2. He needs help

"You know my name?" he gasps, eyes dimming.

Who doesn't, I think to myself. Leonardo Knight is a world-famous actor in Hollywood and the most sought-after action star.

I cradle his head gently in my arms. "Hey, hey, please don't die. Your fans will think I killed you."

He chokes out a heartbreaking laughter. "Yeah, they'll definitely start a petition to throw you in jail."

"I need to call my boss to take you to the hospital or something," I say, genuinely concerned.

"No! No! No hospitals. I'm fine..perfect, even." He coughs out a dot of blood that tells me otherwise.

"Look at you. Something is terribly wrong. You need to see a doctor," I insist.

He shakes his head with a weary sigh. "I'm fine. I just need to relax for a couple of seconds... or minutes..." His grip tighten around my arms as his eyelids fall.

He's falling asleep in my arms. But I'm scared he might die in his sleep... and imagine the hate tweets I'd get from his fan girls! Gosh no.

I snap my fingers in his face. "Hello?! Leonardo Knight! You need help. Isn't that what you told me five minutes ago."

He stirs awake softly. "An hospital can't give me the help I need. They'll only make things worse."

"What if you die?!" I blurt out, my intrusive thoughts winning.

He smiles. "Don't worry. I won't," he says with such confidence and assurance.

Then, I notice that his eyes are no longer red. And his bruised jaw is healing... on its own. His strength is gradually coming back.

"Leonardo, what's happening?" I have to ask, bewildered.

"Nothing," he replies, pushing to his feet rigidly.

My brows furrows in confusion. "That was not... nothing. You were bleeding. Now the blood is all gone. How?"

He gives a casual shrug. "I told you. All I needed was to relax for a while. I'm fine."

For some reason, I don't believe him.

A small, bespectacled guy runs in frantically. "Leo! Leo! You won the award for Best Actor in a leading role! You won!"

"What?! I won?!" he repeats excitedly, laughing as if he couldn't believe it.

I almost smile because his boyish excitement is so infectious. My previous worries about him needing help are now out the window and I'm happy for him.

"Go, go get your award!" I press.

Leonardo Knight bolts from the backstage area and rushes into the Dolby Theatre.

My energy is back on as I enter the kitchen. There is a television where we can watch the Oscar ceremony live while working.

I watch as Leonardo walks up to the stage.

His aura here is different from the man I held in the bathroom. This Leonardo seems confident, untouchable and mysterious. I can see why Alyssa is so obsessed with him.

On the stage, Leonardo shows off his killer smile as he speaks,

"This is such an honor. The movie, Gunshot has a special place in my heart and I gave it my all. Still, I never expected to win this award. My heart is beating so fast!"

He lets out an nervous chuckle that makes the crowd go 'Aww.'

"Thank you to the director, the producers, my fellow actors, my manager and the fans who watched the movie." He raises the Oscar statuette above his head. "This one is for you."

The audience cheers and claps as he walks off the stage. Watching him, I mindlessly smile until my reality barges in again.

"Lara! Table 7 wants a plate of hors d'oeuvre! Give them a napkin too," my boss yells.

That table has been making requests all day. I seriously had not predicted how hungry these celebrities get after starving themselves for many weeks to squeeze into Chanel gowns and Dior tuxedos.

I carry the tray and sashay my way to table 7 with a forced smile.

Roman Sinclair, the most followed actor on I*******m, is sitting at this table, and might I add, looking very impatient.

"Oh, so now you bring my food?! Great, just great. The Oscars are just as useless as the kitchen service. Should I just eat the table cloth?"

Lara, smile. Just smile.

"We apologize for the delay," I say as I place the tray on his side of the table.

He looks at it and grimaces. "Hors d'oeuvre? I did not order this."

While panicking, I check my order pad to confirm. "Sir, this is what you ordered."

"Are you calling me a liar?" he barks, his blonde hair catching the light.

I shake my head, plastering a bright smile. Fuck this job. "No, please, tell me what you want. And I'll go get it," I say.

But a lady in pink chips in. "Babe, you ordered the hors d'oeuvres. I remember because we ordered the same thing."

"Shut up, bitch. I wanted smoked salmon."

She fakes a cheerful laugh, nudging his shoulder. "Roman, you're so playful."

Playful? He just called you a bitch.

"Why are still standing there, waiter? Go back to the fucking kitchen. God, even the rats in the alley could carry a plate faster than you."

That one stings like hell. Tears well up at the corner of my eyes, threatening to fall down.

"I apologize for the mistake," I sputter out, cowering my head to avoid his vitriol gaze.

A familiar voice interrupts behind me, "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Roman should be the one apologizing to you."

I turn. Leonardo Knight is standing there, glowering at Mr. Roman Sinclair.

"Mind your business, Knight," Sinclair snaps. "I was talking to the waitjob loser."

"Funny, coming from a guy whose last movie bombed harder than his manners." Leo laughs.

"Just because you won an Oscar, you think you're relevant now? I'm still bigger, stronger, better than you. And very soon, I'll be your leader," Roman Sinclair taunts, eyes gleaming with dark danger.

I'm grateful that Leonardo is defending me from this bully. But I'm also confused, because these two men are supposed to be best friends. They were costars in a blockbuster superhero movie. They joshed around on red carpet. And their bromance was swooned over by thousands of fan girls, including Alyssa. What has gone wrong?

Leonardo's icy stare never leaves Roman. "Don't test me. I'll fuck you up, Sinclair."

"Yeah? Then I'll fuck your girlfriend next. Show her how to please a real man."

That does it. Leo's self-control flies through the roof as his anger spurs him.

His fist connects with Roman's jaw in a clean, brutal punch that sends the smug actor stumbling back into the table. He knocks over the glass cup and plates of fancy food.

The entire theater erupts in shocked gasps and stunned whispers.

Leo's eyes turn red. That's when he realizes something — his promising career was over.