lennox who went home with the award last year?”
I silently roll my eyes. Be original, lady. He was asked that over and over again when we first started filming because the media did a stellar job making it appear like we hated each other.
So fucking far from the truth.
This man has held my heart since his first appearance on a UK telly.
“I’m just honored to be nominated again for a movie that means so much to us. We put everything into the film, from the set design, to the acting, cinematography, and beyond. Pierre poured his soul into this and for it to be recognized like this, it’s truly amazing.”
Reporters start spewing out questions as she sits down but the mediator points at another woman. She’s stunning. Her dark hair is lush and full, her bright red lipstick matches her all red jumpsuit and as she starts to stand she captures the attention from most of the people in the audience.
That’s short lived when the room bursts with beeps and notification pop ups. It’s like full blown amber alert mode or something.
“What’s going on?” I ask, into the mic as I scan the room.
I look over at Jace and his phone is pulled out of his pocket as he holds it at his side discreetly. The screen is face up, a Chatterbox article bright and blaring as I read the headline:
JACE WILDER’S TEN-YEAR CONSERVATORSHIP. LENNOX ROME TELLS ALL.