by Eydie Maggio
Jeremy looked dapper in his navy blue tailored Gucci suit which was styled with a crisp white dress shirt and midnight blue tie. He was one of the best dressed men on the red carpet, and he knew it.
She and Jeremy had been scheduled to attend the event together long before Elise’s trip to Paris. She would have loved for Trey to accompany the two of them but unfortunately he had another event scheduled for the evening. Jeremy was going to be on the red carpet with her tonight, even if she had to drag him along. He deserved to be there and was the co-honoree in her eyes, and she planned to make that clear when she went up to receive her award.
She was prepared to handle the press regarding her relationship with Trey. They were all over the social media sites since the picture of them at the concert surfaced on Twitter, and they had been linked together in a few headlines and magazine covers in the short time that she had been back from Paris. She knew tonight would be the opportunity that the press had to corner her in a public venue to get the answers they had been looking for, and there wasn’t much she could do about it.
She called Trey earlier and asked him if there was anything that he was worried about or if he had any issues with the questions that may surface. He assured her that he was confident that she would be able to handle herself and answer the questions however she saw fit. If she wanted to avoid them, then she should. If she wanted to be honest and divulge, then she should. He wasn’t going to control what she said or wanted to say. She appreciated that he trusted her, and she promised that she wouldn’t do anything to harm that trust.
She was slightly nervous as she approached the area where the press was interviewing the attendees of the event. As she took a deep breath she started to hear her name being called by the group of reporters that were behind the gates separating them from the red carpet.
“Elise, who are you wearing?”
Phew! An easy one to start off with…
“Armani Privé.”
“You look beautiful, Elise! Our fans want to know what your plans are after the dotted line is signed on your huge deal?”
She had no clue. She really didn’t want to think about it right now.
“Oh, wow! Who knows? The sky’s the limit!”
“Was the choice for Jeremy to stay on as the Executive Vice President of Product Development your idea or theirs?”
“They were smart enough to keep him on board. They knew the gem that they were getting and made the very wise decision to offer him the role.”
Jeremy hugged her tighter around the waist. It was all true. They would have been stupid to let him go.
“Elise, will you share some information about the recent photos linking you to Trey Watts?”
“I was waiting for it!” Elise joked with the crowd of reporters who all laughed at her comment. “In all seriousness, Trey is a great person.”
“Are you two serious?”
“We have spent some time together that I have really enjoyed.”
“What are your thoughts about him running for Congress?”
“I’m voting for him.”
Elise smiled hoping Trey would like that answer.
“Some people say he is using you as a puppet to get his name out there to a segment of the voter population that you appeal to. What are your thoughts on that?”
Elise hadn’t heard that one, but if they wanted to go there, so would she. They were about to get a big dose of Go Fuck Yourself Elise.
“Me, a puppet? Jeremy, could you think of a hotter guy to have his hand up your back?”
Elise turned her head towards him as he answered.
“No, I can’t.”
“Me, either.”
That got a few laughs out of the crowd as well as a few pens moving on paper. Elise smiled sarcastically at the reporter. She then decided to actually answer the question.
“First of all, I don’t know what type of voter would identify with me or that I would appeal to, but if you’re talking about the fashion world, obviously you don’t know who his mother is. She is probably the most influential fashion icon today, so no need for me when you have THE Rebecca Watts sharing your DNA. Secondly, he has a very successful finance career, so I doubt that segment of the population would be impress with my success in business when he has so much of his own.”
Suddenly she heard a voice from the back of the pack of reporters shout out, “What about the rumors linking you to Rixby Storm? Are they true?”
Elise froze.
~
Trey and Paul were huddled around the flat screen watching the live telecast of the red carpet for the Women in Fashion Awards that Elise was attending. She had arrived and some of the telecasters were commenting on the way she looked and the designers she was wearing. They were waiting for her to make her way through the wave of photographers snapping pictures of her and Jeremy.
Trey thought she looked spectacular. Her dark hair was pulled to the side and she had a beautiful dress on that hugged all of her curves. Her eyes stood out with her dark smoky makeup that lined them and you were immediately drawn to her full glossy lips. He wished it was him with his arm around her on the red carpet instead of Jeremy. He was one lucky bastard.
She was so sweet when she called him earlier asking his advice about what she should say if she was asked about him. Trey didn’t have any advice other than for her to say whatever she wanted. He wasn’t going to force her to say something she didn’t want to or force her to hide something. He heard the relief in her voice after that conversation, and he was happy to provide that comfort to her.
She was slowly approaching the reporters, and Trey was on the edge of his seat just as much as the viewers from home. He saw her take a deep breath as soon as the reporters started calling her name. They started off with typical questions about the designer who made her dress which she was very comfortable answering. Then they moved onto questions about her business and the free time she would have. She was honest when she said she didn’t know yet. He could see a small amount of sadness when she answered. She wasn’t ready to let her business go yet, and he could empathize with her. She said some very kind words about Jeremy staying on in an executive role, and he noticed Jeremy’s face light up when Elise spoke about him.
Then, it started. The questions about Trey finally started to surface.
“Elise, will you share some information about the recent photos linking you to Trey Watts?”
“I was waiting for it! In all seriousness, Trey is a great person.”
Trey’s arms were crossed in front of him and he couldn’t help but smile as she joked with the reporters. Paul was watching very intently on the way Elise answered the questions. He was more concerned about what she would say more than Trey was. But, his job was PR and it was just second nature to him.
“Are you two serious?”
“We have spent some time together that I have really enjoyed.”
Trey saw the subtle way her smile changed when she answered the question. It was slightly naughtier than before. He was glad she “really enjoyed” their time together because he really enjoyed it, too. She was doing really well with the press.
“What are your thoughts about him running for Congress?”
“I’m voting for him.”
It just dawned on him that Elise was actually a constituent of the 10th district. Trey planned on doing a lot of grass roots efforts around the seventh floor of the Palladium to secure that vote.
“Some people say he is using you as a puppet to get his name out there to a segment of the voter population that you appeal to. What are your thoughts on that?”
Trey looked over at Paul with furrowed brows. “Where the hell did that come from?”
Paul shrugged his shoulders as they both waited for her response.
“Me, a puppet? Jeremy, could you think of a hotter guy to have his hand up your back?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Me, either.”
Paul’s eyes grew wide as Trey
snorted out a laugh. Her wit was to be admired. “Gotta love her.” Trey continued to smile as he awaited the rest of her answer.
“First of all, I don’t know what type of voter would identify with me or that I would appeal to, but if you’re talking about the fashion world, obviously you don’t know who his mother is. She is probably the most influential fashion icon today so no need for me when you have THE Rebecca Watts sharing your DNA. Secondly, he has a very successful finance career, so I doubt that segment of the population would be impress with my success in business when he has so much of his own.”
“Wow, she just nailed that shit!” Paul was obviously impressed.
“That’s Elise.” He was falling harder for her by the second.
“What about the rumors linking you to Rixby Storm? Are they true?”
Trey felt like the wind was knocked out of him. Paul grabbed his arm as they both watched Elise’s face freeze up after processing the question. He wanted to find that reporter and kick his ass for doing that to her on the night of her big event. He knew that question was no different than the ones they were asking about Trey, but he knew what it did to her. Suddenly, he saw Elise compose herself as she answered the question.
“Rixby Storm is old news. Trust me, the hotter story is with Trey Watts.”
Elise half assed rolled her eyes at the question and tried to continue on down the runway.
Jeremy had her arm and was guiding her away from the press when that same voice that asked the question shouted,
“I don’t know, I heard it was pretty hot between you and Rixby.”
Trey suddenly recognized the voice. The asshole that told him to end it with Elise only hours earlier was making his way through the reporters to the red carpet. Trey couldn’t believe that Rixby did that to her in public on her big night. He was going to kill him.
~
Elise gasped as she recognized the voice behind her that was getting closer. She hadn’t seen him in years, but she would never forget that voice. She tried to stay composed knowing that she was in front of over one hundred members of the press that would publish everything they were witnessing.
When Elise turned around, Rixby was making his way through the crowd of reporters to the gate separating them from the red carpet. He was in a tux and had obviously been invited to the event. If she would have known that, there would be no way that she would be standing here right now.
He looked like he always did. Typical rocker – longer dark hair with highlights, black fingernail polish, guy liner, trendy tux, Chuck Taylor’s, etc. Elise took one look at him then continued walking with Jeremy down the runway. It was just best to ignore him and not engage in conversation with him. That’s when Rixby did the unthinkable. He ran up behind Elise, grabbed her around the waist spinning her around, and then kissed her deeply right there on the red carpet.
Her body’s initial reaction was one of familiarity. She remembered the way he kissed and what those kisses did to her. He was right. It was very hot between the two of them, and there was a time not so long ago when Elise may have fallen back into step with him if he made an attempt similar to this one with her. He had an uncanny way of reading her sounds and her body which caused him to anticipate what she wanted and give it to her. His passion was the sole reason she fell in love with him, and the sole reason she crashed so hard when he left her.
But, she was a different Elise now. This Elise didn’t play second fiddle to anyone and was interested in someone who would never have treated her as badly as Rixby did. She wasn’t the stupid young girl that let someone have control over her the way Rixby did. And there was no way that the next few moments would be under Rixby’s terms.
Elise put her hands on his chest and with all her might she pushed. She literally knocked Rixby Storm on his ass in front of the entire world. Her push caused him to fall backwards onto his butt which is exactly where Elise left him. She didn’t turn back to see if he was ok. She didn’t care if he was hurt because what he did tonight was intentional and meant to hurt.
As the photographers captured the moment for all eternity, the reporters were screaming at Elise for a comment. She wanted to trash his ass to the media and call him a washed up, small dick asshole, but she didn’t. She took the high road and prayed to God that she would be able to talk to Trey before he saw the press’ coverage on the event.
She laced her arm around Jeremy’s as they walked into the venue and headed straight for the bathroom. She could see all the attendants whispering in small groups, no doubt, about what just happened outside. Jeremy followed her into the women’s bathroom where tears started to pool in Elise’s eyes.
“Elise, are you ok? I mean, I know you’re not, but do we need to get a car service to drive us home?” Jeremy looked like he was still in shock.
“I don’t know. I can’t believe he just did that to me. That jerk!” The tears ran down Elise’s face as she recalled the events that just happened.
“I’m going to use my first bonus check to take a hit out on him. I swear I will, Elise!” Jeremy was now angry.
Elise couldn’t help but laugh at Jeremy’s solution to her problem. “I need to talk to Trey before this goes viral.” Elise grabbed her cell phone and called Trey. It went straight to voicemail so she left a message asking him to call her ASAP. She also texted him and emailed him, just in case he didn’t get the voicemail.
“You need to go up there and get your award, Elise. Don’t let that fucker ruin this whole night. You need to stand up there proudly and accept the honor that you deserve.”
Jeremy was right. She wouldn’t be seen as some weak girl that couldn’t handle her business and hid from drama. She was going to take that stage and accept her award in front of her colleagues, the guests, and the asshole. She wasn’t curling up in her bed and hiding from him anymore. Fuck Rixby Storm!
~
Paul was literally holding Trey down on the couch of the green room as he watched Rixby Storm embarrass, then kiss Elise. When he crawled over the gate and onto the red carpet Trey was fuming mad and wanted to kick his ass. When he grabbed Elise and forced a kiss onto her, he wanted him dead. He watched him put his hands on Elise’s back and ass with one hand as he held her head and neck with the other. His heart sank when he saw his lips touch hers. He knew the history behind them, and he hoped Elise was strong enough to resist the fool who left her ashamed and heartbroken all those years ago.
When Elise pushed him off of her and he fell on his ass, Trey wanted to hurt him even more. He was proud of Elise and elated that she stood up for herself, handling him right there on the red carpet. He wanted her to resist him, hoping that there was more between the two of them than whatever feelings may have been lingering around for Rixby. But, her actions also meant that his advances were unwanted which pissed him off even more. She didn’t want to be kissed by him, and the only way for her to get away was to use all of her strength to push him away. That’s when Paul stepped in and held Trey down. He was going to hunt Rixby Storm down and beat the piss out of him for everything he had done to Elise tonight, and everything he put her through in the past.
Trey watched as Elise collected herself and held onto Jeremy as they walked into the event without acknowledging anything that just happened. The press was going wild but Elise stayed strong and walked away. At that moment, Trey started to calm down. Paul eased up on his hold and released him allowing Trey to sit up and straighten himself out.
“Trey, I know that you are pissed and if she was my girl, I would want to fuck him up, too. But please look at this from a different perspective. What if this douche is trying to get you to react exactly like you wanted to? What if this was more about getting to you than it was getting to Elise?”
Trey sat silently allowing his blood pressure to get back under control. He thought about what Paul was saying and in some instances, it did make since. But, he would be lying to himself if he didn’t think that Rixby kissing Elise was a double bonus; he made his intentio
ns clear with her and shot a metaphorical middle finger at Trey all in the same action.
He was about to go in front of a crowd that could possibly have witnessed the incident that just happened and was now going to analyze how Trey responded to it. He didn’t want to give Rixby Storm the satisfaction of ruffling Trey’s feathers. His game plan was to stay calm and collected, and he wanted to strategize how he would publically react to what happened to Elise.
“Paul, how do you think I should handle this?” Trey ran his fingers through his hair as all his thoughts were with Elise. He didn’t want to do anything to add to her disappointment this evening.
“Take the high road and make it all about her. Don’t give him a single breath of press. I don’t know what you should say, but I think you need to keep Elise at the center of how you react. And on a personal note, Elise doesn’t need a pissing contest between you and Rixby right now. When you’re alone with her, adhere to the same advice, keep her at the center.”
Trey sat on the edge of the sofa resting his elbows on his knees as he looked down at the floor. He tried to collect himself before he went out on stage in a few minutes. He would take Paul’s advices about the appearance tonight and if, or when, Elise wanted to be alone with him. But, Rixby Storm would get what was coming to him. Trey was going to see to it.
Chapter 17
Elise and Jeremy were sitting on the front row since she was an award recipient. Obviously, Rixby was somewhere behind her since he was invited, but she didn’t dare turn around to find him. She prayed that she could make it to the presentation of her award without him trying to talk to her or further embarrass her.
She and Jeremy already talked about leaving after she accepted her award. She was the first person to be honored and asked that Jeremy come up with her on stage when she received her award. After her acceptance speech, she was going to go backstage and take the obligatory pictures, and then she was going to leave. The awards would continue on for the rest of the night, and she probably wouldn’t be missed.