Movie Merger (Bad Boys Billionaire Bachelors Club #2) (9 page)

“Maybe,” I said. I got up and walked away, making my way up to the suite level to get back to work.

That afternoon I was so distracted with sexual thoughts about Marshall and all the skills he’d shown me the night before. My emotions were on a roller coaster. I was ready to slug the guy one minute and just walk away from this job regardless of the consequences. Then the next minute I was ready to admit that I’d toss all that anger aside for another sexual escapade with him. I wouldn’t stop it again either. I wanted to hope that he was irate about that, but I knew that wasn’t the case. I was grasping and it was fairly pathetic—that much I could see.

I got back up to the room and found Marshall there. It startled me and I looked at him, trying to assess which Marshall I was looking at. It only took one word to see. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you lunch. I saw that you were eating at the Lux Café. I trust it was satisfactory.”

“Yes, very much.”

“Did you eat alone?”

“Yes.”

“Fine then. Well, now that I know you’re back, I must be off.”

With that, Marshall, the most frustrating man in the world, was back out the door. How quaint of the boss to check on his employee and make sure she was working hard. And once again, the roller coaster of thoughts about Marshall was back in motion.

By the time night came that evening I was exhausted on every level imaginable. The prospectus had taken a lot of energy and organization, but it was half way done. I’d also determined that I was not going to be the one who sat around, wallowing in pity any longer. It may not be easy, but I was going to go out there and meet a guy—the right guy. Obviously I attracted the wrong guys all too much and it was maybe time to consider some guys that I’d automatically ruled out for one reason or another. Everyone deserves a chance, right?
I know that I’d given Marshall another chance, and another, if he wanted it.

Chapter 15

I’d never been so relieved to get back home to LA and away from Marshall Kent for at least a portion of my day. Yes, my work days were still going to be long, but at least I wouldn’t have to worry about which part of Marshall was lying next to me in bed—the sexy hunk or the cold business man.

After I stop into the office to settle the billing matters for the project with the accountant, I made my way to the studios, ready for a full day’s worth of work and to put together the remainder of the prospectus. I’d be able to proof read it that night and present it to Marshall. It could very well be the end of my need there too and I had mixed emotions about it. On a professional level it would be the loss of a good client and on a personal level it would be good riddance to my latest heartache.

The next few days Marshall kept his distance unless we had to discuss business. That was fine by me. He’d given me additional tasks to do though, showing me that my work with him was not done yet. I couldn’t help but notice that every time we did talk business there was still a part of me that responded to him so intensely on a physical level. His perfect body was scorched into my mind and I longed to feel it. If I had confidence that I could keep my emotional distance, I would have just invited the idea of being fuck buddies, but that wasn’t possible for me. I knew it and I wasn’t going to be fooled again.

After a stress reducing shopping spree one day, I wore my latest find to work. It was a form-fitting dress that showed off my trimmed but curvy figure, perfect for the beautiful LA day that was in store. I pulled up and began walking into the office and ran into one of the newest actors that Foothill Studios had signed, Tyler Jackson. He was a good looking guy with deep brown eyes, full lips, and that type of messy hair that looks absolutely perfect. I casually said “hi” and that started a conversation.

“So, are you Mr. Kent’s secretary?” he asked.

“No, not at all. I’m working with him on some projects. I’m an attorney.”

“Not an aspiring actress?”

“Nope. Not too good at acting,” I replied. I could sense Tyler’s eyes scanning my entire body and it was all the affirmation I needed that the new dress was indeed one that could draw some attention.

“Do you get to take lunch?” Tyler asked, his eyes looking first at my face and then my breasts.

“Of course.”

“Would you be interested in going across the street to have lunch with me today?”

“That sounds great. Why don’t you meet me at the restaurant at 12:30 if that works?”

“I will. Until then, Becca.”

Tyler walked away and I paused to look at him for a moment. He had some serious swagger and was such a good looking guy, it was no longer he was Hollywood’s next biggest leading man. It’d be fun to have a flirty lunch with him. I turned back around to walk into the office and caught a glimpse of Marshall staring at me from out a window on the second floor. Instinctually I looked down at my watch, wondering if I was on the verge of being late. I wasn’t. He was just being…well, Marshall.

Lunch came soon enough and this meal at the restaurant was definitely better than the interview lunch with Marshall had been, despite it landing me the job. Tyler was waiting there with a table reserved by the time I got there.

I soon found myself relaxing and joking with Tyler at lunch. His personality was charming, funny, and so down-to-earth. Really, it was just fun. Tyler’s attention and great sense of humor was so appealing to me, making me feel like he wasn’t much of a player. He could have played anyone he liked too; there was no doubt about it. We were laughing away and enjoying ourselves.

I’d seen Marshall walk in to the restaurant too, along with a few men in suits that I didn’t know who they were. I had smiled and nodded at him, then got back to my lunch date with Tyler or whatever it was called.

Time must have slipped away from me because I saw Marshall walk past me and he had an angry look on his face, not bothering to hide it. I was a very dedicated person when it came to my work and productivity so it bothered me that he did that, but I didn’t have much of a choice besides ending my lunch date, which I wouldn’t have minded carrying on with.

“Tyler, I’m afraid that I’d better get back to work. I have a lot to do and you’ve had me laughing so much that I’ve lost track of time.”

“Lucky me,” Tyler said. He reached into his pocket and handed me his card. “I’m hoping you’ll call me. I’d love to see you again, perhaps after hours when you don’t have to get back to work.”

“That would be fantastic,” I said. “Here’s my card too. You’re certainly welcomed to call too.”

“Are we going to play one of those wait three days and try to act cooler games?” he asked, laughing lightly.

“I hope not. I cannot stand those games, plus I never win them,” I said.
I might as well be honest. I’ve certainly got nothing to lose.

“Me either. Why don’t we just say Saturday night…dinner and some dancing.” Tyler looked at me calmly, staring into my eyes as if he was trying to gauge what I was thinking.

“That sounds great. We can coordinate later in the week then,” I said.

“Sounds good,” he said. Tyler stood up and leaned in, kissing my cheek. Then he put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Have a great day, Becca.”

“You too. Thanks for lunch and the laughs too.”

I walked out of the restaurant smiling to myself and happy to have found someone fun at the studios. Then I saw Marshall standing at the entrance, frowning like I’d never seen him frown before. I just kept walking by and said, “Sorry I ran late. I’ll stay later to make up for it.” I kept walking, not giving him a chance to make a scene at the restaurant, especially with Tyler there. After all, Marshall was kind of his boss and I didn’t want him to have trouble because Marshall was grumpy for some odd reason.

I got back to the office and started working. Ten minutes later, Marshall came in and I could see the fire in his eyes. I wondered what had happened. Surely it couldn’t have been me running late with my lunch. “What’s the matter, Marshall?”

Marshall was pacing back and forth in the foyer that was in front of my working space. He wasn’t saying a word, but I could see the veins popping out on his temples and he was clenching his fists together one second and running his hands through his hair the next. “What happened?” I asked again. “Why are you so angry?”

“Am I that disgusting to you? Do you still see me as that arrogant disgusting prick that you’d told off the first time you met me?” His words sounded like they had venom in them, spilling out of his mouth with an evil hiss.

“What? You’re not disgusting. You’re a gentleman,” I answered. I really didn’t get what was going on and was wondering if he was having some sort of breakdown. He seemed inconsolable.

“You’ve never once smiled at me like that or looked at me like that, Becca.”

“That? What’s that?” I asked.

“
That
is Tyler Jackson,” Marshall said. His jaw was tensed and he continued talking. “You never seem happy or carefree when I’m around. You must really hate me. Is that why you wouldn’t let me make love to you?”

“I don’t hate you at all and me not wanting us to make love has nothing to do with it. That’s something else.”

“Something else?”

“Yes, you see I’m still getting over a past relationship…” Apparently Marshall didn’t care what I had to say. He interrupted me on the spot.

“But Tyler was appealing, just not me. You’re always so distant and aloof with me. Even after we were intimate and in the same room for nearly a week you seem to want me to stay away. You want nothing to do with me. I guess it’s because you had your sights set on Tyler Jackson.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, Marshall,” I said. A part of me was really annoyed by this inquisition—one which he had no right to give. I couldn’t help but wonder if the jealousy meant that he really did have feelings for me.

“Can you deny that you’re attracted to him?” Marshall asked.

“I’ll admit that he’s better looking in person than on screen. He’s always been one of my favorite actors though so I think it’s pretty cool to have the chance to go out to dinner with him.”

“What! You’re going to have dinner with him now?” Marshall asked. He was looking angrier by the second and I was afraid his head was going to explode from that throbbing vein, which I could practically see beating.

“Why wouldn’t I? We had a great lunch.”

“He’s a player. He goes through women like water, you know.”

“And you don’t, Marshall?” I asked. That was rich, the pot calling the kettle black.

“At least I get to them first. And for your information, Becca, I don’t date often.”

“I suppose you don’t need to. You have a string of women waiting in the shadows for you, ready to give you what you need without any expectations. You fuck like it’s no big deal and quite often from what I can tell.”
You were willing to be one of those women just a few days ago.

“Those women know what they’re getting into, that they are a stress relief. They were obliging.”

“Unlike me?” I asked. I finally understood what he was getting at and I was so frustrated. Just like I’d feared at first, he was so insecure that he thought me not actually having intercourse with him was a sign of rejection. Little did he know that it was my own insecurities that stopped that from happening, to protect me.

“Is it me? I need to know,” Marshall asked. He finally had calmed down and now he looked so sad and distant, not angry and irrational.

“Why? What does it matter to you whether or not it is?” I asked.

“Because I care what
you
think about me.”

“But the other women…”

“…The other women don’t really matter. I don’t care what they think and their opinions don’t hold the same weight that yours do. Ever since you told me off in the restaurant that day and stood up to me, you showed that you were not just a yes person. That meant a lot to me. I find your opinions and judgments more reliable because of it. Becca, what I’m trying to say is…I value you as more than just an employee. I value you as a friend too.”

I went from hopeful promise of the words that I wanted to hear, the ones that affirmed that Marshall was crazy for me down to the word friend. Friend was a very ugly word when it came to emotional desires that far transcended the friendship arena. “I value you as a friend too,” I managed to spit out. I hid my disappointment and went up to Marshall, giving him a warm hug. “And for the record, you do make me smile. I’ve always wished you’d smile more.”

Marshall had wrapped his arms around me too, hugging me closely. I could hear him breathing in and calculating his words so he’d say them just right. “I didn’t always act this serious, Becca. Ask Sophia. We went out a few times. Sergio’s also seen me loosen up and have some fun. Even Mandi got to see me relax and have some fun when we were at the Venice Film Festival last fall.”

“Why don’t you show me that side of you?” I asked. I didn’t want to be the one to stress him out. He had enough going on as it was.

“I believe it’s all the stress of trying to run this studio, be an executive, and manage all this wealth and responsibility. I wasn’t born thinking that I’d have this type of responsibility. I’d always wanted to be an actor and that was just fine for me. I was just like Tyler. I wasn’t so…”

“…Arrogant and demanding,” I injected.

Marshall laughed. “I prefer to remember that I was simply more fun and trusting. Unfortunately, these days the only person I can trust around here is you. All of the information you’ve found out has been so helpful, but also raised my awareness that people are out to undermine me.”

“Well, you have me here for as long as you need my professional services at least,” Becca said.

“Good. I’m starting to run out of little projects to keep you here as much as possible. I know that I’ll need you when the merger meeting comes up, but that isn’t for a week or so yet.”

“I’ll be here; ready to help you take care of business in a way that’s beneficial for you and Foothill Studios.”

“Thanks. I know I can count on you. Really I do, even when I don’t show it and act…what were the words…arrogant and demanding.”