“Only way from what I see,” I responded as the door to Lauren’s dressing room opened. She stepped out in her bathing suit and shorts, hair swooped to the side with minimal makeup. Her friend, Novah, walked behind her and winked at us. I tipped my head at them as they strolled to the cabana. Danielle spoke to her about the different products she had laid out on the table. I guessed the mixture of drinks, makeup, and friends hanging around us was supposed to sell the lipstick.
“You stare any longer, she’s going to think you’re interested,” Emmanuel joked.
I waved him off, moving in closer to watch, but not enough to distract. The photographer yelled out for everyone to move out of the shot, and I saw she was still wearing the shorts. Lauren looked over her shoulder, and we made eye contact. A few seconds later, she turned away and picked up the lipstick to pose.
“I guess you have some influence,” Emmanuel stated.
“You know I wouldn’t even let my sister wear some thong bikini. Who even makes shit like that?”
“Beats me. Your girl loves the camera though,” he remarked, and I nodded watching as she posed, changing positions flawlessly. Either she was holding the lipstick next to her face, pretending to open the container or pass it to a co-star. She was good at her job, no doubt.
Seven hours later, we wrapped up the shoot, and I waited for Lauren to come out of her dressing room to follow her home.
“Dominic. Great job today, we have some great shots, and the lighting was perfect,” Danielle insisted, showing me some of the shots.
“I’m happy for you, Danielle. Next time can we do it under the air conditioner? It was hot as hell out here.”
She chuckled at my comment. “I’ll make a note of that. Are you still following her home?” she questioned, and I nodded yes.
“These flowers were delivered for her, can you pass them to her? I’ll see you tomorrow at the meeting. I’m getting frustrated by links and then someone messing with the formula.”
I took the flowers out of her hands. “I agree, it’s not just a random one-off situation. Based on everything that keeps popping up, I think it’s coming from the inside.”
“Well, let’s hope we can figure it out soon, D,” Danielle replied, before walking off toward her car right as the trailer door opened.
“You’re still here?” Novah asked, followed by Lauren wrapped in the clothes she had on earlier, plus shades.
“I wanted to make sure you both got home safe. I’ll follow you in your car and Lauren, these came for you.”
“Who are they from?” she asked, taking the flowers out of my hands.
I shrugged, not knowing or caring.
“Read the card,” I stated, putting up a front. If it was her boyfriend, then he should have been here protecting her—something I would do if she was my woman.
She read the card, and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. A second later, she balled it up.
“What did the card say?” I questioned.
“Nothing important. I’m ready to go home and soak in the tub.”
“Had to be serious enough for you to ball it up. What if your boyfriend ordered the wrong kind?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend if you must know. It was just a random congrats note,” she said, following Novah to the car.
“Well, I’ll follow you two, and then I’ll be on my way home.”
“No date tonight, Mr. Combs?” Novah asked.
I smirked, shaking my head no. “Not tonight, Novah. I have a full-time job; dating is the last thing on my mind.”
“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” Novah queried, opening the driver’s side door.
“I’m thirty-six.”
“The perfect age, not too young to play games and not too old that you’d need Viagra to keep it up,” she joked, and I bent over laughing at her statement. Lauren’s mouth hung wide open.
“Thanks. Where are you from? Do you model?”