Page 2 of Stone Promises

“So, you’re not staying at The Waldorf with the rest of us?” she asks. “Paul said you’d be staying with your brother, Ethan. You know the ramifications, right?”

“You can bet Paul made sure I knew the studio would only provide security if I followed their strict guidelines. Don’t worry, Cole is flying in later today. He’ll be here in time for the premiere.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that.”

“Hear what? That my manager tore into me—again. Or that I hired my own bodyguard?”

She laughs. “Thad, Paul tearing into you is nothing new. If he went one day without reading you the riot act, I would think he had developed a fever or something. I’m glad you decided to hire Cole. He’s good. Better than studio security for sure. Are you going to make it permanent?”

“I’m not sure yet. This is still all so new to me. I mean, back when I didMalibu, everything was different. The fans were different. Not so goddamn scary.”

“That’s because they were all adolescent girls,” she jokes. “And that’s the difference between the small screen and the silver screen.”

I nod. “I guess I’m not quite ready to completely give up my independence. This could be a one-time thing, you know.”

Kendra looks at me like I’m crazy. “Thad, you saw what happened at the L.A. premiere. And the London one. And you’ve already signed on for the sequel, and then there isBlind Shotwhich everyone is saying will be just as big asDefcon One. And then next year,Dark Tunnels—theygaveyou that role, Thad. Things like that don’t happen to B-listers. You no longer have to audition for parts. When are you going to realize that you’ve made it to the big time?” She pats my hand. “It’s time to talk to Cole about making it permanent. Besides, I hear Greyson James uses him, too. You need to beat him to the punch if Cole is who you want.”

“I’ll think about it,” I say to placate her. But deep down, I believe all the craziness surrounding theDefcon Onerelease will die out. Then I’ll be yesterday’s news. Just like after they canceledMalibu.

“So, how is that adorable nephew of yours?” she asks. “Eli, right?”

I proudly whip out my phone and show her the latest pictures of Ethan’s three-month-old son. “You know, I could say the same thing about you,” I tell her. “You are the only person working for me who knows the name of everyone in my family.”

She smiles. “It’s my job to know that stuff, Thad.”

“I suppose,” I say, nodding to my phone. “But it’s not your job to pretend to be interested in them.”

“Pretend?” she asks, abhorrently. “I was going to ask when I could get my hands on the little guy.”

“Really?” I furrow my brow at her.

“I love babies,” she says.

My face falls. She sees my expression and laughs. “Don’t worry,” she says. “Todd and I are very happy with the status quo. Between our burgeoning careers, we are in no position to have kids any time soon. You’re stuck with me for at least the next five years or so. If you want me, that is.”

I feel a huge sense of relief. Kendra is the only person in this business who truly seems to care about me and not her own status or bank account. “Thanks,” I say. “Maybe I could arrange for you to have dinner with us at Ethan’s penthouse one night.”

“That would be fantastic,” she says, handing me a pillow the flight attendant brought by. “Here, get some rest, you’re going to need it. The next week is going to be crazy—starting with tonight.”

~ ~ ~

I’m still on a high from the premiere. Still reeling over the fact that it was me up on that screen. I was used to seeing myself on TV when I didMalibu. But this—watching the premiere of my movie, seeing my name first up on that screen instead of fourth, ninth or twenty-second as in the three previous films I’ve done—this is surreal.

Walking the red carpet to the third premiere ofDefcon Onewas even more insane than the previous two. With each subsequent screening, the film has garnered more attention, the fans have come out in bigger droves, the paparazzi presence has quadrupled. I was grateful not only for the studio security, but for Cole Wilcox, who dropped everything to fly out and be part of my entourage for the next few weeks.

Now, as Ethan, Kyle and I exit the limo to be escorted into the after-party at a famous Manhattan club, I look down the sidewalk to see screaming fans twenty deep, and I think maybe Kendra is right. Maybe it is time to talk to Cole about coming on full-time.

I see some girls holding out pictures of me, begging me to autograph them. I send Ethan and Kyle inside and turn to my bodyguard. “Cole.” I nod to the fans.

He speaks into the small microphoneattached to his cuff, presumably telling the rest of the security team our plans. Then he walks me over to the girls. “Mr. Stone will sign a few autographs and pose for some pictures as long as you remain orderly.”

Girls scream my name and trample each other to get closer to me. So much for remaining orderly. I purposefully only choose the ones who aren’t being aggressive. I quickly sign my name to a few dozen photos, a couple of shirts, even one lady’s bare arm. Cole grabs a few of the phones being shoved at me and takes some pictures of me with various girls.

The local police do a good job of not letting anyone past the barriers on either side of the club entrance. One of my biggest fears is being mobbed with no place to go. I think the phobia stems from when I was filming inside a cave for several weeks. I’ve been somewhat claustrophobic ever since. Now, the crush of fans triggers that same feeling. I’ve seen fans get downright violent, ripping clothing to shreds to get a small piece of something belonging to an actor without any concern for the safety and sanity of the object of their obsession.

My breathing speeds up and sweat trickles down my brow on this cool evening. Cole has only worked for me a few times before, but he can already sense when I’ve had enough. “Thank you all for coming out! Mr. Stone is needed inside!” Cole yells into the boisterous crowd.

I turn to wave goodbye to the crowd when I catch a glimpse of some disturbance beyond the first few rows of screaming women. I think my eyes have betrayed me. I have to squint to make sure I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing. There is a girl caught up in the crowd who looks like she’s trying to get farther away when everyone around her is trying to get closer to me. She looks lost, the sea of women around her swallowing her small body whole as she tries to escape what looks to be the last place on earth she wants to be. When she looks over at me and our eyes meet, my fucking heart slams into my chest wall.

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