Life on the Naughty List, or What the Elf!

29. Chapter 29

Chapter 29

T he car slowed, and I saw the red carpet running from the street into the building. The snow fell lightly, but not enough to keep the paparazzi away. Thankfully, the length of red carpet we had to walk wasn’t very long, so we wouldn’t be standing outside long. “Are you ready for this?” I asked Kirk again right before the doorman opened our car door.

Kirk didn’t have time to respond. He lifted one leg out of the car and onto the carpet before pulling out all six feet and two inches of himself from the car. I could hear the flashing lightbulbs from inside the vehicle. I scooched myself over on the leather interior and offered Kirk my hand. With his hand firmly grasped, I slowly slid one of my legs out, placing the heel firmly on the carpet. I pulled my weight forward as Kirk gently helped me out of the vehicle. Without skipping a beat, I smiled brightly for the cameras. Kirk stood there holding my hand, unsure what he was supposed to do next. I slipped my hand from his, slid it behind his back and drew him closer to me. He was my arm candy for the night, and I wanted the world to see.

“Ms. Saunders, who’s your new man?” a young woman yelled from the other side of the red velvet rope, which was held up by a series of polished brass stanchion posts.

I turned and looked at the woman, smiled and said, “You don’t recognize Kirk Brewster?” I shot the woman a look of mocked shock before I turned away.

“Why did you do that?” Kirk whispered in my ear. “You know they don’t know who I am.”

“True, but it will keep them busy for a while trying to figure it out.” I grinned mischievously.

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Kirk admitted.

“It’s like peeling off a Band-Aid. Being with me will put you in the spotlight. This will get you a burst of attention, then they’ll be bored before Christmas is over,” I told him. “It’s a trick my old publicist taught me.”

“Ms. Saunders and Mr. Brewster, over here,” another reporter yelled.

I gently swerved Kirk in their direction and smiled. Kirk turned and gave them a startled look. We stood there for a couple more shots.

“Can I get a kiss for the camera?” another paparazzo yelled.

I turned and looked at the young man. “Now, look who’s trying to land himself on the naughty list?” I asked playfully. Before the man could respond, I dragged Kirk the last couple of steps as the second doorman opened the door and we slipped inside.

Kirk immediately loosened up. I hadn’t realized how much he’d tensed up during his first walk on a red carpet.

“You know, I totally would have kissed you out there,” Kirk leaned down and whispered. “I’d kiss you anywhere.”

“In the immortal words of the first showman, P. T. Barnum, ‘always leave them wanting more,’” Johnny said from behind us. I spun to see him and Amani wearing matching red velvet tux jackets with black satin lining and black tux pants. Amani wore a black cummerbund and tie, while Johnny was wearing a dark green set.

“You two look amazing,” I gushed.

“I know,” Johnny said. “But not nearly as gorgeous as that tall drink of water you have hanging on your arm.”

“Good evening to you, too, Johnny,” Kirk said as his lip turned up slightly at the compliment.

“It’s not fair,” Johnny said. “Your man looks better in a black tux than I do. Oh, look, my director for Passion is here. I’m going to go schmooze,“ Johnny said, pulling Amani away.

Amani turned his head back to me and mouthed, “I’m sorry.” I smiled.

“Erika,” Ralph Seegers said, approaching me.

I put on my fake smile and said, “Ralph, good to see you. Is your wife here?”

“Umm…no…well, she…wasn’t able to come tonight.”

“Well, I hope she comes to see the show with your children,” I said with the biggest smile. I loved the flustered look that crossed his face. “Maybe you can bring them backstage for a tour and an autograph.”

The flash of fear crossed his face was quickly replaced with a smile as fake as mine. “That would be great,” he lied. “Anyway, if you and Mr.…”

“Brewster. Kirk Brewster,” I said, turning and giving Kirk a peck on the cheek.

“If you and Mr. Brewster could follow me for some publicity shots,” he stammered out.

We followed from a close distance. Kirk leaned down and asked, “What was that about?”

“Remember the married guy I went on a date with?” Kirk’s eyes turned into round O’s as he remembered the story.

“That’s him?”

I nodded and kept smiling.

There was a The Naughty List logo banner backdrop put together in the restaurant’s corner with the show’s photographer. I walked over, and the photographer took a series of shots with Kirk and me.

“Can I get a few shots by yourself, Ms. Saunders?”

Kirk almost looked relieved not to be in the camera’s lens for a few moments. Without waiting to be asked, Peeter and Katherine bounded up on either side of me and started posing. The photographs we took ranged from the deranged to the crazy, but they all fit our characters perfectly. I stood there and took pictures with a ton of people.

Kirk got himself a drink and found a high-top table nearby where he could watch the comings and goings of people. Johnny and Amani had their pictures taken with me. I then took photos with my parents, then pictures with my sisters. Then, the whole family got a group photo. I thought my fake smile wouldn’t hold up long enough to get through them all.

When I was done taking photos, I turned and found the entire Saunders clan had surrounded Kirk at the table.

“This must be the young man you were telling us about,” Mom said as I joined the group.

It took me a second to realize what she was talking about. Oh geez, I totally forgot that I’d hinted I had a man at lunch . I played it off smoothly and nodded before saying, “Kirk, I guess you’ve already met my parents and sisters.”

“Yes, we were getting to know each other. They were telling me stories about you.”

“Well, I hope they only told you about the good things,” I joked.

Kirk shot one of his amazing smiles and nodded.

“Wow, it’s the entire Saunders family,” Asher said, suddenly coming up next to me.

“Well, if it isn’t Asher Alexander…the heartbreaker,” my mother said.

“Ouch,” Asher said. “I can’t say I don’t deserve that.”

“You deserve that and a lot more,” Kimber said plainly, looking down her nose at Asher.

“Well, it was good to see you all,” Asher lied before turning around and walking in a different direction.

“Well, that was fun,” Kimber said when Asher was out of earshot.

“Wasn’t it, though?” my mom asked. “I’ve wanted to give that boy a piece of my mind for years.”

“Mother,” I said the word, drawing it out. “Believe it or not, Asher and I are in a good-ish place right now. I don’t think we’ll ever be friends, but we’ve carved out a good working relationship.“ I looked from side to side before adding, “But it was fun watching him squirm…if only for a moment.”

“It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t like that guy,” Kirk said, giving my mother a conspiratorial wink.

“Welcome to the team,” my mother replied with her own wink.

There was suddenly a clinking of metal on crystal flute. I turned my head to find Rebekka Eldridge standing in the middle of the room.

“Thank you all for your attention. I know I already said everything I need to say earlier today, but I want to reiterate how proud I am of this company. I hope you all enjoy yourself this evening. But not too much…we have another show tomorrow!” There were a handful of laughs and polite applause. “Now, I know you are all wondering how the review roundup looks. Let’s find out.” Out of nowhere, Aarya was next to Eldridge with a stack of papers. Eldridge took a second and looked through the pile. She made a couple of tsk- ing sounds.

“You’re killing us,” Peeter yelled. Nervous laughter filled the restaurant.

“Well…I guess I won’t prolong the suspense for too long,” Eldridge said, looking up from the stack. From the look on her face, I didn’t think it would be good news. Admittedly, with all the Botox floating around in the woman’s face, it wasn’t exactly easy to figure out what her emotions were. “We’re a bona fide hit.”

The room erupted into applause. I hugged Kirk with abandon and planted another kiss on his lips without worrying about my makeup.

Eldridge spent the next few minutes reading reviews from The Times , The Post , Variety, and a whole slew of other major publications. All the articles were absolutely glowing. Several of them referred to me and the eleven o’clock number. Kirk squeezed my hand every time my name was said in a review.

Once Rebekka finished reading the stellar reviews, we partied with abandon. The champagne was broken out, and we toasted the creative team, the cast, our family and friends, and the media for giving us a chance.

“Before I sit down,” Rebekka finally said. “I want to toast the man who is not with us tonight, my dearly departed husband, Bernie. For those of you who don’t know, The Maurer Theatre and The Naughty List were his dream and are now his legacy. Here’s to you Bernie, may you rest in theater heaven.“ She lifted her champagne flute toward the sky as reverent cheers of “to Bernie” were heard around the room.

When the party finally wound down, I bid farewell to my parents and sisters. I made sure they had an Uber back to the hotel, though it was only a few blocks away. My town car was out front, and Kirk and I hurried from the building into the waiting vehicle.

“Well, that was a lot of fun,” Kirk said as we snuggled against the leather backseat.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I never know how someone will react the first time they attend one of these events. They’re a bit high-profile for many people.”

“I think I can get used to this.”

“Do you want to be a star, Mr. Brewster?”

“Oh gosh, no. But I don’t mind being your plus one.” He leaned over and kissed me on my cheek.

When the driver pulled up in front of the Manhattan Plaza, we dashed from the car into the building. The night guard on duty nodded, but didn’t look up from the book he was reading.

The elevator ride to our floor was filled with flirtatious glances and a few stolen kisses. Kirk paused outside my door as I unlocked it.

“I wish this night didn’t have to end,” Kirk said.

“Me neither. This was totally my Cinderella fantasy. I look gorgeous, and a handsome prince came dressed in a tux fit for the gods.” Kirk smiled. “Where did you get that tux?”

“I borrowed it from Johnny. He had one that was a bit too big on him, sitting in the back of his closet for years. Lucky me, it was the perfect fit. Well, it’s tighter than I normally wear clothes.”

“The fit is impeccable. It practically looks like you were sewn into it.”

“It feels like I was sewn into it, too.”

“I know that feeling,” I admitted. “Trust me, if my makeup and hairstylist hadn’t helped zipped me up, I don’t know if I would have made it to the party.”

“Oh, really?” Kirk said with a mischievous smile creeping across his face. “Need help unzipping your dress?”

“Why, Mr. Brewster,” I started in my best Southern Gone with the Wind accent. “I do declare. Are you trying to see my back?”

“Of course not, Ms. Saunders,” he replied in a pretty pathetic Brett Butler impersonation. “I want you to know my services are available should you need them.”

“Well, I think I need your services,” I said as I opened the door to my apartment.

I didn’t bother closing the door because Kirk would, and he was right behind me.