“Hurry it up, we don’t have all night.” I was still trying to be snarky, but he was a man on a mission. He was going fast and hard. I didn’t think a quickie could feel so good. It was hot, naughty, illicit, I loved it. I wished that we had a little bit longer, but at the same time, I knew it would feel like this if we had all the time in the world. He finished quickly, shooting off into me. We didn’t have time to lay around and bask in the sexual energy teeming around us.
“Make yourself presentable, we’re leaving.” I hustled i
nto the bathroom to clean myself up and undo the damage that he had done to my makeup. This had not been in the cards for tonight, but I wasn’t going to say that I regretted it. I didn’t regret it. Now, when I thought about what we were doing, the guilt got smaller and smaller. Neither of us were doing anything wrong, and nobody was being lied to. Why couldn’t I have my fun? I didn’t hear any complaints coming from Easton. I walked out of the bathroom to find him dressed and ready to go, perfectly tidy like nothing had happened between us.
My dress for the night was in the living room. I quickly got into it, Easton helping me get zipped up. I wasn’t walking the carpet but I had to look presentable. I had a reputation to uphold, after all. When people saw him, they’d find out that I had dressed him, and I was expecting to be making contacts too. We were both unofficially doing publicity for our respective businesses. We went downstairs and got into the car. I made some last-minute makeup checks because I didn’t want to look like I had just had a quickie with my client.
“So, ready for your big night?” I said.
“What do you think?” he snapped. Oh no, he was not giving me this attitude again.
“I’m sorry, was that blowjob for nothing? Is that what you are trying to tell me?” I asked. He peered over at me.
“I’ve never been on a red carpet, I don’t know how the fuck to do that.” He was right. As tiring as it was to babysit him while he was in a foul mood, this was his first time doing this. He needed support.
“Okay, so you’re in luck, there isn’t much to it. You will answer a few questions but it's going to be really simple, vapid stuff, very low stakes. Generally, good advice is to keep a smile on your face and be polite. Say you’re happy to be there and mention how important the charity is to you.”
“So, lie?”
“Don’t lie. Just present your best self. I swear Easton, just be nice to them. The whole experience will take a matter of minutes. Once you’re directed to your mark, pose, smile for a few seconds, then move on after the photographers have their shot.”
“How will I know they have their shot?”
“They’ll tell you,” I said. I heard him sigh. In his defense, he had calmed down and seemed to be cooperating. He could have been taking it a lot worse.
“So how am my supposed to pose?” he asked.
“You want to look relaxed. You don’t really have to do anything with your arms or hands, but you can bring your arms up like you’re adjusting your cuffs. That doesn’t look bad. When it comes to posing, the trick is to look like you’re not posing. Put your weight onto one of your legs and lean back ever so slightly, like there’s something behind you that you are resting your weight on.”
“A practical example would really help right about now.”
“You will do fine.”
“Can you do it with me?” he asked. He looked almost mournful. Like a little puppy that was lost. I felt sorry for him. The plan was for me to get him situated on the carpet and then make a dash for it, meeting him at the entrance of the hall. For the first time during this whole experience, I realized that I was asking a lot of Easton. He had cooperated so far and if he was belligerent now, it was because things had finally gotten difficult.
“Okay. I’ll do it with you.”
“Thank you,” he said with a sigh. I wasn’t planning on stepping on the carpet tonight, but I was always carpet ready. This was very much my area of expertise.
“Remember, just because I’m there with you doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. I have a reputation to protect. If you make me look foolish, I am going to kill you.” He just laughed at that, noticeably calmer. Our car stopped and it was finally showtime.
“Are you ready?” I asked as the door was opened for us. Outside of the car, the carpet stretched the roughly thirty yards between us and the entrance of the hall. Photographers were there ready for us. When Easton came out, I grabbed him.
“Remember what I told you.” Any faux pas, trip up, or gaffe would be caught on camera and I couldn’t have that. The art of walking the carpet was giving everyone enough time to get their shot but keeping it moving at the same time. The sounds of people yelling at you, asking you to pose, requesting interviews could get overwhelming. I looked over Easton to make sure he was okay.
“Okay, we’re going in for the first interview,” I said to him being careful not to drop my smile. Walking up to the interviewer, the guy shoved the mike into Easton’s face. I was nervous about this part and glad that I was there to clean up after Easton if he made a mess, but surprisingly, he didn’t. He graciously answered questions while being careful to remain pleasant. I ushered us along the carpet when the questions got a few too many. Finally, we made it to the hall and got inside.
“I can’t believe I have to say this, but I was wrong about you,” I said to him.
“Good, say it again,” he said. I laughed. The two of us were handed the program for the event. Inside, the room was arranged in various tables and there was stage prepared and the guests were milling about with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, socializing. Your usual gala. I said that, but I knew that Easton had definitely never attended one. I quickly swept my eyes over the program. Later in the night was going to be the auction portion. The lots were listed so I took a quick look. Funny, one of the lots was listed as ‘Easton Schultz’. I grabbed his arm.
“What?” he asked.
“Did you know this?” I asked, brandishing the program at him. He read it and his mouth fell open when he saw it. “You’re one of the lots at the auction tonight,” I said. His mouth closed and he took a deep breath. His usual fire rose.
“I’m going to kill Toby.”
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