"Elliott… where is the rest of your shirt?" Skylar asked carefully.
Elliott only smiled. "It's been stolen."
Amusement flickered across his face. He had seen countless actresses flaunt backless gowns and daring cuts, but never a man walking out in a shirt that was-quite literally-backless.
Unique, bold, and utterly perfect for this morning. After all, it was a direct message to anyone whispering about his 'tattoos'-if they wanted answers, they only had to look behind him and see if they could find any.
"What do you think?" Elliott asked, watching his manager's reaction with narrowed eyes but only saw the man opening and closing his mouth like a fish...
There was no denying that he was amused.
From the front, the shirt was deceptively ordinary- smooth satin, neat lines and tailored to perfection as one would expect from the brand. Giving him a buttoned up and restrained look.
But the moment Elliott turned, the illusion shattered. The entire back panel was gone, replaced with a daring cutout that exposed his shoulders and spine all the way to his waistline.
Only a narrow strip of fabric looped across the top, just enough to keep the shirt in place. The rest draped in fluid folds around his frame. Businesslike in the front, audacious in the back.
He never would have chosen something like this for himself. Or even thrown it away if a stylist dared bring it. But there had been a note tucked inside the shirt that had him wear it- "I didn't get to see your back…"
Any other woman would have blushed and avoided the memory of him tossing his shirt at her. But she hadn't shied away.
Instead, she had taken it a step further, demanding more. And here he was, somehow obliging.
Finally, having overcome his shock, raised the phone camera in hand and broke into a grin. "Ell… I have to admit, the brand lives up to its name. Even with half the fabric missing, this shirt looks sexy on you. Miss Grant clearly has an eye."
Elliott shot his manager a look that said obviously and sank into his chair. Just a few more minutes, and it would be time to make his entrance.
***
"Clara? There's a problem."
Clara glanced up from her phone as she stepped into the side room of the press hall. Her assistant's tone made her frown.
"What problem?" she asked sharply.
"We… can't find Elliott."
"What do you mean you can't find Elliott? Isn't he with the bride from last night? Our people have kept an eye on the outside of the hotel all night and we know that he has not left. Additionally, I received a picture of him from the bidesmaid at around five. He left the party with two women. See where they are and ask them to bring him here...Oh. And don't let him get ready... he should be disheveled."
The assistant nodded at that, even as she wondered how she was going to tell Clara that those women were also unreachable.
Just then, the assistant's phone rang and she hurriedly answered the call, breathing a sigh of relief as she got confirmation that Elliott was still with them and passed on Clara's instructions hurriedly.
She then nodded to the assistant and questioned," Bring them from the front door the moment they come. And have you ferretted out the questions? Mark the spots on those who might give Elliott a chance to explain. I only want those who want to tear him apart. Okay?"
The assistant nodded, though she wanted to protest. Elliott Ross was a good boss, so she didn't understand why they had to be so cruel to him... But knowing Clara, the assistant dared not say anything and nodded. If Clara could finish off the biggest star in Starlink in a night, then a little assistant like herself was nothing.
Soon, Clara walked outside, amid flashing cameras and loud questions. She gestured for everyone to sit as she walked towards the podium with an expressionless face. She thrived on the anticipation in the room and even more so on what lay ahead.
"Good morning, Ladies and gentlemen. I know all of you came here for one thing. You want to hear about Elliott. About his choices, his loyalties, and perhaps even his honesty."
"I understand some of you may feel… unsettled by last night's events and the rumors that have been circling around. It is not my place to judge personal decisions. But when those decisions threaten to overshadow the very foundation of the industry that we thrive on, then yes- I believe transparency is owed. You deserve the truth. And you will know it... All in good time."
"Before that, I would like to request you all to not judge the entire industry from the mistakes of a single person. Everyone has worked hard to get where they were and because of a single person, everyone is looked down upon...."