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CHAPTER 6
Miranda
After a delectabledinner at Shaye’s in Beverly Hills, Kevin, Jessica and I arrive at the infamous party. The food at the upscale restaurant was irreproachable. On my former waitress’ salary, even after factoring in the savings from not having to pay rent, it would still be inconceivable for me to indulge in a meal that would set me back three hundred dollars. That’s nearly my grocery bill for the month. There’s no way I’d drop that kind of money in one night. But Kevin is at the top of his game. More and more directors are willing to hire him without questioning his hefty fees. He’s particularly excited about tonight because he’ll be hobnobbing with many directors he’s wanted to work with for a long time, but he’s never had the opportunity to meet in person. One of the actors he trained recently for a particularly demanding role in a blockbuster movie promised to open doors for him. Fueled by the prospect of an even bigger career than he’s already enjoying now, my best friend’s boyfriend treated both Jessica and me to a five-star feast. Honestly, I’ve never tasted anything this amazing and I’m pretty sure it’ll be up there on my list of unforgettable meals for a very long time.
“Is this the location of the party?” I turn and ask Kevin.
“Seems like it,” he answers, looking out the window. “That’s the address on the invitation.”
“This is it,” the driver of the limo says. “A lot of our guys have been driving back and forth to this place all night.”
“All right. Thanks. We’re here, then,” Kevin says. I nod, excited.
The driver crawls slowly up a hill behind a parade of other stretch limos until we reach the front of a building that looks abandoned. It’s tucked away in a part of the city I’ve never been to. Honestly, were it not for all of the sophisticated-looking people getting out of cars around us, I’d be worried.
Once Kevin pulls Jessica out, he extends his hand to help me out. “Oops,” I laugh, falling back on the backseat. Between the two bottles of award-winning wine we shared at the restaurant and the free-flowing champagne in the limo, I’m slightly tipsy.
“Let’s try that again, Miranda. And this time you’re supposed to work with me.” Kevin chuckles. “Or would you prefer it if I yanked you over my shoulder and carried you inside as if you were my prize for the evening?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I say, freaked out at the idea that Kevin would embarrass me that way.
“What other choice do I have? If you can’t walk I’m not going to leave you in this limo. If I do, your best friend over there will never forgive me.”
“And you know it. No man, or woman, left behind, remember?” Jessica says without peeling her eyes away from her phone.
“Sweetheart, that holds a special meaning for the Marines. I’m a former US Navy SEAL. Not. The. Same. Thing.”
“I can’t believe I always get those two confused.”
“I’m so sorry, Kevin. I’m such a lightweight when it comes to booze,” I confess.
“Honey, don’t worry. We’ll dance it off in no time,” Jessica chimes in. “Come on, let’s go, the two of you. I can already hear the DJ playing some of my favorite songs.”
Kevin tries one more time to get me out of the car. When my feet are firmly on the ground, I attempt to take a step forward, but falter.
“You’re okay?” Kevin asks, concerned.
“I think so.” I nod. “These high heels may look good, but they’re torturous when you’ve had a little too much to drink.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He smiles.
Kevin holds my hand to help me walk steadily, and all three of us follow a couple dressed to kill who are making their way to the impressive door in front of us where a very tall bald guy awaits. Both the woman and the man flash a pink neon wristband and the bouncer lets them in without asking any questions. When it’s our turn, the man raises a hand and stops us. “Can I see your wristbands, please?”
“We don’t have one yet. We just got here,” Kevin answers.
“This entrance is closed for guests attending the after-party. You’re going to have to go through these gates and follow the cobblestone pathway that leads you to the side glass doors. Someone will be there to greet you.”
All three of us look in the direction the bouncer is pointing.
“It’s easy to find, I presume?” Kevin inquires.
“You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks, man,” Kevin says before turning his attention to us. “Follow me, ladies. All the cool and hip people go through the side entrance.” He winks.
Both Jessica and I laugh as we wobble through the gardens. I take a few steps and nearly trip. I have to steady myself to avoid landing flat on my face. Damn, cobblestones and high heels don’t mix. When I look up, Kevin and Jess have distanced themselves from me and I have to rush to join them. I decide to run on the balls of my feet to avoid getting my heels caught in one of the stones. Lucky for us, there’s only a very short line when we get to the glass doors.
“Good evening, my name is Lana.” Yikes, that’s way too much collagen on those lips. “Welcome to the—” The tall Amazon with a blue bob and bright pink swollen pout is interrupted by a voice coming from behind her. A tall man walks straight up to Kevin, grabs his hand and shakes it emphatically.
