CHAPTER 80

I ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL WITH AARON. Since I was having issues with Adam, I asked my bodyguard to accompany me to the movie briefing.

Driving all the way to the venue, my mind kept drifting away and constantly got off the road. I almost collided into two cars and fortunately Aaron was with me and he handled the wheel.

It was 8 when we arrived and the meeting was due to start in thirty minutes.

It was my virtue to always be on-time and I embraced it wholeheartedly.

Aaron parked the car in the parking lot and offered to accompany me to the venue. I didn't object. I knew we didn't talk much but I appreciated the company that he gave. Knowing that someone was with me was good news to me.

Adam and Lauren nor Gemini were here so Aaron just had to fit in.

He offered me his hand and I smiled at how much of a gentleman he was.

I took it and we walked together up the stairs.

"The amphitheatre..." he said almost demanding to the security guard and he could already shiver in his shoes at the sight of such a huge man. He trembled and stood, guiding us towards a corridor and pointed at the building in the far end.

"Thank you...." I waved and be seemed relieved that we were gone.

"Did you have to be so huge? You're scaring people away...." I patted my hand on his chest making him laugh.

"It's my job to be huge....so that people don't think of messing with you...." he commented and despite having found it funny, I didn't laugh.

Right now, no one was helping me and someone was busy messing with me. Not even Aaron was at my aid.

"Am sorry...I just ."

"It's alright....I got...what you meant...." I smiled at him and he nodded agreeably.

We walked down the corridor quietly and came to the building the security guard pointed us to.

I could see Lauren, Gemini, Natalia, Drake, Lane Min Joon and other familiar faces.

I took a deep breath and let go of his hand.

"Thank you...."

"No problem...." he replied and I turned around to leave.

"Don't you too make quiet the couple....." Lauren commented and I smiled opening my arms to her for a hug.

"Thanks...." I replied in a very feisty tone and she smacked my head saying rude girl.

We walked into the theatre and I loved the warm welcome from the look itself.

The symphony warmed up inside the amphitheater while the audience crowded around outside. Unlike a circular or a semicircular arena, this one looked rather rectangular shaped.

It was much more of a boardroom and less of an amphitheatre to me. It had a wide collection of the seemingly expensive set up.

Whoever owned this place was sure to make a lot of money.

I walked in with Lauren and we sat where our names were tagged. I was sitting in the far right corner and she was sitting at the far end on the other side.

The chairs were comfortable and with seats made of faux leather and filled with foam; they made just the most comfortable space. If not careful, I'd end up sleeping here.

"Are you alright???" Lauren sat next to me and asked. I looked at her and nodded.

"Nothing weird yet so....what's the worry right??..." I shrugged and she rolled her eyes. I knew she meant good but I didn't want her to worry about me. She had two kids and a husband to take care of. I didn't want to be an extra burden.

I looked at her and her eyes landed on the tag that was just next to me.

"No...." she began and I gave her a questioning look before looking at the tag itself. Drake Anderson.

"Oh please Lauren...." I sighed and sank my face in my hands. I didn't want any more drama and suspecting other people.

Jeanine was lead suspect and I was sure it was her. All the evidence I had pointed to her and there was no way around it.

I was going to expose her and humiliate her for such a pain. She had caused me so much pain and I couldn't understand why she was acting so childish all because of a simple crush.

I've always wondered why she had a black eye for me but now I knew. She had a crush on Adam and since that day in the saloon, she tried to make things work for herself and prove me wrong.

Ha! she was drop dead wrong.

"Eleanor! Stop dreaming....you'll have to switch places...." Lauren yelled and I flinched. I looked at her desperate face and I had nothing to day to her.

"Why should she switch places???" A masculine, doctatory voice echoed from behind us. We turned simultaneously and landed on the magnificent human being Drake Anderson.

He was wearing a black long sleeved pull neck which I immediately called off and marked out of the weather.

It was hot today and I couldn't understand why he chose to wear such. In actual fact, he always wore pullnecks and long sleeves. Back in San Diego when we were shooting the movie, he had to be in a police uniform. He preferred the one with long sleeves and always buttoned it to the neck.

I wondered if he never choked but I assumed he was an OCD patient.

"Uh...I just wanted her to be next to me...." Lauren lied looking at me. I definitely knew it was a signal to make me back her up.

"You're welcome Drake...." I got up to give him a friendly hug. He seemed to like it and hugged me back.

"I guess am the luck one..." he bent down with the table supporting his hands. Lauren squeaked like a mouse and quietly moved out of the seat walking to resume hers.

Drake sat down and turned to me, having a little chat. I hadn't seen him for a month and I sort of missed him. From the look of things, he missed me too and I was excited to finally work with him again.

I tried not to think much on Lauren's opinion of him.

He was a nice guy who cared about me and I appreciated that. He was there for me and thought about me first. He stood up for me when everyone else thought they were being modest but keeping quiet.

He was a freedom fighter and I was a victim. I could testify for him anywhere and anytime. He deserves an upload.

Looking at him and seeing how handsomely his smile formed and how sweet his words were like stitches to my broken and fragmented ego, I realised Lauren was wrong.

Drake was not the man we were looking for....