Following the Stars

Chapter One Hundred and Ten

I am so nervous for him, god I can barely breath and he's as cool as ice." Lexie said to Kate. The latter who was now five and a half months pregnant replied  "God I know. It's making me feel sick just the idea of walking down the carpet to escort you guys and to go into the theatre. How do you do this on the regular?" Kate giggled. Lexie shrugged "I guess you just get used to it, believe it or not I get more nervous when it's Johnny and not me, I'm so scared of letting him down or embarrassing him in any way." The make up artist finished Lexie's lipstick before standing back "Beautiful. I'll do touch ups once you're dressed." Lexie nodded before jumping down from the chair. She was in her small robe, and her hair had been styled into an elegant chignon. She was incredibly excited for this evening, Johnny's new film was premiering on the open night of Cannes. A really prestigious moment. Lexie was honoured to walk the red carpet with Johnny but planned to stay out the way for the most part. This was his moment, and she was there just as a supportive wife, nothing more, she didn't care if she didn't have her photograph taken or if any journalist asked her a question, this was about him and the movie. Kate remained on the couch sipping a bottle of water watching her giddy friend.

She headed into the bedroom where Johnny was lying on the bed. His photographer friend Greg was sat in a nearby chair and they were chatting about Johnny's fascination with Marlon Brando. Lexie smirked as she headed into the en suite with her gown, it was a Chanel gown in a beautiful champagne colour, she had purposely chosen French designers for the coming week knowing she was attending one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world in that particular country. She climbed into her dress and reached round but couldn't do the zipper so discreetly opened the door and called Johnny over who happily jumped up and zipped her up. Greg made use of the moment and snapped a shot. "That's going nowhere near your website Greg! My ass is nearly all out!!" She smirked as he chuckled "I assure you your ass is not out.. as if I would let him in the room if that was the case." Johnny smirked kissing her neck as she span in his arms. "darling you look ravishing." Lexie smiled before straightening his tie, "you my love look absolutely breathtakingly handsome. I'm the luckiest woman in the world." He smiled before kissing her and the trio headed out to the living area. Samantha who was now both Johnny and Lexie's stylist passed a Cartier box to Johnny and he opened it with his wife hovering to his left, "That's not the necklace we agreed?" Lexie said confused, "I thought they wanted to lend me the gold one?" "They did... but I wanted to buy you this one." Lexie's eyes went wide as he pulled out a delicate chain of diamonds and gestured for her to turn around. He placed it round her neck and clasped it. Her hand slowly reached up and touched the front of it as she turned back to face him "Johnny.. it's exquisite. Thank you." "My pleasure. Thank you for being the best wife I could have ever asked for." She blushed before Stephen, Gina, and Johnny's publicist Colleen arrived in the suite alongside a now ready Kate.

The drive to the red carpet didn't take long. Johnny grabbed his wife's hand and she constantly reassured him by running her thumb over the back of his. "I love you, and I'm so so proud of you." She whispered before Greg began recording once more. Johnny smiled kissing her tenderly on the forehead before they climbed out the car. The roar from the crowd was insane. Lexie smiled, she knew Johnny would get a great response but this was far bigger than anyone ever anticipated. Her husband kept hold of her hand for a few moments as he approached the crowds of fans who lined the event's carpet. Lexie slowly and discreetly took a step back out of the way allowing him to have his moment in the spotlight. She stood away as she watched him interact with his fans, they were all so pleased to see him and so supportive of him, eventually he had to make his way to meet his cast mates and crew at the beginning of the press section. Lexie, Gina, Stephen and Kate began to make their way to the stairs and slowly climbed them, they were told to wait half way which they did off to the side, as the cast of Johnny's movie posed together on the carpet. She spotted Johnny looking at her and smiled, she was insanely proud of him and couldn't help but beam. As he began to pose by himself he beckoned her over and she shook her head. This was his moment not hers. She wasn't here in a professional capacity merely as his guest so didn't have a need to pose. Eventually, Stephen offered his arm and escorted her down the stairs once more where she posed beside her husband for a few moments. After they had turned to face the cameras on the opposite side she looked up at him and kissed him. "I love you." He whispered before she returned the greeting and discreetly wandered back to watch from afar. The cameras clicked away and captured every moment including her and Gina entering the building too.

After a 7 minute standing obviation, and a quick appearance at an exclusive party, Johnny decided he wanted to be back in his hotel suite. It had been an incredibly overwhelming evening. As the couple wished their security detail good night, Lexie took the hotel key card out her small clutch bag allowing them access to their suite. "Care to celebrate your big night my darling?" She said approaching the champagne that had been left on ice for them. "I will if you will.. you barely drank all evening." "You know when I'm at a public event I don't like to but I'm sure I can squeeze a small glass in to toast the man of the moment." She said proudly. He smiled as he pulled out his cigarette tin and left his wife to open the bottle. She poured two glasses one significantly smaller than the other and saved that for herself.  She approached her husband and held out his glass for him to take "Johnny, I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of you. It's truly a fantastic masterpiece and you should be so proud of yourself, it of course helps that you looked sensationally handsome this evening walking the red carpet, so here's to you Johnny. I love you." The man in question blushed and looked down, he had always struggled taking praise especially from those he loved and cared about. He lent in and passionately kissed his wife before pulling back and sipping his drink. "I'm just gonna go and smoke. Wanna join?" She smiled and nodded kicking off her heels and following him out to the large balcony where she was pulled onto his lap once he sat at the small table.

The next morning, Lexie awoke naked with a delicious ache between her legs. Her and Johnny had well and truly worshiped each other last night when they finally made their way to bed. He claimed her dress had done things to him and he certainly showed her how much he desired her well into the middle of the night. This morning was the photo call and press conference, and as she reached across to her phone she noticed that they should have been up and awake by now. She nudged him attempting to wake him but to no avail before donning her robe and ordering room service for breakfast. Eventually the smell of coffee finally dragged Johnny out of bed to ready for the day.

They were only sightly late to the press conference but as Johnny highlighted in the car, it would give the cast and crew time to discuss the actual film as opposed to his presence at the event. Lexie was wearing a tailored looking trench dress from Chanel and stood to the side with Gina and Stephen watching the photo call from afar, she saw Johnny pose with his costars, and then later just with the director and his leading lady Maiwenn. Eventually, the photo call came to an end as the pair approached ready to head to the press interviews. "Lexie darling, how wonderful to see you again!" Maiwenn said, her French accent dominating her English sentence. Lexie greeted the lady and could hear the clicking of the cameras, and rolled her eyes. Would she ever get a break? What would the headline be this time? She quickly wished Johnny well with a passionate kiss and headed to a late lunch with Gina and Kate.

"So, how's things?" Gina asked sipping her glass of wine. "Everything is fine, why?" Lexie asked. "No reason, I just think married life suits you Lex" Kate smirked "Yeah you've always been the cute little housewife, it's good to see it finally come to fruition." "Oh please I'm hardly gonna be the stepford wife and he's had that once before, look how that turned out!" "Are you excited for tonight Kate?" Gina asked and the woman blushed. "Yeah.. I can't wait, I can't believe I've been invited." "Oh please, you would always have an invite," Lexie said. "Maybe from you, but not from Johnny?" "Oh come of it, he loves you almost as much as I do, and besides you keep his wife sane, it's just good business." The girls giggled before continuing their conversation.

Later that evening, it was the Dior opening night dinner and Johnny being the face of Sauvage was expected to attend. Dior had kindly agreed to not only dress Johnny for the entire Cannes event, but also create a dress for Lexie for the evening which she was ecstatic about. It was a midnight blue strapless gown that fitted her body like a glove, and fanned out slightly, providing a beautifully elegant look. They posed for the bare minimum amount of time before heading into the dinner and celebrating. Johnny was back, not that he had gone anywhere but he was now well and truly on the right side of the roaring rapids.