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Milo and Janus really were cool about it, but while it was true that they could handle traveling commercial, it was less clear that the commercial airline could handle them traveling it.
We were swamped by paparazzi from almost the second we got to the airport. Everyone assumed Janus was Leander, naturally. The more they crowded around, the less I felt like I could breathe, even as Milo fought to keep a perimeter around Janus and me.
Eventually, airport security came and helped get us to a private VIP lounge until we got on the plane, but Janus was bothered all throughout the flight for autographs. And it only got worse once we landed in New York.
Almost as if the paps were waiting for us… like they’d known exactly when our plane would arrive. That was when it sunk in, and I should have realized it much earlier.
Geena.
“Geena must have leaked our itinerary.” I shared my thoughts with Milo and he nodded, face grim after we finished fighting our way into our downtown hotel.
“I was just thinking the same. It’s usually bad, but it’s only this bad when she leaked our location.” At my wide-eyed stare, he waved a hand. “She only did it a few times early on when Leander was trying to cinch his first Emmy nom, but he told her to knock it off. He hates crowds like this.”
Yeah, my heart was still racing after the harrowing trip from our vehicle into the hotel. We’d been mobbed. Janus had put his arm around me to protect me from a bottle that had come flying our way. Not all fans were lovers.
I was still breathing heavily even though we were now safely in a conference room blocked off by hotel security. They were double checking our hotel suite was secure, considering the state of things outside.
I just shook my head. “If Geena leaked when and where we were going after the airport, she probably leaked the rest of the itinerary she booked. I need to rebook everything with new vendors or the entire trip will be like this.”
“Shit,” Janus said, realizing the implications. “I should’ve realized earlier.”
When there was a roar of voices outside the door, Milo walked several feet away and began chattering intensely over the phone with the security detail he’d arranged for New York. Was the situation escalating out there? What was happening?
“I don’t think we should stay here,” I said and Janus frowned and nodded, especially as the noise outside got louder.
Then the doors burst open. Janus stepped in front of me, arms out protectively. It was such a sweet, if ridiculous, gesture. He was the celebrity. I was a nobody. If a mob came through that door, it was him they’d rip to pieces, not me.
I tried to grab his arm and yank him behind some tables—a flimsy barrier but at least something—and then I saw who was leading the entourage through the door.
It was Lena Clark, followed by her entourage of sycophants.
And finally, a pale and glowering Leander stomped through the doors, slamming them behind him. Right before they shut, I glimpsed hotel security and some men dressed all in black—Milo’s men, no doubt—barely holding the crowd back.
“Leander! Sign my boobs!”
“Leander! Marry me! Leander!”
Then the doors shut, and Leander strode towards Lena. “What the fuck?” Leander all but shouted. “Your guys just left me out there to get eaten by the goddamn wolves.”
“Sorry, I kept telling them to go back out for you!” Lena gave him puppy dog eyes, reaching out to adjust his hair. He yanked away before she could make contact.
“Forgive me,” she said, her voice still soft and placating.
Leander huffed out a breath and ran his hand down the back of his neck. “I fucking hate crowds.” Then he shook his head and looked around, finally seeing us. He straightened. “Whatever. Let’s just get to our suites.”
He started our way but Lena put a hand out to stop him. He glared down at where she touched him.
“Who’s she?” Lena leaned in and whispered, not even trying to hide her cattiness, apparently. And maybe she thought she was being quiet, but in this big open conference room, her sharp voice carried.
“None of your business,” Leander answered shortly, his eyes barely shooting my way to register my presence. At her wounded look, he said with limited patience, “Look, she’s just my publicist.”
Well. Good to know where I stood.
Lena brightened. She leaned in closer, rolling one of the strings of his hoodie around her finger coquettishly. Gag.
“Leander, I’ve been thinking. You should stay with me for the tour. We can book more security if we’re all together cause you can just stay in my suites in each city.” She leaned in closer, eyelashes flashing as she blinked up at him. “We both need this movie to do well. And the press goes wild when they think we’re together. Even just taking the same flight, #Lender has been trending for the last hour.”
