Chapter 27 - Alex

[Text from Jordan to Alex] Tonight is the biggest night of your career. Are you ready?

The night Jordan was referring to was the premiere and wrap party for her show, Best Kept Secret. Her apartment was chaotic, again, as her glam squad worked in a frenzy getting Alex ready for the red carpet. This time around, she would be walking as a featured actress and Jordan would be at her side. It would be their first official public appearance as a couple and Alex felt good about it. She had initially planned on walking the carpet with her mother, feeling her mom earned the moment just as much as she did; but the only communication she'd had with her mother, since Vegas, was an e-mail terminating their contract and business relationship.

Despite everything her mother had done, Alex still felt that the night wouldn't be perfect without her mother there to witness the moment. However, Alex tried to be present and revel in the experience as much as she could.

[Text from Alex to Jordan] I can't believe it's finally here. I can't wait!

She felt stunning in a long-sleeved, mid-thigh, platinum gold sheath. Adding danger to her look was the dress's deep v neckline, which plunged down to right below her rib cage. Its padded shoulders made her neck and collar look even more delicate than usual. She wore her hair parted in the middle, in its signature straight style, with a tiny clutch and chocolate nude strapped heels to complete the look.

After posing for too many photos at the requests of her glam squad, Chris, the stylist, finally said, "Alright, girlfriend...don't keep your man waiting!"

Alex took the back entrance to her building's underground service garage where a limo driver rushed out to open the passenger door. Jordan stepped out looking suave in a high collared black dress shirt and black velvet vest. His European cut, houndstooth patterned pants fit Jordan well enough to make Alex blush. Would anyone notice if we were late to this thing? Alex thought, mischievously.

Always one to read her mind, Jordan pointed to the limousine's back cabin, "Nope! Get inside, beautiful." When she slid into the back, she saw Vince wave to her from the front seat before rolling up the partition. She quickly waved back and settled in for an amazing night.

When the car pulled up to the venue, Alex's heart pounded in her chest. The limousine door swung open and she carefully stepped out, making sure she remained cognizant of her high hemline. The photographers called out her name and the fans cheered loudly. The moment Jordan stepped out behind her, taking her hand, the screams were almost deafening. The two made it down the walkway, stopping occasionally for pictures. Jordan would take a few steps back, allowing photographers to capture individual pictures of Alex before joining her for a few shots together. Similarly, during carpet interviews, whenever Jordan was asked a question about Midnight Sun or D.C. Undercover, he either gave brief answers before deferring to Alex or simply told the interviewer that the night belonged to Alex and the cast of Best Kept Secret. He even joked he was only there because Alex wanted arm candy.

Eventually, they ran into Zee, who was supposed to be the belle of the ball but seemed wistful. Alex pulled her to the side.

"Hey lady, are you alright? You look amazing, by the way; it just seems like something's the matter with you."

Zee looked down, "Is it that obvious?"

"No, but I know you. What's wrong."

Smiling over her shoulder, Zee discretely nodded towards further up the carpet to where Derek stood, posing next to a leggy model. Alex thought back to the plane ride from Las Vegas and Zee's visit to Derek's place while Rubin was out.

"Wait, are you two supposed to be a thing?" She asked, astonished.

"Not officially...I don't know. I thought something was happening, but now I feel blindsided. He straight up brought some random groupie to our premiere."

"Look, Zee. I want you to fix your face and shine tonight because this is your night! We're going to turn all the way up at the party, then I'm coming by your place for a sleepover so we can figure this all out."

With a brightened expression, Zee gave Alex a tight hug. They posed for a few pictures together, and a reporter shouted, "Zee! How was it for you and Alex to act like best friends, for the show?"

"Honestly, I don't think it'd be fair to call it acting because we're real-life besties." Alex threw both her arms around Zee's waist and they both made duck faces into the cameras before breaking out into laughter.

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The hour-long first episode of Best Kept Secret was well received and the party was still going when Alex said her good-byes. She used a separate car service since Jordan was staying at the party later and she only needed to grab a few things from her place before heading to Zee's, for the night.

When she arrived at her apartment there was a large rectangular package at the door. It was wrapped in paper similar to what Jordan had used for the birthstone necklace box. Excited to see what Jordan had sent her, this time, she eagerly carried the package inside and set it on her coffee table.

Tearing through the wrapping paper, she saw a plain gift box with a two inch, typewritten note taped to the front. Alex furrowed her brows as she read the text:

"S.L.U.T. - Still Living Until Tomorrow..."

The same panic she felt in the parking garage returned. She looked up and began scanning her apartment for movement. Her breathing was so shallow, she might as well have been holding her breath. Her ears strained to hear any possible movements other than her own, but her apartment was completely silent.

Against her better judgment, Alex swallowed hard and nervously reached for the box. Slowly lifting the top off, she let out a screech, tossing the lid to the floor and immediately jumping onto her couch. Dozens of miniature wolf spiders were crawling over a bouquet of dead tulips.

After hesitating for a moment, Alex squeezed her eyes shut and grabbed her cell phone from next to the box, just before a few of the spiders started making their way onto the coffee table. She held her breath as she snapped several pictures of the flowers, spiders and the note on the box top, before making a mad dash towards the kitchen.

She grabbed the broom then sprinted to her room to checked the closet and bathroom, ready to swing the broomstick if anyone jumped out. Finally, she looked under the bed to make sure the place was clear before she began to pack a suitcase.

Alex started to dial her mother's number, then decided against it. Instead, she called a car service, not wanting to drive her own car, in case she would be followed.

Throwing her phone charger into her purse, Alex was out of her apartment in under fifteen minutes. Stopping by the security desk, in the lobby, she tried to act casually when she asked if any visitors stopped by or left any packages. The attendant informed her that outside of a bulk FedEx delivery, where several packages had arrived, there were no guests or individual couriers.

By the time Alex got to Zee's condo, her trembling had ceased. She quickly tipped the driver and hustled into the building lobby. A puffy-eyed Zee, already wearing pajama bottoms, met her at the elevator doors.

"What happened to you? You look like you just saw a ghost. And how many nights are you staying? That's a mighty big bag." Zee said, placing an arm around Alex's shoulder.

"I'll explain when we get upstairs. Are you ok? You look like you've been crying."

Zee smiled, as they stepped into the elevator. "Girl, I was chopping up onions for guacamole. Derek is not that fine!"

When they made it upstairs and Alex got settled, she told Zee about the incident in the parking garage and what happened at her apartment. Zee stared at her wide-eyed.

"Girl! Why didn't you say something? You need to call the police."

Alex shook her head in awe, "I don't know. I guess I felt like I might have been wrong about the parking garage incident and gotten everyone worked up about nothing. And then with this spider situation, I didn't want to get the police involved until I knew what was going...I mean, what if my mom has something to do with this?"

"Alex! Do you think your mom would actually send you death threats?"

Once Zee said death threat, Alex immediately thought of the Twitter handle, LBD. She fell silent as her brain worked in overdrive.

"What's going on? Why are you looking like that?" Zee asked, leaning into Alex. "Did something else, strange, happen."

"Yes." Alex responded in a semi-daze. "Someone called my phone and hung up, a while back, but I didn't think anything of it. This was before the garage thing happened. But there's this angry fan Jordan blocked, who had sent me a death threat...LBD."

"Little black dress?" Zee guessed, "Why do you think it's them? Didn't you get threats from a ton of people?"

"Yeah, but LBD direct messaged Jordan. I don't know. I could be wrong but maybe Jordan knows what she or he looks like, so I can know if I see them coming."

"Yeah, well Jordan is going to be pissed when he finds out all of this has been going on and you never told him."

"I know. I'm going to talk to him tomorrow."