Page 12 of Beyond the Red Carpet

The memory of Vanessa’s lips against hers, the way her hands had gripped Kate’s waist… None of that had felt manufactured. Kate’s skin tingled at the memory of her touch.

But she couldn’t let herself get lost in those thoughts. This arrangement wasn’t about her growing attraction to Vanessa. It was about taking control of her own story. After years of dodging questions about her dating life and carefully monitoring every word she said in interviews, she would finally be free. No more vague answers about “the right person.” No more attending events with male co-stars to generate buzz. No more lying.

Kate ran her fingers through her hair, trying to ground herself in the present moment. By this time tomorrow, everyone would know, and she’d finally be living her truth.

Her gaze drifted to the doorway where Vanessa had disappeared. The sound of ice clinking against glass drifted from the kitchen.

Vanessa returned, two crystal tumblers in hand, amber liquid catching the warm light from the table lamps. She extended one to Kate. Their fingers brushed during the exchange, sending a current through Kate’s arm.

“Thank you.” Kate lifted the glass to her lips, the whiskey’s warmth spreading across her tongue.

As Kate sipped her drink, Vanessa wandered over to the large glass windows overlooking the city, her posture relaxed yetsomehow still exuding an aura of tension. “Well, that should give the tabloids something to talk about for a while.” Her voice was casual, as if she were commenting on the weather rather than their intense encounter.

Kate’s throat constricted. That kiss—those kisses—had been anything but casual for her. She took another sip of her drink, welcoming the burn as it slid down her throat. She could still feel Vanessa’s hands on her body, still taste her lips. But Vanessa seemed completely unaffected by it all. Unmoved.

“Elliot will be pleased,” Vanessa continued, turning back towards Kate with a slight smile. “We certainly delivered.”

Her words landed like a bucket of cold water on Kate’s simmering thoughts. She suddenly felt foolish, realizing that for Vanessa, their kisses had been nothing more than a business transaction. A means to an end.

Kate’s stomach twisted. This was a job for Vanessa. She had to remind herself of that. The passionate, all-consuming moment in the alley was just another performance for her. One that Kate had agreed to.

Kate berated herself inwardly for getting carried away, for thinking there could be something more between them. Her shoulders stiffened as she kept her gaze on Vanessa, searching for any hint of something beyond professional distance in her eyes. But Vanessa remained composed, her face illuminated by the warm glow of the lamps, her expression inscrutable.

“We did.” Kate forced a tight smile, her voice unwavering despite the lump in her throat. She took another sip of her drink, relishing the burn that washed away the taste of Vanessa’s lips from her mouth. She wouldn’t let herself think about how soft they’d been. “I imagine Elliot will want to have another meeting. You know, adjust the timeline.”

Vanessa inclined her head, her eyes holding a glint of amusement. “He definitely will. He’s not used to havingsomeone else call the shots.” She settled into an armchair across from her. “We’ll still want to keep things believable without being too... dramatic.”

Too dramatic. Like pinning someone against a car and kissing them senseless? Kate pushed the thought away. That had just been Vanessa ensuring the photographer got the perfect shot, nothing more.

“Right.” Kate cleared her throat, embracing the role of professional actress discussing scene parameters.

Kate watched as Vanessa lifted the crystal tumbler to her lips, taking a slow, deliberate sip. The amber liquid caught the light, creating tiny prisms that danced across Vanessa’s throat as she swallowed.

The silence stretched between them for a few seconds while Vanessa’s eyes traced over Kate’s features, her gaze thoughtful and penetrating. Kate’s skin prickled under the intensity of her scrutiny.

“Are you happy?” Vanessa’s question pierced the quiet. “By this time tomorrow, the whole world will know you’re not straight.”

Kate tried to keep her expression neutral, but inside, her emotions were all over the place. She wanted to be happy about her impending freedom, but the events of the night kept replaying in her mind, blurring the lines between their arrangement and her true feelings.

“I am.” Her voice was steady, but her heart hammered in her chest. “I wanted to come out on my own terms, and this—” She gestured between them, warming to the topic as she continued, “—this solves my problem too. So yes, I’m happy about that.”

Kate took another sip of her drink, welcoming the burn as the whiskey slid down her throat. She was determined to focus on the positives. Tomorrow, she would wake up to headlines about her and Vanessa, and she would be out to the entire world.

As Kate set her glass down, Vanessa’s eyes remained locked on hers, as if searching for something beneath the surface. “Listen, Kate. I want to apologize.”

Kate’s muscles tensed. Was Vanessa rethinking this?

“Tomorrow, your problem will be solved. One day of headlines and it’s done. But my... situation.” Vanessa paused, her fingers trailing along the rim of her glass. “That’s going to take longer to fix. The headlines about Lauren and Ruby won’t disappear overnight.”

The knot in Kate’s chest loosened slightly. This wasn’t about the kiss at all.

“I know you agreed to this arrangement, but I just want to say that you’re giving more than you’re getting.” Vanessa’s gaze met Kate’s, earnest and direct. “You’ll have to keep up appearances with me for weeks, maybe months, just to help salvage my image. I want you to know how grateful I am for that.”

Kate’s throat tightened. If Vanessa only knew that spending time with her wasn’t a hardship at all. That pretending to be attracted to her wouldn’t require any acting on Kate’s part.

“You don’t need to thank me,” Kate managed. “We’re helping each other. Being seen with you, for however long, helps me too. That wasn’t just some drunken kiss. This is real.” Kate blinked before she cleared her throat. “I mean, people will think this is real.”

Kate’s heart sank at how easily Vanessa discussed their arrangement, but then she caught something in the older woman’s expression. A slight tremor in her fingers as she set down her glass. The way her gaze dropped to Kate’s lips for the briefest moment before darting away.

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