Page 38 of Protecting Hailey

The longest romantic relationship I’d ever had lasted perhaps three months. We never fought and rarely disagreed. But after three months, she told me she loved me and I couldn’t say it back. She was a smart woman and left shortly after that. That was more than a year ago.

As my mind wandered, I watched the road and any signs of trouble as cars idled beside us at a traffic light. No one paid any attention to us.

At one particular stop, I felt Hailey’s hand brush up against mine when she adjusted herself in her seat. It was purely accidental, but I didn’t move my hand away. And neither did she.

“We’re here,” said Victor, pulling the car up in front of the club.

There was a long queue of people wrapped around the building, as well as several paparazzi hanging around the front and back entrances. The front entrance was lit up like a movie premiere with a red carpet and everything, while the back one only had a single light above the door.

“Wait here while I speak to the security guard at the back.”

Victor swiveled in his seat to face us. “Don’t you think we should go by the front?”

“Why?” asked Hailey.

“Because it’s the hottest club right now, and it would be good publicity for you to be seen walking in.”

“Good publicity for her or the club?” I asked, wondering if the risk was worth the reward.

“Hers,” said Victor, barely refraining from rolling his eyes. “She’s having a bit of a tough time in the media lately. It would be good if people talked about something else.”

I turned to Hailey, not convinced that was a good enough reason. “It’s your call.”

She looked at me and then at the crowd. “I am a little worried about someone getting too close to me, but I can’t let that stop me. I’ll do it.”

The valet approached the car, and I stepped out to chat with him. After introducing myself, I told him to park the vehicle in a well-lit spot, so that he could keep an eye on it. I slipped him a hundred-dollar bill and then opened the car door for Hailey.

“Let’s go,” I said, looking around for anyone noticing us.

She climbed out of the car, one tanned leg after the other, wearing those fuck-me gold heels. She took my hand, and I pulled her close to my side as we approached the doorman. “You go first,” I said to Victor, and he immediately stepped ahead of us.

Walking around the crowd, I used my body to shield Hailey from onlookers as we approached the bouncers outside.

“Hi, it’s Victor Payne. I’m here with Hailey. We should be on your list.”

“Hailey!” someone shouted from the queue, and Hailey’s head automatically turned in their direction. A photographer popped out from the other side of the line and started clicking his camera.

Immediately, I pulled Hailey away, but someone broke through the roped-off area and grabbed her arm just as we were about to enter the front doors. They tried to pull her away, but I pried their fingers off of her.

“Hailey, Hailey, can I get a selfie?”

“Maybe I should stop and take the picture?” Hailey asked.

“No way. Not here. We’re not prepared.”

Victor held the door open for us, and I ushered Hailey inside.

The dark entrance engulfed us and hid us from prying eyes. Hailey breathed a sigh of relief and unclasped my hand. My palm felt cold where she’d left it.

The hostess greeted us with a smile. She blinked twice when she saw Hailey. It was the only sign that she recognized the pop star. “Good evening and thank you for coming to Lively. Your manager called earlier and we have a table waiting for you in our VIP section. Let me call someone to escort you there.”

She pulled out a walkie-talkie and called a bouncer to the front. The guy was bigger than me and looked meaner. I liked him instantly. We nodded our acknowledgement of each other and I followed him inside the club with Hailey by my side.

After indicating which table was ours, Hailey and Victor sat on the couches facing the crowd. We were on the second level of the club. Despite my lack of social media, I recognized several celebrities at nearby tables, along with their bodyguards. There was a smaller dance floor on this level compared to the one below. Most people danced in their section rather than in the middle, but there was a mix of dancing and drinking.

Victor grabbed Hailey’s hand and pulled her off the couch. “Ooh, I love this song.” Hailey laughed and followed him to the dance floor.

She moved in rhythm with him, her arms pumping and her hips swaying. I wasn’t an expert, but the moves reminded me of Bachata. I learned the dance when my family lived in Puerto Rico.

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