Starlet's Web - #1 {Exclusive Read}

Starlet's Web - Uaries - LOSER

~    LOSER!

Matthew leaned into me and talked into my ear, “Marie, I’m so proud of you. Good job, kiddo. You were heroic sitting there all night and clapping for the winners. You lost with grace.”

“Thanks,” I smiled. “Good job to you, sitting there knowing you deserved to at least be nominated.” Matthew was not much taller than me when I wore heels. He was 5’10” and famous for his six pack abs. He could also act.

“Thanks. I’ve got a present for you. I’m assuming you get to bail now that the Globes are over. Can I bum a ride with you and give it to you in your limo?”

“I’ll have to ask my mom.” Mom was home. She only cared about four annual award shows. I studied his face. “You’re not staying to work the after-party?”

He smiled at me and his eyes searched the room. “You didn’t come in with your mom. She’s not here.” He waved to Grant. “I’ll get far more publicity getting into that limo with you tonight. Please do me the favor?”

Grant kissed me a Hollywood hello, a quick kiss on the lips. “Hey baby, love you. That was an ultimate F.U. that we didn’t win.”

“It’s alright. Love you, Grant.” Grant was gorgeous, an excellent actor, and a genuine person. He gave the best performance of any actor but was overlooked by the Globes and the Academy because he was a new actor and the Academy members didn’t know his work, not because he was African American.

Grant shook Matthew’s hand. “I heard you already moved to Brentwood?”

“Yeah,” Matthew confirmed. “I can’t afford it yet, but at least I got out of the dump in L.A. My agent said my next royalty check will be even bigger. All of ours will be thanks to all these awards we’re winning.”

Grant agreed, “I know, right. But I’m still in my dump. I want to see the money first, see how many people own a piece of me, before I spend it. My agent warned me that it’s like the Colorado River and I’m Mexico.”

Matthew patted Grant’s shoulder. Someone signaled to Grant to meet someone influential. Matthew smiled at me and handed me a card and a jewelry box. I read the card. It was a sweet thank you. I opened the box. He gave me a pair of amber and diamond earrings.

“They match your incredible eyes. I thought they’d look so beautiful on you. Do you like them?”

“Yes, thank you. They’re really pretty.” I grinned at him and his eyes twinkled. I put the card and earrings in my handbag and smiled at him. I wasn’t afraid of him.

“I’m glad.” He smiled, put his hands in his pockets, and leaned forward, “Can we please get out of here? You can drop me off at my condo on your way home.”

We left without me texting Mom for permission.

Heading in my limo to Santa Monica, Matthew admitted that he wanted me. I was surprised and flattered. My gorgeous co-star thought I was hot? Wow. Cool. But I didn’t know what to do. He was a man, and I was off-limits to a man. I kissed a lot of guys at parties, but that was just for fun, and all men knew that Martin, the best lawyer in Hollywood, represented me and would lock them up for statutory rape.

 “Matthew, what are you doing?” I asked as he unzipped my dress. “I don’t want to do it with you.”

Everyone I knew had an awful casual-sex experience. I was not going to do it with someone I didn’t love. I loved Evan, and we didn’t. I certainly wouldn’t be doing it with Matthew.

He reassured me, “Okay. No intercourse. How about this?”

He moved off of me onto his knees while he stretched me out on the long limo seat. My bra was still on but my dress was off my torso. He kissed my breast, trailing his tongue along my skin to the edge of my Spanx and back up to my breasts. He caressed me.