Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
Miller
I’m flying on cloud nine.
I did something so out of character for me and confessed my adoration for Denise.
It was the first time I didn’t feel the need for someone to sign the non-disclosure agreement. I sought to act on my own and adapt as needed. However, she put her signature on it. And when she pushed it in my direction, I immediately word vomited exactly what was on my mind.
I love her.
I’ve told no one that I’ve dated, that I loved them and meant it.
I push my happy thoughts aside and recall all that is on my plate for today. I need to have a meeting with my legal team and make sure my legal team is fully staffed, since I fired Tobias last night, and bring up the fact that Rebecca has violated the NDA and subsequent blackmail.
I pull out my phone and find the messages between myself and Tabitha.
Me: I need you to set up an emergency meeting with the legal team.
Tabs: How emergency? You have another full plate today. I’ll need to move things around.
Me: Do whatever it takes. It has to happen today.
Tabs: I’m on it. You have your first meeting in twenty minutes. I can’t move that around.
Me: Thank you.
Tabs: Are you mad at me?
Me: Um, no. Why?
Tabs: So many periods - Weird
I shake my head. This generation. So sensitive, and clearly lacking grammar proficiency.
I breeze through my day until my new meeting on the calendar today worked into my schedule as a working lunch. Tabitha ordered Chinese food and I’m sitting with what’s left of my legal team.
“What is happening? We got the message from your assistant that you needed to have this meeting today.” The head of the department says.
“The past twenty-four hours have been a lot. I don’t like to make waves often, but yesterday seems to be a tsunami. I fired Tobias last night.”
“We sent him to Ms. Watson’s place of employment with the instruction to obtain a signed NDA. We noticed she did not have one on file.”
I pull the envelope out of my binder in front of me and push it toward him.
“I would have appreciated a heads up. She signed it. However, I wasn’t requiring it of her. Besides that, Mr. Matthews was completely disrespectful of my relationship and his position. You will need to replace him, if you deem necessary. I will not sign any recommendation letters for him, and would implore the same for the department.”
“Very well. Is that all?”
“Not in the least. Ms. Rebecca Winchester is in breach of her NDA.”
I went into detail about everything having to do with her. We went over our options, and when it came down to a determination, I laid out what I wanted and asked them to draw up the paperwork.
“Her family will pay you off to keep this out of the public eye.”
“Very well. She is in contempt and I want it clear that she’s fucked with the wrong man, the wrong company. She mentioned the Ferguson Files and I want to squash whatever she’s thinking about. I don’t care how you plan to do it, just know that I want it taken care of. Any whispers about those files may bring a rainstorm down on some of our current projects sponsors. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The rest of the meeting was short and to the point. I made my requests and then went to begin clean-up on the messes from the previous day. I spoke to managers about hiring, fixes in boosting life to their current projects, and brainstorming ways to avoid situations such as these from occurring in the future.
I left work early, figuring that I needed to break the pattern in my habits, and asked my driver to take me home.
Once home, I grab my keys and head to Brookhaven. I need a reprieve from the city, from the noise, and from any inopportune problems.
The winding roads help clear my mind of worry. My eyes are fixated on the lines separating the paths of traffic and the surrounding woods, assuring that I stay on course. I park my car n the hidden garage and step out, making my way to the large solid wood doors.
Whenever I step into the club, it’s almost like I’m a different person. The men who belong to this club know everything about me, which is something that few people can say, even my best friend, Jackson.
I’m greeting right away by Chad Augustus, the fuck boy of the men that I associate with here at the club. Chad seems to always be around, as if he has nothing better to do than to smoke cigars and play poker. He’s tall and one of the most annoying individuals I’ve ever known. He isn’t my favorite of the guys around here, but he’s tolerable in short bursts.
“Brosef!” he greets me as I take a seat in the leather chair across from him in the library.
“Augustus.” I acknowledge him.
“Strange to see you here.”
“Pardon?” I give him a quizzical look.
“It’s the middle of the day and in the middle of the week. In my mind, I picture you being secluded in a dim room, engrossed in a small computer screen and gripping a video game controller making ‘ pew pew ’ noises.”
“What do you think I do all day?”
“You make video games, right?”
I shake my head. This guy. We’ve known one another for a few years now. He’s been to my building and clearly has a short memory, since that wasn’t too long ago.
“You can be so daft.” I tsk.
“Daft? Did you turn regal suddenly, Davenport?”
“You know damn well what I do. And seriously, video games?”
“Would that be an insult? I mean, the video game world is pretty cool. I play games. It’s not like I’m trolling you.”
“I come and go as I please,” I reply with annoyance.
“True.” He agrees.
“How is business in your life? I inquire, fully aware from the media, that he recently finished shooting another movie. Chad Augustus, the actor, is notorious for his active dating life.”
“I just wrapped up a project. Just waiting to see what’s needed from me in post production to set up my next thing.”
“Do you have things lined up already?” I ask.
“I have a few scripts that I’m entertaining, hence why I’m here. I wanted to quiet away from the city.”
“Well, don’t let me bother you. I’m here to clear my mind, anyway.” I tell him.
“Do you need help to process anything? I’m pretty good at listening.”
“I bet you tell all the ladies that.” I joke.
“Technically, my last role was a psychiatrist, just saying.”
“I know that you’re pretty popular with the ladies. May I ask, do you make any of them sign NDAs?”
He whistles, “shit, sometimes those are slippery slopes.”
“How so?” I ask.
“Sometimes chick’s thing of those as a red flag. But most of the chicks that I’ve dated are in the industry as well, so we know the score.”
“Have you dated someone out of the industry?” I ask.
“I have one-night stands all the time. But all those chicks know the score. It’s one night, and that’s it. It’s very rare that I am hooking up with a chick more than once. I don’t have those chicks fill out an NDA. I just have a conversation with them.” He shrugs.
“In all these years, I’ve never had issues with women signing them, or anything afterward. However, I have someone coming out of the woodworks who first provided personal contact information to news outlets. And then second, making threats against me. All in all, to fucking get me to get back together with her.”
“I mean, if she was freaking smart, she would know that would not be the way to go about getting you back. Wait, aren’t you dating someone? Some waitress or something?”
“Exactly.” I tell him, happy to have him agree with me. “And yes. I am dating someone.”
“A waitress? I saw something about that. That write up wasn’t too generous.”
“No, it wasn’t. I prefer to keep under the radar in all aspects of my life.”
“I hear you, man. I wish I could do that.”
“You know there are plenty of actors who keep their private life, private, right?”
“I know. I just said that I wished I could be more like you in that. But honestly, what’s the fun in that?”
My phone goes off, with notification after notification.
“Oh, somebody’s popular.” Chad teases. I roll my eyes and grab my phone.
I open my email and find a dozen Google alerts in my inbox. Each one mentions me, with my face and either talking about my business or my relationship status. I open one article and see a photo taken of me dressed in a suit, and another photo of my building. The article talks about a potential scandal, but otherwise has no real details. Except one sentence stands out to me, and that mentions the Ferguson Files.
“Well shit,” I stand up. “Good talking with you, but I’ve got to head back to the city.” I turn around and stride out of the room.