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“You certainly don’t crack easily!” She lets out a little grumbling laugh, then gestures to her cameraman that they’re done.
“Lena, how are you?” says Vadim, materializing out of nowhere. “Still sticking your nose into business that doesn’t concern you? I’m just going to borrow Alma for a moment, if you don’t mind…”
He slips his hand around my waist and steals me away from the prying woman.
***
“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk is blasting at full volume in the roomy reception hall, which feels more like a private club. This time, the general public isn’t invited, only industry insiders. It’s almost one in the morning, and the champagne and cocktails are flowing freely. King Productions has won its bet. If the buzz generated by this premiere is anything to go by, Pretty Little Murders should break box-office records. Even Kate Monroe lets loose and laughs at Clarence’s jokes, which seems to surprise him more than anyone. Sophie is deep in conversation with her new crush, April Dust, the star of the movie, while the rest of the cast is having a blast on the dance floor.
I stand a little way away from the others, watching them.
Vadim continues to mingle with his guests without ever losing sight of me. Our eyes meet again and again, each exchange a little more intense than the last.
May seems to have grown bored and is no longer following Vadim everywhere.
As the bash winds down and even the most die-hard partygoers start to tire, I get a text from my lover.
[Vadim
Dressing room A.]
A shiver runs through me.
A shiver of excitement.
Of the forbidden.
I choose to ignore the danger and hurry downstairs. The dressing room door is ajar; I slip through it without thinking twice and fall into his arms.
Finally.
His scent, the softness of his skin, the warmth of his breath, the intensity of his kiss: I’m floating. We kiss like crazy, trying to make up for all the time we’ve lost. My hands slip beneath his shirt; his slide down to my lower back. I moan against his lips. His tongue drives me wild.
The door creaks. Vadim straightens up and pushes me away. I turn around, still breathless and trembling. Kate Monroe is standing a few steps away from us.
My heart sinks.
She shoots me an icy glare, then disappears.
I look at Vadim, panic-stricken.
But he just sighs. “It’s fine, Alma. She won’t say anything.”
“Yeah, she won’t do anything to damage your reputation, obviously…”
Now looking concerned, Vadim steps toward me, but I pull away.
“Do you really think she’ll respect me after this?” I murmur. “The deputy director who is secretly screwing the boss… What does that make me?
“I’ll make sure nothing changes. Trust me.”
Wrong answer. Trust isn’t exactly what works best between us.
“Stop pushing me away,” he says.
“Stop distracting me. I can’t think straight!”
“Come here.” Vadim holds out his hand to me and waits.
