I approached the door that led to the CEO office of doom. I didn't open it, though. I wanted to give myself some time to think over what I was about to do. Sebastian and Garret's screams were more amplified now, which made it harder for me to push myself to walk in. Still, I told myself that I would be a savior of sorts for breaking up the unecessary argument.
I knocked softly and the screaming was replaced by the sound of Garret yelling "come in!" through the door. I opened the door hesitantly and stood in front of the two angry men
Sebastian looked at me as if I just killed his dog.
"Oh, Leslie. I'm sorry about all of this." Garret started.
"It is perfectly fine, sir. I just wanted to check in, to see what is going on...how...why I'm involved...I could come back another tim-"
"No, you have come at the right time. Shit has already hit the fan."
Sebastian snorted and let out a laugh that was extremely contagious, but I composed myself. Garret, was not amused.
"Anyway, I feel as if it is wise to just put everything on the table." He turned towards his son. "Sebastian, you're a screw up. You spend your money on, on alcohol and girls, not to mention the weed and drugs." Sebastian flushed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You've stamped a bad name onto my company and even our family name. You had the audacity to, to trash a room in my hotel and leave with a woman in your arms...intoxicated." Garret rubbed his eyes. Sebastian's face was still flushed red. Even when he looked like an ugly tomato, he was still attractive.
If that makes any sense.
"So, as I said before, Leslie here will be getting you into shape."
"But I'm already in shape, I go to the gym twice a week-" He couldn't even finish his remark without laughing.
So this guy is going to run a multi million dollar company in the future, eh? I thought.
Garret suddenly slammed his hand on the glass table, making me flinch. Surprisingly not shattering it into pieces.
"Enough! I have had enough of this. You are a twenty four year old man. Act like it!" Garret said the whole phrase in a sort of discrete yet yelling voice that scared the living shit out of me.
For the first time since I have "met" him, Sebastian was quiet. His facial expression indicated that he was pissed off that someone actually put him in check, and oddly enough I found humor in this.
Big bad wolf has been scared straight.
Garret slowly walked over to the giant window. "You obviously would not be able to concentrate on your duties around such an environment as L.A. Too much of a distraction." The room was silent for a while before he spoke again.
"Which is why your mother and I have decided that-"
"Woah, woah, woah, you brought mom into this? Why?"
"Which is why your mother and I have decided that it would be best, that you go through your...'self cleansing' process at her house."
Sebastian's mouth dropped, and his eyebrows were drawn into a frown. He was speechless for a moment.
"Wait, no no no I refuse, nope. I'm not spending time in a fucking hick state like Tennessee-"
"Excuse me, but that 'hick state' is where you grew up-"
"I never grew up there, we lived there after you and mom split up, remember? Wanting to stay out of the lime light? And she decided to stay there herself when her money rolled in. For all we know she could be herding cattle and wearing plaid and all that bullshit..."
Garret didn't know what to say. It seemed as if he wanted to defend his ex wife but at the same time had similar thoughts.
"Don't talk about your mother like that! Look, it's official, you're going."
"You can't make me, I can walk out of here right now without taking the job."
"Try it, I dare you. Remember that document I had you sign before you cashed that check when you turned 18? You should have read it first, boy. Walk out that door and I take you to court. Plain and simple."
"This is some Hannah Montana bullshit!" He yelled.
Shit really just hit the fan. Sebastian knew he fucked up. He was so eager to use the money he didn't read the fine print.
I felt awkward standing there during this father and son showdown. I didn't know what to say, if I should say anything at all. I decided to keep my mouth shut and wait until I actually understood what I had to do with this.
"I'm glad we're at an understanding, then. 3 months, Tennessee, no but's. It will be a fun and humbling experience, and you'll have your brothers and sisters to keep you company. They seem to be there already; Patrick called me this morning."
"I don't want anything to do with them, none of them."
"Well, you're all under the same roof so you're going to have to just deal with it. And also, you'll have your assistants there, and Leslie who will be helping you get in shape."
Shit, here it is.
"Wait, Mr. Harrison, I-I don't-why do I have to go, I mean don't you need someone here to, you know, be a publicist?" Sebastian laughed, knowing what I was trying to do; get my ass out of this mess.
"Don't pretend you don't want to live in a house with me for three months, sweetheart." He winked at me, making me want to punch him in his freaking esophagus. I felt my eyebrow twitch.
How can someone irritate me so much, my eyebrow twitches?
"I thought that your assistant could take your place until you came back. She has proven to be a hard worker, no?"
I couldn't say no. She was a hard worker, but she just wasn't me, I was me, the one and only Leslie King. A publicist for a multi millionaire and now a guidance counselor in Tennessee?
"Dad, she obviously doesn't want to do it, she clearly isn't cut out for babysitting."
Finally, the one thing he has said this morning that has made sense.
"I agree, partially. I don't think this would work ou-"
"I'll raise your pay 10 dollars an hour and give you a 15,000 dollar bonus."
"Deal."
I walked over to Garret and shook his hand. Sebastian was blurting nonsense in the back round but at that moment I couldn't hear him. All I heard was a pay raise and 15,000 dollars sitting in my bank account when I got back.
Sebastian sat quietly, yet angrily in an arm chair while me and Garret sorted everything out. He had finished his hissy fit knowing it would do him no good. Garret had me sign a few papers, some wavers basically stating that if I got killed by a cow or got ran over by a tractor or something out there they wouldn't pay for my funeral. Greedy bastards.But loaded ones, though.Anyway, I began to realize how crazy and idiotic this whole plan sounded. I wanted to tell Garret that there was no curing his son, that he needed a good dose of Jesus, maybe an STD test as well, but frankly I didnt find it appropriate at the moment."I can't thank you enough for doing this, Leslie. You truly are a life saver." I smiled at Garret as I signed the papers he set down."I'm happy to help, anything for this company.""Anything?" Sebastian laughed."Shut..up!" Garret was fumming now. I couldn't unders
"What in the hell!?" I was yelling like a maniac in the lobby; all of the Harrison Inc. employees and some other important visitors were looking at me like I was crazy. Paul put the phone on hold and mouthed "what are you doing", but in all honesty I couldn't answer, since I didn't really know myself.I jogged my ass to the elevator, which Sebastian was already inside of, and stopped the doors from closing with my hand. When they re opened, a pair of surprised green eyes looked up from an iPhone, then turned into angry ones.Frankly both of our eyes shared a similar emotion.I walked into the elevator, ready to escort him out, until both of the doors were closed and we made our descent."Shit." I mumbled.He put his phone in his pocket. "What are you doing?" He asked."I should be asking you the same question. Your father told you to stay in the lobby. How can you not follow simple
All five of us stood in the elevator in silence, still trying to wrap our minds around what happened. The only sound came from one of the security guards opening a water bottle he had in his pocket. I still had Sebastian's jacket in my hand but he didn't ask for it back yet, since he was now eating his sandwich. He was scarfing that thing down like it was the last thing to eat on earth. Lucinda stood next to me, staring at him with hopeful eyes. I leaned in to Lucinda's ear."He may want it from you soon, but not now." I whispered. Her smile faded, and she turned and faced the elevator doors disappointed.A ring from a cell phone halted my thoughts. One of the security guards pulled out his phone and answered it. He walked into the corner of the elevator, so we couldn't hear what he was saying. I was surprised he has signal in here, until I saw it was those indestructible Nokia phones from the 90's.Lucinda turned towards me. "So wh
Once we got to the garage, another pair of security guards were waiting for us. They led us to a black SUV, and opened the door for me to get in to the back."Is everything alright, Ms. King?" Edward asked, in an emotionless tone. I nodded as I put my seat belt on, even though I was lying.Nothing was alright. It had been a long morning, a very long morning. I almost got fired twice, and my face was plastered on every gossip blog and TV show in California for now. Running away to Tennessee wasn't going to make anything better. I just hope that Darcy knows what she's doing, and by the time I get back my name will only be remembered as the millionaire's publicist's.The two security guards sat next to me, one on each side, then shut the door. I was squished in between their muscular arms, but I couldn't complain. I had a feeling they didn't want to be here either. The windows were so ti
The time was 2:45, but it had felt like we were only talking for mere minutes. Beth had decided that she wanted to enjoy something hard, and Vodka happened to be the first drink she spotted in the cabinet. I took a sip of the over bearing drink and decided that I wouldn't have anymore enter my body, no matter how much Beth insisted."C'mon, Les! Just one more drink." She pleaded. She was obviously entering the beginning stages of intoxication, for she could barely keep her balance sitting down. Paul downed a small glass of Vodka with one tip like a pro. Sure, he did cough a few times when he successfully swallowed the drink, but he managed to keep it down. He reached for the bottle and poured himself another glass, spilling the Vodka all over the table."Le-les. Just live 'little. Just one drink." Paul gurgled. He paused after every word to gather the right ones to say.I went into the kitchen and grabbed an old rag from under the s
I heard someone stepping into the jet, being none other than Sarah the bitch. She rolled her eyes when she saw me."Not here for a cat fight," I started, "I just want to see what's going on, that's all.""Well we're in agreement in something, this shit is fucking crazy." She replied. She leaned over the leather seat next to the one I was on and looked out the window. We could hear their conversation perfectly."I wanted to surprise you, sweetheart." Fiona said. Sebastian took off his shades to examine his mother more prominently. Eric stood by the SUV, while Lucas stood by the stairs to the jet, not wanting to be in the cross fire. Edward, however, stood by Fiona, still in shock he was blindsided."Surprise me with what?" Sebastian asked."Well, with you taking over the company and all. I didn't know you would have to go through some cleansing process to do it. I guess it's for the best, I've been v
20 minutes later we were in the air. The sun was beginning to set while we ascended into the clouds, so we would be flying in the dark soon."Can I get you anything, Miss. King?" A flight attendant asked. She was an older woman, about a decade older than me but still looked prettier than me.As always."Um, yes I would like some champagne." I replied. She smiled. She turned to Sarah, who was gazing out the window at the clouds"And you, Miss. Gonzales?""Um, no I'm OK." She said.The flight attendant nodded her head and made her way down the cabin."You know it's not wise to drink on the job, Miss. King." Sebastian said in a flat tone, typing on his laptop.I rolled my eyes."He's a piece of work, isn't he? Took him a month to get used to me when Garret hired me." Sarah whispered.I looked at her surprised. Was she
After saving the document, I contemplated staying here with Sebastian or going back to sit with Fiona and Sarah. Lucas had awoken a few seconds before, but was still in a daze. He looked around the jet, confused."Oh, hey Leslie. Hello Mr. Harrison. I'm sorry, how long have I been sleep?""About an hour I think." Sebastian answered.Lucas sighed and stretched. I figured since he was awake it gave me the right away to go back to my seat since I wasn't needed to keep him company anymore, but something inside of me wanted to stay, to find out more about Sebastian. Even though it was no surprise seeing him in a magazine almost every month, I felt like there was more mystery behind Sebastian that he wanted to keep hidden.The flight attendant made her way to where we sat. "Dinner will be served in twenty minutes." She said. I looked out the window. The sun had complete disappeared and the moon was hidden behind the cloud