Beautiful Entourage (3 page)

Knives stabbed each lung and I couldn’t breathe. It was a death threat, a promise to ruin everything I worked for. I believed in this company and knew it could change the world. I was the person needed to commandeer this ship into prosperity. How could he take that away? “Sir, I’m more than qualified—”

“It’s not about your qualifications. You do a great job—behind the scenes. I need someone that represents strength. You haven’t even had a boyfriend in over a year. You just work all the time. When the American people look at you, they don’t see a strong leader. They see a weak one who can’t even keep the loyalty of a man. How will you keep the loyalty of a million people?”

His words were cutting me right where it hurt. But I kept my voice steady. “My personal life has nothing to do with my work ethic. And what happened between John and I wasn’t my fault. He was the lying sleazebag, not me.”

“Image is everything, Aspen. When will you realize that?” His voice was cold. “Unless you regain my trust and your image, I can’t give you the company when I retire. You can keep your position indefinitely but I won’t trust the company in your hands. I’m sorry. I wish things were different.”

I didn’t believe that for one second. I wanted to argue and scream. I wanted to knock his desk over then push it out the window. My hands balled into fists and I restrained myself from exploding with profanities and threats. I took a deep breath and stilled those emotions, understanding that arguing would get me nowhere.

“You’re dismissed, Aspen.” He took another puff of his cigar then turned back to his computer.

I stayed there for a moment, thinking of all the things I wanted to say to my father, my worst critic. But every feeling and emotion was irrelevant. I could scream at the top of my lungs but he would never hear me. I’d suspected it for a long time but never accepted it as truth—until now.

My father didn’t care about me—at all.

***

“I’m so sorry I’m late.” I arrived at the restaurant late because I cried when I got home then fell asleep. I didn’t even have time to shower so I just threw on whatever I could find. I washed my face but I had a feeling nothing could dissolve my tearstains.

“It’s totally fine.” Harper held up her drink. “Some old guy bought me a Mai Tai. So, I was entertained.”

I forced a chuckle. “Who says you can’t have a good time alone.”

“Who said anything about alone?” She shook her glass at me. “This was my best friend until you showed up. And we had a great time.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” I teased.

“I can juggle both of you.” She put her drink down then gave me all her attention. “Thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful—like always.”

“I hope they jump-started your day.”

“They totally did,” she said. “They’re sitting on my kitchen table right now. I may not have a man, but I have a girl who loves me more than any man ever could.”

“I’ll drink to that.” I held up an invisible glass then clanked it against hers. “Speaking of love…” I grabbed the small bag beside me then handed it to her. “Happy Birthday.”

“You shouldn’t have,” she said. “You already got me flowers.”

“Shut up,” I said with a laugh. “Don’t act like you don’t want it.”

“You’re right,” she said mischievously. She pulled out the tissue paper then found a picture frame. “Awe, this is when we saw David Letterman.”

“It’s a good picture,” I said. “You look incredible.”

She eyed the picture and smiled. “My tan looks amazing.”

I laughed then tapped the bag. “There’s something else.”

She grabbed another picture frame but it was empty. She stared at it in confusion for a moment before she spotted the tickets inside. “You got tickets to see Kevin Hart?”

“Yep.”

She screamed loud enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear. “Oh my god! I love him.”

“I know you do.” We watched his specials on Netflix at least twenty times.

“He’s the most hilarious guy on the planet,” she said. “Like, ever.”

“And we’ll take a picture there and put it in the picture frame.”

“Awe.” Her eyes crinkled in affection. “That was so sweet.”

“I knew you would like it.”

She came around the table and hugged me. “No. I love it.”

I returned her warm embrace, feeling better than I had all day. It was nice to be in the arms of someone who loved me, someone who cared. I had a million problems on my plate but I kept them to myself since it was her birthday. I wasn’t going to bring her down with my baggage.

She returned to her side of the table. “This calls for fajitas!” She snapped her fingers like a Latin dancer.

“This is an Italian place,” I said, trying not to laugh.

“Actually, I had a
few
Mai Tais. I forgot to mention that…” She snapped her fingers again.

“Well, we can try ordering them anyway.” The thought was amusing. I could picture the waiter’s expression as we made a ridiculous demand. He would regret waiting on our table.

She picked up the menu and scanned the selections. “What’s the most fattening, greasy thing on here?”

I picked up my own. “The lasagna looks deadly on the waistband.”

“Then that’s what I’m getting.” She threw her menu down. “It’s my birthday so I get to be a pig today.”

“So classy,” I teased.

“Like you aren’t going to order lasagna too.” She gave me a pointed look then sipped her Mai Tai.

Actually, I was
. “You know me too well.”

“I’m like your boyfriend. I just don’t put out.”

“Unfortunately,” I said with a chuckle.

“Pay for my dinner and I’ll consider it.” She winked at me.

“Flowers, show tickets, and dinner…man, you’re difficult to get into bed.”

“Now you know why I’m single.”

The waiter came to our table and took our order.

“Two of the greasiest slices of lasagna please.” Harper handed the menus to him.

His lips upturned in a smile. “I’ll make sure the cooks prepare it to your specification.”

“You can just pour grease on top if it’s not enough,” I said. “We’ll still love it.”

He chuckled. “You got it, ladies. Any special occasion?”

“It’s my best friend’s birthday,” I said. “And she looks more beautiful than ever before.”

Harper flipped her hair over one shoulder with an expression that clearly said, “Oh stop.”

“In that case, the next round is on me,” he said. “Happy Birthday.”

“Wow…thank you,” Harper said.

The waiter walked away, and Harper leaned forward to stare at his ass like it held the secrets to the universe. “He’s got a nice behind.”

I laughed. “Go for it.”

She shrugged. “I’m just going to go home and be depressed anyway. May as well have a man to distract me.”

“Wait, hold on.” I raised my hand. “I buy you all these pretty things and I don’t get anything? But he buys you a drink and you’re going to put out?”

“Hey.” She pointed at me. “When you get an ass like that, we’ll talk.”

A deep chuckle escaped my throat. “You’re right. I can’t compete with that.”

“Not that you aren’t immensely attractive,” she said. “If I were a guy, I’d do you.”

I flipped my hair over one shoulder just as she had done and gave her the same expression. “Oh stop.”

She slapped the table with her hand as she laughed. Then she took another drink. “So, how was your day? I feel like all we’re talking about is me.”

“It’s your birthday. We’re supposed to talk about you.”

“True,” she said. “But I’m boring. So how was your day?”

Absolutely and completely horrendous
. “Fine.” I downed my water so I had something to do.

“Just fine?” she asked. “Normally when I ask you a question, you won’t shut up.”

The drawback to having a best friend was how well they knew you. Harper could read me better than I could read myself. This was dangerous because I didn’t want to ruin her birthday with my bullshit. I could wait until tomorrow to drop my problems on her shoulders. “Well, I got a new plant for my office. It really lightens up the place.” I kept a straight face and pretended to be normal.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Goddammit
. “For lunch, I ate a salad. I don’t know what I was thinking. I hate salads for a reason, and the leafy lettuce and low-fat dressing was disgusting. I should have gotten a burger instead. What was I thinking?”

Harper still wasn’t buying it. “Aspen, what happened?”

Why did she have to know me so damn well?
“It’s fine, really. I just had a long day.”

She leaned closer over the table and examined my face like I was a painting on display. “Have you been crying?”

“No!”

“Aspen, you better tell me right now or I’m going to drag it out of you.”

“It can wait until tomorrow.”

She rolled her eyes. “Aspen, I don’t care about my birthday and you know that. The only reason I celebrate it is because you force me to. If I had it my way, I’d be drinking in my apartment alone until midnight.” She got that fiery look in her eyes like she wanted to rip me apart. “Now spill it, chicka.”

“Honestly, it can wait,” I said. “We’re having a good time.”

She gave me a pissed look, the one she gave before she threw a tantrum. “Don’t make me cause a scene. I’ll do it.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes at the same time. “Fine.”

She leaned forward and prepared to listen to my story.

I told her everything, from bumping into that witch Isabella to the argument I had with my father. I released the air from my lungs when I was finished.

“Ohmygod!” Harper slammed her fists on the table. “Talk about a day from hell.”

“Hell is an understatement.”

“You should have broken that pretty nose of hers.”

I was more of a lover than a fighter. “Not worth my time. I don’t think it would make me feel better either.”

“What does he see in her? She’s a total skank.”

She mentioned he said I was terrible in bed. I admit I wasn’t the adventurous type. John was my first so I didn’t have much experience. I was shocked he would hold that against me. It really hurt my feelings, even though it shouldn’t, so I kept it from Harper. I was embarrassed because I knew John was right. “Well, you like what you like, right?”

“But I’m more pissed off at your father. I’ve never heard of such a cold tyrant in my life.”

I shrugged, unsure what to say.

“All he cares about is how it affects him. Has he ever asked how you felt?” She was practically yelling. “His daughter was dumped for some other girl and all he cares about is his image. It wasn’t even your fault. John was the jackass, not you.”

“Dad doesn’t see it that way.”

“And it has nothing to do with your work ethic. It’s not fair!” She slammed her hand on the table again. She was more upset about it than I was.

“He’s never been an emotional guy. All he cares about is money, and apparently, me being humiliated publicly hurts his bank account in some way.”

“I’ll take him out,” she said seriously. “I’ll smack him right in front of the media and see how that affects his bank account.”

A laugh escaped my lips involuntarily. The idea of Harper, a hundred pound woman at five feet in height, smacking my father around was extremely amusing. “I’d pay good money to see that.”

“Teach that tyrant a lesson…” She shook her head while the anger bubbled in her eyes.

The waiter brought the dishes. “Extra greasy, just as you asked.”

“You did good,” I said. “Expect a good tip.”

Harper looked at her plate.  “There’s so much cheese. I’m going to be constipated for a month but I don’t even care.”

I tried not to laugh at her bluntness.

The waiter seemed amused, with a slight smirk on his lips. “Maybe we can get breakfast tomorrow with lots of coffee and fiber to help you out.”

I liked this guy. He was playful and not stuck up, but he wasn’t trashy either.

“I like your thinking,” Harper said with a flirty look.

“I get off at ten,” he said. “Do you have plans?”

“Well, I was supposed to head to space in my rocket shuttle but I could reschedule it,” Harper said.

“That’s generous of you,” he said affectionately.

“Oh wait!” She smacked her forehead. “I can’t. I’m with my girl tonight. She needs me. Tomorrow?”

“No.” I waved her words away. “It’s fine, really. Go out with him.”

“But—”

“She’ll be ready at ten,” I said to the waiter.

He smiled. “I look forward to it, Harper.” Then he walked away.

She gave me that look I’d known for years. “I can go out with him tomorrow.”

“No.” I wouldn’t budge on this. “There’s nothing you can do anyway. My life isn’t fabulous right now but that’s no one’s fault.”