Hot Pursuit

Chapter 15

[Georgina's POV]

Just play the part, Georgie.

I was really trying my best to play the part very well and I think I was finally getting the hang of it. I did not even expect I would actually enjoy trying to fake smiles and telling unnecessary pleasantries with everybody. I used to think it was going to be boring to be at this kind of party before, but it was surprisingly overwhelming and amazing. I might have been stereotyping the way these rich people interact with each other. I even met more than a handful of really interesting ones.

All of the people here were actually the most famous names I only saw and read on magazines and TV shows and I would never even dream of ever meeting them all in person. I haven't even interviewed anyone inside this event yet. And as if I had turned into Cinderella myself, they all just seemed to treat me well too. A few of them even shook hands with me. That was the most exciting part, the moment when I get to feel how cold or warm their hands were.

These were all just humans dressed perfectly and happened to be living under the spotlight but I still found myself reeling over the entire thing. Kieran who seemed to not even feel bothered about having to greet each one of them, just smoothly smiled all the way. He even introduced me as his "special friend". Like... duh? I tried so hard to stop myself from rolling my eyes the moment I heard him say that.

Well, I kept a smile and almost laughed but I guess, it was not even bad that he actually considered me playing that role for him tonight. I mean, I was totally flattered that someone so good-looking like him was even going to ask me to be his date—but only to pretend. Not that I was hoping to actually date him for real. He's my type but... he's way out of my league and I knew that. I just want to make the most out of this experience. So when I found myself relaxing next to him, another shocking thing happened.

It was Penelope.

And we actually crossed paths with her... and her date. Huh. That was what really startled me more. The fact that she was here with someone else. And that someone else was not just anybody I would have expected her to see with. It was an old guy. A really famous one though. The man standing beside her, with an arm wrapped around her waist, was none other than James Carter. A really outstanding director who had won so many awards in the past few years. This was a living legend and for a moment, I felt a little uneasy to see that my friend was actually getting herself tied to a twenty-year older man.

I did not want to judge but... This was obviously way too far from the previous ones she had dated before.

If she was not my friend, I would have totally gushed over this and probably write an article about it. But I was not that ambitious to even betray her this time. Even when she actually was the reason why I ended up being entangled with the jerk standing beside me. I still had to thank her at least. She still was willing to give me that one single piece of information that I could use against Kieran after all.

Ha.

"Kieran Locke," I soon heard the famous director who appeared with Genevieve greeted us first the moment they approached us. Then he warmly extended his hand for a shake with Kieran, saying, "It's nice to finally see you in person. I only heard and saw you on screen before."

Hmmm, I could sense some offer coming there. He must have been trying to find a chance to get Kieran to play for his next film or something. Given the way that he was trying to look at the guy beside me with such pleasure and anticipation in his eyes. I only shared a look with Penelope and we both smiled sheepishly. She somehow looked like she was suddenly shy to find me there. I totally understood though and I tried to reassure her by widening my smile to her. Then I felt Kieran moving from my right, he was accepting the handshake with the same level of gratitude.

Then he said, "I saw your recent film, Mr. Carter. I am really astonished at the way it came out. It did not seem it had been filmed in different countries at all."

The director took pride in what Kieran said too. And somehow, I found myself sending Kieran a wistful look from where I stood. He seemed to be trying to get a good impression from this old guy. But I kept that thought to myself as I just let them talk more. Then after a few moments, Kieran was suddenly wrapping his arm around my waist again. And this time, I felt his fingers rubbing the side of my waist, sending shivers throughout the nerves inside my entire body.

I really wish he did not have to startle me that way. But I kept my poise and realized that he was trying to formally introduce me to the director.

"This is my date for tonight, Mr. Carter," he began, smiling my way as he acted as if he was some kind of doting lover again, "A very special friend of mine, Miss Georgina Hale."

"Georgina," he then added, "I believe you already know so much about him. This is Mr. James Carter, himself. And of course, the beauty here is none other than Penelope Miller."

I smiled perfectly and even offered my hand for a shake too, even went my way to exchange the same thing with Penelope who, on the other hand, was also trying not to be obvious about knowing me already. Mr. James Carter did not even seem to notice at all, and he just grinned back at me. He then said, "Nice to meet you."

I said the same thing back, appreciating that someone so outstanding and accomplished like him would even be smiling my way. It made me feel completely delighted. Somehow, acting the part to be Kieran Locke's date never seemed to be as exhausting and depressing as I thought it would be. I actually liked the attention after all. It made me feel important, at least once for tonight. I could temporarily forget that I used to be a nobody. And that somehow, with Kieran's help, I was given the chance to feel the same pleasure of being the receiving end of all of these enormous smiles and greetings from people I can never really level up to in reality.

And as we finally parted ways with the director and Penelope, after a few more polite pleasantries, I eventually felt Kieran's arm dropping from my waist. We were now walking our way near the corner of the event hall. But that whole time, Kieran still did not make any move to give me any distance at all. He still made sure we were connected by the hip until we stopped and settled to take our seats on one of the empty tables behind the other guests. Then as if being close was not even enough, Kieran started to lean to me again, dropping a kiss on top of my bare shoulders. I had to admit, I was not really immune from his charming affections.

He was very good at making a woman weak. But I tried not to say anything about it. Although, it was pretty clear that my cheeks were already starting to turn red.