“It depends.”
“On me, right?”
“The prospect of losing you tears me apart. It rips my heart in two.”
“I feel the same way, but it means you would have to uproot your life. Then what happens if I’m finished in New York?”
“I don’t know. That’s the wild card. One of us would have to sacrifice.”
Austin took my face between his hands. “And that means one of us would resent the other.”
I looked at him. “Would you resent me if you had to take a lesser role?”
“I honestly can’t say. Would you?”
“I feel the same. I love teaching, and to only take a position at NYU for six months is ridiculous. It would mean I would lose my status at USC.”
My stomach churned with anxiety. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s making me sick.”
“I’m sorry. Why don’t we shelve it and discuss it if it seems like a possibility?”
“I like that idea because I have other things I would like to do.”
Austin stood up with me in his arms and carried me to his bedroom where we spent the entire night. I slept deeply in his arms until Saturday morning. He wasn’t in bed when I woke up with the sun’s rays peeking around the corner of the blinds in his bedroom. I stretched and yawned just as he was coming into the room with a tray in his hands.
“What’s this?”
“Breakfast in bed. Coffee and croissants.”
“Yummy. I guess I did something outstanding last night.”
He gave me a wicked grin. “You were more than very good last night. You were fantastic.”
He planted a soft kiss on my lips before he placed the tray on the bed.
“I have an appointment at the salon for my hair and nails.”
Austin sat down next to the tray. “Going all out, are we?”
“I want to look different than I did last year. I wore my hair down and a boring beige dress.”
“What are you wearing tonight?”
“I told you you’ll see when it’s on me.”
“What’s the big deal?”
I rolled my eyes. “It just is, so please humor me. I have to leave at noon.”
My driver texted me just as I was applying a layer of lip gloss to my lips. I looked at myself in the closet mirror and twirled around. I hadn’t been dressed so elegantly in years. My dress was tight around my chest and showed more than a hint of cleavage.
I chose a tear-shaped diamond pendant necklace and matching diamond bracelet and earrings. My hair was swept up in a classic chignon, and my nails were done in a French manicure on both my hands and feet. I wore a pair of silver peep-toe pumps which matched my clutch.
My usually driver, Antonio, whistled as I walked out of the house. We rarely interacted, but he’d been driving me for the past two years.
“Excuse me, Miss Stone, but you look gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Antonio. We need to pick up Mr. Doyle.”
I fidgeted as we drove to Austin’s. I wondered what he would say when he saw me. His response was classic. Austin stopped short when he opened the door and just gazed at me. He looked handsome in his tux with his inky black hair stylishly combed to the side.
“You can’t go out like that?”
“What?” I said, shocked.
“You’re so beautiful that I want you to myself.”
“I have no choice but to go to this, so please get in.”
Austin slid into the seat next to me and planted a gentle kiss on my cheek, then moved his mouth to my ear.
“If we had privacy, I would fuck you silly right now.”
I reached over and cupped his crotch. He was sporting a rock-hard erection.
“I’m sorry to disappoint, but it will have to wait.”
“Maybe we can find a coat room to fool around in.”
I looked at him horrified. “You would scandalize me to get your rocks off?”
Austin gave me a lopsided grin. “Absolutely.”
He bent down to kiss the creamy flesh above my cleavage and cleared his throat several time. I smiled at him.
“Tease,” he mouthed.
This time it was true. I was teasing him. The event was being held at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles. Austin couldn’t help himself, kissing my neck and chest while our car waited in line to let us out at the entrance. This was an industry event of top brass of all the production companies, including producers and directors. Typically, I shied away from this type of event, but now that I had a boyfriend, I wanted to go.
The Grand Ballroom was elegantly decorated, and we grabbed champagne off the tray of a passing waiter as we located our table. I scanned the room, and I felt a bolt of fear go through me as my eyes settled on none other than JJ Wentworth. He was sitting with a pretty young blonde woman who was tastefully dressed in an emerald green gown. His arm was draped around her shoulders. I quickly looked away, but not fast enough as Austin followed my eyes.
“Do you know him?”
I hissed. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“An old boyfriend?”
“Hardly.”
“Who then? You’re afraid of him.”
“Is it that apparent? It’s JJ Wentworth.”
Austin looked away from me and shot daggers at the man who had cornered me as if I were an object for his pleasure. I saw his jaw clench, and he gripped his champagne flute so tightly, I had to squeeze his arm before he broke the glass.
“I’m doing all I can to control myself,” he said through gritted teeth.
“He’s a non-issue as far as I’m concerned. We’re here to enjoy ourselves, so let’s and not worry about that ass.”
“He better stay away from you,” Austin growled.
“Judging from the way he’s draped all over that young woman, I doubt he’ll have any interest in me.”
Austin possessively put his arm around my shoulders, stroking the ivory skin of my elbow. Several other couples joined us from Spotlight’s board, and I introduced them to Austin. Two hours later and my boyfriend was deeply involved in a conversation about the type of wax to use on his surfboard with our Vice President of Marketing, Jeffrey Zelker.
I was bored and wanted to get some air. Taglyan had beautiful gardens just outside the ballroom. I gently tugged at Austin’s sleeve to get his attention.
He excused himself from his conversation with Jeffrey. “Yes, baby?”
“I need to use the restroom, and then I might get some air in the garden.”
“I’ll join you in a little while. Just let me finish my conversation.”
He kissed my hand as I made my way to the bathroom. After I was finished, I headed out to the garden. They had a beautiful fountain in the middle with lovely flowers along the perimeter. Occasionally, events were held out here, but it was too warm at this time of year.
I made my way outside, and I seemed to be the only one. I sat down on a marble bench and realized I’d forgotten my wrap. It didn’t matter with the heat. It was nice out here, and I could hear the music behind the French doors leading inside. I closed my eyes and relaxed.
My lids flew open as lips touched my bare shoulder. I knew Austin’s kisses well enough to know they weren’t his. I whirled around and was greeted by JJ Wentworth. He was holding a tumbler of dark liquid which I guessed was brandy or bourbon. He was unsteady, swaying a bit, telling me he was drunk.
“How dare you!” I said as I backed away from the bench.
JJ’s speech was slurred. “You’re so fucking hot. My dick has been hard since I saw you walk in.”
“Get the hell away from me, you slob.”
He dropped the tumbler in the grass and approached me. My heel got stuck in the sod, and JJ was able to reach me, pressing his lips against mine. He forced his alcohol-soaked breath into my mouth, and I gagged. I pounded my fists against him as his free hand roughly cupped my breasts.
“Let’s fuck. Find a dark corner somewhere. I’ve wanted you since the
first time I saw you.”
Fear was rolling off me, and I fought not to pass out. As if in a scene from one of our movies, he was wrenched away from me. I watched as Austin struck him in the jaw and he went down to the ground. He stayed down, and when he tried to get up, he vomited down the front of his tux. By then, security had come outside, and Austin took me into his arms.
“I want this man arrested,” he told security.
“You hit him,” one of the tuxedo-clad agents said.
Austin pointed at J, who was still on the ground. “He attacked my fiancée.”
“Is this true?”
I nodded; afraid my voice would crack if I spoke. Austin led me to the bench and picked up my purse so we could leave.
“You can’t go. The police will need a statement,” The security guard said.
“Let them call us. I need to get her home.”
Austin reached into his jacket pocket and handed the security guard his business card. I clung to him as he walked me out to the front of the building as police cars were pulling up.
I was wobbly and leaned against him. “My wrap. It’s still inside.”
“Text Antonio. When he gets here, and you’re safely in the car, then I’ll go get it for you.”
After I was sitting in the car, he ran in to get my wrap. It took him fifteen minutes, and I worried he was arrested for assaulting JJ. Finally, he slipped in next to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
I sniffled back tears. “You took so long.”
“I gave my statement. The police will be calling you tomorrow. I told them you were in shock. What happened?”
“He wanted me to have sex with him. He touched me.”
“I’m glad I hit him. Thank God, I came outside. I should’ve suspected he was up to something. I saw him looking at you all night.”
I wiped at my lower lids as tears dripped from them. “He said vile, disgusting things.”
Austin reached into his inner tux pocket, extracting a white handkerchief which he used to dry my tears. “It’s over. He’s going to jail.”
“You called me your fiancée.”
“I want you to be.”
“You do?”
“I know it’s only been a few months, but I want to marry you.”
“But suppose I go to New York?”
“We’ll work it out. There’s nothing we can’t work out.”
I leaned against Austin’s side, and he cuddled me the entire way home. The events earlier had shaken me to my core. We went to Austin’s place, and he walked me to the bedroom.
“I want to shower. I feel slimy. He touched me.”
Austin shucked off his jacket and pulled his bowtie off, then came to me to assist removal of my gown. He brought me my ivory silk robe, and I slipped it on. My emotions were raw, and he stayed with me as I fumbled to remove the pins from my hair.
“I’ll do it for you.”
He gently pushed my hands away and helped me onto the vanity. He painstakingly removed the pins from my chignon, being careful not to pull my hair. I loved him for what he was doing and ran my fingers over his shirt then unbuttoned it.
“Can you shower with me?”
“Is that what you want?”
I nodded. I wanted him close. After he finished with my hair, he turned on the water and quickly undressed. He lovingly washed me from head to toe, soaping my hair and body with tenderness. Austin dried me with a big white fluffy towel and combed my long sleek golden hair dry.
“Do you want to go to bed?”
“I think so. I just want this night to be over.”
“Get under the covers; I’ll be right back.”
I did as he told me, slipping under the cool sheets and turning on my side. The tears started to come as Austin re-entered the room and sat down on the edge of the bed to comfort me.
“It’s over,” he said as he rubbed my back.
“Maybe we should go to New York.”
“You can’t run from this. You did nothing wrong.”
“I never told you this, but when I started at Mountain Top, I was sexually harassed in the same manner by a director. He cornered me at an event much like this one. It was before I broke up with Ivan.”
“What did he say when you told him?”
“The director was a friend of his, and he said that I probably misconstrued the conversation. How can you misconstrue someone touching you between your legs?”
I heard a rumble come from Austin’s throat. “You should’ve told your superiors.”
“That’s just it, I did, and they told me not to make a big deal out of it. They said it was just how Hollywood worked. That’s when I decided to harden up. I wouldn’t move up if I let people walk all over me.”
“That incident had nothing to do with letting someone walk all over you. It had to do with the old boys’ club. Men think if they’re in a high place of power, they can assault women and get away with it.”
“After that incident, I never let something like that happen again. I made it known that Samantha Stone was not to be fucked with. I let my guard down tonight, and I have for a while.”
“Sammy, what are you saying? That I’ve made you weak?”
“You’ve made me more open to the human side of things.”
Austin pursed his lips. “As opposed to what? Are you telling me you didn’t care about people before me?”
“I’m not saying that, but I wasn’t so easily sympathetic. I’m slipping.”
“You’re not slipping. You’re in love.”
“And that’s made me unfocused. I would’ve seen JJ coming. I would’ve known what he was up to.”
Austin shook his head. “I doubt that.”
“Then I wouldn’t have been there at all.”
“I didn’t make you go. You invited me.”
“I left myself open.”
“So what are you telling me?”
“Maybe we need a break until I find myself again.”
“You’re not lost,” he cried.
Tears stung my eyes as I told him something that would break me. “I think I am. Those few days we were apart, the old Samantha was back.”
“You mean you were a miserable bitch, browbeating your employees into submission?”
“Fuck you, Austin. I do not do that.”
He got up from the bed and went into his closet where I heard drawers slamming. He came out a few seconds later wearing a pair of gray boxers and a white t-shirt.
He clenched his fists as he widened his stance. “You do. Your employees are scared of you, and you love it. Who the fuck deals with people that way?”
I sat up in bed, hugging the sheet to my body. “It’s the only way when you’re a female in a high-powered position.”
“You know what I think? I think this shit with JJ really fucked up your head. You want to be alone and take a break; then it’s fine with me.”
He began to walk out of the room.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m sleeping in another bedroom. You obviously want to be alone, and I’m too much of a gentleman to tell you to leave so late at night.”
I heard the door to one of the bedrooms down the hall close. I stared at the ceiling for a long time thinking about our argument. Did I really want a break? I loved Austin. So why was I blaming him for what happened? I fell asleep only to be awakened by a horrible nightmare. My heart was racing, and my naked body was misted with sweat.
I reached over for Austin and realized as my hand swept over the coldness of his side of the bed, he wasn’t there. I chased him away. In that moment, I knew how irrational I’d been. I needed him. I got up and went down the hall, pausing before I opened the door to his bedroom.
In the moonlight, I saw he was sprawled on his back with his arms under his pillow. I softly called his name, then apologized. When he didn’t answer, I slipped into the other side of the bed, hesitantly snuggling against him.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered.
“Sammy, you’re letting one incident change your whole mindset. Why?”
“I’m afraid.”
“He’s not going to hurt you again.”
I slipped my arm around his stomach. “It’s not just that. I’m afraid of the future.”
“With me?”
“With you, my job, my life. I’m happy, and I’m ruining it. I don’t know why.”
“Because it’s new to you.”
“Happiness?”
He slid his hand down my back. “A life where you have everything you wanted. Why are you sabotaging yourself?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not allowing you to push me away anymore. When you say those hurtful words, I know it’s because of fear. It’s okay to be happy.”
“We should talk about a few things.”
“There’s more?”
“You know I’m guarded. I keep things inside.”
“What else haven’t you told me? Some more sick harassment stories?”
I pressed my cheek to his chest. “No. My childhood.”
“I thought it was good.”
“My parents were always traveling. Not as much as they do now, but they still did it. I was in school so I couldn’t go, besides the fact they went to some bad places. Places where people were desperate for medical care. It was not for a child. They left me with my mother’s parents. I didn’t know them very well, and they weren’t like your grandparents were. Hugs and kisses were few, but they placed tremendous importance on my studies.”
“You were a kid. Kids need comfort.”
“They did as they did with my mother. I learned to play the piano and took art classes. Any grade below an A was grounds for punishment.”
“Punishment?” Austin questioned.
“I couldn’t enjoy my measly hour of play after school. I had few friends anyway. They thought I was weird. I was a gawky little kid.”
Austin kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry.”
“In high school, I started to change. By tenth grade, the boys were buzzing around me like flies. I dated a few, even slept with one, but I was cold, and we broke up.”
“You’re not that way with me.”
“I love you. I didn’t love him. I just wanted to try sex.”
“What about Ivan?”
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 176
