Page 47 of Now Their Starlet

I wordlessly push myself up to my feet.

“Sit down, Andromeda,” Stuart snaps. “You are not to leave my sight. Not after last time.”

The mention of last time makes the alcohol I’ve been chugging indiscriminately tonight sit like lead in my stomach. What does he know? Obviously, he doesn’t know the details of that voicemail I left for Cameron, but he has to know something. Especially considering our added security.

The conflicting commands riot in my mind, warring against each other. The command of Ezra, obviously being in emotional distress and needing my attention. And the command of Stuart, who’s essentially been my keeper throughout this whole nightmare experience.

Ezra reaches out and grabs my arm.

“Fuck off,” he snaps. “I want her to come with me.”

“To go to the bathroom?” Stuart says, raising a single brow.

“Yeah, what of it? I barely get to see her.”

Stuart eyes Ezra up and down, his expression as sterile and cold as ever.

“Gina will be... pleased to hear you’re taking things to the next level again. Be discrete, and for goodness’ sake, don’t leave any marks on her again.”

Wait... what?

I barely have a chance to process the implications of Stuart’s words before Ezra is tugging me along to the ballroom.

“Wait—Ezra—” I gasp, shaking my head. “I’m not⁠—”

“Be quiet, Andi. We can’t talk here.”

That same bodyguard appears in front of us, his massive arms crossed at his chest.

“I’ve been instructed to follow you both,” he says. It’s the first thing I’ve heard the guy say. It’s obvious the thought of him following us to the bathroom is freaking Ezra out, though.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” he grunts.

“I assure you, whatever you intend on doing won’t be an issue; my job⁠—”

“Not. Happening,” Ezra snaps, pulling out his phone and dialing Stuart’s contact.

“Yes?” Stuart’s tinny voice coming out of Ezra’s phone speakers only seems to rile him up even more. Some of the people leaving the main ballroom floor are glancing at us as they pass.

“You sicced your dog on us, Stuart?”

“It’s important that Andromeda has an escort for tonight⁠—”

“You don’t think I know that? I’m escorting her. I literally won’t let her out of my sight.”

“It’s—”

“I’m going to say this once, and only once. I’m already settling for fucking Andi in a bathroom, I’m not going to do it with a fucking audience.”

The crudeness of his words makes me nauseous. What in the world is going on?

When I take an unsteady step back, Ezra’s grip around my wrist tightens. The bodyguard’s gaze cuts to me, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

“Fine,” Stuart mutters.

“There, hear that?” Ezra grunts, glaring up at the bodyguard.

“Very well, I will wait here,” he nods.