She looked around, then waved him over to the curb, where there were fewer people standing. “How long have you felt like this?”
Alec couldn’t remember the timeline. Tilly Ann was already a fixture on the show when he started, and as the new hire, he’d been eager to fit in and make sure people liked him. So things happened, and he let them slide. “I don’t know exactly. It’s been a gradual progression. Over the course of years.”
Tilly Ann kneaded her forehead. “Jesus, Alec. I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was doing that. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“Because I didn’t want to make a big deal about it.”
She managed a thin smile as someone from the network walked by. “And now it seems like a bigger deal because you waited so long.”
This was not what Alec had wanted. And now he appreciated on an even deeper level why women didn’t always speak up when things like this happened to them. There was no reward in bringing the unpleasantness to light. Instead, he felt like he’d opened Pandora’s box. The best he could hope for now was that things at work would be better. “Well, maybe that’s true, but now you know, so I’d like to move on. Let’s just enjoy our evening.”
“Okay.” He and Tilly Ann began making their way to the VIP entrance for the red carpet. “Do you want me to go first?” she asked as it was about to be their turn.
“We could go together. I’m sure it’ll make the network happier.”
“Sounds good. I’ll just keep my hands to myself.”
“Tilly Ann, I don’t want you to be self-conscious about it.”
“But I am now.”
“Okay. How about this? Is there anything I do that bothers you?” While they were clearing the air, he figured they might as well go for it and get it all out.
“Sometimes I catch you rolling your eyes at me.”
Alec swallowed hard. He was guilty as charged. And if he expected Tilly Ann to take him more seriously, he needed to extend her the same courtesy. “I’m sorry. I will stop doing that right away. Thank you for telling me.” He held his hand out to let her go first, then Alec followed behind her on to the carpet. The cameras clicked like crazy, and the flashes came so fast that it was like stepping out onto the beach without sunglasses.
“Can I ask you something?” Tilly Ann asked through grinned teeth as she planted one hand on her hip and expertly angled her body.
“Of course,” he replied, turning slightly so his best side was to the majority of the cameras.
“Is it true you’re making a move to news?”
Alec was caught off guard, but if Maddie and Jerome knew, it was probably only a matter of time before everyone else heard about it. “Trying to,” he said as the next person in line grabbed the photographers’ attention and they were able to inch toward the end of the carpet.
“Good luck with that. Just don’t let them pull a bait and switch.”
“What do you mean?”
“They want something out of you, so they give you a shot at something new and shiny. Then they tell you you’re not right for it, when the truth is that they were never really interested, but they were willing to take the chance since you’d already given them what they wanted.”
“Sounds to me like you’re speaking from experience.”
“I’ll tell you the story someday.”
Alec’s stomach soured. “Okay. Thanks for the advice.”
“I’m going to hunt down a drink. I hope to hell they have wine at this thing,” Tilly Ann said as she headed for the door.
Alec was about to follow her inside, but he spotted a massive black SUV pulling up to the curb. There was an immediate commotion, with photographers jockeying for a better view. It had to be Jason, which meant it had to be Brooklyn, too. Alec hung back, doing his best to blend into the background while craning his neck to see. The car door opened and Jason was out first, wearing a sleek all-black ensemble—designer suit, dress shirt, and tie. No, he hadn’t worn a tux, nor had he gone with a costume. He’d dressed like a total badass, and Alec was the counterpoint.Bland vs. Badass. No contest, unfortunately.
The fans outside began shrieking and rushing the car, kept back only by a line of broad-shouldered security guards. Jason held out his hand for Brooklyn, who emerged in a skin-tight black bodysuit and red thigh-high boots. Alec found it very hard to swallow. She looked insanely good. And he’d never, ever seen her wear anything like that before. He had to admit that he liked it. A lot. But as stupid as he’d felt about his clothing choices before, that feeling was tenfold now.
As they walked up to the center stretch of the carpet and the publicists herded everyone else aside, Jason and Brooklyn were able to take center stage. They were holding hands like they’d been a couple for years, not minutes. Their easy rapport was evident in the way Brooklyn kept tossing her head back and laughing. Meanwhile, the photographers shouted at them both to get their attention.Jason, over here. Smile for us, Brooklyn.It wasn’t merely Jason’s moment, it was hers, too. Just as Lela had let on, Brooklyn had become a hot commodity. This was Alec’s first time witnessing it in person, and it made him question all of his motives for being there. Brooklyn didn’t need him to look out for her. She was doing just fine on her own.
Alec ducked inside and beelined for the VIP concession line, intent on getting the biggest popcorn he could so he could drown his sorrows in butter and salt. But he didn’t get far before Brooklyn was tapping him on the shoulder.
“There you are.”
