Page 31 of Love in Times of Contempt

Turning in his arms, she opened her social media app and he watched over her shoulder how she made a post with it.

#Imlucky, she wrote.

Ana took a deep breath and prepared for the long walk ahead. Even though it would likely take her only ten minutes to get to the restaurant if she were alone, it would probably take a lot longer with Liam. They had never gone out and about that way, where he might get recognized, but he said things were different during a fest like this. That people expected him to.

They left an hour before their reservation time; they had invited Michael, the man who almost replaced Alex as the managing head for Jump Cannon for dinner and didn't want to be late. If the production company grew solid and expanded, they wanted to have a good standing relationship with the man, in case he was the right person to bring into the company.

It took only a few steps out of the hotel for a small group to stop her and Liam. The young women wanted pictures, and they asked Ana to be the photographer. After interacting with that group, she and Liam continued walking, hand in hand, until a different group stopped them at the intersection.

She didn't think much about it the first few times it happened, but soon a pattern became evident: people didn't seem to care about her. She tried to stay friendly and ignore the random seething looks she received, telling herself this was to be expected.

Someone asked, "Are you his assistant?"

Ana turned to the woman, admiring her pink hair and pushing her own irritation down.

"No. I directed him for Limelight, premiering this Sunday."

"Oh! You're Ana Lira! You're his girlfriend! Can we take a picture?"

All traces of irritation disappeared within her. Ana's smile turned authentic. "Sure!"

A couple of the people conglomerating around Liam watched them take the picture, but no one else approached.

"Okay, see you around, everyone," Liam announced. He approached Ana and took her hand. "We really appreciate the support!"

He leaned to her as they resumed their walk and whispered, "Hungry? We'll make it to the restaurant eventually."

"I'm quite hungry, actually."

"We're just a block away."

He kissed her temple. They only stopped for pictures with fans another three times in the last block.

Chapter Twelve

BECCA SAT DOWN WITH them the next morning for breakfast.

"Fans definitely adore you," she said. Ana wasn't completely sure that it was a plural you. She'd had a short call with Reagan earlier in the morning, who'd suggested she try to find her own fans, rather than share in Liam's. "So far, most of the conversation online is positive. People coming across you two think you're adorable together, so that'll help boost the documentary's reception."

Liam nodded.

Becca tapped on her tablet and showed them the screen. "This is a picture of the two of you from last night, you kissing her temple, that is doing the rounds. You look like you adore her and stole a moment with her."

So no, not a plural you. Which Ana got, Becca was his publicist primarily, after all.

She wished she could convince herself she didn't mind. Then she wouldn't have to work so hard at ignoring the cinder of irritation lodged in her diaphragm.

"Fair assessment," Liam responded to Becca, squeezing Ana's hand.

"Today it's Ana's panel, Women Directors in Filmmaking," Becca continued. She turned to Ana. "Did you get my email with the prep document? It was cleared by Reagan."

"Yeah, I did."

"Did you get a chance to read it?"

Ana nodded. "I did, this morning."

"Excellent. Liam, this is your pass." She handed him a lanyard. "You can either wait for Ana in the green room, or watch from the sides."