Page 148 of Catch Me
“Yes, if that’s what you want,” I assure him.
The driver opens the door and the screams from outside become magnified. Yet, I don’t miss when Andreas leans in and tells me, “I love you.”
CHAPTER 43
Andreas
“That wasn’t bad, right?” I ask Ivy once we make it through the red carpet. Most of the time, she stood back with my assistants and the other handlers.
We just completed a group cast photoshoot on the carpet and are preparing to head into the main theater for the viewing.
“You were a star,” she says, smiling brightly.
What Ivy doesn’t know is that I have every one of her smiles memorized. She doesn’t know that I’ve spent hours mentally recording every expression and emotion that passes through her coffee browns.
She’s smiling, and yes, love shines in her eyes. Love for me. But there’s a weariness in the depths of her lenses that she probably believes she’s hiding well.
Something’s wrong.
I haven’t been able to spend as much time with her as I would like due to my schedule, but that will change after tonight.
“Andreas, we have about fifteen minutes to wait while the reporters and guests file in. Do you need to use the restroom, or can I bring either of you a drink?” one of the handlers asks.
“I need the restroom,” Ivy says. “Stay, I’ll be right back," she promises.
I watch her walk off, but just before she enters the hallway toward the bathroom she looks over and stops short. I cock my head to the side as she nearly stumbles when restarting her steps toward the bathroom.
“What the hell was that about?” I mutter.
I look over in the direction she just turned away from and my body goes rigid. Ivy’s boss, Rebecca, stands there next to Dennis James.
Without thinking, I start in the direction of the couple, but I’m cut off by Michael Keith.
“Take this.” He pushes a flute halfway filled with champagne in my hand.
“I don’t want a drink.”
He sidesteps when I try to get around him, blocking my path.
“I’m not about to tell you to calm down because we both know that would be a waste of time, but I will remind you how important tonight is and that we’re standing in a room full of some of the most powerful people in this industry. The last thing you want is to make a scene.”
“Suddenly, everyone wants to remind me not to throw away my career,” I gripe while still staring at Dennis James over Michael’s shoulder.
“I’m more concerned about my film,” he counters. “You, me, and everyone who worked on this film worked our asses off. Tonight, the last thing you’re going to do is waste it all over someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
I glare at him. “Ivy’s worth it, mother?—”
“I wasn’t referring to your girlfriend,” he quickly says, then glances over in the direction of Dennis and Rebecca. “He’snot worth it. Let me handle them. Both of them,” he says, his voice growing dark.
“She should’ve known better than to bring him here,” Michael says.
I watch as he walks off in the direction of one of the security guards. A beat later, two guards walk over to Dennis James and Rebecca.
“What’s going on?” Ivy asks, coming up behind me.
I take her hand in mine as I watch the two guards escort Dennis James and Rebecca toward the back entrance. Dennis looks around, searching for something, when his eyes land on me.
He starts to speak, but the security guard stops him.
