by Gayla Twist
“That would be a safe assumption,” Margot told her from where she teetered on top of a step ladder, dusting their very dated track lighting fixtures.
“Did Ophelia come by?” Babs’s eyes slid across the spotless kitchen area and the freshly polished strip of linoleum that was the entirety of their kitchen floor. “Or are you expecting her?”
“She came and went.”
“And?” Babs widened her eyes. “Any luck with the whole celebrity-hunting plan?”
“It was more of a catch and release effort,” Margot said, descending the ladder.
“How about we order Chinese and you give me a blow-by-blow? Ophelia sounds fascinating.”
“That would be great,” Margot agreed. Telling her best friend about her true celebrity adventures would be another good way to avoid thinking about Mr. Too Good to be True.
Monday and Tuesday dragged past without Margot really and truly expecting to hear from Noah, but by Wednesday she began to get a little twitchy. It was one thing for him to blow her off. After all, his being attracted to her did seem a little too good to be true. But toward the end of the day, she began to fear that he wasn’t even going to attend the fundraiser.
Out of the blue, James Michaelmus called the office and offered his services to help spread the word to end slavery. Apparently, he’d asked to speak to her directly, but Margot had been out grabbing a coffee at the time. He even told Kathy how impressed he was with her and how he hoped to see her at the event.
With two potential celebrities showing up, tickets began to move. By Thursday, Kathy even gave the okay to pay the deposit for an adjoining room to the hall they’d rented to accommodate extra guests. “This is so great,” she said, buzzing around Margot’s desk with an excess of pent-up energy. “We need to get you bumped up to first class more often.”
Margot gave her a weak smile. Meeting Noah had just been a fluke and one that she didn’t think she could repeat in a million years. “About Noah Donavon,” Margot began, figuring she’d better broach the topic of him potentially being a no show.
“I forgot to tell you; he called earlier,” Kathy said. “It’s so fun having all these celebrities call up. He’s got a great phone voice,” she gushed.
“He called?” Margot said, her voice coming out with a bit of a squeak. “Today?”
“Uh-huh,” was the reply. “About an hour ago. He confirmed that he will be in attendance and just wanted to know the location and if he should bring anything, which I thought was a bit weird, but also really sweet.”
“I don’t think he’s used to being a celebrity yet,” Margot told her.
“Let’s hope he never is,” Kathy said with a wink.
It did not help Margot’s mood to remember how charming Noah was. In fact, by the time she got home Thursday evening, she was quite depressed. Babs took one look at her as she walked in the door and proclaimed, “It’s champagne Thursday. I’m heading out to grab a bottle.”
“I don’t think champagne is going to help,” Margot told her. “I just have to get through tomorrow and then feel lousy about myself for a while.”
“Champagne always helps,” Babs explained. “It’s the chocolate of beverages.” She patted her friend on the shoulder. “And tomorrow might not be that bad. Maybe he’s just super busy preparing for a movie or something. Maybe he hasn’t had time to call.”
“He called the office to confirm he’d be there. He just doesn’t want to call me,” she said morosely. “I’m just so mad at myself for thinking for half a second that he might actually like me. I was doing so good for, like, half the evening. But then with the party and the dancing and compliments… I know I’m an idiot, but I actually began to…” she trailed off, feeling too much of a dupe to complete her sentence dry eyed.
“There’s prosecco at the shop around the corner,” Babs said. “I’ll go grab a bottle. Or maybe two. Then we’ll have a little bubbly and plan your outfit for tomorrow. Looking good is your only recourse. And hey,” she said, grabbing her purse off the couch. “Maybe James Michaelmus will flirt with you.” Margot made a face, but Babs added, “At least it would be something.”
The fundraiser wasn’t a black tie affair, but Babs did her best to make Margot as stunning as she could for a casual, appetizers-only event. She’d left Margot’s hair loose around her shoulders. A fitted, dark green, capped-sleeve dress that hit just above the knee showed off Margot’s legs and her complexion. They’d debated about whether it was appropriate for her to wear the moon earrings or not, with Margot thinking it would come off as tacky and Babs convinced it would be rude not to wear them. In the end, they agreed she wouldn’t.
Margot had spent all Friday getting things set up, then raced home to shower and be beautified by Babs for her “triumphant return,” as Babs had called it. Walking into the hall felt like walking into a high school dance and wondering if her crush would be there. Margot kept furtively scanning the room but trying to act like she wasn’t scanning the room. It was painfully embarrassing. She flagged down a passing waiter to calm her nerves with a glass of champagne.
She’d gulped half the glass and was just thinking she’d better snag another one when Kathy pounced on her with James Michaelmus in tow. “There you are,” Margot’s boss said. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“You have?” Margot half coughed, the champagne bubbles burning her nose.
“Mr. Michaelmus is feeling a little awkward about not knowing anyone at this event. He asked if you’d be his personal escort for the evening.”
“Just so I don’t feel shy,” the star said with a lazy smile.
“Sure,” Margot told them, feeling like she didn’t have a choice. “I can chaperone Mr. Michaelmus.” She sure as hell wasn’t going to use the word escort.
“Call me James,” he said, trying to catch her eye.
“By the way,” Kathy said, leaning toward Margot in a confidential sort of way. “Your friend from the plane just arrived.”
“Do you need a drink, James?” Margot asked, thinking she needed at least two more before she could face seeing Noah.
Too late. He was there, striding across the room toward them.
Chapter 13
“Good evening,” Noah said, looking gorgeous in a pair of gray jeans and a twilight blue button down shirt.
“Noah,” James said, turning his head rather stiffly and raising one shaggy eyebrow. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“I honor my promises,” Noah said, glancing significantly in Margot’s direction.
What the hell did he mean by that? Margot wondered. “Hi, Noah,” she managed to stutter, feeling like a complete idiot.
“It’s nice to see you, Margot,” he said, although he appeared anything but pleased. “No diamond tonight?” he asked, looking at her bare hands.
“No,” she said, glancing down, confused. “I gave that back.”
Noah frowned. “Not because of me, I hope.”
“Why would it be because of you?” Margot couldn’t even remember telling Noah about Ophelia’s diamond, but he must have found out somehow. She didn’t understand why the whole thing seemed to make him so angry. She had just wanted some collateral so she could get her property back.
Noah shrugged, his face showing none of the warmth she had found so charming the week before. “I have no idea.”
“Well, this is awkward,” James said. Taking her arm, he continued with, “Come on, Margot; t ell me all about this little charity of yours,” and led her away from the others.
Margot looked over her shoulder at Noah, only to discover he was looking at her, a frown pulling down the corners of his perfect mouth. She felt foolish for ever believing that she might feel that mouth pressed against her own in a passionate embrace. Noah obviously had some weird issue with her that she couldn’t begin to fathom.
It wasn’t too long before Noah was swamped with female admirers. Margot felt a bit bad for him, when she wasn’t feeling extremely jealous of every pret
ty girl that asked to take a photo or get his autograph. She caught him looking in her direction several times during the evening, but he would always quickly look away whenever she tried to catch his eye.
James, on the other hand, was all about eye contact. Margot began to get a little creeped out with the amount of times she had to look away because she was made to feel uncomfortable by how deeply he was trying to gaze into her eyes. She wondered if there were women out there in the bowels of LA who found his behavior somehow flattering. Still, he was a name, and he had built up attendance. She had agreed to keep him company for the evening, and she was doing her best to make sure he had a reasonably pleasant evening. She couldn’t help but cringe every time he squeezed her elbow or let his hand “accidentally” brush across her rump. James was a handsy date, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. She hated feeling so powerless as he pawed at her, but she just kept telling herself, It’s only for a few more hours.
The fundraiser was going about like most other fundraisers, the staff trying to make the event fun while driving home the seriousness of a worthy cause. Having a few celebrities sauntering about was really adding a buzz to the crowd, Margot noticed. She left James to his fawning fans as frequently as she could.
Noah was being his charming self, chatting with women of all ages. Margot felt horrible to the point that it was almost physical. She really felt like she was coming down with something. Unfortunately, she knew the symptoms of having her heart stepped on, so she didn’t feel like she could tell Kathy she was ill and needed to go home.
Why hadn’t she stuck to her first conviction that Noah wasn’t interested in her? That was the way she should have handled the whole date. That was the way she should handle her life. But he’d worn her down with his charm and his smiles. He’d wheedled his way in and made her feel special. He was a movie star; that was his nature. She kept telling herself that all of America was falling in love with Noah Donavon so why should she be the exception. But still, it hurt.
“Why are you looking so pensive,” James asked, slithering up to her, his arm coiling around her waist.
“Just feeling a little nauseated,” she told him, side stepping out of his grasp.
The actor stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowed. Margot had the impression he was lightly grinding his teeth. “I’m actually feeling pretty tired, myself,” he finally said. “Can you help me find my coat? I don’t know what happened to it.”
“You’re coat?” Margot had to wonder. The weather had turned quite warm, and she found it weird that he’d brought a jacket. “What did you do with it after you got here?”
“Some young woman took it from me. I assumed she was with coat check or something.”
“Young woman?” Margot was actually one of the younger people on staff. “Do you know what she looked like?”
“I don’t remember,” James said. “Now that I think about it, she said she was going to tuck it in the back. Does that ring any bells for you?”
“In back? You mean like in the kitchen or something?” She really hoped it wasn’t a crazed fan who had decided to abscond with a celebrity’s coat as a souvenir.
“Let’s just look around,” James said, trying to slide his arm around her again. “I’m sure we can find it if we put our heads together.”
A headache was making its presence known right behind Margot’s eyes. She just wanted to find the damn coat and get the hell away from James. If he left, then she could probably go home. “Okay,” she said. “I’m sure it’s here somewhere.”
Scanning her brain, Margot couldn’t think of who would have taken the movie star’s coat or where she would have hidden it. She ducked into the kitchen, but there really wasn’t any place to hang a jacket. “I don’t think it’s in there,” she told him.
James pulled at his lower lip. “I think I remember she headed this way,” he said, pointing down a darkened hallway that led away from the gathering.
“Down there?” Margot squinted down the hall. Oh great, she thought to herself. It probably was some weirdo who likes to steal from celebrities. “I think that part of the building is shut for the night,” she said. “I don’t’ think they have any other events.”
“Come on,” he said, giving her a bit of a push to get her feet moving. “Let’s just check it out.”
Thinking more about how she wished she was lying in bed rather than catering to a pervy movie star, Margot was compliant for the first few steps. Then she had an overwhelming wave of ickiness and immediately dug in her heels. “You know,” she said, turning around quickly. “I just thought of who might have your coat.” She made to get by him.
“Come on, Margot,” James said, blocking her path and grabbing her tightly on the arm. “We both know there is no coat.”
Margot’s danger sensors went on red alert. James gave her a predatory smile. He was counting on her being too embarrassed to cause a commotion at a work event. She could cower; she could comply; or she could cause a fuss. Margot wasn’t about to do either of the first two. “Let go of my arm right now!” she said in a loud, firm voice.
“Quiet!” James snapped, twisting her arm with a sudden jerk. “Don’t start playing hard to get now. You’ve been giving me the eye all night.”
“No, I haven’t,” Margot informed him. “And even if some woman is stupid enough to look at you without throwing up, that doesn’t mean you have the right to pull this crap. Now let go!” Margot was going to give him two more seconds to comply, or celebrity or not, she was going to start screaming.
James’s grip got even tighter, and he gave her a good shake. “I told you to shut up, and you better listen. You’re going to do exactly what I say, or I’m going to tell your boss what a little cock tease you are, and you’re going to be out on your ass.”
“Let her go, James,” a male voice snarled from the shadows, “or you’re going to be out of some teeth.”
Chapter 14
“Noah,” James exclaimed, suddenly all smiles and instantly releasing Margot’s arm. “I didn’t see you there.”
“I bet you didn’t,” Noah said, stepping right into James’s personal space so that the older man backed off a few steps.
“Margot and I were just saying good night. Weren’t we, Margot?” James flashed her his oiliest smile.
“Good night?” Margot said, massaging her arm. “Is that what you call it?”
“Women can be so touchy these days,” James said, trying to share a confiding look with Noah.
“Yeah.” The younger star nodded his head. “You can’t rape them like you used to.”
James gave a stiff laugh. “I never heard any complaints.”
“Didn’t you just say you were leaving?” Noah asked, not backing off one inch. “Maybe you should do that now.”
“I think I will,” James said, shooting Margot an angry look. “I thought this was the kind of nonprofit I could really give my support to, but I guess I was wrong.” With that, he turned and walked off down the dark hallway, not willing to slip past Noah to get to the main exit.
“Are you all right?” Noah asked, reaching out to touch Margot gently on the shoulder.
It was only after he touched her that Margot realized she was trembling. “I’m fine,” she said in a dry, cracked voice. “I’m a complete idiot, but I’m fine.” Shaking her head, she added, “When I’m in the field, I always have to have eyes in the back of my head. Sometimes I forget that I have to look out for myself when I’m back home, too.”
“I guess when you’re home, you’re used to having your fiancé protect you.”
“My what?” Margot turned to look at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you just tell me you broke off your engagement?” he asked, his voice sounding bitter.
“When did I say that?” Margot was completely confused.
“When I first got here. You said you gave back your engagement ring.”
“I… What?” Margot tried to make sense of
what he was saying. “I told you I gave Ophelia’s diamond ring back to Ophelia.”
“Ophelia?” It was Noah’s turn to be confused.
“Yeah, I made her give me one of her diamonds as collateral. Did you think I was just going to trust in her good manners to return my mantón? I’m not that big of an idiot.”
“But…” Noah stammered. “You were wearing it on your left hand. On your ring finger. Like an engagement ring.”
“I’m left handed,” Margot snapped, not feeling sure why she should have to defend herself for being a lefty. “And that’s the finger it fit on. What the hell does that have to do with anything?” It wasn’t like they were living in Victorian times and she was going to be smacked with a ruler for using her left hand.
“Oh, my God,” Noah said, cracking into an embarrassed smile and thunking himself on the forehead. “I thought you were engaged. When we were saying good night after the party, I felt the ring and finally realized it was on your left hand. I thought you were engaged and were hiding it from me because… Well… you know…”
Margot stiffened, blinking at him a few times. “So you thought I was just milking you to go to some fancy party, and that I was somehow hiding my engagement. Even though I was wearing a big, honking diamond ring?” Margot felt a weird combination of relief in knowing why Noah had blown her off and acute anger that he thought so little of her.
“I’m sorry,” Noah said sheepishly.
“Yeah, me too,” she said, slipping by him. “Thank you for your help with James.” Heading back toward the event, she called over her shoulder, “And thanks for attending. It really helped with…” Margot didn’t finish her sentence. There was a tremble in her voice, and she really wanted to wait until she got home before she had a good, angry cry. Noah stared after her, somewhat bewildered.
Darting through the crowd, Margot was desperate to find her boss and get the hell out of there. Kathy was nowhere to be found, so Margot did the next best thing. “Hey, Sheila,” she called, hurrying up to one of her co-workers. “Mr. Michaelmus left, and I have a splitting headache, so I’m going home. I can’t find Kathy anywhere, but would you please tell her for me?”
