Chapter 8 - Trenchcoat
Tasha had cleared it with security of the venue that Jennifer Austen would be her plus one and we were told to use the VIP entrance.
My English driver Steve opened Tasha's door outside the O2 arena then came round to open mine and I climbed out. Some girls recognized me and screamed my name from the barrier. I smiled and waved their general direction before making our way inside. We were escorted by security up to the VIP lounge where apparently the band was going to have pre-gig drinks to greet the celebs.
Least I got a drink out of it.
I noticed some familiar faces from the small screen and some came over to say hello. Tasha had met some of them on the show where she worked too. So I didn't feel like I was name dropping. A small cheer erupted and my heart skipped, taking me back to the rap party in Florida.
"Don't worry!" Tasha must have seen the colour drain from my cheeks. "He's not gonna turn up here, It's just the band coming in!" She laughed nervously.
"Great!" I rolled my eyes and sipped my glass of Chardonnay.
Gees I felt old right now.
I flippantly turned towards the ruckus by the door and saw the four blokes I gathered were the band. They were probably all around my age, which surprised me a little as I expected them to be in their teens. One in particular stood out a mile. He was tall, lean and had messy mousy blonde hair; topped off with the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. It showed off his perfectly aligned teeth and radiant eyes. Which I now noticed were a piercing green colour as he began to walk through the people towards us. Suddenly realizing I was staring, I pulled away my gaze and falsely scanned the rest of the room.
"Oh shit!" Tasha grabbed my arm. "There's Marcus, the lead singer I was telling you about. He's fucking hot!" She whispered as he grew nearer.
Amused by her reaction I replied. "Does Sam know you fan-girl like a fanny at these fellas?"
"No! Don't be silly. I have to play it cool in my line of work. Oh my god! They're coming over!" She sang the last bit and looked a bit like she very nearly wet herself, which made me giggle again.
One of the band; not the hot one though, made a beeline for us with a smile.
"Natasha Barrett, isn't it?" He said to her holding out his hand in gesture.
"Tasha!" She corrected him, reaching out to take his hand. "From L.W.W!" The chap took her hand and lent in to kiss both of her now pink cheeks.
"Nice to see you again Tasha, glad you could make it." He then turned to me. "Oh! I know who you are." He smiled at me politely and took my hand as he had with Tasha and kissed both my cheeks too. "I'm Tez!"
What aftershave was he wearing? It smelt lovely.
"Oh Hi." I still got flustered when people recognized me but I didn't even know then at events. Another member of the band approached from behind him. "Jennifer Austen?" He said grinning.
Yep, there goes the blood, straight to my cheeks.
Taking my hand, he kissed me too. "I'm Mark!" He said smiling.
"Hi!" I said again.
Ooh another aftershave. I loved men who smelt nice.
Tez introduced Mark to Tasha again. She was loving this. Mark looked back at me. "I've seen your movies, very nice!" He nodded.
"Oh, thank you! Kind of you to say so." I blushed harder.
"Marcus! Paul! Come meet Tasha and Jennifer." Tez beckoned them over.
"Jen!" I corrected a bit too loudly.
Gees, Jen! Why do you always make such an ass of yourself?! I scolded myself.
Tasha rolled her eyes. "It's Jen. She hates her full name. It's always printed wrong in the press."
"Oh I'm sorry, I apologize." He said putting a hand to his chest.
"No worries." I laughed it off and gave Tasha some evils while they looked back at Marcus and Paul.
Shit! The hot one was coming over!
"Wow! Jen Austen!" Marcus smiled as he walked to us with a glass in his hand. I had been right; he did have the most wonderful green eyes. I could smell his Brandy on his breath.
Oh that smile!
"Um...Yes!" I tittered shyly feeling the burn in my cheeks.
"I just loved 'Days of Dreams." He nodded. "Excellent work!"
"Oh, why thank you! Er, Marcus was it?" I extended my hand.
"Yes! Sorry for my rudeness. Marcus Perdy. Lead." He grinned taking my hand and kissing it, instead of my face.
Oh how disappointing! I want him to kiss me. Why did I have butterflies in my stomach? I don't remember eating grubs!
"Hey Jen!" The forth blokey said over Marcus' shoulder. "I'm Paul."
"Hi!" I replied.
"Marcus, Paul this is Tasha from L.W.W. Do you remember?" Tez introduced them to her.
"Yes I do. Nice to see you again Tasha." Marcus smiled and kissed her hand too. I swear I heard her heart pounding from where I stood.
"Hi Tasha." Paul grinned too.
"Hiya Paul." Tasha blushed.
Marcus stepped awkwardly back in front of me allowing Paul to greet Tasha.
"I'm sorry I'm useless remembering names. It's a good job you all know me. Cos I sure forget sometimes." I giggled nervously and glanced at Tasha who was now speaking to Paul.
Marcus sipped his Brandy. "So what you working on now? Or can't you say?"
"I've just finished a movie with Tim Ford, for Triad Productions?" I mirrored his action and sipped my wine.
"Tim Ford? Wow! Great actor!" He grinned. "Look forward to seeing that one. I've seen all your work." He widened his grin flashing his teeth at me.
Oh my lord above!
Shaking away my thoughts I got back to the conversation. "Really? You don't have to say that you know?" I tittered slightly wishing I could have a cigarette right that second.
"Nah! Honestly. Days of Dreams, Honour and Obey. Three Nights." He reeled off some of my back catalogue.
"Wow! Great detective work!" I nodded; impressed my work would interest such a hot singer. He didn't seem the chick flick type at all.
"What's the new one about? Can you say?" His laugh took me into a trance like state.
He's stunning and he smells like...
"Huh?" I said watching his rosy pink lips move.
"The plot! Can you say? Or no." He rephrased the question slightly.
God he must think I'm simple. Snap out of it Jen!
"Um, yeah! It's called 'Vegas or Bust'. Typical married millionairess catches her husband with his pants down, as it were. Ironically!" I guffawed, before scanning the room for Tasha who'd disappeared somewhere.
"What's ironic about that?" He spoke softly and sipped his liquor.
"Oh! Um. Nothing!" I shook my head then thought quickly on my feet. "I best go tear Tasha away from the celebs, she can talk for England!"
"Oh OK, sure, hey you are coming to the after show party aren't you? You are both more than welcome."
Was I blushing? I hope to god I wasn't.
"Oh I'm not sure what we are doing yet. But thanks for the invite." I held my hand out to shake his again and this time when he took it and pulled me in to kiss my cheeks. Thankfully we didn't go the same way.
"It's at the Plaza Hilton. Be great to see you there! If you can make it?" He flashed those perfect teeth again to seal the deal and caused even more stirrings in my undercarriage.
Yep, I was gone! Sold to Marcus Perdy!
"Oh. Well, we'll...err...have to see. See you later maybe?" I stuttered and turned to walk to Tasha, thank god she'd appeared again. "Where the hell did you go?" I said through gritted teeth.
"I had to go to the loo! You looked cosy with err...Marcus?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Just being polite." I shrugged, to which she just laughed.
"What's so funny?" I huffed.
"Nothing! So, what you think? Isn't he just spunky?" She drooled over him from across the room.
"Well, he's definitely young and dumb and very probably full of..." Tasha interrupted me.
"Jen! Play nice!" She scolded me.
"I am playing nice and don't go sneaking off like that again!" I said in a loud whisper.
"I told you I needed a wee, I couldn't really tell 'Trenchcoat' that could I?" She whispered back.
"Whatever! Look, can you smoke in here? I'm gasping!" I looked round for a sign, knowing the smoking laws in The U.K were different now.
"Well they are over there..." She pointed to two celebs I recognized, but for the life of me couldn't think of their names. This was nothing new for me. "..So I'd say yes." She nodded.
"Good! I need to calm my nerves!" I rummaged through my clutch bag and found the packet.
Tasha just laughed at me.
I offered her one but she shook her head. Dropping the packet back inside, I rummaged again for a lighter.
Shit! I forgot I lost it.
A flame appeared in front my eyes.
"Oh thanks!" I said, assuming it was Tasha. I followed the hand as I drew back the first drag.
"You're welcome" It was Marcus.
Drawing back too much, it made me cough.
"Filthy habit!" He said making his own wobble in between his lips as he spoke, before lighting it.
"Tell me about it." I coughed again into my hand to clear the tickle. He exhaled his draw and turned to Tasha.
"I was just saying to Jen, that you're both invited to the after party at the Plaza Hilton. If you hadn't got to dash off anywhere?" He shrugged before pulling again on his cigarette.
Why does it always look hot when men held them in a pencil grip like that?
Greg had hated my smoking. I think that's why I did it? Just to piss him off!
"Oh? She didn't say?" Tasha looked from him to me accusingly.
"I didn't get chance?" I snapped. "We really wouldn't want to crash." I flashed her a disproving look.
"Nonsense! My guests?" He blew another white plume into the air.
"Then we'd love to, thanks for the invite." Tasha jumped in.
Damn you Tasha!
"Right. I have a show to do. See you ladies later then?" He winked and retreated to gather the rest of the band.
"Sure." We both said in unison.
Once he was out of ear shot she squealed quietly. "Jesus, he's so damn hot! Shit! I forgot to ask for an autograph! You got any paper? Maybe..." She giggled. ".. I can get him to sign these babies." She clutched her boobs and wiggled them at me.
"Oh! Now that's just sick!" I said in disgust, but I couldn't help but laugh. She was relentless.
.
We made our way to our seats in the VIP box, the place was packed out. The atmosphere was electric. Maybe I could force myself to enjoy this after all? There were five rows of plush red velvet pull down type seats. A lot like expensive cinema seats.
"Ooh swish!" Tasha cooed finding our seats in the front row. "Great view huh?" She said pulling down the seat pad.
"Yes, very good." I nodded. "Loud though!" I raised my voice over the din of the chanting crowd.
"Oh don't be such a fuddy duddy!" She complained. "We're here to have fun!"