Page 88 of All That Glitters
Eli took a sip of his martini and patted Tony on the shoulder. “Screw the critics. It’s what the vloggers think that matters, and they’re going nuts over this.”
Tony’s eyes lit up. “Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. First reviews went up about a half hour ago on YouTube, and it’s getting solid recommends across the board.”
Carrie shifted nervously, smoothing her dress. “Did they say anything about me?”
Eli almost did a double-take. She looked like Carrie Thompson, but there was a softness and vulnerability radiating from her he had never seen before.
“They loved you, Carrie,” Eli said, and this time, his smile was genuine. “They said you were a revelation. I have two producersready to make offers on studio films. Good ones. And you’re trending on IG and X.”
The breath caught in her throat. Carrie could only stare for a moment as a tear misted her eye. She looked at her parents, who were beaming, then threw her arms around Eli in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she said softly in his ear.
When she released him from the hug, Eli looked more confused than ever. “Is everything okay? You’re not dying or anything, are you?”
She just smiled and wiped her eye. “Tell everyone at the agency I’m giving the Carrie with claws a break.”
Across the ballroom, Craig and the Rif Raf execs made a beeline for the open bar. Kevin squeezed in front of Roy, elbowing him aside to get the bartender’s attention.
“Hey!” Roy grunted. “I’s here first.”
“No you weren’t,” Kevin shot back.
“Was too.” Roy gave Kevin a hard shove. Kevin shoved him right back. It was a playground squabble in a palace of crystal and silk. Craig, with the weary authority of a father dealing with unruly children, shoved them both aside and flagged down the bartender.
“How’s about a round of whiskeys for me and the boys here,” he boomed.
The bartender, who thought he’d seen everything before that night, looked them over curiously. “Are you with the premiere party?”
“Hell, yeah,” Craig declared proudly. “We’s the filmmakers.”
At that, the bartender’s demeanor completely changed. “Coming right up, sir.”
Just then, Lauren from Hollywood Gossip spotted Craig and squeezed her way through the crowd, her cameraman Justinfollowing like a pilot fish, lugging his bulky TV camera. She held a microphone up to Craig.
“Craig! Now that The Frat is finished, what’s next for Rif Raf Produkshuns?”
“Actually,” Craig said, looking thoughtful, “we’s thinkin’ about maybe doin’ some sort a romance comedy.” He then spotted Preston Jordan slinking through the crowd, trying to remain invisible. A wicked grin spread across Craig’s face. “Excuse me a second, missy.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “HEY, PRESTON! GET YER BUTT OVER HERE!”
“Can we say butt on TV?” Justin whispered to Lauren. She just shrugged.
Across the room, Preston turned at the sound of his name. His blood ran cold. The last people on earth he wanted to see were currently summoning him from the bar. With the miserable reluctance of a man walking to his own execution, he headed over. Craig immediately slung a beefy arm around Preston’s shoulder in a gesture that was meant to be friendly but almost sent him flying into a floral arrangement.
“You all know our partner here, Preston Jordan,” Craig announced to the camera. “We’s thinkin’ we’d include him in our next movie.”
Lauren, smelling blood, immediately shifted her microphone to Preston’s trembling face. “Preston. Are the rumors true about a sex tape featuring mannequins and farm animals?”
Preston looked like he was about to faint. He could just die right there, live on television. Craig shot him a cheesy, triumphant grin.
At the grand entrance, Debbie wandered in, her eyes wide. She looked around through the throng of people, a sea of heads bobbing in a tide of champagne and chatter. She couldn’t see anyone she knew. Spotting an ornate chair near the wall, shewent over and carefully stood on it, craning her neck for a better view. The problem was, the chair was antique, delicate, and a bit wobbly.
Nearby, a snotty Society Woman in a tight silk blouse watched this uncouth behavior with utter disdain. She turned to the man next to her, a sneer twisting her lips as she gestured discreetly towards Debbie.
Tony strolled over to the bar, finding Craig holding court with the press. Carrie and her parents joined them.
“Hey, Craig,” Tony said, leaning in. “You seen Debbie?”
Craig shook his head. “Not yet. But got the boys keepin’ an eye out for her. Told them they’d probably hear somethin’ breakin’.”
