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I’m still holding Ben, by his hoodie and by the arm. He looks at me, but doesn’t protest, knowing that he was in the wrong, but also hoping that the women around him will clear his fate.
“I know harassment when I see it.Ma’am,” I say.
“You ruined the shot, handsome!” the director laments.
Lily jumps to Ben’s side and gently forces me to put him down. “Ben is just a bit enthusiastic is all. He’s harmless!”
I don’t give in. I know what I saw.
“What if he’s your stalker?”
Ben gets openly scared, and places both hands in front of his chest. “I’m not, sir! I swear!”
But Lily, on the other hand, widens her eyes and places a hand in front of her mouth. She’s about to say something, but the director barges in with her bullhorn, “Get this guy back in line and let’s do it again!”
The creep looks at me, as if asking for permission to go. I do not concede, instead protesting to the director, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, ma’am.”
And it’s Lily’s turn to protest. “If Ben’s leaving the set, you’re leaving it too!”
Looks like she decided to keep defending him for some reason.
I shrug and make my decision: grabbing Ben by the arm, I leave the stage and head out.
Her safety comes first, even if that means I have to be away from her for the time being.
I stop at the exit of the terrace and drop Ben on his feet. He looks at me, as if waiting for further instructions.
“Go home, Ben.” I say as nicely as I can. Somber, he looks at his feet and obliges, dragging his feet as he walks away.
Sandra appears right after. She had vanished at the beginning of the filming, likely having found the person of the highest social standing in the room and trying to take full advantage of the opportunity.
“What happened?” She asks with disinterest.
“Your client kicked me off of the stage.” I say, sounding grumpy.
But Sandra cackles, clearly more familiar with Lily than I am.
“That’s Lily for you,” she says. “And that guy you kicked out is Ben. He got a concert ticket during Lily’s first radio promo and stuck around. Lily seems to really like him.” She shrugs.
“I don’t trust him,” I say under my breath.
I stare at the retreating image of Ben in the distance, worry lines creasing my face.
Chapter Three
LILY
It’sbeenaweek,and I realize I’m still angry with Brody for ruining the music video shot and harassing poor Ben, one of my first and biggest fans.
I don’t want to become paranoid. I doubt he’s even twenty, which makes him a few years younger than me.
I’m getting ready for a last-minute show that Sandra booked for me when I hear a knock on my dressing room door.
“Who is it?” I ask absentmindedly.
“Brody, ma’am.” Chills trickle through me when I hear him speak.
I clear my throat before telling him he can come in, and even though I’m still upset, I admit it gets my attention when Brody enters my dressing room with roses in his hand.
