Hollywood Playboy (Hollywood Royalty 1)

“Fucking bitch,” I say under my breath. I grab my stuff and make my way back to my room, knowing I have to get ready anyway. I shut the door behind me and kick off my shoes, then walk to the bathroom and start the water for a bath. I’m almost undressed when the door opens, and he comes barging in. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in an interview right now.”

“Yeah, well, apparently, I had to take care of something else,” he says from the doorway, not coming into the room. “What the fuck was that about?”

I’m pissed about what just happened, but now I’m even more pissed that he didn’t even come in here asking if I was okay. “That was about the fact that your PA is a fucking bitch. Not only is she a bitch, but she’s a rude bitch. And I, for one, am not going to subject myself to her snide comments and remarks in front of you and your parents, so I’m taking myself out of the situation. I have a lot more self-respect than that.”

“So, what?” he says. “You are going to make me choose?” He crosses his arms.

I shake my head. “Get out,” I finally say and then turn back. “For your information, I didn’t want your parents to be uncomfortable because your PA can’t hold her tongue. So I did what I thought was best. I’m not going to have to endure it, and neither will they.” I turn now, going to the bathroom. “And just as an FYI, this shit is not okay.” I point at us. “You barging in here and not even asking me if I’m okay but assuming I’m playing games. My dignity is not a fucking game, Tyler.”

“Jessica,” he says softly, and I shake my head.

“Nope.” Turning to go to the bathroom, I say, “Too late. Much, much too late.” I leave him standing there as I slam the bathroom door and lock it behind me. I stand at the vanity, leaning on the cold marble and trying to calm down when I hear the click of the front door. I don’t unlock the bathroom; instead, I finish undressing and take my time slipping into the bath, trying not to think about the huge disaster tonight could be. I get out of the tub when my skin is shriveled like a prune, ordering a bottle of wine from room service. I do my hair, taking the time to make sure each curl is perfect. I put my makeup on, going a bit darker and using a gold in order to match the nude dress under the perfect black lace part. I slip my arm through the sleeve, the silkiness of the lace over my shoulder, and I zip it closed at the side. It fits perfectly, as if the dress was made for me. I sit on the bed and put my foot in the simple black high heels. The strap over my toes, crisscrossing and tying around my ankle. I grab my little black slip purse and put my phone in it, then take one more look in the mirror. “It’s going to be great,” I tell myself and then nod when the timer goes off in my purse, telling me it’s time to go down to the lobby. I close the door and check my phone again but see I don’t have a text or anything. I’m not sure if I’m okay with that or not, but if he wants to play this game, he’s going to be playing it by himself.

The dress swishing when I walk, I press the button to go down and step into the elevator by myself. I walk to the lobby and see that everyone is dressed up in their best. “Oh, my gosh,” Kendall says when I walk to them, “that dress.”

“Thanks,” I say and then look at her. “What is happening?”

“No clue,” she says, then Yamina comes over.

“Okay, folks, we are about ready to get started,” she says and looks at me. “So”—and just the way she says so, I know it’s not a good so—“I was asked if it would be okay to let Tyler walk the red carpet with his parents instead of you.”

I try to hide the fact that I’m being asked this question in front of everyone. “Of course,” I say and then she looks down.

“It’s not from us,” she says, and I nod my head, knowing that it came from Tyler or his PA. Either way, he’s made it very clear he’s pissed.

I reach out and hold Yamina’s hand before telling her, “Listen, it’s his big night, and his parents are here, so it’s normal he wants to walk with them. It’s completely okay.” She nods her head.

“Thank you so much for understanding,” she says, and then she listens to something in her headset. “Time to go.”