Devotion

4 - Sebastian Connor

As soon as the plane touched down in London, Johnny was ushering me off and back through security. The gala started at six o’clock, giving me four hours to get back to my apartment and into the waiting car by half five.

The airport was fast as I’d left my bags in Italy for when I returned tomorrow to finish the shoot. I had only gotten a twenty-four-hour extension, meaning I’d need to work overtime to get the photos taken by Saturday morning.

“Your suit has been delivered to your apartment, get showered and some food. You need to be ready for the car to pick you up at half-past. Don’t be late, Sebastian.”

Johnny gave me my final instructions, his usual brief of what I should and shouldn’t say but he knew I’d do whatever I felt like at the time. Over the course of working with Johnny, he had quite quickly come to the realisation that nobody had any control over me. Except for my mum, obviously but he was only allowed to bring her in for extremely important situations. Otherwise, he had to let me do my own thing, as specified in our contract.

I had never wanted a manager; I was capable of managing myself. I just needed someone to work the angles behind the scenes. Someone for companies to contact instead of me and that’s what Johnny does. He books job’s and integrates things into my schedule but he has no control over my image as a whole. It allows me to be truthful, transparent, what you see is what you get.

The car rolled to a stop outside my apartment building and I got out. Once I entered my building, Charles rose from his place behind the desk.

“Ah, Sebastian! I didn’t know you would be home so soon; I have a suit for you in the back.”

He dashed off through the door behind his desk as I waited by the lift. He re-emerged holding a hanger above his head, the bag itself was larger than Charles.

I thanked him, explaining the circumstances quickly and when I would be leaving once more, before getting into the lift.

I let myself in, the smell of home assaulting me as soon as I stepped in. I left my keys on the side table beside the door before making my way to my room. Quickly, I plugged my phone in and pulled my shirt off. Dropping it in the washing basket, I made quick work of my belt, grabbing a towel from the cupboard and made my way to the shower.

I showered fast, being in and out in ten minutes. I wrapped a towel around my waist and ran another through my hair in an attempt to dry it. My phone rang as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom. I threw the towel on the bed and accepted the video call from Olivia and propping it up against the lamp.

“Hey Sebby, nice abs.”

I glanced down at the phone and was greeted by a close up of my brother’s eyeball.

“Rossy? What the hell are you doing with Liv’s phone?”

“Ah, don’t worry little brother, I was in the neighbourhood.”

“You’re three hours from home, you weren’t in the neighbourhood. Now, what do you want? I’m kind of on a time crunch here.”

A glanced at the phone again when there was no reply, the screen blurred and Ross screamed that annoying high-pitched screech he had done since he was six. I could hear Olivia yelling at him and I assume whacking him with something by the way he was squealing.

“Guys! What do you want? I’m kind of busy here!”

Stepping away from the camera, I dropped the towel around my waist. I unzipped the suit bag and pulled the pressed trousers from inside. I slid on the black trousers and threaded a black belt around. Leaving it unbuckled, I removed the last hanger, separating the shirt and blazer. I slid the smooth black fabric over my shoulders, buttoning it up and returning to the camera.

“Oh, look at you, Tian! Very handsome, indeed.”

“Let me see,” Ross’ whined, appearing over her shoulder on the small screen.

“Olivia, did you need something?”

“I was just calling to make sure you were still going.”

“Of course, I’m going, what else am I supposed to be doing? I literally flew back into the country for this.”

Sure, I was using this as an excuse to see my family but I always kept my word when I said I would be somewhere. I didn’t get the chance to see my parents in between my last few jobs. Johnny booked them back-to-back, so I was really pushed for time.

“I know but you seemed unsure when we last spoke, so.”

“I am unsure! This is ridiculous, the guy’s straight!”

We had already had this conversation and I had already expressed my concerns about this entire ploy. Olivia had confessed that Nathan actually had no idea I was a guy. All she had told him was my job, and that his agent would hate me. Which, honestly, didn’t bode well for my self-confidence.

“I don’t think he’s ever had the choice, Tian. Please, just give it a chance. Be his friend, I’m sure you guys will get on great.”

I ran my fingers through my hair and deemed it dry enough. I applied a small amount of gel and sprayed some hairspray to keep it in place. 

“Well, I’m going anyway but if he kicks off, it’s on you.”

I could see a text pop up from Johnny telling me I had two hours left. I clipped the deep red bowtie around my neck and folded the collar of my shirt down. Ending the call when Ross started making hand gestures I wouldn’t like to copy, I tucked my phone in my pocket.

I got some cheese and butter from the fridge and fired up the toasty machine. I lived for a cheese toasty but Johnny always told me not to eat them. I think he just really enjoying trying to ruin my day.

Once I finished my food, I spent some time checking my social media to pass the time. Eventually, I rinsed my plate and placed it in the dishwasher. The car was supposed to arrive in the next ten minutes so I grabbed my blazer from the bedroom and slid on my black dress shoes. The blazer was a dark red that matched my bowtie and I knew Johnny had a hand in the colour palette for this one. For a straight man, he had an exceptional style.

My phone vibrated with a text, letting me know the car had arrived downstairs. I grabbed my keys on the way out, patting my pockets to ensure I had my phone and wallet.

Charles greeted me as I stepped out of the lift, doing his usual job of letting me know what to expect when I exited the building.

“There are only three reporters out there, Luke is already outside and the car is pulled upright by the door for you.”

“Thank you, Charles.”

He stepped forward and pulled open the door, allowing me to step through and into the chaos that was the press. I slid my sunglasses on that I had tucked in my blazer pocket, in an attempt to block out the camera flashes.

“Is it true you’re attending the ‘youth’s mentality’ event this evening?”

“Are you attending alone or are you taking a special someone?”

“Are you going for your brother?”

“No comment,” I muttered, sliding into the backseat of the car.

Luke closed the door behind me as the reporters pressed their cameras against the blacked-out glass of the windows. Luke got into the front seat beside the driver and the car began to pull away from the pavement.

I text Johnny, letting him know I was in the car and heading to the venue. I also text Olivia, just in case we hit traffic and Nathan started to freak out. I didn’t typically get nervous before events, as I’d always been good at the social aspect of my job but this time was different. This could go exceptionally bad and quite possibly ruin both of our careers.

We were on the road for around fifteen minutes, navigating the London streets, before our car dropped into line behind a row of large black SUVs. Our car pushed on slowly and the noise from outside began getting louder as we neared the red carpet. It was a slow and repetitive process. The people in the cars ahead of me would get out and the crowd would roar, before settling to the usual loud chatter as they waited on the person to emerge.

“Nathan is in the car in front, he’ll get out and wait at the beginning of the carpet for you.”

Luke got out of the car and moved around to open my door. I slid out, taking a deep breath and plastering on the grin that got me my first contract. I smoothed out my blazer and nodded to Luke before making my way to Nathan. His back was to me as he spoke to his security just off the carpet.

He wore fitted black trousers and a black jacket that was pulled taut across his shoulders. His blond hair was messy in that ‘I don’t need to try to look like this’ way and it worked for him. I made my way over, my left hand tucked away into my pocket and I rested my right on his shoulder when I reached him.

“Hello, I’m Sebastian.”

His sharp blue eyes met mine as he looked back at me over his shoulder. He stared at me blankly for a moment and I knew the cameras closest to us were now turned in our direction.

“Hi, do you know if anyone’s gotten out of that car yet?”

He pointed behind me and I didn’t have to look to know which car he was gesturing to. I glanced over my shoulder briefly.

“Yes.”

“Oh! Did you see where she went? I’m supposed to be meeting her.”

“That would be me, I travelled in that car.”

He stared at me for a moment, seeming to contemplate my response.

“You know Olivia?”

“Olivia Rodrigo, yes. It was her car, no?”

“Yes, I’m supposed to be meeting a girl, a model, goes by Tian.”

“Well, I don’t really go by Tian, that’s just Olivia. I am a model though so at least you have some information correct.”

I could practically see the wheels turning inside his head as he tried to comprehend the situation we now found ourselves in.

“Mr Knight, Mr Connor, your next.”

The security guy to the right of the carpet signalled us over. As if our names shocked him back into action, Nathan stumbled back a step before swiftly righting himself.

“You’re not my date for this, we came as friends, okay? You were in town for this event and we came together.”

His hand came up to push against my shoulder lightly in what the cameras would interpret as a ‘friendly shove’ before he turned towards the carpet. I shouldered him back as I walked beside him, mirroring his movements of waving to the reporters who thrust microphones over the guard rails.

I continued down the carpet, ignoring the large cameras and stopping further down the railings when people held Iphones in the air and screaming.

“Sebastian! Can I get a selfie please?”

“I love you! Oh my god!”

“Hello ladies,” I grinned, leaning against the railings, I could see Luke stood ten metres away from me and I appreciated his acceptance of the way I handled public events. I took the phone from the first girl and held it out so we both fit in the shot before taking a couple of photos.

“I didn’t think he’d be here tonight, oh my god. I’ve wanted to meet him for ages!”

I turned my head when I heard the quiet voice further back in the crowd. Squinting slightly, I pointed into the crowd at the short guy with bright green hair.

“Can we make room for that fella at the front here, ladies?”

The genuine astonishment that spread across his face was the exact reaction I was looking for. He stumbled forward, apologising to those he moved past. A hand landed heavily on my shoulder and I glanced over my shoulder.