Chapter 419: After Party
Saturday, February 11th, Evening
There was an hour between the end of the show and the after-party. It happened because the show and the party were at different venues. The time would allow the attendees to arrive with plenty of time. That was a mark of Brooke's planning.
Ellie changed into her outfit for the party and changed how her hair was styled. When she finished, she walked over to where Angela was. The niece watched as her aunt finished dressing.
"Why don't they cover your wings?" Ellie asked.
"They did the first few shows, but after my first ESPN Body issue, the wings became kind of my trademark," Angela said.
"I bet it's better than having to do body makeup," Ellie said.
"Do they do all three?" Angela asked.
"Just two," Ellie said.
Bobbi-Lee came over and looked at the two Scott women. "Have either of you seen Brett?" she asked.
"She went back to the hotel, said something about homework, keeping her scholarship, and early flight tomorrow," Ellie said.
"I was planning to head over there to keep her company," Angela said.
"You should come to the party," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I've done that enough, and anyway, I've got a zoom call with my agent tomorrow," Angela said.
"You can't be serious," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Where are you playing next year?" Ellie asked.
"I'll never tell," Angela said, "I have a pre-teen daughter; I'm old and boring and want to look after my goddaughter, your niece, by the way."
"These things are networking opportunities for me," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I know, Brett knows, and you see her all the time, let Auntie Tall handle this," Angela said.
"You could hang out with me," Ellie said to Bobbi-Lee.
"Just what you need to hang out with boring me," Bobbi-Lee said.
Angela's smartphone buzzed; she picked it up and looked it over. "My ride is here," Angela said and looked at Bobbi-Lee, "I'll see you at your show."
"Who are you signing with?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"The Boston Banshees," Angela said and left.
"There's no Boston Banshees, is there?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"No, there's not," Ellie said.
"Trin brought Wyatt home?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Yeah, she'll meet us at the party," Ellie said.
"Alright! Wanna share a ride?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Sure," Ellie said as the two women started to walk out.
"What exactly happened to cause you to come home?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Just some romantic misunderstanding," Ellie said.
"I can never see that happening to you," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Not funny, Bobbi," Ellie said.
"If the stiletto fits," Bobbi-Lee said.
The car service took them across town. The after-party already had the paparazzi outside. Getting out of the car Ellie and Bobbi-Lee walked the red carpet. Ellie was grateful for the body makeup covering her survivor tattoo, as it concealed her secret identity. Not that mattered.
Inside the venue, Bobbi-Lee was greeted by a member of staff. They chatted and slipped a unique wrist band around Bobbi-Lee's wrist; Ellie noted it was like one Brooke would wear. Inside they separated.
Ellie grabbed herself a flute of champaign and took a sip. It's the good stuff; Ellie wouldn't expect anything less than that from Brooke. Ellie looked across the room and thought she saw Brooke talking to Natali Germanotta.
Shrugging, Ellie moved around the people. Occasionally, one of the other models would say hello to her. Ellie would be polite and return the greeting. The usual stuff one does at parties like this, circulate, chat, drink, snack, try not to embarrass yourself, and repeat.
Somewhere in the crowd, Ellie stopped in stunned silence, in the sea of noise. Across the room, talking to several young people, several of them were male, and one a minor celebrity was someone she didn't expect to see here. Of course, she knew coming to New York City always meant the chance of running into each other. This, of all places, wasn't one Ellie expected to see her.
The tall, dusky-skinned black-haired woman held a flute of champaign and was flirting with the group. Ellie shook her head; some things never change.
Ellie walked away and melted into the crowd. Hopefully, she'll blend in enough and not be noticed. Most days, she didn't mind people noticing her or that people would talk to her about her own book but wouldn't know they were talking to the author.
Making her way through the crowd, Ellie almost forgot about who she saw. That was when someone grabbed her elbow. Ellie turned around and looked into the eyes of the one person she was trying to avoid.
"There you are, Libby; I was looking for you all night," Ainsley Wilcox said.
"Ainsley, how did you get in?" Ellie asked, trying to compose herself.
"Daddy got me invited to the show and the after-party," Ainsley said.
"Would that be your dad or your sugar daddy?" Ellie asked.
"My daddy, of course," Ainsley said.
Ellie shrugged and tilted her head slightly. "Of course," she said.
"Speaking of the show, you looked beautiful on the runway, b, t, w," Ainsley said.
"Thank you," Ellie said.
"It took me a minute to figure out if it was you," Ainsley said.
"Okay," Ellie said.
"Did you take away your survivor tattoo?" Ainsley asked, inching ever so closer to Ellie.
"They covered it up with makeup," Ellie said, feeling Ainsley getting closer.
"That's sucks; it was my favorite one of your tattoos," Ainsley said as she inched ever so close.
"Thanks, I guess," Ellie said, trying to slide away.
"You know what I've missed since you ghosted me," Ainsley said, her voice taking a harder edge, and she closed the distance that Ellie opened.
"I told you I needed time and distance," Ellie said, sliding again.
"You had time and distance," Ainsley said, again closing the distance Ellie made.
"Not enough," Ellie said and slid away.
"What do you need more of time or distance?" Ainsley said, again closed the distance Ellie opened.
"Time, I need more time," Ellie said and backed up into a person. The person turned around, and Ellie looked at the person. "Sorry."
"How much more time do you need?" Ainsley asked, her voice now hard and almost venomous.
Before Ellie could say anything, Trin stepped out of the crowd. Ellie noticed Trin was dressed to the nines. Trin looked at Ainsley and gave her a death stare.
"Hello, Ainsley, do you mind if I steal Ellie," Trin said, in the typical Davis cold way.
"I still need to talk to Libby," Ainsley said.
"Well, Brooke Davis wants to talk to her," Trin said.
"Trin, I got this," Ellie said.
"It's business, Ellie, Brooke, and Roberta need to talk to you," Trin said.
"Trin, what could be so important?" Ellie asked.
"Well, Natali Germanotta mentioned she saw you in the show and mentioned she wanted to meet you," Trin said.
"Natali Germanotta? Really, that's crazy, Libby," Ainsley said.
"Let's go," Ellie said.
"Follow me, please," Trin said and turned to Ainsley, "And that means just Ellie."
Ainsley looked shocked but nodded. Ellie followed Trin through the crowd.
"Thanks for the save," Ellie said.
"It wasn't a save; she does really want to meet you," Trin said.
"I thought you or your mom was bailing me out," Ellie said.
"No, strictly business," Trin said.
"Well, thank you, anyway," Ellie said.
Trin smiled, "You're welcome, and you owe me, again," she said.
"No problem," Ellie said.
"Els, just sort your shit out," Trin said.
"Yes, ma'am," Ellie said.
Trin nodded as they came up to Brooke's group, "Ms. Davis, I have Ellie here," Trin said professionally.
"Thank you, Trinity," Brooke said, "Ellie, please come meet Ms. Germanotta."
Ellie stepped forward and smiled.
