Chapter Twenty Two - Scarlett
“Tell me again how you convinced Ted to let me borrow you for the weekend?” I ask, stepping into the sleek black uber waiting outside Sydney Airport.
Shell grins like she just successfully robbed a bank. “I told him it was a once-in-a-career opportunity to be a professional PA in stilettos and then batted my lashes. He said—and I quote—‘If she gets arrested in Sydney, I’m not bailing her out. You two are trouble together.’”
“Charming, he won’t have to bail us out we are on our best behaviour.” I nudge her arm with a smirk and take a glance at her outfit—white power suit, effortless blowout, heels I wouldn’t survive five minutes in. “Okay, Shell. You’re officially giving City girl energy.”
She fake-adjusts her non-existent lapel. “Scarlett, I was born to slay in Syd.”
We’re here for the launch weekend of Justin Moore’s season—my NBL client whose dream is to go full NBA.
Tall, smooth, ridiculously attractive. Also: not my type.
Which is lucky, because the man flirts like that’s his job and not dribbling a ball to throw in a hoop.
My type is a brown haired 6’2 fullback who’s been texting me back nonstop since we saw each other less than 48 hours ago.
A man who looks exceptional dry and just as delicious sopping wet from a hose fight with Ted.
One who worships me like I’m the reason the sun rises.
This is the first time I’ve ever wished that a business trip was quick and easy. I’m a sucker for Asher Kingston.
* * *
I’m treating Shell whilst we are in Sydney and that means staying at the best hotel in town and dining at the best restaurants.
Little does she know I’ve already spoken to Ted and told him to start looking for a new PA because this one I’m stealing as my own and very first official employee of Maroon Management.
I say official because Jen’s been unofficially helping me out whilst I’ve been in Dawson’s Ridge the last month.
Jen is an unstoppable force when it comes to getting shit done, she’s got this don’t fuck with me attitude that scares people into doing what she wants.
Shell’s approach is a little more playful and gels so well with the clientele we have—AKA athletes.
The car pulls up to the valet of the W hotel, a dome shaped hotel that sits right on the edge of the Sydney harbour, the views are immaculate, and the inside pool and dining here is unmatched.
Shell’s face lights up like a Christmas tree.
“Get out of town is this where we are staying?” She gawks her mouth open just a touch as she oohs at the hotel before her.
“Yep, nothing but the best when you roll with Maroon babe.”
We make our way through the double glass doors and check in with a gorgeous young blonde at the reception desk, she hands over our keycards and we head to the elevator to head up to our room.
I’ve booked Shell and I a suite, it’s stunning and it’s nothing short of what she deserves and of course what I deserve too.
As we flank open the door we are greeted with stunning views of all Sydney has to offer, oh and a bottle of champagne and a note on the table near the window.
Shell saunters over to the bottle and note, and there really is a little spring in her step.
It cracks open this warm fuzzy feeling inside me, I love seeing people happy and enjoying the things I organise, I guess that’s another reason I’m good at this job—the satisfaction of landing brand deals and major contracts really does give me so much serotonin.
I’m putting my bag down when she giggles “who the hell is “j” and why is he flirting with us via hotel card?” Huh figures Mr flirt has upped his game.
I snatch the card from Shell’s hands, and she raises a brow to me, with a slight smirk on her face.
It would be my pleasure to wine and dine a gorgeous woman tonight. But women? You spoil me Scar. See you tonight at 7 x – J
“Ah that would be the client we are here to see and see how I used the word client. He likes to think he’s going to be more, but he is way too cocky for his own good.” I laugh tossing the card on the table and passing Shell the champagne. “Will you do the honour? We are celebrating…”
Shell eyes me pointedly “we are? Get fucked don’t tell me Asher proposed or something,”
“Omg Shell calm down we aren’t even dating, or we are I don’t know but, no no we are celebrating Maroon Managements newest Talent Manager…”
She squeals, literally squeals in excitement. “Don’t fuck with me Scar, are you serious?”
“Deadly, I’ve sorted it all with Ted too, you’ll finish out the season with him and the Ridgebacks then you’re all mine, that’s of course if you want to be!”
“Shut up, this is all I want.” she waves her arms gesturing around the hotel and tips the champagne to her mouth taking one giant swig. She screws her face up “geez not even the price tag makes it taste better huh?”
“Nope, you’ve just gotta fake it til you make it”
And with that we FaceTime Jen to invite her to dinner too, because the more the merrier. Especially where Justin Moore is concerned.
Later that night—Dinner Event, George Street Sydney
“I’m not saying you should dump football boy,” Justin says, swirling his whiskey as he leans in. “But if you do, just know I’m available Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
I roll my eyes and sip my martini. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re magnetic,” he counters.
“You walk into a room and people shift.”
Shell leans over to Jen and mutters,
“Do all your clients want to sleep with her?”
Jen snorts.
“It’s like watching the Bachelor. Agent Edition, you get used to it.”
“I can’t blame them though if I wasn’t straight, I’d be after Scarlett Walker myself.” she adds with a cheeky smile and a kiss to my cheek.
“I can hear you and It’s not like that,” I say, glaring.
Justin raises a brow. “Oh, it’s exactly like that. I’m just the only one bold enough to say it out loud.”
We all burst into laughter. Justin Moore is a shameless flirt. He’s funny, charismatic, has a gorgeous complexion and is set to be the next skyrocket this season. Any woman he has his eye on would be lucky as all hell. Just not me.
I haven’t stopped thinking about the night I spent with Asher since I left Asher. Asher is just…Asher and like he has some kind of homing device on me, my phone pings.
Asher: I hope you’re having a great time in the city darling. I just wanted to tell you again I miss you and can’t wait for our first official non agent manager date when you get back xx
I read it smiling like a mouse that got the cheese and drawing attention to myself, everyone on the table has noticed my sudden distraction from whatever entertainment tonight drama they’re chatting about.
“Oh, Scar you’ve got it bad girl,” Jen laughs the first to start off the banter.
“She’s like a lovesick puppy isn’t she,” Shell counters trying to peer over my shoulder.
“I tell you what, he’s a lucky man to have Scarlett Walker smiling like that. I’m almost jealous, nope I am jealous.” Adds Justin raising his glass to a cheers.
“Here here, to Scar being happy and well behaved.” Jen counters with a clink meeting Justin’s mischievous gaze.
“The 8 tequila shots.” says the waiter right on cue carrying a tray with salt and lemon, as if I’m in some perfectly timed sitcom.
“Sorry I ordered them before I knew about the plan here, but now that they’re here they can’t go to waste, right?” Justin smirks grabbing them off the tray and handing out two each to the girls and I, leaving two for himself.
“If I do these shots, will you guys lay off?” pressing a glass to my lips I down the first tequila.
“Fine.” they all agree.
True to their word the direction of the night’s gossip fades away from me and onto Jen’s happenings around town and then to more casual chit chat about Justin’s career moves—got to do a little work at a work dinner.
He always opens up more about what he really wants after a few shots, the power of alcohol eh?
All in all, night one back in my stomping ground has been a success.
Back at the Hotel—11:47 PM
“You know,” Shell says, face mask half on, “if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were low-key in love with Kingston.”
I pause mid-lotion. “What?”
“Scarlett. You bring him up every ten minutes. He texts you; you light up like the 9:00pm New Years Eve Fireworks. It’s giving… heart eyes.”
“I don’t know what to do with him,” I admit, backing into the bed until my calves hit the side of the mattress, we’ve been having a cute girl’s hangout in the master bedroom. “He makes me feel like everything could be easy—then immediately reminds me why it’s not.”
Shell nods, serious now. “So, what do you want? Business? Or more?”
I chew my lip. The answer to that is easy, but I’ll over complicate it.
“Why can’t it be both? He has been letting me in since the Gala night and I know it’s early days, but I’ve thought about this man for 2 years you know?” The bed clinks under the weight of my body as I throw myself into it dramatically.
Shell lets out a little sigh “Well there’s no harm in seeing where it goes, but just make sure he feels the same way and that you know each other well enough before you go all goo goo and plan some hick town shot gun wedding.
” and on that note she leaves me to wander in my thoughts, and drown in a tidal wave of every what if and scenario where Asher and I fuck this all up.
And truthfully there’s a few of those to sift through.
I flick off the bedside lamps and lay awake staring at the ceiling. Is this moving too fast? Another question lingers and bounces around in my mind. What did Caleb mean about Asher’s past and his secrets? Why did Caleb dislike Asher so much, was it really because he was jealous?
As soon as I’m back in Dawson’s I need to know, I don’t want to start anything on a lie or false pretence.
My phone lights up—a text from Asher
Goodnight darling sweet dreams, I know mine will be
And mine too x.
I really do feel like a lovesick puppy. Is it love? I already know the answer to that question too.
* * *
The Next Night—Media Event
The launch is everything I hoped. It’s bold, polished, visible.
The venue is swarming with media and press and doing exactly what we want for a preseason launch.
Justin is working the crowd like a professional and his media training has him acting on his best behaviour.
Sassy, flirty Justin is lying dormant and professional next superstar Justin is out in full force.
The event was solely planned by Maroon Management and has been months to the lead up; it’s a season launch taster for the whole of the Basketball League.
I feel warm and cosy inside and my face is lit up in awe of what I’ve achieved tonight—I’m so proud of the work I’m doing and the woman I’ve become these past few months.
Something that is truly mine, Maroon Management is a force.
Justin is surrounded by press, another bonus for the night.
Photos flash every second. He looks delightful to say the least, his cream suit compliments his tanned complexion and fits like a glove wrapping around his broad frame.
His smile no doubt has been the product of swooning hearts and why so many of his “fans” here this evening are women.
I’m just about to take a few behind the scenes snaps for his socials when—
“Scarlett!” he calls, waving me over. “Get in this one. Let ‘em see the brains behind the brand.”
I laugh and slide in the shot beside him, it’s harmless. We pose—his hand is low on my back but respectful, warm against the silk of my dress. I’m wearing a maroon silk floor length dress with a cowl neckline; it hugs all the right places.
“Smile,” he whispers, “you’re about to be the face of every sports media reel for the next week and you deserve it.”
We laugh. He leans in, says something about a shoe deal he has coming up with Adidas. Absent minded he moves a hair out of my face that has found itself caught in my dark red lipstick.
Flash.
And just like that—
The photo goes viral.
Headline: “Blurring the Lines: Who is Scarlett Walker and Why Is She Cosying Up to Her Clients?”
Subhead: “New Female Agent Under Fire for Unprofessional Conduct with Rising Star Justin Moore”
Comments: “This is why women shouldn’t be in men’s sports” “Manager? More like mistress.” “Guess we know how he got that sponsorship.”
My phone vibrates.
Asher Kingston:
Interesting press strategy. I know we aren’t exclusive, but I thought that’s the direction we were headed in Scarlett. That just how you do things?
Scarlett:
What?! Asher, it’s not like that. It was a photo. Taken out of context. We were talking work.
Asher:
Right. Just like the kiss with me was just a kiss. When we were talking coffee and work. Why was he touching his agent like that…
Scarlett:
Are you serious right now?
Asher:
Guess I’m not the only one you blur lines with is all. I didn’t need to be led on Scarlett. I’m taking a chance on a lot here.
Shell (over my shoulder): “Oh, hell no.”