Later that night when I finally managed to drag myself out of bed to prepare for the night ahead I wasn’t expecting to find myself mildly excited to step out into the nightlife again. I knew that there would be people I didn't want to run into around the corner but I was there to do a job, show my face before going home and every professional bone in my body was going to make sure I did it with a smile on my face whether I liked it or not!
By 10pm I was in the limousine with Nick driving again and heading for theToga bar. Anyone who was anyone would find their way into Toga and bypass the line that circled the block, past the red ropes and into the VIP section that was packed to the brim with celebrities and influential party animals.
As soon as I arrived I could hear the bass from Hot In Here - Nelly pounding out through the glass doors echoing into the street around us. I plucked my compact out from my Lady Dior Handbag and added a thin layer of gloss to my already plumped lips, I fluffed my dark curls before throwing the compact back into my bag just as Nick opened the door and held out his hand for me.
Before I had time to react the blinding white light from cameras flashing took away my sight and I knew I had to make a run for it…then I remembered that these vultures were just doing their jobs.
I took Nick’s hand, more for support over my newfound blindness than anything else and gracefully emerged from the car.
As I made my way towards the small red carpet outside the club I felt the tight fabric of my little black dress begin working its glorious magic of hugging my figure so tightly I knew my assets were looking their best.
“Antonia, This way please” yelled one photographer
“Miss Reid to your left” another yelled, it wasn’t long after that it all became white noise and I turned in the directions I knew they would get the best photos.
I raised the hand holding my clutch to flick my hair back behind my left should which was the subtle signal I had worked out with Nick to tell him I had enough.
“That’s all for now gentleman, you’ve got your shot” he called out before stepping to my side, placing his hand out in front of him and helping me walk towards the door.
“Thanks Nick” I whispered before making my way inside away from the prying eyes that would definitely be waiting outside for the shot they so desperately wanted. It was either one of me walking out with another delicious celebrity that would fetch a lovely price as my new “squeeze” or one of me stumbling outside completely inebriated. Neither was likely to happen any time soon!.
Stepping inside I felt the beat of the music rush through me with such a rush that I instantly felt myself perk up, maybe the night wasn’t going to be as dismal as I expected.
I made my way upstairs to the VIP area past a wall of glamorous patrons as Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake began playing to an overly intoxicated crowd now below me.
“Antonia!!!” I heard a familiar voice scream out over the top of the music ahead of me. I knew that voice anywhere. It was none other than one of my former employees who knew how to keep her mouth well and truly shut!
I made my way over towards the towering blonde in the golden booth and air kissed her in a way that you would to someone you knew how to keep at arms length.
“Selina, so lovely to see you again” I responded as politely as I could. Selina was one of the best girls I ever had working for me but she had one too many illicit problems for me to keep looking over my shoulder for.
“I know babes, it’s been ages. What’s new?” she asked with too much interest.
“Not much, same old. Just a quick stop over really before I head to Los Angeles. How about you?” I asked with feigned interest.
“Working hard, here with a politician from Washington…you know the drill” she said with an all too knowing wink.
“Ah yes” I responded knowing full well what she was saying. What I wondered the most was how much he was funding her next rehab stint in the making.
“We’ll I have to mingle. Time is money” I said to her smiling before she leant over for another air kiss and I whisked myself away as quickly as possible.
Seeing Selina was something that I really hadn’t expected and had instantly dragged me down.
I pulled out my phone to text Nick to bring the car around the back I ran into someone before the feeling of ice trailed down my arm.
“Wow, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you coming” said the velvety smooth and intoxicating voice of the man in front of me.
Just as I began to think my night couldn’t get any worse I looked up to see that the voice belonged to none other than Cole Walker, New Yorks most edible and eligible bachelors, he owned the most successful entertainment company that looked after the most successful celebrities from musicians, actors through to reality tv stars but it wasn’t his financial assets that had me enticed, He wasn’t hard to miss with his broad shoulders and chiseled abs that pierced through his business shirt so blatantly that they almost looked fake. As I finally took in the look on his face I realised he was utterly humiliated. His blue eyes pierced through me in a way that sent the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, his golden brown Mediterranean tan was complimented by his jet black hair and the perfectly sculptured features had me instantly at a loss for words.
“No, it was my fault. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going” I responded, stuttering.
“Let me clean that up” he said almost forcefully as he wiped a napkin down my bare arm.
I flinched at his touch. It was so gentle and not at all what I had expected from a man who so obviously radiated charisma and charm.
“Thank you” was all I could muster as his hand lingered on my arm for a little longer than I had anticipated.
“Are you ok?” he replied with a clipped business tone that somehow seemed a little calmer than before.
“Yes I am now. I was just leaving. Thank you again” I responded not wanting to pull myself away.
“So I was I, Where are you going to next” he responded looking at me blankly.
“I was actually heading home. I have an early morning flight to catch and thought I had better get my beauty sleep” I responded matter of factly.
“Doesn’t look like you need it if you ask me, let me drive you. Its the least I can do” I contemplated making a dash for it, knowing full well that being seen hanging off his arm would add fuel to the already roaring fire that surrounded my dating life and I really didn’t need to be tied to another one of the most intriguing bachelors the entertainment world had seen. I had enough of magazine speculation over my dating life and this would just tip the rumours into overdrive.
“It’s ok. Thank you anyway” I responded smiling before turning away making my way towards the stairs.
“Antonia. I wasn’t offering. I was telling you I was going to drive you, you’ll never make it past the paps without them selling stories that you left five minutes after you arrived” He made an excellent point, but how the hell did he know I had only just arrived?
“Well how do you plan on getting away undetected” I retorted smugly.
“My car’s out the service entry. It pays to think ahead as the back door is always swarming with more” he responded in a way that could have been taken rudely.
I bit my lower lip as I contemplated what he was saying, before I even knew what I was doing I sent a text message to Nick to let him know I would be leaving and not to worry about picking me up. I knew he would be worried but I would deal with that another time.
“Fine” I responded.
He placed his hand on my elbow and made our way to the service exit but not before I heard Selina wolf whistle in my direction before giving me two thumbs up. If only she knew.
I was backed into a corner when it came to this situation and knew that I wasn’t getting out of here any other way without it hitting the headlines. It was so infuriating that he was right and I had no idea why it bugged me so much.
When we finally reached his car in the deserted ally behind the club I was shocked to see the new Aston Martin sitting right by the doors blocking anyone else access.
He opened the door and waited until I was safely inside before closing it and climbing in the drivers seat and starting up the engine that purred so softly I didn’t think it was even on, it wasn’t until we pulled out onto the main road that I knew we were close to flying as I was pushed back as far as I could be into the seat.
“Are you ready for the ride of your life Antonia!” I thought to myself. Little did I realise just how true that statement was.
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