Page 122 of Hollywood Undercover
The photographer taunted her. “C’mon, Lexxi. I’ve got to make a living too. You don’t have to be abitch.”
He laughed as he said it, probably hoping to get a visceral reaction from her. She wanted to strike him, but this was more of the same normal she had come to know in Los Angeles. Taking photos along with the usual low blows was his job, and being in the public eye was part of Alexandra’s job. She just wished that today he wouldn’t have made her job that much harder, with Wilkes only adding fuel to the fire by capitalizing on thepublicity.
Before she could get in the limo, Wilkes made his way beside her again. He dropped an arm over her shoulder and said, “I know you don’t want to make a scene in front of everybody, do you? I just want to talk toyou.”
“Make a scene!” shescreeched.
The camera flashed again and she squeezed her eyes shut infrustration.
I just want toleave.
“Come on, Lexxi. We have to get out of here,” Eva said in her take-chargetone.
Her eyes pierced Wilkes with a glare fierce enough to peel off the top layer of his skin. If Eva had said anything to him now, he would likely end up on the floor in the fetal position, her distaste for him was so strong. Thankfully, she spared him the absolute degradation. Wilkes turned to Alexandra with sad, manipulating puppy dog eyes and an almost trembling bottomlip.
“All right, baby. You have someplace else to be. I won’t hold you up,” he said, backing down. “Whenever you’re ready to talk to me, I’ll be here. I’m staying at this hotel. Lexxi, you can call me anytime, day or night. I’ll wait for you. By the way, I know there’s someone else. I met him earlier today. I want you to know I understand and accept your need to explore other avenues. I can only hope you remember your way back home to me. I love you, Lexxi.” Wilkes turned away with a contrived, miserableexpression.
Eva impatiently called Alexandra’s name again from the other side of the car where she waited with one footinside.
Alexandra held up a hand to her, signaling for her to wait. She turned to address Wilkes. “Wait a minute. What do you mean you methim?”
Wilkes didn’t turn to face her. He played the photographer like a violin, acting like he was hiding his pain from her. For some reason, she remembered the day he called to propose, while she was still being Alex Roberts. She had refused him outright and told him there was someone else, but at the time, it was alie.
So, what the hell is he talking about now, saying he ‘methim’?
Wilkes replied with a depressed sigh, eyes blinking sadly for the photographer when he said, “Before I figured out you were staying at this hotel, I thought you’d be at your daddy’s house. I stopped by there earlier, but ended up at the wrong house. I met the next door neighbor,Lexxi.”
“What? You metBash?”
Crap. God, I hope this photographer doesn’t have a voice recorder onhim.
Eva got in the car and slammed the door. It made Alexandra jump, startled by the sudden bang, but also floored by what Wilkes was saying. He met Bash, and he automatically assumed Bash was the man she had been talking about when she told him she had already moved on. True, Bash was the man she had in mind when she had said it, and now, even though she and Bash were still getting to know each other, it was reality. Still, she had to do what she could to protect Bash before all hell broke loose forhim.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Wilkes,” she spat out bitterly. “Sebastian is a friend and my neighbor. Nothingmore.”
Wilkes walked back to her and grasped her shoulders. “Honey, you don’t have to lie to me. I’m not angry with you. I told you I understand. I can see how a man like that might take advantage of your loneliness and vulnerability after finding out I was…with Lydia. I am truly sorry for putting you in the position of seeking out someone else for the fulfillment I never gave you. Lydia is in the past now, but I’m wise enough to realize I can’t take back that mistake. I have to suffer the consequences, and I’ll gladly do that to show you how much you mean to me. Just know that it’s killing me, killing me! Seeing you with someone who can’t possibly appreciate your level of…refinement. It’s probably only sex to him,sweetheart.”
Alexandra shook herself out of his clutches and sneered. “Nice try, Wilkes. Like I said, you havenoidea what you’re talkingabout.”
She jumped into the back of the limo and slammed the door for effect. The driver took off, and finally Wilkes was out of herspace.
“Why did you encourage him like that, Lex?” Eva asked. “You know he was only doing that for thepublicity.”
“I don’t know…Gosh, I can’t wait for this day toend.”
“I can see that, lovey. What was he going onabout?”
“Apparently he went to the wrong house earlier today when he was trying to get to Dad to find me. Guess whose door the bastard happened to knockon?”
Eva’s eyes widened to the point of ogling. “No!”
Alexandra nodded. “Yes. Sebastian Sullivan’s. Wilkes said he’s letting me ‘get it out of my system’ so I can eventually take him back. He’s delusional if he has his mind set on marrying me, and he doesn’t seem to understand the definition of the word no rightnow.”
Eva scowled. “This is why there are restraining orders, Lex. At some point you have to take responsibility for letting him anywhere nearyou.”
“You really think I’m encouraginghim?”
“Well what the hell was that back there? You have to start treating him like he’s a crazed fan trying to get in your space, except he’s worse than a crazed fan. He doesn’t even buy your albums. Anyway, the point is Wilkes doesn’t deserve you! I just hope you don’t get suckered in by that cheap cowboy impression he puts on. He’s shameless. He’s fake. He’s using the situation to his advantage, and if you keep it up, he’ll be the reason you lose Bash. You don’t need him in your life,dear.”
Alexandra laughed in sheer amusement. “Are you serious? You should know you don’t need to warn me about Wilkes, Eva. There isn’t a chance in hell I’ll let that jerk weasel his way back into mylife.”
Eva gave her a sideways glance. “That’s not what the last five minutes looked like, Lex. You’re already letting him in. I can see it in your eyes right now. Admit it. You felt some pity for his conniving little game justnow.”
“Ididn’t.”
“Well pardon me for getting all riled up at the very thought. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had about all I can stand of Wilkes. My vote goes for the boy next door. I’m totally Team Bash from nowon.”
“You know where I stand with Bash, Eva.” Alexandra slumped back against the leather seats. “The closer I get to him, the more I feel all I’m going to do is open him up to the insanity that is mylife.”
