by ZN Willett
I smiled and waved at him, and he smirked—meaning he gave me the most incredible sexy smile—before his expression turned to panic and then frustration as they drove off. I sadly waved goodbye, and the Valet pulled up with my rental car.
The meeting went well. It looked as if my book, Deception was one step closer to becoming a film. To be honest, everything was way over my head. Thankfully, the lawyer Elena had sent, Don Reed, was great. He explained everything to me in layman's terms, and once the deal is made, I may find myself earning more money than I ever could have imagined.
On our way out of the office, a tall lankly man and a curvy woman displaying too much cleavage walked in. We said our goodbye's as Don greeted them. "Frank, it's good seeing you again."
"Don. You're here for the premier?"
"No, a new deal. Have you met Andria Moore?"
His bright blue eyes flashed my way as he turned to me and smiled wickedly. "Andria," he elongated, "Such a beautiful name, fitting for such a beautiful woman."
As nice as that should have sounded, the man was creepy. His eyes swept over my body as his tongue darted out. "Ummm, nice to meet you," I responded sheepishly.
"This is a new deal? I want a piece."
"Frank, she's the author."
"Smart and beautiful…"
"I'm Amy," the tanned woman said interrupting, wearing a scowl on her face. She flipped her streaked brunette locks as she reached out to me with her limp hand.
"Nice to meet you. Don, I will talk to you after the holidays. It was nice meeting you both," I said.
"Hey, are you guys coming tonight?" Frank spoke up again, just as I was about to make my escape.
"I'm heading back out today, Frank," Don politely declined.
"Well, Andria you have to come. Everyone will be there, and since he's back in his old stomping ground, it's going to be huge."
Who was he talking about?
"I planned to spend some time with friends and family actually, sorry, maybe—"
"I won’t take “no” for an answer. Here are two passes. Invite whomever you want. If you need more, here's my card. Call me. The only thing I ask of you is that you find me when you arrive." He placed them and the business card in my hand.
"Thank you, but…" I noticed the logo on the tickets.
It was the logo from the studio, but this one had a gun in the middle. It has been displayed everywhere. It was the logo for Andrew Hughes's new film. I looked at them closer and confirmed they were, in fact, two tickets for Andrew's new movie.
"Do you like Brittney Price? She's in this with her boyfriend. I represent him."
All I could say was, "Ah, ya?"
"So you'll come?" Frank asked, stepping in closer.
"Frank, we really need to start," Amy interrupted harshly.
"Come. You'll enjoy it, and the after party will be great," he said as they walked toward the conference room.
Both Don and I walked out of the office to wait for the elevator. "Andria, you should go. This is a great opportunity to get a little wet, and you can start early with networking."
Funny, I already "got wet" and networking was the last thing on my mind.
The first thing I did was drive over to Erin's shop. The second thing I did was speak a hundred miles an hour regarding the meeting, Frank, and the fact that I had two VIP tickets to Andrew Hughes's premier. "Why didn't I know there was one here?"
"It had slipped my mind. It's been on the news," Erin said as she looked at me innocently.
"Erin! How could that have slipped your mind? That's why he's here?"
"No. He's here because he’s from here and went to school here." She furrowed her brows at me as if I already should know this information.
"What? I thought he was from New York?"
"Andria, what kind of fan are you? Do some more research! His family is from New York, but he grew up here in Middleburg. He went to Georgetown! The same school we went to?"
"I didn't know. OMG! He was so close! He's always been close…" I couldn't help the frown that fell across my face.
"Why do I know more than you?"
"I just watched his movies, Erin." She raised a brow. "Okay, and maybe looked up pictures of him online, but that's about it. I have been busy."
"Busy dreaming about Andrew Hughes." She rolled her eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing. Let's find you something to wear for tonight." Erin's eyes shined bright, thinking about dressing me up.
"I’m not sure if I should go?"
"You're going, and you’re going to look incredible."
"Are you coming?" She looked sheepish. "Erin Young! You are coming with me!"
"Andria, of course I would go, but Miles's parents are coming into town, and I'm meeting
them for the first time. Sorry, Hun, but I will make sure you look fabulous!"
Yeah, as if that's totally going to make up for not going with me
I was going to back out and say I wasn't going, but I had already messed up my first chance with Andrew, and hopefully this could be a make-up.
So, I assumed the position and let Erin play dress up until she was happy with the right dress. "You're going to make all the men go crazy!" She gave me a wink and let out a squeal of delight.
I didn't care about making all the men go crazy, just one man.
If I had known last night that I would be walking down a red carpet for the first time, let alone at Andrew's premier, not only would I have worried myself to death, but I would never have shown up.
I thought about turning the car around the entire drive from the hotel to the theater. It was only fifteen minutes away, but I was stuck in traffic for over an hour and a half. I had plenty of time to change my mind. Don had told me if I decided to go, to leave early. I thought he was just being punctual, but he was right and I was late.
I was thankful that Erin still lived close by in Alexandria, and she knew how to quickly select the perfect dress. It was always a challenge to find one that fit me perfectly in all the right places. I was an average size, with average breasts, but my inherited rump would make dresses pull around my hips. Yet, the long black jersey dress we both had settled on was perfect. It was a halter dress—not so great in cold weather—but she insisted that I had to wear it.
Another twenty minutes had passed, and I had finally arrived at the drop off point. I grabbed my overpriced wrap, to cover up my shoulders so that I wouldn't freeze to death. I wanted to wear a turtleneck style dress, but Erin said I didn't know what I was talking about.
Even in the cold, the place was buzzing with activity outside of the theater. People with radios were escorting everyone down the red carpet. Reporters were staggered along the way conducting interviews and photographers were stationed for pictures by sponsor billboards.
Large security men with dark glasses lined the fences as fans screamed and yelled behind them for autographs. It was a chaotic, yet still structured mess that seemed to work.
As I walked down the carpet, I looked for Andrew everywhere but couldn't find him anywhere. I did see Brittney, and thought, I was cold. She was wearing a strapless green dress with cut out sheer panels. It was breathtaking, and with her ridiculously fit body, she had to be one of the only people who could have pulled that dress off. Her platinum blonde hair was pulled up into a structured up-do, and her make-up was dark and heavy.
Brittney was one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, but there was something I didn’t like about her.
It wasn't jealousy.
Right.
Something about her seemed pretentious. I couldn't figure out why someone like Andrew would date her. Andrew seemed to be a genuinely nice guy, and he was known to be someone everyone respected and liked. Brittney's reputation was the complete opposite. She was a wild child, and was always saying or doing something that placed her on the front page of the tabloids. I knew not to believe everything I read or heard, but something about her was off. I know opposites attract, but...
.
I watched as Brittney continued to pose for pictures. I wasn't sure why I suddenly felt dispirited, but I knew staring at her wasn't helping my mood. Something about it all seemed too surreal. Again, I thought about leaving, but I wanted to see Andrew. Unfortunately, it looked as if it would be only on screen.
The movie was nothing less than fantastic. Andrew was an incredible actor and could do just about anything. My favorite roles to see him in were ones such as this one, where he was in control and powerful, with a little bad-ass in him.
When the cast came out to greet everyone, from about thirty rows back, I saw glimpses of Andrew’s blue-striped suit that fit him like a glove. Seeing him in jeans and a t-shirt was incredible, but seeing him in one of his signature designer suits was mouth-watering. He had a great sense of style, and always seemed to surprise everyone with his color selections.
Andrew’s Mother and Father were in attendance, along with his older sister. He thanked them and said how wonderful it was finally to have a premier in his home town.
Frank was hanging back on the side of the stage, scoping out the audience. When I spotted the back of his long dark hair, and he turned looking in my direction, I ducked. I was supposed to have let him know I had arrived, and should have since he was the one who gave me the tickets. But, the guy was strange. Not to mention that he made me feel uncomfortable.
The entire event inside the theater didn't last more than two hours. Everyone mingled after the movie, and many people were looking for a way into the exclusive cast party afterwards. I spoke to a couple of people who sat next to me, then said my goodbyes before heading back to the hotel. The cast party was being held at the same hotel I was staying in. That gave me time to freshen up before going down to the private affair. I was on a mission, to find Andrew Hughes.
The ballroom was large, but it was set-up with intimate sections scattered throughout. There were sofas and floor pillows in certain sections, and tables and loungers in others. It was semi-dark, lit by different colored lights that reflected off the walls. It created an amazing spectrum giving the room a club like feel. There was a DJ spinning house music while people mingled, eating from the many food stations positioned around the room.
I grabbed the first cocktail I saw pass my way as the server walked by. As I tried to look casual, I searched for Andrew, but couldn't find him anywhere. I walked around the entire premises twice; after all, I was on a mission. Unfortunately, it was one that seemed to be a bust. I didn't see any of the major cast members, and soon realized I may never see Andrew again.
What was I thinking?
I met Andrew—once—and I thought if he saw me again, we could have a do over, but that was only a dream. There was no such thing, and he was here for his movie premier, with his on-and-off again girlfriend.
What did I expect?
That thought made me drink more. I wasn't sure what I was drinking, but it was tall and tasted like cola with a splash of sweetness. After my second one, I realized I should have asked what it was, but it was too late as I felt my body relax. I had been a tense ball of nerves the entire evening, and for the first time, I felt at ease.
I thought about going upstairs, but in the back of my mind, I still hoped that Andrew would make an appearance. Still, I walked the entire place again and didn't catch a single glimpse of him. When the server offered me another drink along with his number, I knew that it was a sign to leave. When the only person talking to you is the staff, the party is over.
I walked out of the ballroom and headed straight for the elevator. The lobby was pretty clear, it was after two in the morning, and everyone else was dancing in the other room. As I stood waiting for the elevator, the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly stood up. I could feel warmth lightly caressing the back of my neck as heat touched my naked back. "Every time I see you, you're running away."
Frozen, yet relieved to hear his golden voice, I answered. "I'm not running away. It was getting late."
"Have a drink with me," he whispered in my ear.
The man made me speechless.
"Andria…one drink," he said as he slowly brushed my hand.
My fingers stroked the outside of his hand as he held onto my fingers and walked us to the small lobby bar. My hand tingled as he released it letting me slide in the booth first before sitting next to me. We didn't say anything, just smiled at each other until the server came and took our order. "A bottle of your best champagne," he said, not looking up at her.
"Right away, Mr. Hughes."
I grinned as I watched her response. She had to take a moment before she left our table. No one could blame her; I was literally dying inside myself.
"I came back for you, Andria."
I turned my head back to him in shock. "Excuse me?"
"This morning, when I saw you from the car, I didn't realize the driver would take off so quickly. Before I could tell him to hold on a minute, we were gone. I told him to take me back, and by the time I returned you were gone."
In shock, I looked down at my wringing hands. "Sorry. Ummm...There was a meeting I needed to be on time to." I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"So did I."
Looking up into his intense stare, I started fidgeting uncontrollably and nervously bit my lip.
What the hell?
I could have sworn he growled a little as his eyes focused on my mouth. I released my lip, and he smiled. He actually smiled at that. "Ah…your movie was wonderful."
"You were there?" He looked surprised.
"Yes. I actually received an invitation after my meeting today. I didn't know you were…the premiere was tonight and here."
He scooted closer to me. "It's the first time that I was able to do it here. This was a special one for me, and now it seems special in more ways than one."
"Well, it was incredible."
"Thank you and you look beautiful, by the way," he said as he moved in closer.
My mouth dropped, and I couldn't control that. What could I do? The drinks before helped, but to have him say I looked beautiful, how was I supposed to respond? "Thank you?"
He laughed. "Why do you sound surprised?"
"I'm surprised that you're sitting here with me, having a drink, and telling me I look beautiful." I didn't mean to blurt that all out.
He looked humored by it. "That's a given, Andria. You're incredibly beautiful."
I could feel every part of me turning red. My face and chest felt flushed. "Andrew…"
"You blush too, making you even more irresistible." His eyes perused across my body.
My heart stopped.
Thank God, the server interrupted with the champagne. "What should we toast to?"
He thought for a moment before saying, "To spilt beer." And with that, I drank.
The entire glass.
One empty champagne bottle later, Andrew and I were still in the intimate booth at the hotel's lobby bar. It was amazing how easy it was to talk to him. I felt nervous at first, but he put me at ease right away.
Andrew did most of the talking, which I appreciated. He talked about growing up in Virginia. How he was into the music scene as a teen—I had no clue he played the piano. He said his Nanna and Mother forced both him and his sister Taylor to learn; they were very involved in the arts. They nurtured them to experience many things, including studying music and art abroad.
His Mom was an Oncologist at the world renowned South District Cancer Center, and his Father was currently the CEO of a small automobile technology company his grandfather Duke had founded. His older sister Taylor was a model, and one with brains. She works alongside her father as an engineer, and is head of operations. Seeing Andrew's family earlier, it was obvious he was blessed with the family genes of beauty. Yet now, I can add brains to the list of attributes.
Listening to Andrew made me realize I should have known some of these things about him. The way Erin spoke, it was common knowledge. I would sneak a peek at a magazine here and there, and click on
a website now and then, but I really didn't know as much as I should have known about him.
Andrew smiled the entire time while he talked. He questioned me a couple of times if I really didn't know all these things. I would tell him I had no clue, and then he'd smile bigger.
Andrew was discovered by his manager in high school, but decided to wait until after he had graduated to start his acting career. He started college majoring in Political Science, planning to go on to law. But, the opportunity Andrew’s manager offered was too great and his studies could always be finished later. Nine years later, and at twenty-eight, he was finally considering continuing after his next film.
Even though Andrew didn't finish college, he experienced the social side of it during the few terms he had spent there. He also told me that he would visit his childhood friend a lot in high school during his time at Georgetown. I was surprised that he was speaking about Wade, who looked a lot younger. Not only was he his brother-in-law, but also his bodyguard. Taylor and Wade were childhood sweethearts and had gone to college together. Andrew would spend some weekends and school breaks visiting them. They would take him to The Anchor, and it became a special thing for him. "The Anchor was the place where my best friend, Erin and I would hang out when I went to Georgetown."
He seemed shocked. "Too bad I didn't see you."
"You wouldn't have. I was in Dallas then."
He thought about that before asking, "Having a dad who was in the military, wasn’t that…"
"Hard? For me, not at all, but it was for my Mom. They divorced when I was five. When he decided to take a desk job later, I saw him more often. Then, when the opportunity came to attend a private school in Maryland, my mom encouraged me to take it."
"Where you a military brat?" he asked and smiled.
"Not at all. I was more of a loner and didn't really have friends, except Erin and my friend Brandon."
His eyes squinted. "Who's Brandon?" he asked with a weird tone.
"Brandon and I grew up together. After my parents' divorce, I would visit my dad during the summers. Both he and his friend John, who is also Brandon's father would go hunting and bring us along. This was horrible because I hate hunting. We would camp out and Brandon and I would play while Dad and John did their thing. Brandon and I went to different schools in high school, but we remained close friends."