Page 24 of Get Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 6)
"He was trying to find you."
"Yeah. And it almost worked. Both my drama teacher and a friend offered to nominate me. But that's not the worst of it. The guy who did my tattoo was murdered after Vincent got a matching one. I went to the club where he always goes looking for me and danced in a cage to piss him off. The next week, a girl from the club was murdered, her body stabbed with scissors. After the New York incident, he sent a photo of me to my mom. The photo was stabbed with scissors. Going back to the club in L.A. was the start of me fighting back. I'm also trying to do a hostile takeover of his company. If that works out, I'll own the rights to the movie he so desperately wants us to make. And when that happens . . ."
"He'll really be pissed?"
"Yes. And anyone close to me will be in danger. That's why I needed to talk to you in private. I want to make sure you understand the risks of being photographed with me."
"You want to be photographed, though?"
"Yeah. It's part of my plan. I'm hoping to take his attention off the people I care about by allowing him to focus on me. Up until now, he's been meticulous in his planning. I want him desperate, so he'll start making mistakes. Then maybe we can get the proof to have him arrested."
"Do you want him to find you?"
"For now, I just want him to see photos of me from the night before."
"So a different club every night?"
"Different club. Different cities. Different guys, even."
"Basically, my plan, only with higher stakes."
"Yeah."
Knox grins at me and cuts a piece of his steak. "Eat up. Our food is getting cold."
I take a bite of the lemon chicken pasta he ordered me. "This is really good. What are you thinking?"
"I'm letting it all soak in first."
"Okay."
We eat in silence for a few minutes. Then he asks, "So, what about Aiden?"
"I don't want him to find out about Aiden."
"So you won't be photographed with him?"
"No."
"So you need me?"
"Not exactly. You would just up the stakes a little."
"How so?"
"I'm shooting a music video with Twisted Dreams this week."
"That's Matt Moran's son, right?"
"Yes. Damian is my best friend. The video will premiere on New Year's Eve. I'll be Keatyn Douglas again."
"Do you act slutty in the video?"
"I'm in a bikini for most of it because it's set at the beach. There are a lot of similarities between the video, my real life, and A Day at the Lake."
"Nice. I'm in, by the way. We'll be careful. Make some noise. See what happens."
"Are you sure?"
"Hell yeah. You're practically Hollywood royalty, sugar. I'd be stupid not to have a fake affair with you. Besides, the more press we get together, the more people will want to see our movie."
"Unless you end up dead."
"I have a bodyguard. You have a bodyguard. Surely, they can keep us safe."
"The paparazzi know where you live."
"It will be fine. Finish your food. Drink up. Then we're gonna party Knox-style."
I drink the rest of my champagne then laugh. "You have your own style?"
"Yep. Be prepared."
"You better like to dance."
"I love to dance. By the way, what does Aiden think of this? Is he going to be pissed at me?"
"He understands what I have to do to get my life back. But he really doesn't like it."
"I'm surprised he didn't want to come with. Even just to watch out for you."
"Oh, he did."
"But you're stubborn, aren't you?"
"Yeah. He knows if he pushes me, I'll be gone and he won't see me until this is over."
"Do you like the champagne?" he asks, filling up my glass.
"It's good champagne," I reply.
"If you had your choice, would you drink it at the club?"
"I don't usually sip champagne in the VIP section, if that's what you're asking."
He looks at his watch. "Thank god. I'll only deal with girls like that if I'm gonna get laid."
While he grabs his wallet, I text Aiden, who I know will relay the information to Cooper.
Me: He's in. Headed to a club. ifly.
Hottie God: Be careful. ifly2.
"I just realized something," I tell Knox as we're being driven to the club.
"You've fallen madly in love with me?" he says with a mischievous grin.
"Afraid not. It just hit me that all my life I've been taught to avoid the cameras and the places paparazzi hang out. How do you know where to go? What if we go and they aren't there? This will be a waste of time."
"You will never again say time spent with Knox Daniels is a waste. You will ruin my well-honed reputation." He pats my hand. "You have a lot to learn. It's cute. Tonight you will watch and learn from the master."
"But how do you know they'll be there?"
"My assistant tips them off. They all think I'm a horrible boss and she's on the take."
"So, she tells them where you're going to be?"
"When I want them to know, yes. The first club we're going to allows them inside. Photos will be taken of us when we arrive and when we're on the dance floor. They usually don't allow them in the VIP section, but the staff talks to them. So, if you want people to think we're together, you'll need to act like it the whole time."
"Sources at the club say the couple were dancing closely and seen canoodling in the VIP lounge. They barely looked at me when I took their order, a waitress says. They only had eyes for each other."
"Exactly," Knox says with a laugh. "After we are seen canoodling, we'll go to another club. We'll let it slip that we're headed there next, but it's much more private. We can just have fun. It's when we leave there that will matter."
"What do you mean?"
"Are we drunk? Are we kissing? Do we look high? Are we in a fight? Am I taking you home? Are we going back to my place?"
"I clearly didn't think far enough ahead."
The car pulls to a stop. "You ready for this? I'll get out of the car, put my hand inside to help you out, being the gentleman that I am. Come out slowly. Let them get a glimpse of those luscious, long legs first. Then gracefully get out of the car."
The photographers are there, just like Knox said, and we do exactly as we planned.
Sort of.
Once I'm out of the car, the reporters yell, "Who's your date tonight, Knox?"
Knox slides his hand down the side of my face and under my chin, gently raising it upward as the cameras flash.
"All I'll say is she looks a whole lot like her mother."
I decide to give Knox and the cameras the works, moving the corners of my mouth upward, curling my lips into a little smirk, and then giving them the full smile that people say is just like my mom's.
He shakes his head at me, leans in, and whispers loudly, "Beautiful."
I toss my head back just a little and laugh, like he said something funny, as he grabs my hand and pulls me into the club, his bodyguard leading the way.
Even though I know Vincent is in California, I still find myself on edge, searching faces for one that looks like his. Looking for someone who might be watching me a little too closely.
A guy in a suit leads us to the VIP area that rings the dance floor and is very visible from the rest of the club. Our section will seat a party of twenty, even though it's only the two of us. There's a chilled bottle of Don Julio waiting for us along with a full bottle service set up.
We haven't even sat down before a group of girls bounce over, calling out Knox's name. The VIP bouncer stops them by putting up his thick hand. "I'm sorry, ladies. You'll have to leave."
"But we partied with him last week," a pretty brunette pouts. "Knox!" she says again. "It's Marcy, remember?"
Knox surprises me when he leaves my side and joins her.
"Marcy," he says, giving her air kisses. "Of course I remember.
Have you ever met Keatyn?"
The girls don't look thrilled, but are polite as he grabs me, kisses me square on the lips, and then drags me over to meet them.
"Ladies, this is Keatyn Douglas. Bet you can't guess who her mom is."
It's then when I realize why he talked to Marcy.
And that I should play along.
I lay my hand on his chest, pushing away from him just like my mom does to Tommy. It's adorable because she never leaves his arms. Then I use her voice. Older, more mature, with a slight southern twang to it. "These girls don't care who my momma is."
Marcy's smile fades. "Oh. My. God. You sound just like Abby Johnston."
I roll my eyes at Knox like I'm irritated he spilled the beans then give him my pout. "Knox, baby, I thought it was going to be just us tonight."
He hugs me tighter, kisses my neck, and says sexily, "Oh, it most definitely is," as his bodyguard stands shoulder to shoulder with the VIP bouncer and says, "Sorry, ladies."
Knox sits down and pulls me onto his lap, snuggling with me. "Am I good or what?"
"You're devious, that's what you are."
"Shots, then dancing?"
"Absolutely."
He raises a finger and a waiter rushes into our section. "We'll have some tequila shooters."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Daniels," the waiter replies, pouring shots and lining them up in front of us.
Knox clinks my glass with his and we down the first shot, then the second.
"Let's dance."
