Author: Ms Producer
Title: When Life Catches You
Rating: M
Fandom: Knockaround Guys
Pairing: Taylor/OFC Matty/OFC Marbles/OFC
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own any original characters from KAG. They are the property of New Line Cinema.
Summary: Giana 'Gia' Brooks moved to New York to start a new life, she has no idea of what's in store for her.
Feedback: Of course!
Author's Note This story is set in present day. The events in Wibaux, MT never happened. This is what the lead OFC looks like. .com/605_Leila-Arcieri/#0
Chapter 1: Starting Over
Robert Frost once said, 'In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.' I couldn't agree with him more. Life had served me lemons, and I was ready to make my lemonade. Here I am at twenty-six years of age starting my life over. I'm leaving it all behind, my cheating fiancé, my loft apartment… which I happened to adore and all my childhood memories… those weren't so great anyway. My mother was the only real happiness I held, and when she died a year ago a piece of me died with her. We were all each other had, my father… well let's just say he's never been a factor in my life.
Therefore here I am starting a new, moving into my brownstone in Brooklyn New York. My mom Gwen used to live here, I was actually born in New York, but we moved to Philadelphia when I was four. So I pull up to my place and silently thank God for the parking spot right out front. The first thing I notice is the abundance of orange and red leaves on the tree lined street. It's only mid September, but the fall is making it's presence known. Me and my boxes make their way into the apartment. The movers already delivered my furniture and setup my bed, looks like I'll have something to be thankful for this thanksgiving.
Now my shitty boyfriend isn't the only reason I moved to New York. A friend of mine set me up with an interview at a nightclub called 'Element'. It's seems the owner is looking for a club manager, something I'm very familiar with.
After I removed the last box from my car I flopped down on my couch, completely exhausted. "This is going to be the last time I move by myself, this shit is tiring." I looked at all the brown boxes that covered my living room. They were going to have to stay there for now; I was in need of a nap. The interview isn't until five so I could get an hour worth of sleep in and still have another hour to get ready.
The alarm on my phone sounded in my ear. "I hear you, I hear you!" I turned it off and dragged my lazy bones into the shower.
This was only an interview. The job wasn't guaranteed, so I had to make sure I nailed it. I decided to wear my nude pencil skirt that clung to my 'assets' and my red low cut camisole that showed my other unmentionables. I polished it off with my nude Louboutin pumps and the suit jacket that matched my skirt. Letting my mounds of sandy brown curls fall, I gave my self a once over in the mirror. "A little T&A action can't hurt." Like I said I needed to get this job.
I decided to drive and arrived fifteen minutes early. I could have walked since I only live six blocks away, but in these heels who was I kidding, these shoes were not meant for walking. When I got out I inspected my surroundings, it was a very typical New York nightclub. It had a black awning with red lettering that read 'Element' in bold capital words.
As I approached the door I saw a tall stocky guy standing out front who was no doubt security. His eyes roamed my body, eying me as if I were his last meal. He sort of reminded of an out of shape wrestler. "Hello, I have an appointment to see Mr. Demaret."
He scanned me with a metal detector wand, focusing on my breasts a second or two longer than he should have and then opened the door for me. "Right this way."
The place was impressive on the inside. It had two levels; the top one was setup like an eating area with flat screen television. The bottom portion had a blue LED dance floor with strobe lights hanging from the ceiling and a plexiglass DJ booth with blue front boards.
My eyes went over the well stocked bar. Just as I took a seat two women emerged from the back holding bottles of liquor. "Hi, I'm looking for a Mr. Demaret."
"Why, you a cop?" The red head asked with a heavy native accent.
I chucked at her assumption. Me? A cop? That'll be the day. "No, sorry to disappoint you. I have a interview with him."
I watched as the other woman finished setting the bar up. When she turned around I was able to get a good look at her. She was older than I was, in her late thirties maybe. She turned to me flashing a smile. "Don't mind her doll, she's always like that with new people. Hold on a sec I'll go get him for ya." The older woman came from behind the bar and went up the steps to the second level.
"You want a drink?" The red head asked while wiping the bar area down.
"I'm fine; thanks."
"The name's Marcy." Marcy threw the towel over her shoulder and extended her hand.
I shook her hand and watched her try to read me. My guess is she's very skeptical of new people. I don't blame her; I'm the same way, sometimes it's best to keep people at arms length. "Gia… nice to meet you Marcy."
Marcy returned to her duties, I just sat on the stool thinking about the last couple years of my life. It's funny how things can change within a blink of an eye. I played with the diamond ring on my finger spinning it back and forth. I know I should have gotten rid of it months ago but hey, it looks nice on my finger.
The older woman came back down the stairs. She motioned me to come over to her. "Follow me um…"
"Giana, but everyone calls me Gia." I followed her as we made our way to the upper level.
"Well Gia I'm Carla. I hope you'll like working here as much as I do." I looked at her skeptically for a moment, she said with it so much assurance. Did she know something that I didn't know?
"I don't have the job yet, it's only an interview."
"Trust me you'll get it… the boss is a sucker for pretty faces, but good luck anyway." Said Carla. She had a very calm aura to about her. I knew that she could be someone I could talk to if the need ever arises.
"Thanks Carla." She ushered me to the back pasting two burly looking guys sitting down watching the Yankee's play, more security I guessed. My eyes glanced at the screen for a second, 'damn the Yankee's are losing to the Red Sox.' Oh how I wish I were home yelling at my TV screen.
I must have been looking at the game longer than I thought. I didn't even realize we reached the rosewood door until I heard Carla's high-pitched voice snapping me out of my stupor. "You can go right in." She patted on my shoulder and walked away.
I reached for the doorknob taking a deep, and entered the office. The room was very spacious, but it had a comfy feel to it. I noticed that there were two desk and behind one of them was handsome looking man with black hair. He flipped through some papers not even looking up at me.
"Mr. Demaret?" I asked. When he got his nose out of the papers and looked up at me I thought his jaw was going to hit the floor.
"That's me. What can I do for you beautiful?" He flashed a thousand watt smile that would charm any woman.
Even though he was smiling I could see how completely clueless he was as to why I was there. "I'm Giana Brooks, Murphy Harper referred me you about the manager position."
"Giana Brooks? I sorry I'm a little confused here. Murphy told me your name was Gio Brooks, so naturally I thought you were a guy."
I couldn't believe Murphy would do that, always the jokester. "Asshole," I mumbled under my breath. I tell that he heard me by the way his eyes widened. "Oh not you, Murphy. It's a joke, everyone calls me Gia, but he calls me Gio… it's a long story."
"Well I've time." Matty got up from his desk a pulled a chair out for me.
I sat down and waited for him to take his seat again. "Well it all started with this guy I was dating. When he would get drunk he would always mess up m name and call me Gio instead of Gia. So one drunken night he decides to get my name tattooed on the back of his right shoulder."
"Let me guess, he got Gio instead of Gia?" He said showing a smirk on his face.
"Right. He came rushing down to the club to show me and when I removed the bandage there it was in bold letters, 'Aaron & Gio'. Murphy's been calling me Gio every since."
Matty began to laugh. "Oh that had to suck for the guy."
"Yeah well he got it fixed once he sobered up."
He watched me for a second, studying me as I was studying him. He seemed like a nice enough guy. I could tell he was a smoker, the whole room smelled like tobacco. "So Giana-"
"Please… call me Gia, only my mom called me Giana." I so hated that name; I don't know why my mother allowed my father to name me.
Matty just smiled and relaxed in his chair. "Okay Gia, tell me about yourself."
"Lets see… I was born here, but moved to Philadelphia when I was young. I graduated top of my class from Penn and I have a master's degree in business. I fell in love with the club seen when I was seventeen. That's how I met Murphy, he caught me sneaking into his club with a fake id." Those were the days. "Anyway when I turned twenty-one he hired me to run one of his clubs and needless to say it was a success."
"So you managed the 'Low Key'? I've been there, it's not a bad spot."
"Thank you, Murphy would die before he admit it, but I'm the reason that place is as popular as it is and if you hire me I can double you crowd within a month."
"A month?" He asked raising an eyebrow at me.
"That's right."
"You're hired" Matty got up from his chair and walked over to me. I stood with him smoothing out my skirt. "Can you start tonight at?"
"Yeah sure, that won't be a problem." I was calm and cool on the outside but on the inside I was doing my 'Yay me!' happy dance. "Thank you Mr. Demaret you wont be sorry."
"Great be here by ten, you'll meet my partner and the rest of the staff then. Oh and call me Matty, my father is Mr. Demaret."
"Okay Matty, I'll see you at ten."
I tucked some hair behind my left ear and I noticed Matty eyeing the ring on my finger. "You're married?"
I smiled and looked at the diamond on my left hand. "I used to be engaged, now I just wear it to keep the assholes away."
He nodded and opened the door for me. "I'll see you at ten."
