We turned down a side street and pulled into a lot where men in black suits with earpieces were checking people in. A guy with a clipboard asked what I was there for.

“The screening. I’m a guest of Alex Chase.”

I felt the interest of the small crowd hone in on me.

“ID?”

I handed my driver’s license to him and he compared it to his list then flagged a woman in a floral dress.

They exchanged words I didn’t catch. “Right this way!” she said with a bright smile.

There was a small red carpet set up leading to a different entrance, and I was struck by how different it looked in person when you could see it was just some branded backdrops and a rug lined with people. Since no one was currently on it, the photographers standing around looked bored, checking their phones and casually chatting.

The woman saw me looking. “My bad, are you supposed to be doing the carpet?”

“No. Definitely not. Sneak me in whatever back entrance you were heading for.”

Inside, the venue was a gorgeously modern combination of industrial warehouse and swank luxury. I was escorted into the large screening room, a massive space that matched the industrial decor, with exposed ductwork, wrought iron light fixtures, and concrete everywhere. A bar lined each side of the entryway, which opened out to a space filled with chairs that faced a raised stage with a screen behind it. It appeared they hadn’t let everyone else in yet because the room was still mostly empty.

I approached one of the bartenders, figuring if I was going to sit through a movie it might as well be with a glass of wine. Cab in hand, I surveyed the chairs and took the one in the farthest back corner.

It was only a few moments before a mob of people began to file in, chattering excitedly as they took their seats. From what I understood, the screening was for a combination of press and some fans.

When the room was nearly full, Asha squatted down next to me out of nowhere. “Hey, are you good here? You don’t have to watch the film, but you should totally watch it because it’s amazing!”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

She patted me on the shoulder. “I’ll come grab you when the Q&A is wrapping up to take you over to the after-party.”

Alone again, I shamelessly eavesdropped on the conversations around me. I smiled when I heard, “I can’t believe he’s going to be sitting right there. Like we’re going to see him in person.”

The other woman giggled. “Do you think security would get to me in time if I tried to jump up there? It would be worth getting arrested to touch him.”

No wonder his ego was massive.

Ladies, you can do better.

“Did you see he might have a new girlfriend? Maybe she’s here tonight and we can kill her and wear her skin?”

Well, that escalated quickly. Bitch, you can try.