Chapter 20 Samantha #2
We say goodbye to Anastasia, Troy, and Rhett, and we peel off discreetly. As we do, someone grabs Harrison’s elbow.
It is a tall, stunning guy in a black suit, and the two hug. He is as gorgeous as Harry, with jet black hair and an aristocratic look and feel. Harry and the man turn to me, and his smile is pure.
“Samantha, this is Chris Remington, a very dear friend and the brother of Troy.”
“How do you do?” Chris asks, extending a firm hand.
We shake, and I smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“A good speech,” Chris says, really meaning it.
Harry needs fresh air, and he pulls at his tie. “Thanks, just doing my bit. Talk next week?”
“Of course,” Chris says. “And Ryan couldn’t make it. He is on set overseas, shooting. He sends his apologies.”
“Showbiz,” Harry says before grinning.
As we walk for the exit, we keep our heads down to avoid more discussions.
Finally, we find a quiet passage and head past statues and security.
I’m intrigued, and I’m sure I saw movie stars around Chris back there. It was just dark and hard to tell. It was also surreal.
“Your friend?”
“Yes,” Harrison says. “Chris is likely the world’s top movie agent. He handles stars, directors, writers, and producers.”
“Yikes, he sounds connected.”
“You have no idea,” Harry says as someone opens a door for us. “But he is not as powerful as Troy.”
As we enjoy sweet, rare liquors in the Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel, we catch our breath. It’s nice with just the two of us and without me dressed as his help. Or wearing an apron.
Harry is charming and even funny at times. His hard outer shell is finally breaking away, and I am getting to see the less grumpy version of him.
After a rough year, with me leaving the dick in LA, and finally finding a new job, I too relax.
We talk about life, dreams, and values, and what we think is important.
Even if we are very different people, and we have come from different backgrounds, we are oddly similar in our beliefs.
Also, in our values and what we think is right and wrong.
We also agree that, that night, the night of the sex storm, we were clearly sexually compatible, and we could fuck like no others.
Not that we would do it again. Not ever. Unless… maybe.
Finally, it’s late and bedtime. Harry walks me back to my suite like a true gentleman. He then bows his head an inch, and I walk inside my room. There is no kiss, and my stomach sinks.
Gasping, I touch my neck and find the large diamonds. I step out fast, and our eyes meet.
I run a fingertip along the ornate cold diamonds, and Harry walks my way.
Turning, I offer myself, and my butt to him. I keep my door from closing with my foot, and I am in the doorway. If he wants to take me, he can.
Here and now.
I won’t say no, and I will do anything he desires. Turning my jaw ever so slightly, I see and feel him step up to my butt.
I then feel his warm fingers on my skin, and I close my eyes.
His strong, long, and expert fingers brush against my neck, and I feel the electricity again. I want him to take me.
To unzip my gown.
To let it drop to the carpet.
To then walk me, in the diamonds and high heels, to the bed. To hold my butt as he enters me.
It does not come, and neither do I.
Harry carefully removes the diamond necklace and then he kisses my cheek as I turn.
“Thank you,” he says softly. “I enjoyed tonight, and it meant… Meant a lot.”
I nod and watch him back step.
He then tilts his head, turns, and walks away. Closing my hotel door, I inhale, lean against it, and sigh.
The next day, we board his private jet, and we fly north of LA. We talk more about life, hobbies, family vacations, and experiences as we grew up.
As we talk, I feed us delights from a deli I visited before we took off.
We picnic over California and we do it mid-air. We have cooked chicken, salads, and I even hand-feed him gherkins, so he can fly with two hands.
Harrison slowly opens up, becoming even more human.
As we fly over large areas of white, I look down on the snowy mountains. I then notice the engines change.
As we lose height, I nervously give him a look. Harrison tells me to put a belt on and sit, and we drop down and finally land.
An hour later, I’m on a movie set, sitting in a director’s chair.
I am handed a fresh juice by one of the production team, and I watch several movie stars act. The director works with them on shots, and he moves and talks fast.
It’s my first time on a movie set, and this one is huge. Harry said he helped to finance the movie, and that it was some spy thriller, but way behind schedule.
I’m giddy, and I watch big-eyed. The lights, crew, stars, and cameras all seem to move fast, with perfect precision and focus.
I watch Harry talk to the producers in the distance.
He listens, takes it all in, and then he commands. Commands them to make changes to get back on schedule.
As they walk back on set, he tells them to watch the overedges. He then tells them to trim several script pages. Reluctantly, they agree, and I am amazed at his confidence and calm.
We finally leave, and I take one last look at the movie set in awe.
It is electric, and it is inspiring.
We are driven back to the airport in silence while Harrison makes a few notes in his media diary.
Finally, we land at LAX, and a shiny black Mustang rental is waiting for him.
As Harry drives towards his meeting across Los Angeles, he’s nice enough to drop me near Mom.
We meet at a café near a recording studio and it is where she is rehearsing.
She is doing a show, and after a long hug, we sit and talk. Her apartment is in Glendale, but it’s cool to meet down this end of the city.
We have always been close, unlike my father and me.
Mom explains she’s well, and she looks it. I know having her office job and this job is tiring for her, and I know we need to pay off her apartment and do it soon. She is not as young as she was, so it’s time to start acting fast.
We talk about life, and she asks how my new job is going.
I tell her fine, now that the grumpy old man knows I know what I am doing around a kitchen. Only I don’t, around him, at all.
After, I take a cab and meet my brother. We do it near where he’s studying at UCLA. It’s good to see him, and to learn his studies are going well. We need to stay close. After seeing what Harry is going through, I have a renewed respect for siblings and family.
As my brother and I talk about life, ups, downs, and Mom working so hard, my cell rings.
“Hey,” I say, realizing it’s him.
“I finished early, where are you?”
“I’m with my brother, near UCLA. I’m about to go to my old apartment for—”
“Great, I’ll come by.”
“Wait, hang on.”
“You don’t have a car.” There is silence. What do I say? “Where are you?” I sigh and lock up. “Message me the address.”
And he is gone.
I send him the street location, and as my brother and I are finishing up, he messages to say he is outside.
My brother and I walk out, and we hug long. He then sees my ride and that it’s a new black Mustang. Protectively, he leans down to check Harry out. Harry is wearing a suit, as always, and he looks like the CEO he is.
“Hi,” Harry says as I watch them interact, unsure.
“How are the drug sales going?” my brother asks, his brow up.
Dear God.
Harry laughs loudly. “Better than expected. Who would have known?”
“He’s kidding,” I say. “He sells—”
“Things people don’t need,” Harry says calmly.
“What?” my brother asks, confused.
“Media… Movies and advertising,” I say. “Harry finances media projects. He’s a CEO, and just a friend.”
My protective brother checks Harry out, and then he does the ‘I’m watching you’ hand sign.
Harry tries not to smile, but he does. “I like your style, kid!”
My cool, young brother flips him the bird, and places his sunglasses on. He then heads off on his bike.
“Love you!” I say, leaping in.
“A good kid,” Harry says before powering us away confidently.
“He is,” I agree.
“You’re lucky to have him. Protect him with your life,” Harry says, deadly serious.
I look over, and Harry winds his window down.
“I don’t mind it here. There’s an energy to the city.”
“Sure,” I say. “And traffic. Crime. Chaos. And… weird exes.”
We exchange a look, and Harry adjusts his old Ray-Bans. He looks serious, and he looks protective. In his suit, he looks like a crime boss. A mafia crime boss from NYC.
So f-ing hot.
As we pull up outside my embarrassing old apartment in LA, I ask Harry to wait. He looks like his radar has been turned on, but it may have been because of the gangbanger type who just drove by slowly.
Falling for a hot bad boy type in LA, what the actual fuck. Loaning money to the loser ex was also a huge mistake, and I learned the hard way.
As I step out of the Mustang, I try to do a casual yet fast three-sixty of the area.
I head quickly into the average, small apartment building, then I walk through and down the inside. I find our back door and then the garage side door.
As I pause outside again, I look in all directions. On the street, I see Harry, but Harry is now outside the car. He is removing his tie and jacket, and he places them in the back.
He rolls up his sleeves, leaning against the black Mustang as if ready for trouble.
“Oh boy,” I mumble, keying the rusty lock.
Ten minutes later, I carry all I need, and fast. Cutting quickly around the side of the suspect building, I head across the small, nasty lawn.
I am about to drop the lot when a loud voice yells, “Hey!”
I stagger with the boxes, but Harry is fast and catches them. Without saying anything, he moves fast, placing them carefully into the back seat.
I back quickly around the Mustang as my tattooed ex, Lucas, walks forward. He is pissed and, as always, in a white singlet.
He walks fast, and aggressively. Harry cuts in front of Lucas to block him and he grabs his thick arm. “Back away, now.”
Harry looks as cool as ice, and Lucas snarls, “The hell I will.”
I’ve seen Lucas like this before; his mood swings are extreme. Even if he had said a million times he was getting his life together, having anything to do with him—a huge mistake.
Harrison and Lucas stand off and circle, ready to fight.
Fuck.
Harry then stops, and he does not move an inch. His arms in the tight business shirt look huge, and for some reason, he does not show fear, at all.
Lucas paces, looking all over the place, his energy scattered. “So, who the fuck is pretty boy? Your new guy?”
I don’t answer. I just stand on the far side of the car, my heart racing.
“I knew it,” Lucas says. “You’re single again. You’re too messed up to get anyone else to love you. You will never find anyone again! No fucking way.”
“Watch yourself,” Harry says, stepping forwards. “She’s mine.” I don’t know how to feel as Harry steps up to protect me, again. “Turn and walk,” Harry says. “NOW!”
Lucas watches me as I shake. I quickly climb into the Mustang, terrified. Outside, Harry backsteps while doing a calm three-sixty.
As soon as we are both inside, Harry guns the engine. He then does a burn out, and we streak off, smoke pouring out the back of the car.
I breathe in, but I’m having trouble. Harry turns to look at me and he holds my hand. “You alright?” I nod, trying to breathe. I can’t. I start to rock, and it’s not going away. Harry throws an arm around me, and I slide over, under his protective wing.
He kisses my head and holds me close. “You’re okay, you’re okay.”
A block later, I start to calm myself. I can feel his warm chest next to mine, and it’s comforting. So is he.
After a last slow inhale, I try to talk. “Thanks. Thanks, I owe you.”
“My pleasure,” Harry says as if it was nothing.
I stay under his arm, and I don’t want to leave.