Don't Tell The Paparazzi

Chapter 8

The party was sponsored by a beverage brand affiliated with the show and took place in an event hall in downtown Denver. Behind the tinted glass, Stela saw people waiting outside. It was no secret they belonged to Colorado's elite. Handsome men in fine suits, women who could outshine Victoria's Secret models. Oh, correction. They actually were Victoria's Secret models. And the professor went against all the glamour in her jeans and basic t-shirt, but at least she and Brian matched in that regard.
Their utility vehicle stood out among the other beauties being handed over to valets. Stela noticed a girl smoking by the curb giving their car a nasty look. She probably wouldn't have done that if she knew who the driver was, victim of her disregard.There was only one car ahead when Brian turned to her."Stela, look. Um..." The young man stumbled. "Don't take this the wrong way, but the press will certainly be here and..."The girl blushed, cutting him off before he could continue."I already know. No physical contact."Carter raised his eyebrows, then furrowed them as if about to apologize, but the apology didn't come. From the Porsche ahead, a local celebrity and her much younger companion stepped out, delighting the photographers."Yeah. No physical contact," he finally said. "So, if anyone asks, just say you work as the band's public relations."Stela shouldn't care about it; it was a reasonable request. They weren't anything anyway, so it wouldn't be cool for pictures of them together to circulate in the newspapers and jeopardize the lead singer. The girl nodded in agreement. And at least outwardly, she didn't seem disappointed.Brian Carter had just forgotten to mention that the event was for the Dark Paradise boys and that he was the spokesperson for the aforementioned drink. Right at the entrance, there was a banner with his image, surrounded by female arms pouring amber liquid over his bare torso. Damn. The industry really knew how to exploit the star's image. His voice, his face, his body: everything about him was utilized to the fullest.The paparazzi called for some photos and Brian gave them a few seconds of attention. Stela stayed in her rightful place: well hidden behind the cameras while women shamelessly offered themselves to the lead singer. The professor controlled the urge to frown and focused her anger on a piece of gum until her jaw started to ache.Robert Barlet approached the two of them holding a drink from a competitor of the event sponsor. He tried to excuse himself through the crowd, but eventually gave up and simply pushed past to clear a path. Sweat glistened on his forehead, visible under the fluorescent light creating funny shadows on his face."Brian, good you made it," the businessman said calmly, a rare occurrence. He didn't even bother to look at the girl. "The sponsors need a few photos, then you're free to go.""Do you remember Stela, Barlet?" Brian asked.The businessman's eyes quickly turned to Carter's guest, giving her no more than two seconds of eye contact."Pleasure," he replied, not remembering her.Stela chewed her gum, now tasteless. Robert turned back to Brian."Tommy had to leave already, but get the boys, a photo with you three will be great. If you need me, I'll be at the bar with Ammy Rydes. We're close to finalizing them for next year's Seattle festival."With that, the businessman walked away and a waiter passed by carrying a tray of drinks. Brian grabbed a glass without even looking at what was being served. Stela considered doing the same but declined when she saw it was hard liquor.Later, the vocalist glanced at her with a disinterested look. Since the people around couldn't hear their conversation, they might well assume the girl was boring the musician with tiresome topics. An interesting tactic."You know it's really tough to look at you and not be able to touch you?" he said, taking a sip of his drink without looking directly at her, scanning the surroundings and waving to a group of people vying for his attention.Stela understood the game and looked at her nails, putting on her best blank expression."I know exactly how tough it is."He smirked, his lips grazing the rim of the glass, eyes half-closed, a restrained smile."It'll look more authentic if you hold a drink. You tend to fidget a lot with your hands when you're nervous." He waved to another waiter bringing bottles of water and alcoholic drinks. Stela opted for the first choice."Thanks for the tip. Clearly, you're an expert on the subject." She took a sip of the clear liquid without any real thirst. "And I don't fidget with my hands when I'm nervous," she added, gesturing with her hands. Brian stifled a laugh."It's a tough world. That's why we learn all sorts of tricks to survive in it." He rolled his eyes and yawned. To onlookers, it would seem like the exact moment the girl was discussing stock market downturns or climate change indicators."Well. What do we do now? Because I'm not very theatrically inclined, and this isn't exactly fun."He remained serious, though his eyes hinted at a veiled interest."Okay, dear public relations," he said, "here's how it's going to go: I'll take the damn photos while you just behave. Then we'll get out of here and pick up where we left off in Prague months ago."As he finished, Stela felt her skin tingle beneath her shirt. Oh. Not a good time to mention that the issue from the first night still persisted.Carter then approached the sponsors. Girls swarmed around him like moths to a flame in the meantime. Stela looked away before the scene could stir up a new wave of jealousy. She walked over to the bar and took a seat among strangers, focusing on the small bottle of water, taking small sips so the liquid would last until Brian returned.It took a few seconds before she noticed the guy standing next to her. First, she stared at the tattoos on his right hand. Among them, a modest "fuck" spelled out from pinky to index finger. Then she lifted her gaze to meet the dilated pupils of the guy: Elijah Nash."Well, well, if it isn't you," the guitarist eyed her with a lascivious interest as he tinkled ice cubes in his whiskey glass. He still wore the flashy outfit from the show: a mix of Templar knight and David Bowie in his most alternative phase."You remember me?" she said, surprised he recalled."Yeah, I remember," Nash confirmed. "But you're really far from the European continent, mouse.""It's Stela," she corrected. "So you do remember.""Of course I remember; it's not every day I get a no. And not every girl has this lovely innocent face you've got." Elijah tapped her nose with his index finger, then took a seat beside her. She frowned and gulped down the rest of her water in one go. There went her only distraction. Nash ordered two more whiskey glasses from the waiter. Apparently, one was for her."So, what brings you around here?" The guitarist rested his elbow on the bar, his eyebrows arching over his grayish irises. "Oh wait, let me guess. You're the boring date my friends said Brian brought to the event."Stela gave a fake smile, focusing on the dozens of bottles lined up behind the bartender and mentally counting to ten."They said that? I guess they're partially right.""In the part about you being boring or in the part about coming with Brian?" Elijah asked, crossing the thin line between a funny comment and something mean."Draw your own conclusions," she replied. When the waiter arrived with the two drinks, Stela thought about declining, but finally accepted. If she had to endure that arrogant guitarist, she wouldn't do it sober. The amber liquid burned as it went down. Elijah laughed when she choked."I just think the rock prince is breaking a record. Repeating women with so many options out there," he said, running his hand along her thigh and then pausing. "And I'd love to know what's so special about you that's got Carter so interested..."Stela pushed his hand away reflexively."I don't like you either, Elijah."Nash pulled a much more theatrical face than Stela managed with Brian. He put down his whiskey glass and laughed wildly."Who said I don't like you, mouse? In fact, I quite like you. Enough to give you some advice."She looked at him and waited for him to continue. When it seemed Elijah would remain silent, she asked:"And what's that?"The answer came quick and serious:"Get away from Carter as fast as you can."Stela felt a pang in her chest but kept her voice devoid of any emotion."Well, I think I'm old enough to handle advice."The guitarist furrowed his brow, the corner of his mouth curving into what was the most arrogant of smiles."Sure thing, mouse, but when Carter breaks your heart—and believe me, it won't take long—don't say nobody warned you."Elijah finished the rest of his drink and slammed the empty glass on the counter. Before leaving, he planted a kiss on Stela's cheek. The mixed feelings that gesture stirred up angered her."Did I take too long?" Brian reappeared. His scent, his voice, both familiar, wafted over the teacher's senses. She turned more eagerly than she would have liked."Just an eternity," she replied.The vocalist flashed a smile much wider than a mere public relations person deserved."Come on, let's get out of here," he said, and Stela had already stood up before Brian finished those magical words.The star's walk through the hall reignited a wave of what his presence naturally caused: turned heads, whispers, and lustful glances. Nothing new, except for Stela garnering attention by association. The way the girls looked at her would have made Aesop's fox look amateur when it came to envy. She seethed inwardly, taking measured steps toward that wonderful thing called the exit. Then at some point between the lobby and the dance floor, she heard Nash's annoying timbre.And the imaginary angelic trumpets that resonated in her head abruptly stopped."Hey, sunshine!" Elijah waved to Brian. "Don't pretend you don't know us just because we're the supporting cast in your show!"Elijah and Dominic were seated in what would have been a VIP area for musicians. There was a Latina on Elijah's lap, a blonde massaging Dom's shoulders, and an army of scantily clad groupies circling the place, just waiting for one of them to shout "next."Brian turned to Stela, and this time his look of dissatisfaction was genuine."Ever heard of the concept of 'socializing'?"Stela smiled grimly."Okay, go talk to them."Brian walked over to Wilde and Nash. He hugged the former and just patted the latter on the back."Hey, having fun?" he asked.When the vocalist showed no sign of sitting down, Dominic spoke up."Don't be arrogant; sit with us for a bit.""I'm not being arrogant, Dom. But it looks like all the seats are taken." Brian scanned his colleagues' private harem."Oh, but that's easy to fix!" Elijah said as he pushed the girl off his lap and shooed Dominic's companion away like she was a chicken. There. Two empty seats appeared in an improbable spot."Call your little friends and disappear from here," Nash said to them, but then changed his mind and made a concession to two out of the five girls. "Hey. You, carrot-top, and you, big boobs. You two stay."Dom chuckled in agreement like a parrot. Stela was beginning to think the drummer's entire persona was limited to his wild hair and skin-tight leather pants. The other three rejected girls left grumbling, the one whose rear warmed the seat next to Wilde glared at Stela as if she would gouge her eyes out given the chance."Problem solved," Nash exclaimed, raising his hands, but Brian hesitated again."Stela is tired and needs to get up early. I need to take her home.""Damn, Brian, you're going to skip a round with your brothers? Come on, let's show the press we're not as divided as they say out there," Dominic said with his deep voice, then turned to Stela. "Do you mind?"She pointed at herself, surprised."Me? Well, no... I don't mind. If Brian wants to stay, we'll stay."Carter looked at her with an expression that asked, "What are you doing?" She responded in the same silent manner, her gaze pleading, "What did you want me to do?""Ah, what a cool girl," Dom said, his voice sounding drowsy like an addict. "I like you, princess. Sit here next to me.""No, Dominic. She's not going to sit next to you," Brian preempted possessively, and for a moment, Stela felt like a traitor to the feminist cause.The drummer raised his hands in a gesture of peace."No problem, brother. Didn't know she was special.""Yep, she sure is special," Brian asserted firmly, and Stela's ego couldn't fit inside her anymore."Then just introduce us to your friend," Dominic said."You remember Stela. We met her in Prague," Brian said as he took a seat next to his guest, now more composed. On the polished couch facing them, Dominic and Elijah squeezed in between the two remaining girls.Dom Wilde continued with a dazed look and then gave a lazy smile of agreement, though he probably didn't remember Stela. Actually, it was quite possible he didn't even know his own name given his current state. Nash, on the other hand, didn't miss a beat."Oh, of course I remember. Stela and I have had quite the chat today," the guitarist said, making it sound ambiguous. "Isn't that right, sweetheart?"Brian turned his gaze from the guitarist to the girl."You two talked?"Stela shot Nash a death glare. The guitarist ignored it and continued."Yeah, your new little toy has quite the personality," Elijah said, looking directly at Stela. "And I agree with you, she really is something special."Before Brian could respond, Elijah raised his index finger."Buuut... no need to worry. Stela was as faithful as a good little puppy. While you left her alone, at the mercy of other guys at the bar, I looked out for her.""What?! Elijah, I—" Stela started, but Brian cut her off."Well, Nash, Stela and I were already done talking," Carter lowered his colleague's finger forcefully, his green eyes seething with anger and his voice low enough to sound like a threat. "And I've just realized I don't owe you any explanation about that."The discomfort between them was tangible enough to solidify. The rest of the table remained still; wax mannequins couldn't have done better. People around were staring."That's right, Brian, start a scene already," Elijah grinned arrogantly, leaning towards the vocalist to provoke him. "Come at me and let's shake things up at this damn boring party."Paparazzi were already poised, waiting for the right moment to capture what seemed to be a fight. Stela leaned in so she could speak very close to the two:"Hey, hey! As Dark Paradise's public relations, I have to ask you two to stop this. Now!"Elijah frowned and stared at the girl."Public relations?" The bastard chuckled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean now?""As I was saying, Brian didn't keep me waiting that long," Stela continued, undeterred. "And Nash, you and I didn't talk for more than two minutes, and it was just small talk. So how about you stop being a jerk and not make me regret being polite, okay? Now, Dominic," she caught the drummer off guard, "where's that drink you said you'd get us? Our glasses are still empty."The three guys fell silent, staring at the girl. The following actions unfolded in sequence: Elijah laughed in a sickly way, clapping his hands on the table. Dom, under the delayed effect of some illegal substance, also laughed. And after the surprise wore off, Brian relaxed his shoulders and cautiously looked at Stela, conceding.Peace was restored once more.And Dom turned to Brian with an implicit approval in his gaze:"Dude... I love your new girl."