Chapter 46
1569words
A hearty laugh rolls out of me as I scan the long table.
For once, I’m at ease and can enjoy a nice get together with the entire crew and fellow actors, not having to worry about anything else. A couple of extremely large security guys stand at the studio’s entrance. Their eyes are constantly scanning the area and looking for anything out of the ordinary.
A young lady pushes a small glass of alcohol across the table towards me. “Trevor, have a drink with us. We promise not to get you drunk, unless….” Her gaze drifts beside me to my co-star. “Tiffany says it is okay.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why would you ask her about it? I’m quite capable of determining whether I want a drink or not.” A playful smirk slides across my mouth while a faint pinkish hue slowly covers her cheeks.
She lowers her head a little and timidly replies, “Well, she is your girlfriend. If she doesn’t want to take care of you drunk, I won’t give you any alcohol.”
Tiffany winks at her and pushes the glass closer to me. “He can handle a couple of glasses. If you decide to give him more, I’ll then decide whether I want to handle a drunk man tonight or not.”
I tilt my head and stare at my girlfriend. Why wouldn’t she want to take care of me drunk? Am I that different when I’m tipsy?
Tiffany lightly pats my knee. “Trevor is easy to handle.” A hint of mischief dances in her words. She then squeezes my knee, and a jolt of pleasure shoots through my body.
I snake my arm around her waist and pull her against me. “Am I? I thought you said I could be a handful.”
A few squeals erupt around the table, while a few young girls fangirl over us.
At the other end of the table, a young guy snorts, “Can you please stop that? You two are so into each other, it gives the rest of us a bad look. My girlfriend was complaining last night that I wasn’t more like Trevor’s character in the drama. If she saw you in real life, she wouldn’t stop pestering me. I would like a break for a moment.”
The older man beside him nudges his arm. “Hey, this is the farewell dinner. There is nothing more to film or do together. This will be the last time you see most of us, and probably Trevor and Tiffany. And the last thing you say to them is to cool their affection to give you a break with your girlfriend. I don’t even know what to say to you.”
A young lady near us shakes her head. “You’re just jealous. I’m assuming you are hoping you could be cool like them. Admit it.”
The young man complaining instantly shuts his mouth and slumps down in his chair, pouting.
I can’t help but to chuckle.
Tiffany squeezes my knee again, and I quickly cut off my laughter.
Jane, on the other side of Tiffany, clears her throat, and the director is sitting beside her.
She claps her hands. “Can I have a few minutes of your time? It is important.”
Everyone turns their attention towards her, and the area falls quiet.
She looks around the table at all the anxious stares before turning towards Tiffany and me. “I don’t know if you know this, but before you head out for another gathering without Trevor and Tiffany, I want to fill you in on something we have been keeping secret from everyone. Some might have figured it out already. But to make sure everyone is on the same page, I’ve decided to not keep you in the dark any longer.”
A wave of confusion sweeps around the table.
I put my hand on top of Tiffany’s. Her warmth calms my growing restlessness.
We have concluded this needs to be done in case the crazy bat stops someone at some point tonight. They need to know what they are dealing with, and to not give the crazy witch any information, especially about Trevor and me being together now.
“I’m sure most of you remember the chaotic scene a while back when a woman made it into the studio and was chasing after Trevor.”
Everyone nods and glances at each other.
Jane takes a deep breath. “Well, she is Trevor’s stalker. That incident has caused him to have panic attacks. I’ve actually terminated many event contracts because it isn’t good for Trevor’s wellbeing. The only events I’ve kept are the ones where the cancellation fee was too high. I’ve also made sure we have a huge security presence, too. This is why we are having the farewell dinner in the studio, and then you get to go out and do more later. Collectively, we didn’t want to take the risk of celebrating outside the studio.”
Doubt circles around a few, but most are looking at me with sympathy and concern.
Jane continues, “If you remember what the woman from that incident looks like, please avoid her if you spot her. She hasn’t been able to get close to Trevor for quite some time now, so she might get desperate and come up to and ask about him. Whatever you do, don’t give her any information about him and don’t tell her Tiffany and Trevor are together. We are afraid if she learns of the two being in a relationship, she will attack Tiffany, trying to get her away from Trevor. We want nothing to happen to either of them.”
A few gasps ring out while most nod and give their support to us.
A part of me feels bad dumping this on them when it should be a happy time, but the other part of me wants them to understand what I’m dealing with and hopefully help us, too. Plus, they need to know what to do if she approaches them.
The previously happy mood disappears, and a strange mixture of frustration, uncertainty, and disbelief settles over us, which isn’t how I want this to end.
My chest tightens. We need to change this.
I clap my hands and flash everyone a bright smile. “Don’t worry. I will deal with everything as it comes, but I hope you can help support me and not give my stalker any information.”
A girl halfway down the table turns to me and asks, “Are you safe at home? I would be afraid to go home.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m got that taken care of, but I can’t tell you how. Sorry. Just know, I’ve taken precautions to keep myself hidden and safe when I’m not at the studio or an event. I’m not taking chances with anything.”
Jane adds, “For his safety, we must keep as much information confidential and not tell anyone. The only reason you know about their updated relationship status is because Trevor couldn’t hold back in front of everyone. If that hadn’t happened, you won’t know either.”
Laughter erupts around the table and someone grunts. “You only have to look at the two of them when they are close to each other and know how they feel about each other. A blind person could see it.”
Someone else adds, “Yeah, you can see the love in their eyes.”
Tiffany shakes her head and whines, “I didn’t see it, and we have been friends for a few years.”
The director leans forward and looks around Jane. “That is the reason you two got the part. Well, actually, we have always wanted Trevor as the lead, but we didn’t know who to put with him. At the audition, it became clear we had to pick Tiffany. The chemistry between the two was off the charts.”
Tiffany shakes her head. “No. You saw our friendship. We have always been professional around each other when doing a job.”
I nod. She is correct.
The director snorts. “I need to show you the film from the auditions. You will see what we see every day, and it isn’t friendship. If I had seen friendship, Tiffany would have never been selected to be your partner for the drama. The main thing was chemistry, which the two of you have in bundles. I’m not exactly sure when you crossed over into a relationship, but I’m happy you both finally accepted your feelings for each other.”
I stare at the director, still not believing what I’ve just heard.
This can’t be true. They couldn’t have seen something which hadn’t been there until now.
Right?
***
Rhonda POV
My foot taps against the tile floor as I keep my eyes locked on the entrance of the restaurant.
Trevor should come soon. Hopefully, the information the person gave me this time is good. I’ll make them pay if they gave me the wrong info again.
I glance down at my watch. Fifteen more minutes.
Then he will be here. Hopefully.
The chatter of the other customers blends into the other noises in the restaurant, which I ignore.
I nibble the inside of my lip while my foot continues bouncing.
A young lady stops next to the table. “Would you like to order now, or are you waiting for someone?”
I tear my focus off the front door and look up at her. Smiling, I softly reply, “I’m waiting for someone.”
