by Olivia Jake
Sam was happy for Laurent, but couldn’t quite understand why this would be such a surprise. Regardless, she wanted to support him. “That’s great, Laurent, congratulations!” He smiled at her and sat down, still holding the bottle at his side.
“So, for the Estate cab, since it’s such a special edition, I had a new label made up, just for those bottles,” by now, he could barely contain his grin, as he finally lifted the bottle to show her. The label was the same overall design and look of the rest of La Bonne Vie labels, but this one read:
2013
La Bonne Vie
Avec Samantha
Sam was shell-shocked. There it was, in writing. Her name on his label. Before she could say anything, he said, “It’s true, Cheri. I am living the good life with you. It’s never been so good.” Sam felt the tears pricking her eyes. She couldn’t say anything. She just looked at him as he gently put his hands on both of her cheeks and kissed her and kept kissing her as her tears rolled down and they could taste the salt.
Something was definitely changing with this man. He had never before held his emotions back from Samantha, so it wasn’t that. It wasn’t like suddenly he was showing her how he felt, because he did that from day one. It was that what he was feeling, what it seemed like he was wanting, was so much, so much more than Sam had ever envisioned herself being a part of.
CHAPTER 17
Thursday night was the premiere of one of The Network’s new shows. Laurent’s strategy was a rolling launch, essentially premiering new series monthly. While the initial launch was more traditional with multiple shows premiering at once, Laurent wanted to sustain interest throughout the year. With audiences having so many choices, and craving something new constantly, he wanted to make sure he could feed that need. It amazed Sam the appetite that people had for ever-more new content. She herself couldn’t understand it, but she couldn’t argue with the numbers. Laurent knew what he was doing, each month’s numbers besting the previous. She wondered how long he could sustain it, but with a seemingly endless supply of quality content, it appeared he could go on like this for quite a while.
She wondered why the traditional networks continued to produce and acquire the same mediocre shows over and over again. She knew that Laurent wasn’t afraid to take risks, and that had something to do with it, surely. But it wasn’t just that. She knew that his approach with the show creators was similar to his approach with her and her ad campaign for The Network. Once she proved to him that she had the right idea, he let her run with it. She assumed that he did the same with the writers and directors of the shows on his Network. Unlike traditional networks where every level of the development team up to the president of the network gives notes to the show, Laurent never once meddled, which was surprising given his penchant for control. He knew his strengths, one of which was spotting talent and quality. He was confident enough to let those he hired do their job. So maybe that’s why his programming was so good, he actually left it to the people whose vision it was to create the show rather than pander to every worried exec that something might not appeal to every single person across the country.
Even though the actual “Network” itself was platform agnostic, as in, audiences could get its shows on any possible device be it computer, tablet, phone or old fashioned TV, Laurent still believed that a big opening was critical.
“I can’t just tell people it’s a big deal, I have to show them.” He would say. And Sam couldn’t argue. Audiences still loved the glamour of Hollywood, and having a big red carpet event with stars and gowns and media showed the world — both the industry and audiences alike— that the ‘studio’ believed in its product. Of course, anyone who knew Laurent knew that if it had his name on it, he believed in it. He would rather shut down production before a series saw the light of day than release something that he couldn’t honestly say was something he would watch or recommend. And there were a few series that he did just that. The scripts read great, but once production started, what was on the page did not translate, whether it was the actors or director or a combination of the two, bad was bad. And audiences were discerning enough and had enough options to say no to something that wasn’t quality.
Not that there weren’t plenty of shows on air that were horrifically awful, both in terms of the statement they made about society as well as, well, everything else about them. Most of these were reality shows which Laurent refused to have anything to do with. No matter how his small development team sang the praises of cheap production and endless audiences, Laurent couldn’t stomach the crap. For now, The Network was all scripted dramas and comedies. At some point, Laurent planned to add sports as he thought that was the ultimate ‘reality’ show. But for now, it was just good, quality series.
Sam was surprised there was a development department at all, knowing how involved he was and what his expectations were. But, he obviously realized that he couldn’t do everything and placed trusted advisors in those roles.
Sam had accompanied Laurent to most of his openings, and she was getting more and more used to the red carpet, the flashbulbs, the reporters. Not comfortable, by any means, but now she knew what to expect: Red carpet schmooze standing on Laurent’s arm as he answered some blond bimbo’s inane question about the show that anyone who had done even the slightest amount of research would know, then mingling inside the theatre with the director, producer, actors and the bevy of agents and industry folk. Then finally the show.
And, before every ‘premiere’, a garment box would arrive at Sam’s office. At first she tried to dismiss accepting the cocktail dresses and gowns that he sent. But she learned quickly and knew Laurent well enough to know that this wasn’t worth arguing about. If he wanted to see her in whatever he sent over, she acquiesced and eventually realized that it pleased him to see her in what he had bought. After the first couple premieres, there was a tacit agreement between them that on the night of an opening, Laurent would send a present to Sam’s office. Not that she ever expected one, and of course, always came with a backup plan B, but Laurent never failed to deliver. And dress after dress would arrive. Natali, Sam’s assistant would still get giddy at every new arrival and beg for a modeling of whatever the box held, and Sam would dutifully don the apparel, half rolling her eyes, half feeling like a princess, something no one had ever before made her feel like.
So this premiere was much like the others. Sometimes a town-car, but more often a limo, picked Sam up at her office. When she got in, she would always find a very dashing Laurent waiting for her in a black suit with a black tie. She had seen him in a tux before, but for premieres he chose suit and tie, but verging on a tux version of that.
Sam entered the limo and saw him waiting inside for her. His smile looked especially devilish this evening.
“Bon soir, Monsieur Román.” Sam said as she slid in, turning towards him and placing her right hand on the inside of his right thigh as she kissed him on both cheeks and then on the lips. Laurent immediately grabbed her wrist and held her there once their lips met. He deepened the kiss and Sam immediately softened enjoying his lips, his tongue and his strong grip on her wrist.
“You look lovely, as always, Ms. Davis.” He smiled as they finally broke apart, though he hadn’t yet released her wrist, “Where ever did you find such an alluring dress?” Sam wasn’t surprised that she found ‘playful’ Laurent in the limo. He enjoyed seeing his purchases on her and she enjoyed modeling them for him. This one was a simple long black sheath, with enough tailoring to come in at the waist, show a deep V at the neck, and a long slit up the thigh.
“My Laurent bought it for me, of course.” Sam replied as they continued to kiss and play with each other. Laurent pulled her away for a moment.
“Your, Laurent? What is that?” he asked playfully. She loved when he was like this.
“Mais, toi, bien sur.” She leaned in and kissed him again, this time taking the moment to lift her dress so that she could straddle him. “Calling you my boyfriend feels so…�
� Sam was searching for the word, “juvenile, non? You’re not just my boyfriend,” Sam said as she started to shift against him, her dress now no barrier, she could feel him growing, “You’re my, comment on dit, Laurent!”
Laurent liked playful Sam as much as she liked that side of him. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as she shifted from side to side on top of him, not grinding into him, but grazing against him enough to make an impact. “I’m your, ‘how do you say’ Laurent?” he laughed. “I do not know, Samantha, how do you say it?” He asked as he placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him harder, now they were grinding and Sam let her head drop back and her eyes close as she released a low groan. “Hmmm, is that how you say it, Cheri?” She brought her head back up, smiling a mischievous closed mouth smile and nodded, “mmmhmmm” which made Laurent laugh heartily.
“Ok, Samantha, we’re going to be walking the red carpet in about five minutes, so unless you suck me off very, very quickly, you’re going to need to get off my lap now.” Sam tilted her head and looked at him, then the corners of her mouth raised before she looked down at the hard-on that was evident in his pants. She raised her eyebrows and started to shift as if she were going to get down on her knees but he held her in place.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever turned you down, Samantha, but even you, with your very talented mouth, might not be able to make that happen so quickly.” He smirked.
“You know I never back down from a challenge, Laurent.” She said, trying to work her way out of his grasp. He laughed and stilled her.
“You’re awfully happy this evening, Samantha.”
“And I’m just trying to make you happier.” She said with a playful smile.
He smiled and raised his eyebrows as he slowly guided her off his lap, “Cheri, the thought of your lips wrapped around me right now is, mmm, it’s a very, very nice thought. But I need to meet reporters in a matter of minutes.” He paused as if thinking of the potential and then said, “Who knew I would ever wish for more LA traffic?”
Sam nodded, “I know.” As she straightened her dress, “But I do have fun playing with you.”
“Oh, Samantha, me too. Don’t ever doubt that. Now, I think you may need to reapply your lipstick. I might have messed it up kissing you just now.”
Sam rolled her eyes as she grabbed her clutch, “It’s not like they’re interviewing me, Laurent. I’m just your arm candy.”
“Very, very sweet arm candy, Cheri.” All Sam could do was smile. She chuckled to herself that very few, if any, other men could get away with a line like that. But somehow, Laurent could. And did.
She reapplied her lipstick and checked her hair before the limo finally stopped. She took a deep breath as Laurent crossed over her so that he would be the first one out, and able to help her out. Ever the gentleman.
The red carpet was the same as always. The same questions by different media outlets. Sam was always amazed at how Laurent could turn on the charm for each one. Lord knows she had seen his gruff side, and she could imagine him rolling his eyes at all the pomp and circumstance, but he was a businessman at heart and knew that doing these interviews was just part of doing business. Sam had almost gotten over the ego of being his arm piece. She knew it wasn’t her, per se. It was just whoever was his plus one.
Once they got inside, it was typically more phoniness, but at least there was no more media. Ever since the incident in Paris, the minute they got out of the limo and the flashbulbs started flashing, Sam’s heart would start beating faster and she couldn’t help but get anxious. Of course, she knew that nothing like what happened there could or would happen at one of these events, but it was an unpleasant reminder nonetheless.
The usual scenario was they’d mingle for 30-45 minutes in the theatre lobby prior to the ‘curtain call’, so she knew it was just a bit more schmoozing before they could relax and watch the show.
This happened to be one of the more interesting premieres, for Sam at least. In the lobby, they had a chance to talk with the series creator, James Willen. Sam was familiar with his previous work, most notably the long-running and edgy Emmy winning cable series The Badge. Everything she had heard about him reminded her of what she had heard about Laurent prior to meeting him: intense, perfectionist, could be a prick at times, good looking man in his early 40s. So it wasn’t surprising that the two men got along. Actually, it could go either way. Two alpha males battling to be top dog, but in this instance there just seemed to be mutual respect and admiration.
“Laurent!” James said enthusiastically as he held out his hand and clapped him on the back as they approached and shook hands.
“James, good to see you!”
“You too, Laurent, you too.”
“I’m glad the rest of the world will finally get a chance to see your new work! I screened the revised pilot earlier this week and I have to say, James, I think it’s going to be one of the best series on The Network.”
“Not the best?” James teased.
Laurent chuckled and then said, “James, I’d like you to meet Samantha Davis.” As he gestured towards Sam.
“Hi, James, good to meet you. You can call me Sam.” Sam said as she shook his hand.
“Good to meet you too, Sam. And thank you for the great key art. I understand you’re responsible for the show’s campaign?”
Sam smiled, “Well, there’s a team behind me, but thank you, I’m so glad you like it. I’ll be sure to share that with the folks who worked on it back at the office.”
“Have you seen the pilot, Sam? What did you think?” James asked.
Sam was surprised he was asking her opinion. Though in Hollywood, egos were fragile and needed constant stroking. “I saw the rough cut a couple months back, and before that I read the scripts, so that we’d have a sense of the series.” Sam knew that confidentiality was high on everyone’s mind, so it was always important to remind them why she and her creatives would see unfinished work since no one ever wanted outsiders seeing their product before it was ready. “But I haven’t seen the final, no.”
“And?” James prodded.
“And what I saw, and what I read was great. I have to admit, I was a huge fan of The Badge, so I was so excited when I heard you were working on a new series.” She paused and then continued, “It takes a true creative visionary to be able to come up with a completely new show, new characters, a new story. I imagine that after working on The Badge, after all those seasons, that those characters become part of your life, especially on a show like that where it was so real, so to be able to not let their personalities bleed into your new characters has to be very, very challenging.”
James nodded, “Challenging is a nice euphemism.” And the three of them chuckled. “You seem to get it. It’s like, after these people being in your life for six years, day in, day out, just one day the door closes and you never see them again. It really takes time, for me at least, to say goodbye to them.” He looked around like he was making sure no one was listening and then said, “I still have dreams where they’re so real that I wake up and feel like I’ve got to write another episode, but I can’t because the show’s over. It’s this odd sensation like the characters are buried alive but they still have more to say.” He smiled and then said, “I know, I must sound like I’m a little too invested in people who don’t exist.”
“Not at all,” Sam said.
Laurent chimed in, “It’s why your work is so good. If your characters weren’t worth missing, I doubt we’d be standing here premiering The Greater Good.” James chuckled and clapped him on the back again.
“And that’s why I’m glad this is on your network.” James looked at Sam and said, “This man doesn’t pull any punches,” gesturing towards Laurent, “After our first meeting, I got in my car and said to myself, we have to work together. That was the first pitch in my entire career where no one blew smoke up my ass.” They all laughed.
“Speaking of which, I should go over there.” James said as he rolled hi
s eyes and motioned to some industry folks. “Really nice to meet you, Sam. Hope you enjoy the show.”
“You too, James. And I have no doubt I will.” They all exchanged handshakes and James moved through the crowd to mingle.
Laurent leaned in and whispered into Sam’s ear, “You remind me at every turn why I love you so much.” Sam was taken aback. It wasn’t that he hadn’t told her before that he loved her, but it wasn’t like him to be so effusive. And especially not in public. She looked at him with furrowed brows, so he explained, “You’re very impressive, Samantha.”
“Not just arm candy?” she smirked.
“Not just arm candy, Cheri. You’re the entire meal.” He said as he squeezed her and they made their way into the theatre.
CHAPTER 18
Laurent made good on his promise of self-defense lessons, not that Sam had any doubt that he would. Sam tried to persuade him to let the trainer come to her house, in the privacy of her home, but he wanted to be there, to make sure she was getting trained properly. Sam couldn’t argue as it was a gift. She knew his heart was in the right place, that he just wanted her safe, though she did think he was over-reacting. She, after all, was the LA native. She was the one who had ferocious pit bulls. And she was still a relative nobody. No stalkers, no enemies, no reason to think she’d be a target more than anyone else. But none of that mattered. Laurent wanted her to be able to protect herself, “when I’m not there to protect you.”
Sam couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. She knew he was in amazing shape and trained with a trainer five days a week. But Laurent Román truly fighting off a bad guy? She just couldn’t see it. Not, of course, that she’d ever say anything even close to that to him. He was a man after all, and she knew that his ego, while well deserved, still needed stroking.
