The Three-Month Rule

Chapter 25 - Bad Blood

They had flown to America the following week, ready for the People's Choice Awards on the Sunday.

Tom had had a suit made especially for the occasion by designer Hugo Boss. The suit was black thread with single blue threads laced into the detail to specifically compliment Allegra's dress. He wore a crisp white shirt underneath the blazer and completed the look with a black noir bow-tie.

Lia Stublla had designed Allegra's dress, working the measuring tape like an artist with a paintbrush.

She stared in complete awe at the masterpiece on the mannequin in front of her. Tom had flown Lia Stublla to London from Kosovo on the weekend that Allegra had moved in with him, so that she could take Allegra's measurements and begin working her magic.

Allegra ran her hand down the material of the blue topaz beauty that was to be worn by her, admiring its pattern and attention to detail whilst Lia stood back next to Tom, both of them watching the sheer excitement on Allegra's face grow.

"Do you like it?" Tom asked her.

"I love it," she breathed, unable to stop her smile.

Lia clapped her hands excitedly and ran up behind Allegra, throwing her arms around her neck and hugging her from behind with a squeal.

"I'm so glad," she grinned.

"Thank you so much," Allegra smiled, hugging her.

"What time is it?" Lia asked, glancing at her watch before throwing her hands in the air, "Let's get you in it!"

"I'll see you downstairs," Tom smiled proudly before leaving the room.

***

She glided down the white marble stairs of the manor, the edge of her blue skirt sweeping the top of each step gracefully. Her blonde hair had been styled by one of the best hairstylists in the county; he'd added silver highlights to her wavy locks to compliment the subtle silver pattern in her dress. Her blue eyes had been shadowed by soft greys and sleek blacks, bringing out the ice in her irises.

Tom turned around, unprepared for her undeniable beauty. He gripped the bannister in front of him, so he didn't stagger, and when he felt more steady, he laced his fingers and watched her with a smile until she was in front of him again.

Her heels had given her a little more height, making it easier for him to lean forwards and place his lips gently on hers.

"You look beautiful," he told her.

"So do you," she replied. "...Look handsome," she corrected with a blushed grin.

He chuckled and observed her perfect face.

"Ready?" the driver asked.

***

Chris stared at Tom from across the table, Elsa wearing a beautiful cream dress with silver decoration beside.

"What?" Tom asked him.

"Nothing," he spat, trying to hold back a smirk.

"Welcome everyone," Ellen Degeneres's voice broke gently through the mumbling of thousands of people in the Microsoft Theatre. "Thank you all for coming, it's a pleasure to be hosting this award tonight. The category up for nominations is the award for favourite action movie."

The whole theatre fell silent, hundreds of hopeful actors and actresses secretly praying and crossing their fingers that their film is the winner or at least nominated.

Allegra looked around her table- a number of famous faces at her side; Chris Evans; Robert Downey Jr; Tom Holland; Letitia Wright; Zoe Saldana and Ryan Reynolds were amongst the few. She sighed happily and shuffled down into her seat beside Tom, who was focused on the big screen behind Ellen, hoping himself that one of his films would appear.