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Outside the ballroom, Aliyah hurried into the corner for a moment of quiet. Her shift started soon, but she needed to check her phone first. She hid behind a row of plants for some privacy. A small handbag dangled from her wrist. As she unzipped it, it nearly fell to the floor.

Notifications were pouring in. Fans flooded her social media with likes and comments. They shared her post across multiple platforms. A couple minutes ago, she scheduled a surprise appearance for after the benefit. Her fans called them pop-up signings. She breathed a sigh of relief to see all the buzz.

OMG! Another signing? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I couldn’t make the last one.

The Hotel Enamor? I’m already in the area.

Happy Birthday to me! I’ll bring my sister along, too. She ain’t a fan. Yet.

She snickered at a few of them. The last comment she saw simply said, I’ll be there.

At the Hotel Enamor, a throng of Hollywood types filled the ballroom. Actors and actresses mingled with wealthy benefactors and potential investors. The benefit drew a big crowd every year. Guests browsed dozens of tables with offers laid across them. The packages ranged from background appearances to set tours to celebrity lunch dates. On each table, a beautiful floral arrangement centered the display. The whole room smelled of lilacs.

Aliyah liked the glitz and glamor of her work but preferred to stay out of the noise. She stood alone beside her agency’s table, keeping her eyes peeled. She needed a job. She only came that afternoon with the hope of networking. She was filling in for a friend, another actress at the agency. She wasn’t in any of the offers. Not that year. A few guys asked about it, and she brushed it off. They still tried to bid on her.

Aliyah never shied away from dating. Boyfriends just had to fit into her schedule. They usually came and went with the parts. Nobody lasted long, and she moved on quickly. Her fans loved her for it. Breakups made as much noise as new flings. Sometimes guys took advantage of her status. Sometimes she took advantage of theirs. At her level, everybody had an angle.

Hollywood’s Hot, Rich, and Single, a recent headline read. An article circulated last week that ranked Aliyah seventh on their top 25 under 25. A few guys recognized her from it. She’d barely broken up with her ex when the article came out. She was single one week, and the world knew by the next.

Twenty-four and Gorgeous, the article read. We love her for her movies, we love her for her style, and we love her for her curly hair. The effortlessly elegant Aliyah Gavins knows a thing or two about looking good. Whether it’s her killer wardrobe or her strict gym schedule, this short, stacked, powerhouse is always ready for her next action-adventure. Called the Queen of Curls, she’s not afraid of a little frizz. Don’t let that cute fro fool you. (We love the new look, by the way. Absolutely fabulous!) She’s tough, she’s talented, and she’s intimidating. If her wit doesn’t cut you down, her jawline will. No wonder that face is in movies. Love her or hate her, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Seventh on our list of Hollywood’s Hot, Rich, and Single, Aliyah Gavins.

Her manager thought it was a bit much.

Across the ballroom, a trim man in a blue suit noticed Aliyah standing alone. He sipped his drink while he watched her through the crowd. His cuff links glinted in the light. The ends resembled tiny boomboxes. He wore a gold watch on one wrist and sported a matching gold bracelet on the other. The chain around his neck completed the three-piece set. The outfit was from the night before. He cleaned up for the event but hadn’t been back to his place yet.

He took the long way around the room when he approached Aliyah. A server crossed behind him with a tray of empty glasses. A second crossed in front with a tray of replacements. He switched his drink for another as they passed. Despite the bustle, he moved through the crowd with experience.

Aliyah didn’t notice him until he was at her table. He circled her from behind first, checking out her dress. The dark material sparkled. The skirt showed off her legs. The neckline left her shoulders bare.

Aliyah greeted the handsome stranger with a polite nod. He started at the end of her table, creeping inward without a hint of interest for anything. He swiped through the offers on the tablets, flipped through the paper sheets.

“It’s Aliyah, right?” he asked, sipping his drink. His voice was raspy like a smoker’s. “Gavins? The movie star? I think I’ve seen you at my club.”

She popped her brow and put on a smile. “Your club, huh? Which one’s that?”

“The Lux. You were there last week, right? Bigger group, Balcony C? I think you got loud, and we almost threw you out.”

She squinted at him funny then scoffed. “Yeah, right. No, you didn’t. We ain’t ever loud.”

He smirked behind the rim of his glass. “Nah, you’re right. I might’ve made that last part up.”

As he chuckled, he took another sip of his drink. Aliyah rolled her eyes.

“So, what’s all this then?” He gestured to the offers. “Am I supposed to bid on you, or can I just ask you to dinner directly? It doesn’t have to be at the club, either. Unless you want.”

He spoke with a quiet charisma. Aliyah pressed her tongue to the inside of her cheek. He was the fourth guy to ask her out that afternoon. Maybe they were starting to wear on her.

“You’re catching me at a bad time,” she said, “This is my busy season. I’m not working right now, so until I got a job, I’m in work mode.”

The handsome stranger nodded, swilling his drink. “Well, you could come by my office. I’m sure I could find something for you.”

She laughed. The outburst caught her by surprise. “Yeah, that’s not what I meant.” She put on another smile. “It’s just, in my line of work, we charge by the episode.”

He heard the rejection in her voice. He knew the tone. “Well, if things ever open up,” he said while walking away, “You know where to find me.”

She smiled for real at the end. She liked when they knew how to leave.

Upstairs, a stringed quartet played. The band switched to a jazzy number as the benefit rolled into the afternoon. Aliyah bobbed her head to it. It was a nice distraction from the pain in her feet. She regretted not bringing her earbuds. Nothing against the band, but she liked her music with a little more bounce.