Page 4 of The Publicist
“I’ll be fine. Besides, if I get hot, you can hold my jacket while I let the fans swoon over me.”
“I’ll do you one better. If you give me that jacket to hold, I’ll give it to the closest fan and let her keep it.”He wants to play this game; I’ll play.
A loud, hearty laugh passes his lips, and I can't help the smile that spreads across mine. “Chill, Quinn, it was a joke. Come on, let’s get this over with.” He walks down the hallway toward the elevator.
I turn to see Steve still standing by the door, watching us. “Steve not coming?” I ask as we wait for the elevator.
“No, he said he has a few calls to make.”
I shrug my shoulders and step into the elevator and Caleb follows.Good boy.
Chapter 4
It isn’t entirelya lie that Steve has calls to make; heisalways on the phone or email with someone. I’m lucky to have him on my team. He’s a damn hard worker and makes sure I can enjoy the fun parts of the job. He stays behind because I asked him to. I don’t want him around because I don’t want anyone else to look at Quinn. This girl is beautiful, and I bet she doesn’t even know it. She probably thinks that because she’s not as skinny as all the fake girls out here, she doesn’t deserve a hot guy.I’m going to prove her wrong on all of it.Just the thought of getting a chance to touch her sends a thrill through me.
We step into the small elevator, and I’m thankful no one else is on it with us. The space seems to close in, and her scent fills every inch of the enclosed space. She smells of vanilla, probably a lotion she uses. From the corner of my eye, I peer at her as she stands with her arms crossed over her chest, pressing her breasts closer together. I groan inwardly as I watch the rise and fall of her chest and feel my pants tighten. I have to know more about this girl.
“So, since we will be working together for a while, we might as well know a bit about each other. Do you have a boyfriend?”
She looks at me as if I have ten heads. “No. I don’t have time. Any girlfriends,” she pauses and looks me up and down, “or boyfriends I should know about? I want to make sure I don’t have anyone to worry about messing up the image I’m trying to create.”
“Do I look gay?”How can she even think that that?
She shrugs. “Anything’s possible. There are a lot of celebrities that hide it. I won’t judge; I just need to know so I can plan accordingly.”
“No, I don’t have a girlfriendora boyfriend. I don’t have enough time to date anyway; that’s why I have a,” I make air quotes, “string of women. Remember?”Why did I just say that?Clearly, she’s not amused and we ride in silence until the elevator reaches the bottom floor. I follow her toward the front door and notice at least fifty fans waiting outside on the sidewalk to catch a glimpse.
She turns to face me, and I stop suddenly as to not walk into her. “Now, these people are here because they support you and like you as an actor. This is a once in a lifetime chance for half of them, and you are going to make them feel special. Turn on the charm and treat them nicely. It will go a long way.”
“Are you saying I’m not nice?” I feign shock and place my hand over my heart.
“I’m saying I haven’t seen it.” She hands me a sharpie and continues walking.
I’m going to have fun breaking down her walls, that’s for sure.She pushes open the door, and I follow behind her. A wave of screams and applause erupts. I smile wide and wave at the group of people. Fans are shoving books, DVDs, and pictures under my nose to sign, and I put on the performance of a lifetime. I stop to speak with a few people, telling them I’m so happy to meet them, and I watch Quinn from the corner of my eye as I continue making my rounds and snapping pictures with the fans who showed up. I flash her a panty dropping smile, and she smiles back at me.Guess I’m doing a good job.
After posing with a fan, she asks me, “Are the rumors true about you and Elena Conners?” I glance at Quinn, whose attention is piqued. Elena and I are nothing but good friends, and I have no interest in her. I want to quash whatever is being passed around this damn town.
I smile politely at her. “I don’t know, what are the rumors?”
“That the two of you are romantically involved?”
Of course, that’s what the rumor is; people don’t know how to stay out of my damn personal life.My smile tightens. “No, those rumors are false. Elena and I are just good friends, nothing more.” I move on and meet with a few more fans, sign a few more pictures, and begin retreating to the hotel with a round of thank yous and kisses blown to the fans.
Once we are out of earshot, I ask, “How long have those people been standing there?”
“I asked the front desk when I arrived today and was told some got here around three this morning, so they’ve been there for a while hoping to get a glimpse of you.”
“Shit! Really? I was entangled with a blonde at that hour.”
“Yes, I’m aware. I met her on her way out. She gave me the stink eye as I got off the elevator.” She tries to contain a smile. “How much was she?”
“She’s not a prostitute.”
She forms an O with her mouth and stifles a chuckle. “What was her name?”
“Scarlett or something, not really sure.” I risk a glance, and she’s looking at me like I’m a vile human. “Don’t look at me like that. You mean to tell me you’ve never hooked up with someone and forgotten their name by the morning?”
“Not really an issue of mine, no.” The ding of the elevator pauses our conversation as we step on and she buries her nose in her phone once again. I try glancing over her shoulder to read what she is looking at, but she pulls it away. “Do you always read over people’s shoulders?”