He was horny and wanted to have sex again but thought it was too crowded for a second round. I gave him a handjob under the sheets and giggled as he tried to stay quiet while he came in my hand. I rinsed off, cuddled in, and slept fitfully by his side, neither of us getting very comfortable. At some point, I must have dozed off because, by morning, he was gone.
Chapter 25
Sinclair
Even though I was doing the right thing, it sucked. After I left Reyna and Arianna and her delightful roommates, I had that familiar empty feeling again. I wanted her to come back to my home and live there. That’s where they belonged. This hadn’t changed anything at all. I had to remind myself we weren’t doing anything wrong. I didn’t want to get another assistant; I hated the idea. But I couldn’t do the work alone, and sadly, if I kept Reyna, I’d violate work policy. A policy I demanded our company have to keep the employees safe.
Grace in human resources agreed I had to get another assistant. Given the climate in Hollywood these days, getting a new employee was advisable. I also added Arianna to my medical insurance and asked what concessions could be made for Reyna. Human Resources promised to offer Reyna a generous severance package and a year of medical insurance. That was good enough. I knew I’d take care of them for the rest of their lives, regardless.
“I’ll get you a temp today, and we’ll just move on. Hopefully, it’ll all blow over.” She flashed her plastic smile, and I felt sick.
I passed Ken’s desk, and he looked small and sheepish. “Sorry about what I said about Reyna yesterday, Sinclair. It was really shitty.”
I guess it was his attempt at an apology. “She quit. But since you seem so misinformed, I’ll let you know the truth. We are in a serious relationship, and our daughter is loved and adored. So, if you ever insinuate that the mother of my child is a slut again, I’ll have your nuts in a jar.” I glared at him. “No one’s job is secure these days. I’d watch my back if I were you,” I threatened as I walked into my office and melted.
At the moment, life sucked. My temp arrived later that day, and she was attentive, perfect, plain, boring, unbearable. I didn’t care. She did her job, and that’s all I wanted her to do. I’d lost a little of my passion. I realized Reyna kept my spark alive. With her working by my side, I was on fire. I got projects off the ground, basked in the success of our Dark One franchise, and dreamed of our future.
It was then I remembered that she’d given me her scripts to read a few weeks back. She had her kid’s troll project greenlit, but there were two more that hadn’t been sold. I felt like I’d failed her by not reading them sooner. I decided to spend the day reading her scripts, and I was delighted to discover she was an incredible writer. What an imagination and so humble; she hadn’t even said anything about how good she was. A lot of writers had an option on a script, yet they never got made. Her work was fantastic. I wanted all of them.
I knew I couldn’t just greenlight a film without going through the proper channels even though it was my company. I had to bring them to the development meeting to be read by other execs. I put the scrips in the reading pile and redacted Reyna’s name so people wouldn’t think I was giving her preferential treatment.
By the end of the day, a tiny spark of life had returned. I was almost happy until my horrid brother Shelton came traipsing down the hall just as everyone was leaving.
“Hi, little brother. Where’s your gorgeous assistant? I want to ask her some questions,” he had the audacity to ask.
“It’s still illegal to intimidate, threaten, or otherwise extract information from my assistant. She’s a witness for the prosecution,” I warned.
“I work for the firm representing Christopher Regent. I’m not his lawyer. Perhaps I’ll represent her. I just have to see if she has a case.” He was such a fucking a liar and not a very good one.
“She’s sick. I sent her home, so you can go away now.” I turned my back on him.
“Is she really worth it, Sinclair? She’s an unwed mother. Chris says she came on to him and was relentlessly pursuing him and now she’s fucking you. Do you really want to get messed up with someone like that?”
I thought about not doing it, but it must not have been long enough.
I turned back around and punched my brother in the face.
“What the fuck was that? I could have you on assault, brother, you better be careful.” He held his nose, which was dripping blood. I felt triumphant.
“My relationship with my assistant is not your business. I’m not being accused of anything, and neither is she, so I suggest you get the fuck out of here before I call the police. You’re at my place of business.” I was livid.
“You know I’ll find out what’s going on, Sin. I will drag every woman you’ve ever dated into this. Get that bitch, slut assistant of yours to drop her case, or I’ll come after you with everything I’ve got,” the prick threatened.
“Go for it, Shel. You’ll find absolutely nothing.” I wasn’t exactly sure he’d find nothing. I had a few women who hated me, but I never assaulted any of them. Every relationship I’d had was consensual.
He may have been able to find women who wanted revenge. Those might find his offer tempting, but I hoped not. For all my command and power, I was actually feeling very weak and unbalanced. The only person who could really help me out of my rut was my brother, Sage. I called him, as I often did in a crisis and told him I was coming over. I figured Reyna wouldn’t come to my house without calling and sadly, she hadn’t called or texted. I needed my younger brother’s help… badly.
“So, okay. Let me understand. The amazingly hot dark angel girl you disappeared with on Halloween, showed up at your office to interview as your assistant, that’s completely weird. AND… she had your baby, is now living in your house, and going after the biggest producer in Los Angeles for sexual harassment. You know how messed up this all sounds right?”
Well, if he put it like that, it sure did sound suspicious.
“I love her, Sage. Perhaps, instead of thinking of this as covert, you might see it as fate or serendipity.” Of anyone in our family, he’d be the one to understand fate and serendipity.
“Have you had a paternity test? Do you know if the baby is really yours?” Who was this guy? My brother Sage was usually so cool and laid back.
“I don’t have to; she looks like me,” I defended.
“Like what? Squishy baby? Without a paternity test, you don’t know for sure.”
“What about trust? I believe her, and even if the baby isn’t mine, I’d still raise her because that’s what love does.” I was livid. I came for advice, and I was getting a grilling from my little, guitar-playing brother who usually liked to chill and smoke weed with me.
What the hell was happening to my life?
“So is this it, Sinclair, this is the one?”
He got me. I had to think because he was right. Was this worth the fight? It would be different if I were just some guy, but I was Christopher Regent’s closest rival. He was also being represented by my vindictive brother bent on causing me drama. Was Reyna worth putting everything in jeopardy with no guarantee of a happy ending?
“She is. I think this is it; she’s the one.” I couldn’t believe I said it, but I was glad I did.
“Then fight for her. It might get really messy, but you got to bust this out into the open and put up the fight. If she’s the one, then you have to come clean to the media and everyone about the baby and all of it. Otherwise, they will find out anyway and drag you both through the mud. Love hurts, buddy. If you love her, you gotta take a bullet for her.”
“I love you, bro. You are so right.”
I had to take it to the next level.
Playing house wasn’t enough; I needed to make her a part of my world. My whole world.
Chapter 26
Reyna
I was staring at my phone. It’d become a habit. I didn’t know why I kept picking it up; he hadn’t called or texted all day. I thought perha
ps he was busy at work without an assistant, and I was actually feeling sorry for him. It was well past the end of the day, and he hadn’t even tried to reach me. I could’ve called him, but I wanted to know where he stood. He basically offered me money and just left this morning.
He said goodbye and was civil, but it was nothing like the passionate world we’d created for each other. I hated feeling like a whore or a slut because I was neither. Sinclair was it for me; he always had been.
“Stop looking at your phone, Rey. It only makes it worse,” Charlynn scolded.
“I know. I know.” I looked down at Arianna’s sweet face and played with her tiny fingers. “I just thought he’d call by now.”
“He’s being a coward. As soon as there was a tiny bit of heat, he bailed. Such a man.” Charlynn was pretty jaded. She didn’t have the best luck with men, and most of them had treated her badly. Sadly, I was starting to believe she was right.
“I don’t think he bailed, but…” I really didn’t know what I thought, to be honest.
“You know you can always call him,” Melody said, coming out of her bedroom with her guitar. “I have a new song; you guys gotta hear this. It’ll take your mind off of jerkface.”
I was happy to have a distraction.
“I don’t want to seem pathetic, that’s why I didn’t call… Besides, if he’s breaking up with me…” Those damn tears started to fall again, even though I was trying not to cry.
“Who spends a million dollars on shit for your room and then breaks up with you? I think you’re being a little over-sensitive. He’s probably just busy. You could’ve gone back to his house, that wouldn’t have been desperate. So, tears deserve wine… buckets of wine. Play your song, Mel, and I’ll get us some Pinot Noir.”
I smiled, listening to Melody play her guitar as Charlynn brought us wine. I had the best friends on the planet, that’s all I ever needed. Arianna and I would get through this. Sinclair had transferred two million dollars into my account that morning. I got a call from my bank saying a wire had come through from Sinclair Harris. I confirmed I knew him and was suddenly two million dollars richer. It should have been one of the best days of my life, but I felt completely awful.
“That was so great, Mel. I love that song.” I burst into bigger tears. “I shouldn’t have accepted the job,” I sniffled, “I should’ve just left it all alone.”
“But then you wouldn’t have two million dollars. Hello? And some pretty amazing sex according to what little you told us,” Charlynn reminded me.
“He was amazing, Char, it wasn’t just the sex. He was so good with Arianna and…”
“Oh no, here she goes again,” Melody interrupted, she handed me another tissue as mine was damp and crumpled.
Suddenly, we heard one of those crazy car horns, the ones that sound like a circus coming down the street.
“Oh my God, is it another Quinceanera? Or is it the time for prom? What time is it?” Charlynn was a little tipsy by that point.
I peeked out the window and saw a few black cars out there with dark tinted windows and a huge white stretch limousine between them. It must have been for a prom. Most likely, it was someone famous for making a scene. There were tons of paparazzi on the street. A thought crossed my mind—wouldn’t it be funny if it were Sinclair, being grandiose? No planning, no true thought, just going balls out.
Just then, I got a text. “Meet me outside your apartment. Put on a pretty dress and bring our daughter… we might end up in the news,” with a smiley emoticon.
“Reyna, what’s going on?” Charlynn asked after I got the text. I showed her my phone, and she laughed out loud. “That man is nuts.”
“I knew it, it’s Sinclair out there, isn’t it? Holy shit…” Melody exclaimed.
I put on my prettiest dress and grabbed the baby. She was sleepy but sweet, and we all walked down to the street together. No way was I going to face this without the posse.
As we exited the apartment building together, Sinclair stepped out of the white stretch limo wearing a smokin’ hot suit and carrying a bouquet of at least a hundred red roses. I was in total shock. He bent down on one knee, in the middle of the road with the paparazzi snapping away. Flashes went off all around us. I looked over to Charlynn and Melody, and they were as amazed as I was.
“Will you marry me? Sinclair asked, his beautiful emerald eyes looking up at me.
All I could do was nod my head, “yes.”
“Let’s switch, then.” He stood up and handed me the bouquet of roses while he took Arianna into his arms.
“Oh shit. I forgot this.” He fumbled, and for a moment, I thought he might drop Arianna as he stuffed his hand in his pocket and pulled out an enormous diamond ring. He didn’t have a ring box or anything else, just a slick, big, blingy ring that he offered me. “Give me your hand,” he said as he tried to wrangle the baby without waking her and put the massive ring on my finger.
Seriously, the ring was so big it would probably walk down the street before I did.
“Are you sure?” I whispered, looking at the gargantuan thing on my finger. “Is this really what you want?” I felt like we were filming an episode of some television drama.
“Yep,” he answered without reservation. “This is what I’ve always wanted. Now get in the car so I can whisk you away.”
I waved the ring at my roommates, and they went apeshit.
“We’re riding off into the sunset. Don’t wait up,” he yelled to them as we got into the limo.
Once I was in the car, I saw Lorna and Michael sitting across from us. I was a little confused to see them. Most likely it meant Sinclair had more crazy up his sleeve.
“I know this is all a little soon and rushed…” Sinclair started as he handed Arianna to Lorna. “But it was the only way I could think of to dispel any rumors that might crop up.”
My heart bottomed out. “Very clever,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment. “Where did you get this ring?” I asked, taking it off. “It’s insane.” I handed the ring back to him “Make sure it gets back to wherever it came from; I’d hate to lose it.” I was trying not to show my hurt.
He shook his head and took a deep breath. Lorna and Michael looked concerned as Sinclair calmly began to speak.
“Okay, I’m not sure if you’ve seen any romantic movies. I thought you had since you actually wrote quite a beautiful one. One, by the way, I’ve submitted to our development team for consideration. But… in case you missed it, I’ll fill you in. I just proposed to you. As in ‘will you marry me and live happily ever after kindathing. That ring is an engagement ring. A man gives a woman one when they want to spend the rest of their life with them.”
He was being ridiculous.
“And… it was a publicity stunt so people will leave us alone. A publicity stunt is not the real thing,” I said, correcting him as paparazzi flanked the car.
“Go ahead and drive to the office,” he told the driver. “I don’t want them taking pictures inside the car.”
He then turned to me, handing me back the ring. “This wasn’t a publicity stunt. I just asked you to marry me, legitimately. Now it can be a long engagement if you want. I’m impulsive, yet I can’t think of anyone else in the world I want to marry. Take your time; we don’t have to start wedding planning today. You do have to come back home to my house, so we can give this a shot. We owe each other the chance.”
“Really?” I couldn’t form any other words.
“Really. This way, we can explore our relationship and continue to fight Christopher. We are a united front; no one will pull us apart. If we choose to end it, it will be our own decision and not because of someone dragging our relationship out into the public arena. I love you. I want to spend my life with you… now all we have to do is get you to love me too.” He flashed me a dashing smile.
“I do… I absolutely love you.” I flung my arms at him as I watched relief dance across Lorna and Michael’s faces.
“Good thing that went wel
l.” Lorna sighed. “I was worried there for a minute.”
“Don’t think you were any easier,” Michael said in a dry monotone.
Chapter 27
Sinclair
I was thrilled that Reyna accepted my proposal. I knew she would, even if only out of shock. She needed time. I knew that, and in truth, I did too. Strangely, this was going to give us some space to continue to explore our relationship without people stalking and preying on us. The damn paparazzi followed the car all the way to the office as I thought they might. Everything was going to plan.
“The office is such a romantic place to celebrate our engagement.” Reyna was being playfully snide. Her face still showed her confusion and shock, which was fine. Sarcasm was her way of dealing with things.
“Do you mind if Lorna and Michael keep Arianna for the weekend? We have a lot of your breast milk stored in the fridge; she’ll have plenty. It’s only if Momma can be away from her for a few days.” I knew it was a lot to ask of her, so I was patient and expected a “no.”
“She’d be no trouble for us; we’d love to have her,” Lorna said, her eyes bright with expectation.
“It’s going to be really hard, but as long as I can call every hour…” Reyna was very serious. “I think it’ll be fine. We aren’t going far, are we?” She looked at me and was a little fearful.
I had thought about whisking her away to Paris or some other romantic destination but decided there was no way she’d agree to be that far away from Arianna, so I settled for the next best thing.
“We’ll be no more than an hour away should anything happen. I’m taking a summer Friday off of work, and we’re going away, but not that far away.”
Luckily the garage doors closed just in time to block out the paparazzi. There were still a few on foot who tried to get pictures through the bars, but we turned a corner into the executive parking and lost them.
Unexpected Surprise Page 17
