Chapter 9
“The film was amazing, Aidan, really.”
“Thanks Hales, that means a lot coming from someone who has never watched my movies.” He opens the door to the limo, snickering in the process. He turns toward the flood of paparazzi for one final shot before following me into the car.
I scoff as he shuts the door. “Okay, you are being dramatic. I haven’t watched your last film. I’ve been a little busy with my boss’s schedule. He’s been quite demanding lately.”
“Fair enough.” He laughs a little. “Again, I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain in the ass lately.”
“Aidan, I was just kidding. It’s fine.”
“It’s not. But you’re sweet for saying so.” He scoots closer to me in the limo. Did he forget we’re not in the public eye right now? No one except the driver can see us.
I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to Aidan being so close to me. His cologne is honestly the most delicious, masculine scent I’ve ever smelled. I am keenly aware of all things Aidan. My proximity to him for the past week has made it impossible for me not to notice these small things about him. How when you actually look closely, his eyes have the smallest hint of green in them, rendering them teal instead of ordinary blue. How he has the most pronounced jawline I’ve ever seen in my life, even under all the stubble. He has lines by the outer corners of his eyes that deepen when he smiles, which has actually been a lot this past week. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so much, even when he was with Natasha. I wonder what has changed? Maybe he has relaxed, knowing that the perception of him will become more positive thanks to our little agreement. I mean that’s the point, right?
I cleared my throat. “So, I just want to thank you for having a stylist help me get ready and for flying out Rachel to help with my makeup. I wouldn’t know the first thing to do with that. At least I didn’t look like a troll next to you tonight. I looked somewhat decent.”
“You were more than decent, Hales. You were gorgeous. Are gorgeous.”
A wave of heat rises from my toes to my cheeks, exposing my absolute shock at that statement. There’s no way he could truly think so, not after dating Natasha Davis. He is obviously just making me feel better.
“Thank you,” I manage to say. “So, are you dropping me off at the hotel?”
“I wish we could be done for the night. Not quite yet. I won’t hear the end of it from Samantha if I skip the premiere after-party. I mean, unless you’re not up to it. I totally understand if you want to turn in. If I had the choice, I would go back to my apartment and sleep.”
“No it’s okay, Aidan. It’s part of our deal right? How is it going to look if you show up to this after-party alone? The whole point of this is for you to be seen with your girlfriend to get the negative press off your back. I think you would hear more from Samantha about that than if you didn’t show up at all.”
“Yeah, you’re right. That is the whole point.” There is a flicker of sadness in Aidan’s eyes. I can’t help but wonder why he repeated that line back to me. His attention is now on the driver. “Hey, Raul. I’ll AirDrop you the address for this after-party.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Stone.”
After about a ten-minute drive, we arrive at our destination: 48 LOUNGE. Before we walk in, Aidan lingers outside for a moment. “Hales, I promise I’ll stay by your side for the whole time, unless I’m pulled away for a moment. But if that happens, I’ll come find you as soon as I can. Okay?”
“Okay.” I am a strange mix of pure exhaustion and high-strung nerves.
Aidan takes my hand and we walk inside. A bright purple hue illuminates the walls, contrasting with the champagne leather couches and bar stools filling the entire space. The two large chandeliers provide more of a glow than actual light. Everything is dim, romantic even, and I can’t help but be grateful there are no fluorescent lights hanging above us. They would surely highlight all my flaws, especially next to my fake boyfriend.
Rows of champagne flutes wait for us at the bar. Aidan grabs two and hands me one. We clink glasses and each took a sip. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of champagne. Wine, yes–give me all the wine. Maybe it’s the bubbles I don’t like.
“Hey, man!” One of Aidan’s male co-stars comes over to chat.
“Hey Dominic,” Aidan says, bumping his fist. “This is my girlfriend, Haley.”
I put on the biggest smile I can muster, even though I am freaking out internally. I can see the headlines now in my head: Who is this imposter posing as Aidan Stone’s girlfriend? Doesn’t she know that she doesn’t come close to reaching the beauty standard of his ex-girlfriend? Who does she think she is?
Although here at 48 LOUNGE we aren’t inundated with a never-ending line of paparazzi and media, this whole scene seems so much more intimidating. And then she makes her entrance, and I think I know exactly why it begins to feel more claustrophobic.
Natasha Davis looks more stunning than ever. Between the end of the premiere and the after-party, it appears that she’s changed her entire outfit. She is now wearing the shortest cocktail dress I’ve ever seen– it’s practically glued to her body, just like Isaac Sommers, who Natasha left Aidan for six months ago. Maybe I should’ve changed my dress. I can totally see why Aidan was with her. Natasha’s caramel skin and long, sleek dark hair match her equally dark eyes. Her legs are super toned and on full display except for the sliver of fabric covering the uppermost part of her thigh. She looks like a damn siren. Drawing men and women’s attention with her mere presence. How are regular women like me supposed to compete?
Without notice, I feel Aidan’s hand make its way around my waist and pull me in closer. His eyes don’t drift from his male co-star. It’s like he just knew that I was starting to feel insecure. If there is any indication that he registers Natasha’s presence, he hides it masterfully.
You need to play the part, Haley. Hold his hand or something. Act like your life depends on it. I exhale and place my hand on top of his. His gaze finally breaks from Dominic – a handsome man in his own right, I might add, but nowhere near as handsome as Aidan – and he looks at me and smiles. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “You’re doing great, Hales. Don’t worry about anything else in the room. Or anyone else.”
After an hour or so, I’m starting to get more comfortable. Aidan is seriously the life of the party. You would think he was in a fraternity at UConn and not a drama nerd. People are naturally drawn to him, and I can see why. Besides the obvious factor of his looks, it is his genuine character. The way he pays attention fully to the person talking to him. The way he actually laughs when someone says something amusing. The way he just holds space for people. It is really a sight to see. Now I understand why directors want to work with him– it’s not that they’re going to get high box office sales solely based on his sex appeal.
Aidan told me he had to go talk with the director of the film for a second. It’s the first time I’ve been alone all night, but I actually feel remarkably secure. I find an empty seat on one of the many couches and I’m sipping my second drink of the night– white wine this time, not champagne. I usually don’t drink, so unfortunately I am already feeling a little bit of a buzz. Maybe that is the factor calming me down: alcohol. Then a voice sends a shiver down my spine. And not in the way that Aidan’s voice does. A bad shiver.
“Hi. I don’t think we’ve met.”
I turn towards the high-pitched voice and there in front of me stands none other than Natasha. Great. Of course she doesn’t remember me. How could she recognize someone whose daily wardrobe usually consists of Converse, jeans, cardigans and blue light glasses? I am a real Cinderella over here. She doesn’t even have the courtesy to extend her hand out toward me with her introduction.
I stand up from the couch and extend my hand, because my parents raised me to have manners. “Actually, we have. I’m Haley. Haley Swann.”
Her brow wrinkles in confusion. “I totally pride myself on remembering people’s names. I’m sure I would’ve remembered you if we had met before. Haley, is it?”
Is this girl serious? Maybe she didn’t pay attention to Aidan’s lowly assistant who was trying to break up their makeout sessions in order to get Aidan back on his schedule for the day, or the assistant who Aidan had daily rundowns with in his trailer while she was sitting on the couch scrolling through her Instagram and laughing at whatever DM she received.
“Yes. It’s Haley. I was Aidan’s assistant. For about three years?”
“Oh yes! Haley. Wow, you look…” She scans my entire body. I start to hunch over a little, closing in on myself– what I do whenever I feel insecure or less than. I hate being the center of attention or under a microscope in any way. “...different. I didn’t even recognize you.”
Obviously. “Yup.” I sip my drink and catch a glimpse of Aidan across the room. His eyes meet mine and I can see his gaze drift quickly to Natasha and then back to me. His eyebrows furrow slightly. I know how much she hurt him. I was there for the aftermath of their breakup. She wasn’t. Ironically, she is actually the reason I am even standing next to her right now.
Her lips purse at my short answer. I have no intention of giving this woman what she wants: a certain reaction out of me. She wants to catch me off-guard. To make me feel uncomfortable. I am not going to lie, she is succeeding in one aspect: I am definitely becoming uncomfortable in her presence. But no damn way am I letting her know it.
“I’ve never seen you at a premiere before. Aidan must have been desperate for a date to have to take his assistant.”
I’m speechless. Wow. Okay, is that how you want to play it?
She takes a drink of her cocktail and then something must click in her train of thought because she says, “Wait, you said was his assistant. What does that mean? Did you get a new position or something?”
“I was his assistant, but not any longer. Because we are dating now.”
Natasha chokes on her drink and some of it spills on her dress. Serves her right for saying that about Aidan. If anything, the only reason Aidan was “desperate” was because of her. After she broke his heart, he acted in ways I’ve never seen from him before. I never pegged him for a womanizer, but that’s the path he went down. All because of her. I was right to call her a siren. She lures men to their undoing.
Natasha slaps her hand to her mouth. She’s laughing. “There is no way that Aidan would ever go out with his assistant. He strictly dates A-list actresses. I should know.”
Okay, now I am pissed. What the hell is wrong with this woman? Her uncouth behavior has no bounds and it doesn’t seem there is a genuine bone in her body. This is dangerous territory. Natasha has a lot of pull with the tabloids and media companies. If the past six months has taught me anything, it is that the media loves Natasha. If she expresses doubts that Aidan and I are really dating, they will eat it up. You need to do something, Haley. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I know what I have to do. And I also know that I need liquid courage. I down the rest of my cocktail and place the empty glass on the small table in front of me. “Well, on that note, it was a real treat talking to you, Natasha.”
I bee-line toward Aidan. When he sees me, his eyes light up and he flashes his perfect smile. I graze my hand across his back and hold tight to the other side of his torso. My god, it’s just pure muscle. Natasha is one crazy girl to leave this man.
He looks down at me, “There you are, babe.” Still not getting used to that, no matter how many times we practiced this past week. “This is the director Peter Hastings. Peter, this is my girlfriend, Haley.”
“Girlfriend, huh. Isn’t she your…?”
“Assistant. Yeah, but we had to keep that under wraps for a little while. She isn’t my assistant anymore. It’s going to be a bitch to find a replacement as amazing as her. But we couldn’t hold off any longer. I wanted the world to know that she is mine.”
It is confirmed. There is a rollercoaster operating at warp speed in my stomach. I wanted the world to know that she is mine. He says it with such conviction that I almost believe him.
Peter’s hand reaches out for mine. “It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, Haley. I always saw you around the set, just never got a chance to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Even though Aidan apparently wants the whole world to know that I am his, there is still one crucial person that needs to be convinced that he is mine. “Um, Peter, can you excuse us for just one second?”
“Of course. I’ll see you around, Aidan. I’ll call you about that script, okay? I think you’ll be perfect for the role.”
“Thanks. See you, Peter.”
We step away, and Aidan finally turns his attention completely to me. He knows something is wrong immediately. “I saw you talking to Natasha. Is everything okay?” He glances quickly in her direction, as do I. She is already talking to the media and people are taking so many pictures of her. It looks like a fricken lightning storm.
Instinctively, I place my hand firmly against Aidan’s cheek and turn his attention back to me. “I think she’s onto us.” I search his face and I can see his worry crease take up residence between his eyebrows. He starts to turn his gaze toward his ex once more, but again, I turn his face back to mine.
Am I really going to do this?
It’s out of necessity, right?
“Do you trust me?” He gives a small nod. I slowly move my hand from his cheek to the back of his head and before I fully comprehend what I’m doing, I pull his head down toward mine and bring my lips to his.
I expect to give him a quick peck, just long enough for the cameras to catch us in our public display of affection.
That’s what is expected.
Maybe it’s the liquid courage. But deep down, I know that in order for this to be believable, I have to go all in. Just like he did in the diner when he signed the contract without hesitation. So I linger against his lips for much longer than I originally intended. Exploring his mouth slightly with my tongue. My body starts to vibrate all over, and not just because I am kissing my boss. But also because I have never felt a kiss like this–ever. Heat radiates through every single inch of me and ignites a spark I never intended to light in a million years. I press my free hand against his chest, where I feel his heart racing. Through his button-down, his warm skin feels so comforting against my cold hands. He isn’t letting up–at all.
My nerves get the best of me. I start to break free, but am unsuccessful because his hand presses firmly against the small of my back and his other hand cups my own jaw. He is really kissing me back, exploring my mouth in turn and pressing his body harder against my delicate fingers. His massive, calloused (probably due to the insane amount of hours he puts in at the gym) hand migrates from my jaw to the back of my head, gently pulling me closer to him while also tugging my hair a little. He is really selling it. He’s gotten quite good at kissing women and making it seem real. I was hoping he would be a bad kisser, to make this whole situation easier on myself.
Spoiler alert: he is not. At all.
“Look at that, Hollywood’s Newest Hottest Couple!” someone from the crowd shouts, causing us to finally break from our kiss. I look up at Aidan, expecting him to smirk due to the fact that maybe I am a little rusty. In my defense, I haven’t kissed anyone in three years. Give a girl a break. Or I expect him to look completely disgusted. Or anything other than what I actually see. He looks almost excited that I kissed him. The only thing that breaks our eye lock is the light of a camera flashing.
After I blink from the flash, I lean in close to him and whisper, “Necessity.”
I expect him to be relieved, or amused. But for some reason, the look of excitement dims from his face. He repeats through a tight jaw, “Necessity.”