I’m pretty sure I fall dead asleep as my head makes its way to the pillow, and I sleep through the night until my alarm rings at six a.m. I groan, feeling like I just shut my eyes not even five minutes ago. Grabbing the phone, I run through the emails that have come in from the other side of the world during my slumber. Thankfully, there is still not much going on, so I throw the covers aside and make my way to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and then dress in my workout gear. My black yoga pants are snug to my knees, a matching black workout spandex top completes the look as I tie my hair on the top of my head in a ponytail. Bending over to tie my black Nike runners, I think I look somewhat human, and I know that once I start my workout, I will come alive a bit more. I’m about to make jet lag my bitch in the gym.
I grab the key card, my phone, and a bottle of water and make my way up to the gym. The elevator arrives in record time, and when I step into the gym, I see I’m the only one here. The gym takes up the whole floor, and the whole room feels open with floor-to-ceiling windows again. I walk over to the treadmill, confident I’m the only one here as I place the water bottle in the cup holder and start the machine. I turn the television on my treadmill to CNN while I warm up with a slow walk. I’m about to speed things up when I hear someone on the treadmill next to me. Looking over, I about trip over my feet when I see who it is.
“Morning,” Tyler says gruffly. I continue walking, watching his reflection in the glass. He doesn’t start by walking like me. Instead, he starts off on a soft jog. He wears white basketball shorts and a gray T-shirt. He doesn’t turn on his television either; he just watches mine while he runs.
I increase my speed to a run. I’m not trying to keep up with him, just trying to ignore his presence, but he’s making it almost impossible. “Who did you vote for?” he asks when CNN starts talking about the latest scandal hitting the White House.
I shake my head at his question, my ponytail going nuts. “No,” I huff out as I run a bit faster, a bit harder. “Not going to happen.” I look over and see a confused look on his face. “I never talk about politics.”
He laughs now. “You don’t talk about who you voted for, or you don’t talk about politics?” he says, his breathing starting to huff. He increases his speed a bit.
“I don’t talk about who I voted for, I don’t talk about who is in power, and I also don’t talk about whatever political shit is going on,” I huff out and touch the screen to speed up one more notch. “Ever.”
“Why?” he asks. I look over at him, and if I wasn’t such a great runner, I would trip over my feet. He picks up his shirt, showing me his abs, and wipes his forehead with it. “I think it’s healthy for democrats and republicans to talk things through.”
“Said every single democrat until you show them the other side of the coin, and then you’re the asshole,” I point out. Even though I’m not a republican, I’m not going to tell him this.
“So you’re a red pin,” he says, almost shocked. “You live in LA, you’re a woman, a smart woman,” he starts to say. I stop the machine and turn to look at him while he continues.
“This, this right here is why I won’t talk about politics,” I tell him, grabbing the bottle of water and taking a long drink, my chest rising and falling. “That and I dumped my last boyfriend at the voting poll.” I shrug my shoulders. “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”
“You dumped him at the voting poll?” Tyler asks incredulously. “Like you went there and said, ‘babe, which way you voting?’ and then when he tells you”—his laughter gets louder—“you left him?”
I roll my eyes at this and cross my arms over my chest. “No, not like that.” I try to make it seem like it wasn’t like that even though it was close. “He didn’t have all the facts,” I tell him, and now he stops running and looks over at me. “He was voting because of one freaking policy, which, by the way, would never have made it to the House.”
“Did you wait for him to vote before you dumped him, or did you do it before you walked in?” he asks, egging me on and thinking this is a huge joke.
“Does it really matter when I did it? The outcome would be the same. We were growing apart anyway,” I lie, knowing full well it was just starting. I had even left a toothbrush at his place. I really thought he would be the one and then, okay, maybe he was the one, but we had a good time. He made me laugh.
“You’re lying,” he says, looking straight at me with his hands on his hips, “and you’re also a democrat.” He places his hand over his chest, proud of himself.
I roll my eyes and then turn the treadmill back on. Grabbing my earbuds and plugging them in, I ignore him and the laughter that is filling the room now. He doesn’t say anything either as he turns away and continues his run. We run side by side, neither of us saying anything but watching the same thing. When the phone beeps in front of me, I start my cool down. I pull the buds from my ears, and it’s then I hear another voice.
“Here you go.” I turn to the side and see that Cassie is here, dressed in black pants that fall right at her ankle and a pink silk top. “I didn’t know you were going to be here this morning, but when I went to your room, it was empty.”
He doesn’t say anything. He just nods. I look over. “You should invest in a collar.” I smile at her while she glares at me. She obviously didn’t know I was the one next to him. I grab my water bottle and take sips as my heart rate returns to normal. “They sell the little ones with a bell on it so you’ll know exactly where he is. If I’m not mistaken, you can even track it on your phone. Kind of like find my iPhone except it’ll be where is Tyler.”
I grab a towel at the front and walk out, not bothering to turn around to see her response. Once I’m back in my room, I take a shower. Slipping into the hotel robe, I walk to the sink to blow-dry my hair, then tie it in a low ponytail, and curl the ends. Keeping my makeup minimal, I add just a touch of eyeshadow and mascara. I grab my cream-colored pants and slip them on. They pleat in the front and land at the ankle, so I roll them up twice to give it a cuff. Grabbing my olive long-sleeved V-neck shirt, I pull it over my head and tuck it in. I roll the big sleeves up to the elbow, then wrap the taupe Hermes belt around my waist. I get up and put my black sandals on, the thick strap across the toes and the thick band tying around my ankle. My phone beeps, letting me know it’s time to head downstairs, so I grab my purse and head to the elevator.
I step out into the lobby and see Yamina and Yolanda dressed almost identical in blue slacks and a white button-down shirt; the only difference is the shoes. “Good morning, don’t you look stunning,” Yolanda says, and I smile at them.
“We are actually meeting in the conference room on the twentieth floor,” Yamina says. “We have everything set up there, along with something to eat.”
“Perfect,” I say, turning back around to the elevator and pressing the button. The door opens, and I’m about to get in when I see Tyler already in the elevator. He’s looking down at his phone and only glances at me when I get in. I take a second to size him up. He’s wearing a custom-tailored black suit that fits him to a T with a black button-down and a black Hermes belt. He is looking fine as fuck, but I try to ignore him and remind myself that even though he might look nice and all, he’s still a condescending asshole who is probably a republican. I go to press the button for the twentieth floor but see it’s already lit up. I wait for the elevator door to close before I look back at him. “Are you here by yourself?” He doesn’t say anything because the door opens, and the spearmint triplets come in. That is my new name for them, and it’s so on point that I almost chuckle out loud.
The three of them, dressed in tight pencil skirts with matching crop tops, wore their makeup piled on so thick I’m sure if they actually go into the sun, they would surely melt. “Oh my gosh,” Erin says first when she walks in, “don’t you look dapper?” She purrs, and I roll my eyes.
“I love this suit on you,” Evelyn says, going to Tyler and rubbing her hand down his chest.
“It ma
kes your shoulders look so big,” Ella adds.
“Oh, God,” I mumble under my breath, and lucky for me, the elevator dings and the doors open, facing the two big brown doors that are the entrance to the conference room. I exit the elevator and walk inside the room, not waiting for the other four.
The big room has four tables set up with ten chairs per table. A stage is set up in the middle of the room, facing the table with a projection screen hanging behind it. In the corner of the room is a huge poster of the movie and a red carpet in front of it. I look around and see that Kendall, Autumn, Jonathan, Jake and Jim are all sitting at a table.
“Good morning,” I say to them, looking down at the table and seeing that this is the press table. I sit down in one of the empty seats next to Autumn. “Anyone have any idea what is going to happen today?” I ask them, and they all shake their heads.
“I was told all would be revealed today,” Autumn says, and I look at her. She is wearing a floral button-down top, with two buttons open, showing you her Tiffany necklace.
“It’s about time,” Kendall says from beside me where she sits, wearing a black blazer with a white shirt underneath. She is known for her pantsuits, so I’m going to guess she is wearing the matching black pants.
“There is so much media surrounding this tour. It’s almost like a circus,” Jonathan says.
“Oh my God.” I hear Kendall say beside me, and then she starts laughing. I look over to what captured her attention, and lo and behold, it’s the three girls. “It’s morning, right?” she asks, and I laugh now.
“It’s breakfast, and they look like they are going to a club,” Autumn says. “It’s a joke.” The chatter dies down when they make their way to the table.
“Morning, everyone,” Erin says, going to an empty chair, and the other two follow her. “Jet lag is killing me.” No one says anything because the other two journalists come rushing in followed by Yamina and Yolanda.
Tyler walks in with Ryan, who is dressed in a suit as well, and Cassie follows. She is dressed in a tight black skirt that falls above the knee with a tight black button-down shirt and a woman’s Hermes belt. I try to keep my laughter to myself when I realize she is dressed to match Tyler. I turn to look at Yamina, who is now standing on the stage and tapping the microphone. “Testing. One, two, three.” She smiles when she hears her voice, and the rest of the people standing around the room take their seats. “Yolanda and I want to welcome you all today. We hope that the jet lag isn’t hitting anyone too hard. I know you are all wondering about this tour, so let’s welcome Ryan.” Ryan gets up and walks up to the podium on the side of the stage.
“Thank you so much, Yamina and Yolanda, for all your hard work during this whole process,” he says, looking at them and then back out at us. “I also have to thank the ten press journalists who are coming along for this crazy ride. It is the first time that we have decided to do it this way, and although there will be bumps along the way, we hope that the next twenty-nine days are mostly smooth sailing.” He slides on his glasses and looks down at the sheet in front of him. “Now for the good stuff.” The projector lights up. “Ladies and gentlemen, here is the following tour cities that we, or better yet, you guys, are headed to,” he says and I know that he is flying out as soon as this thing today is finished. “Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Dubai, Venice, London, Paris, New York, and finally LA.”
“Wow.” I hear Autumn say as she takes notes.
“There will be a huge gala in Dubai, and of course, each city will host a premiere. The official premiere will be in Paris. Since most of the film was shot in the city, it seems fitting to have the official premiere there, which is why you will only be allowed to watch it in Paris,” he says and then flips his sheets over as the projector changes also. “To help bring this tour to life, each journalist will take a turn to attend the premiere with Tyler.” I look the list up and down and notice that my name isn’t on it. Everyone else is but mine. I see that the premiere in Paris is empty also.
“They forgot your name,” Kendall says, and I turn to look at her.
“They didn’t forget,” I say, trying not to let it get to me. I don’t listen to the rest of Ryan’s speech. I also don’t pull my eyes away from the podium either, knowing that eyes are watching for my reaction.
“That is so harsh,” Ella says. “I mean, you were shunned.”
I look at her and smile. “It’s actually a blessing. Less work on my part,” I say. “It is safe to say I don’t want to be here, and he doesn’t want me here. But sometimes, you have to do shit you don’t want to, and this is one of those times.” I try to make myself believe the words. I’m also pissed—but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing how pissed I am.
Chapter Seven
Tyler
This rapper’s overdose has sent Hollywood into a whirlwind
Watching her go head-to-head with Cassie and then walk out of the gym with a swing in her step, I tried to hide the smile by grabbing my shake. I watch Cassie just glare at her while she disappears.
“Your clothes are all laid out,” Cassie says, following me when I walk out of the gym toward my suite. “I spoke to Ryan, Yamina, and Yolanda about taking Jessica off the red carpet list, and they reluctantly agreed.”
I just nod my head. Taking my key card out and going into the room, I drop my card down on the table, then turn to look at Cassie. “What do I have to do today?” I ask her, peeling the sweaty shirt from my body.
“There is the breakfast downstairs and then photos,” she tells me, looking down at her phone as she types something.
“Photos?” I ask her, grabbing a water bottle and taking a drink.
“You are going to be taking a picture with each journalist for the press even though the premiere will be tomorrow night. Your suit is being steamed as we speak. Tonight, you have dinner plans, but they can be canceled if you feel like canceling.”
“No, I’ll be good. I’ll text you when I’m on my way down,” I tell her, and she looks up.
“I’ll be in my room if you need anything,” she says, turning toward the door and walking out. I wait for the door to click before going into the bathroom and taking a shower. An hour later, I’m grabbing the black suit jacket and putting it on as I walk out of the room. The elevator is there as soon as I press the button, and I text Cassie as soon as the door closes.
Me: On my way down.
Cassie answers right away.
Cassie: Change of plans, go to the conference room.
I press the button, but I’m already on my way down. Looking at my phone, I scroll through my private undercover Instagram feed where I have only my cousins and family members. The ding of the elevator makes me look up, and I see Jessica walking in. Her cool and sweet scent knocks me back a bit. She says something to me, but I didn’t hear what she said, and before I can say anything, the door opens again, and the three “playmate” journalists enter. All three of them swinging their hips as they head straight to me. Their smell is musky, and I swear if I was in here one more minute, I would have had a sneezing fit.
Cassie is there the minute I step off the elevator, and I notice we are dressed the same. “Sorry about the mix-up. It was done at the last minute,” she says. I just nod, then when I see Ryan, I head over to talk to him.
“Ryan,” I say to him, and he smiles at me, grabbing my hand and slapping me on the shoulder.
“We just got the latest projections in, and it’s safe to say the buzz is all over this movie,” he says, and I know the only thing going through his mind is the amount of money that will be coming in.
“We should get seated.” Ryan turns and starts walking toward the doors to the breakfast event. “I took care of the Jessica thing,” he says, leaning in quietly, but I don’t know what thing he’s referring to. If only he would have just given in at the beginning and not invited her. I sit down, and I’m half-ass listening to what he is saying since I’m sure Cassie is taking notes and will fill me in. Until
I hear a little chatter around me after something he says. Looking up, I see the projection board and the dates of the tour with a journalist assigned to a premiere. I look around, seeing everyone whisper to each other, and then look back. Every day is spoken for but Paris, which means they know which journalist is left off the list. I look at the table where they are seated, and she sits there with her back straight looking like she doesn’t fucking care. My foot moves up and down, and Ryan finally says, “Here is to the best press tour you’ve ever seen.” Everyone claps, including myself.
I lean over to Cassie. “Why was that list made public?” I ask her, and she just looks at me.
“What list?” she asks, stopping to clap and then moving to the side when a waiter puts a plate down in front of me. “This is your special meal. Everyone else is getting the buffet,” she says, and I look back to see that everyone has gotten up and is making their way to the back of the room where the buffet is set up. My eyes roam the room for Jessica, but I don’t see her anywhere. “What’s the matter? What are you looking for?” she asks me, and I don’t know why, but something stops me from telling her. I don’t get a chance to talk to her because she gets up and goes to stand in line. Ryan pulls out the chair next to me and sits, and it’s just the two of us at the table.
“I didn’t know you would be making the plans known in such a public way,” I say to him, picking up a water bottle as he bites into his eggs.
“We kept it private long enough. It was time to tell the press,” he says, nodding and chewing. “Besides, some of the reporters complained about not knowing about their wardrobes,” he says, rolling his eyes, “so we had to let them know what and where they would be.”
Hollywood Playboy Page 5
