Page 14 of Undefeated Love
He tried calling her again. No answer.
She’s always answered my calls or at least called me back right away. She must be seriously mad at me. I fucked up big time. I should’ve told her that I agreed to escort JJ at the last minute, after she dumped her boyfriend a few days ago. Katlin would’ve understood.
He decided to tell her exactly that in a text:
Kat. I’m sorry. I should have told you that I agreed to escort JJ to her premiere tonight after she dumped her boyfriend three days ago. So, you see, this was really a last-minute job. Please forgive me. I promise to make this up to you.
It had been a few minutes, so Alex decided to call her. Again, it went to voicemail. “I love you, Katlin. I’m so sorry if I made you feel…used. I’ve missed you so much, especially after we’d spent every day and night together for nearly three months. There has never been anybody else, and never will be. Please forgive me for being such an ass tonight. I love you, and always will.”
His messages got longer as did the apologies. He felt absolutely terrible. Although she hadn’t responded, he’d hoped that she’d read each and every text and listen to all of his voicemails. Hopefully, he’d find her waiting for him in their bed.
He had the operations center track the car. It was currently sitting in long-term parking at the airport. A typical escape and evade trick. The person tracking her wouldn’t know whether she got on an airplane, picked up at the airport, rented a car, or stole one. He’d already sent a team to retrieve the company sports car.
He’d checked her embedded tracker, but it seemed to be malfunctioning. It had her in South America for a few minutes before bouncing to China, then Africa.
Alex was becoming frustrated, more so after they picked up JJ and her entourage.
“Alex, put that damn thing down,” JJ insisted. “There can’t be anything that important back in the office that you need to be glued to your phone.”
He looked up at JJ. “Babe—” Oh, fuck. Katlin was right. When did he start calling every woman babe?
JJ looked at him with perfectly arched raised eyebrows as though waiting for him to finish his sentence. Fuck. What was he going to say? Oh, yeah. “I think Katlin read your note, got pissed, and walked out on me.”
JJ gave him a small grin. “Sorry. Not sorry.” Her grin widened. “If she left you over such a small thing as that note, then maybe she doesn’t love you as much as you think she does.”
Katlin loved him. He knew that in his soul. “Maybe her medicine is fucking with her emotions.” That could be it. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was too late on the East Coast to call Dr. Tobias to see if they changed her medicine. Maybe that was the good news she’d wanted to tell him.
Meredith excitedly clapped her hands. “I need you all to pay attention. We’re almost to the line of limos.” She stared at Alex and JJ. “Remember, no matter what happens around you, or what anyone says to you, just keep smiling and moving down the red carpet. We’ll jump out of the car when there are still two cars in front and meet you inside.”
Her hairstylist fussed with JJ’s hair and sprayed it once again. “Reapply your lipstick now,” she ordered.
JJ opened the tiny clutch purse and extracted her lipstick. Using the minuscule mirror on the case, she carefully reapplied more of the color. After slipping the tube back into the purse, it didn’t want to close. “This damn latch is broken.”
Meredith grabbed it from her and snapped it closed. “You’ve got too much crap in here. I’ll take it into the theater with me.”
“No. I have to carry this. The designer of my dress insisted I carry this clutch with me, and I don’t want to make her angry. It fits me perfectly and I wouldn’t mind getting more from her.” JJ ran her hand down the low-cut neckline that accentuated her perky breasts. “She knows how to highlight all my attributes and hide my flaws.”
“Then hold onto it overtop the clasp.” Meredith continued with her instructions, which included which media to stop at and give an interview. Alex only half listened as he checked his phone every few seconds.
Fuck it all. I don’t have time for Kat to pull this shit on me. I don’t care whether she’s PMSing or whatever the hell is wrong with her today. There always seems to be something with her. If she’s going to be that way, I’ll let her cool off tonight. I’ll make it up to her tomorrow by taking her out to dinner and showing her a good time, being the loving fiancé she expects…and deserves. I’ll find her. I’m sure Homeland will straighten out her tracker quickly.
A minute later Alex and JJ were the only ones left in the back of the limousine.
Alex looked at his childhood friend. “When we were kids, did you ever think you’d be riding in a limousine to your premiere?” They’d both been poor children from the seedier side of Washington D.C.
She reached over and squeezed his forearm. “Not in my wildest dreams.” She inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This is my first starring role in a big movie. I just hope they like it. I know it’s already been reviewed by several big names, but those people standing out there are the ones who will really determine my success as an actress.”
The car inched forward, and Menudo gave them the signal. “I’ll be right behind you watching the audience.”
Someone opened the back door and Alex exited first. He stood to his full height and scanned the area out of habit before reaching in for JJ’s hand. She elegantly stepped out of the limousine to camera flashes and people yelling. She lifted her hand to wave and dropped that damn purse. Since all eyes were on her and he wasn’t her bodyguard, Alex stepped back and scooped up the purse and the few contents that had spilled. JJ all but grabbed it from his hand and placed her free hand in the corner of his elbow.
This wasn’t Alex’s first red carpet. He’d been a bodyguard to several stars. When she moved too quickly, he warned through his pasted-on smile, “Slow down.”
JJ instantly let out a breath and reduced her pace, waving and smiling to the lines of fans. Several places had been set up for staged photographs. She entered the first posing for the best pictures of herself and the dress. She then signaled for Alex to join her. The camera clicks were almost deafening. This part he’d never done before and swore he would never do again.
They moved to the next stop and repeated the process. It took almost fifteen minutes before they reached the media. Here, Alex knew his place; he was simply window dressing to the beautiful JJ who captivated audiences with well-practiced soundbites.
JJ was up next for the last and most important media who were talking to the director. “I need to freshen my lipstick. I’ve cheek kissed more people in the last ten minutes than I have in my entire life.” She opened the tiny purse and several things popped out. Alex kneeled to retrieve the contents once again. He handed everything back to her and waited as she stashed it away. A small box was the only thing left. While he was still on one knee, the ring box popped open, revealing a very large diamond ring.
