《Not If I Date You First》Chapter 31
Advertisement
LIAM
Stars are still dancing in my vision as the SUV pulls up outside the New York Public Library.
You'd think your eyes would eventually get used to all the flashbulbs, but they never do. The barrage of photographers waiting in front of Ada's building was overwhelming even for me. I can only imagine what it was like for her.
The feel of her body pressed against mine is the only thing keeping the waves of panic at bay that try to drown me whenever I'm surrounded by the press. I wish I could stay in this car with her a while longer and not just because of the photogs waiting to pounce on us as soon as we step foot on that red carpet.
I trail my fingers across the soft skin over her shoulder blades. Touching her has become almost habit in the past weeks, and now that we're dating for real, I can't seem to stop.
Outside the car, people chant my name. I lean forward to look out the windshield. Standing behind the rows of photographers is a group of girls holding signs that say 'Kiss Me Liam' and 'Liam Anders for Sexiest Man Alive.'
"Oh, yeah. That's really what that ego of yours needed." Ada's voice is teasing.
I hadn't thought about whether or not she'd be the type of girl who'd get jealous of the fans constantly throwing themselves at me. But it's clear from the amusement curling her lips that she's not at all bothered by it.
Briggs swings the door open, and a shockwave of sound envelopes us.
"You better give the people what they want, Superstar." Ada winks at me, and I swear to God, my heart flips inside my damn chest.
I lean in, pressing a kiss to her lips right there in front of the over-zealous photogs whose lenses are already peering in at us.
Advertisement
As I turn to climb out of the SUV, Briggs catches my eye, shooting me a knowing grin. I shake my head at him as my feet make contact with the red carpet. It's absurdly plush for something people are going to walk all over.
I reach back to help Ada out of the car. If I learned anything dating Mia, it's that moving in gowns like the one Ada's wearing tonight is no easy feat. But goddamn is she stunning in it. I can only imagine how incredible she'd look out of it.
Briggs keeps close to me as the rest of my security detail closes around us, trying to block out the cameras while we get our bearings.
My handler pounces on us the second Ada's out of the vehicle. "Do you know how to do this?" she asks Ada, snapping her fingers and pointing at an assistant to straighten out Ada's skirt for her.
"Not the slightest clue," Ada says, and I chuckle. Being at one of these events with someone who's so un-Hollywood is refreshing.
The assistant flutters around her, fluffing her dress as my handler runs through a series of instructions I'm having a hard time following, and I've done this more times than I can count. Ada's eyes widen, and the color drains from her face.
"Don't blink at all if possible and be sure to keep smiling the entire time. That's vital." The handler takes a step back, looking Ada up and down as though assessing a prize horse. "Let's see it."
"See what?" Ada's forehead furrows.
"Your smile. Let's see it."
"Ummm...okay?" Ada tries to force a smile, but it's the same teeth-bared grimace from the night we walked out in front of the paparazzi together for the first time.
Advertisement
I press my fist to my mouth.
"Oh, dear God," the handler says, looking horrified, and I can't hold it in anymore. I burst out laughing. My shoulders shake with the effort of trying to get myself under control.
Ada scowls at me in a way that's very familiar. "We can't all be world-famous actors," she snaps.
"Well, you can't."
She glares at me as I take her hand, putting myself between her and the handler. "Relax, Ace. Just be yourself." I press the back of her hand to my lips.
Her shoulders, which had been creeping steadily up toward her ears, loosen. "You know, you can be kind of charming when you want to be," she says.
"Oh, I've got moves, Ada Datchery. You haven't seen anything yet."
She laughs, winding her arm around my waist. "You don't have any moves."
I lead her out onto the carpet that stretches up the stairs toward the massive columns that frame the library's entrance. A white banner runs along one side, displaying the logo of the event's sponsors. I notice The Huntley Agency's trademark largest among them and remember that's the company Ada works for. On the other side, a metal gate serves as a barrier, separating us from the clamoring photographers.
Their cameras blaze, and I plaster on a grin that may not feel natural, but I know after years of practice, it looks it.
Ada's hand trembles where it rests against my back, and my eyes flick over to her. Outwardly, she's maintaining her cool. A close-lipped smile stretches across her face, and I have to admit, she's almost pulling it off.
I squeeze her waist, and she leans into me, but I feel her body stiffen as she stares over at the wall of photographers.
Following her gaze, I realize why. A girl with long red hair stands next to the barricade. Her dress plunges so low in the back, I'm sure her stylist used every piece of double-sided tape in Manhattan to keep her from turning into the latest wardrobe malfunction.
It's Mia. She's talking to a photographer with a bushy blond ponytail and wide-set eyes who looks familiar, but I can't quite place where I know her from. They're watching me and Ada with smiles I'd describe as predatory if this were The Discovery Channel instead of a red carpet event.
Mia waggles her fingers at me, and fear claws at my chest. If there's anyone other than my dad who I don't want talking to the press about me, it's Mia. She knows everything I've been trying so hard to keep out of the media. But she wouldn't say anything. Mia might be a lot of things, but she's not cruel.
I give my shoulders a shake. I'm being paranoid. I'm sure they have better things to talk about than me.
Advertisement
The Almighty Rich Daughter is Explosively Cool
For more than a decade, she disguised herself as a weakling while preyed on the strong – Qiao Qing had never viewed reputation as an important matter. But people began to take advantage and purposely hurt the ones she cared about. Qiao Qing then decided to stop hiding her real self. An incapable good-for-nothing? Her natural genius IQ can explode your eyeballs! A lowly commoner? Her real identity made her someone who you are not worthy enough to be friends with! A feeble chick? Her skills in ancient martial art can result in you looking for your teeth all over the ground! A godly student, a godly Go player, a godly night rider, a godly martial artist… as her real identity revealed little by little, all those snobs who once viewed her poorly began to switch sides and attempted to please her. Qiao Qing shut the front door. No guests welcomed. She blocked those who wanted her for their own selfish demands, but she couldn’t stop this one evildoer from approaching her. Just like that, climbing over the walls and entering through the window became Jun Yexuan’s specialty. As the President of the Jun Corporation, he had enough to protect Qiao Qing her entire life. But what bothered him was that Qiao Qing was far too independent and far too capable. Without any of his help, she was able to successfully handle everything. Jun Yexuan became moody – he felt like he wasn’t needed! So, on a random day, a cry for help appeared on Weibo, “What do I do when the wife is too capable? Waiting for immediate responses – it’s urgent.”
8 1646Existara: the RRD. Book two
Mission Impossible status: Failed. The Castle of Despair has proven itself to be nothing but an unparalleled overwhelming power yet again. If we fight - we die. If we don't - we die. Will this accursed cycle never end? Is there really no other way? The Rebirth Research Division - is tasked to finding the answers...
8 215Clay's Hope
Clay is a man of few human talents. As a wolf, he hunts well and can fight off a grizzly twice his size, but has no aspirations. The idea of a Mate isn't something he has ever seriously entertained. Dreamed about, maybe, but he knows the chances are nearly non-existent. Then he meets Gabby, a human girl. She hates him at first sight, yet he can't let her go. Who he was is no longer important. Now, who he needs to become to win her over is the only thing that matters. Note: This is the companion book to Hope(less), book 1 of the Judgement of the Six Series.
8 120I'm falling for my Ex Fiancé - (BOOK 2)
"Lana i want you to be on my wedding day, there's no excuse I don't want to hear it anymore. You graduated from med school a few months ago and i know you're running out of you excuses stocks" she said as i smile."I'll be back sooner than you think, and i promise I'm going to be there Diana" i said while staring into my best friend's face on my laptop screen."you promised okay, see you there bubz" She said as she hung up the video call.I called Gabriel's number then after a few rings he finally picked up, "Hey sis""Hey, Are you busy?""Not really, why?" "Can you keep it as a secret?" I asked him."Of course" he said."Prepare the jet for next week, I'm going back home" i said as i smile.~I was working in my office room until my secretary walked in with a big smile on her face, ugh she smiles a lot it annoyed me."Sir Mr. Blake is here" she said.Blake was one of my bodyguards and he had been following me around since the past few years."Let him in" i said.He walked in with his normal bodyguard suit and an earpiece on his ear, "Sir" he said.I ignored him while kept typing on my laptop to prepared a presentation for a meeting with a very important client,"She's back" Blake said and it made my head popped up to looked up at him."After 6 damn years?" I asked him."She's back in town sir" he informed me."Agatha cancel all the meeting today" i said to my secretary that was standing on the door. "Got it sir" she said before walking away."Blake, prepare my car" i said."Got it sir" he said before turning around and left.Avalana, it's been 6 fucking years since you left me. And I'm here still waiting for you to come back as i promise you back then. I'm going to make you mine again.
8 117quarantine || yandere x reader ||
🅨🅐🅝🅓🅔🅡🅔 🅧 🅡🅔🅐🅓🅔🅡A deadly disease spread throughout the world, almost wiping out the whole population. The solution? The government killed people who had it, only leaving a few hundred left to study on. That was over three years ago. You were one of the people that was left alive. Quarantined, studied on, and experimented. Day by day, curiosity grew, leaving you wondering what is outside your quarantine bubble. Disconnected. That's how you felt. Then, someone accidentally stumbled into your life. Aᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ﹐ ғɪxᴀᴛɪᴏɴ﹐ ɪɴғᴀᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
8 171Devil's Touch
{°Highest ranking: #14 in yaromance°}"Oh my love, you don't understand do you?" He asks, running his thumb over my lips that automatically part at the contact. "There's some devil in those angel eyes and it's not just my reflection." °The last thing Aceldama was expecting on the first day of her freshmen year college was a hot as hell religion professor. All she wanted was to go in and out as soon as she could, never knowing what was waiting for her that first day in class. The devil himself.
8 86