“The fans?” I ask.
“They’re very well behaved most of the time. Other times… they’re rabid. I got bit once.”
Taylor gawks. “Nooo.”
“There are tons of crazies out there who don’t understand where to draw the line. That’s the problem with social media nowadays. Parasocial relationships are the bane of every bodyguard’s existence.”
I nod slowly. I know all too well what she means. Not that long ago, Hunter was dealing with his own rabid fan. It’s been many months since we’ve received another creepy red envelope, gift, or unexpected visit. I can only hope it means that his stalker has either managed to pull themselves out of their delusion and given up, or they’ve moved their obsession onto a new and unsuspecting muse.
On the screen, an outburst of cheers as a limo pulls up to the red carpet at the famous Chinese Theater. There’s an onslaught of camera flashes, people yelling incoherent instructions, overworked and mildly stressed event chaperones doing their best to be heard over the cacophony. Watching everything unfold, I realize how easily overwhelmed I’d be if I had decided to go. It’s better to leave these sorts of things to the professionals, and speaking of…
Another limo pulls up to the red carpet, the door opened by a uniformed valet. Out steps Charlie in his tux, waving and smiling charmingly at the crowd. He then turns to offer Annabeth his hand, ever the gentleman, helping her with her elegant, oversized evening gown. My mother looks radiant, her success well-deserved.
But then my eyes fall to the only person who owns my heart.
Hunter steps out to a thunderous roar of applause and cheers. It seems that everyone’s moved on, having gone from loving to hating back to loving him again. Hollywood and celebrity culture really is a different beast, but I’m determined not to question it. All I want for Hunter is his happiness, and ifJuliet After Romeois as big a deal as everybody is making it out to be, then I honestly have no complaints.
Interviewers are quick to try and pull him aside for a quick word. I thank the powers that be when Hunter remembers to smile. I quickly grab the remote and turn on the closed captioning for Mei-Lee’s sake.
Thank you, she signs.
“Are you looking forward to the screening, Mr. Stride?” an interviewer asks him.
There’s a camera right in his face. Hunter does a good job at pretending not to be irritated by having his space invaded, but I know the truth. It’s in the tick of his jaw and his brief glare at the cameraman.
“Yes, I’m very excited. We’ve put all our passion into this project, and I hope it translates on screen.”
“And what are you wearing this evening? Hugo Boss? Maybe Dior?”
“It’s just a tux,” he answers dryly. “From Mr. Big and Tall.”
The interviewer laughs anxiously. The joke went right over her head. I, on the other hand, can’t stop from laughing. Not everybody gets his humor, but I do.
“What are you hoping the audience takes away from the movie tonight?”
“It’s ultimately a story about woman’s perseverance, not just the character of Juliet, but of women everywhere in the face of adversity. At the end of the day, no matter what obstacles may be stacked against you, you can achieve anything as long as you have faith in yourself.”
“I was reading a couple of reviews from early screenings this week,” Taylor informs me, stuffing her mouth full of popcorn. “This movie looks really promising. Charlie won’t tell me about it, though. He says I have to experience it for myself.”
The interviewer tucks her hair behind her ear, a classically flirtatious move. She bats her eyelashes at Hunter and goes so far as to pat his arm, but I’m not worried in the slightest. “So,” she says, “I can’t help but notice you didn’t bring a date. Are the rumors that you’re Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor still true?”
“You couldn’t be more wrong,” Hunter says without missing a beat.
The interviewer flushes, blinks. “Oh, so where is she tonight?”
“I’d rather not discuss my personal life. All you need to know is that my sweetheart is enjoying a relaxing evening at home. In fact, I’m pretty sure she’s watching us right now.”
I grin up at the screen when Hunter looks right into the camera. “Smug bastard,” I say with a laugh.
I’m just about to help myself to a handful of popcorn when a loudthumpsounds at the front door. Taylor, Samantha, and I all turn toward the sound. Mei-Lee, for obvious reasons, doesn’t realize anything’s amiss.
“What was that?” I ask.
My bodyguard stands at attention, her brows knitted together into a frown. “The three of you stay here.” She disappears for a moment, leaving us in the living room. When she returns, she has something in her hands. “This was shattered against the door,” she tells me, laying the pieces of what looks to be a broken watch in the flat of my palm. “Some brat must have thrown it and ran. I’ll do a loop of the perimeter just to be sure.”
I study the broken watch, curiosity flooding my veins. Even though the glass face has been smashed to bits, I can still make out the golden crown logo underneath. It’s a silver Rolex, and likely an expensive one given the diamonds encrusted around the edges. It suddenly dawns on me why it looks so familiar.
This isn’t just any Rolex.