Ryan sat at her desk staring into space still wondering what Sean was doing there and was he there for her.
Ok so here are the possibilities for Sean's presence and proof that he's not back in town for me. Ok so the feasible reasons as to why it's obvious he isn't here for me. Ok the club where we saw each other it isn't one of my local hotspots. He couldn't have predicted I was going to be there…but then again he might have already tried my local hotspots and was then made to wade through the others one by one in hopes of finding me. Would he go to that much trouble? You know Sean is completely aware that I work in photography and could have easily found me if he'd been looking but then again maybe he'd forgotten or even more plausible he'd not been listening. As a couple we didn't spend too much time talking but we'd got the basics on each other. For instance I knew that Sean was an ex British Solider and he was from London so maybe he did know I was in photography and he really wasn't here looking specifically for me and maybe just maybe he was there on vacation and until he saw me last night in the club he'd not given me a second thought…but now he has seen me does that mean he's going to find me again?
As Ryan's head spun with possibilities and probabilities she was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing. She snapped out of her chaotic daze and answered the phone.
"Good morning Eliza Duquette's Fine Photography you're speaking to Ryan McMahon how may I help you?" Ryan waited for a reply but suddenly the phone went dead. Ryan pulled the receiver away from her ear and gave it a look of confusion before placing it down on the stand.
Second later the phone began to ring once more Ryan was quick to answer the phone again.
"Good morning Eliza Duquette's Fine Photography you're speaking to Ryan McMahon how may I help you?"
"Very official" said a familiar voice
Ryan smiled as she recognised the voice of her handsome boyfriend "Hi babe did you just call before this?" she asked wondering if it had been him
"Nope first time why?"
"I just got hung up on and then you rang seconds later I thought it might have been you. Never mind if it's important they'll call back"
"You left without saying goodbye this morning" said Randy
"I know I'm sorry but you looked so peaceful I didn't want to disturb you"
"Ok so what about lunch?" he asked
"I have plans with Roxie"
"She won't mind if I tag along will she? Come on what else do I have to do?"
Ryan smiled as her boyfriend was fighting to be with her "Ok well I don't have time to go out for lunch so Roxie always comes here so be here at one fifteen"
"Ok"
Just then Ryan spotted Eliza coming down the stairs.
"Babe I have to go now but I'll see you later"
Ryan then placed the receiver down and picked up her notepad and met Eliza at the bottom of the stairs.
"I won't be needing lunch as I'm having lunch with Forelli but I will need a car promptly outside at one o'clock. Make sure you place your needy little advertisement in the paper because you only have this week and next to obtain some help because your schedule after that will be very busy and I don't want any complaining about 'I don't think I can, I have plans, it's my day off'" Eliza stopped walking and looked directly at Ryan "If you really want to get these experiences then there will be no excuses and the first time you try and give me one I will find myself another assistant. Do I make myself clear Rachel?"
"Yes Eliza"
"Prepare the contacts sheets for Dawson and Finster and for God sake clean up this mess"
Eliza then walked into the back leaving Ryan behind in complete bewilderment. Ryan looked around the immaculately spotless room wondering what mess her boss and 'mentor' was referring to. She shook her head and walked back around the reception desk and picked up the phone.
"Hi this is Ryan McMahon calling for Eliza Duquette she'd like a car in front at one o'clock please" Ryan smiled "Thank you" she then put the phone down and began to play around with the computer and soon printed something off she received the print off and placed it on the desk.
"Do you do naughty photos here? You know like fetish themed"
Ryan immediately looked up to the familiar voice and stared as Sean made his way over to the reception desk. She could feel her heart pounding hard in her chest she didn't know whether she was nervous about what could happen or nervous about her still potent feelings for him that he wasn't making easy for her to control as he walked towards her in stonewash jeans a crisp white shirt buttoned halfway to reveal part of his chest and a black beater underneath. His adorable smile and dimples along with that mischievous glare making him all that more desirable. Ryan tried to compose herself and took a deep breath preparing herself for whatever may happen.
"No we don't this is a sophisticated place for sophisticated cliental. Maybe someone like you would be better off with a disposable camera and a brothel"
"Ok you're pissed I get it but how am I going to apologise immensely if you won't talk to me?" he asked leaning over the reception desk.
"I don't want your apologies and your excuses" she lied "I just want you to leave again and this time stay away"
"Now do you really mean that?" he asked taking her hand which she quickly pulled away. She walked from behind the reception desk and began to push him inch by inch closer to the door.
"Just leave Sean and forget you ever met me"
"Oh come on Ryan you don't honestly believe your performance do you? The words are the easy part it's selling them where you've got to work at it and you're just not convincing. I know I probably hurt you when I left but I left for a legitimate reason"
"I don't want to hear about it"
"My sister called she was in a state and I had to go home"
"And you thought that you'd come back eighteen months later to tell me this piece of information after leaving me completely in the dark?"
"I'm a jerk I know, I should have called, I should have left a note. At the time I wasn't thinking straight I just knew I had to get home and when I got home I was dealing with the situation and then when it was all said and done I bottled it I didn't dare call you because I knew I would have to deal with this. The other week though I started thinking about you again and I knew that I had to come back and find you and I knew I had to do this in person because over the phone, which by the way is cut off, wouldn't have shown you how sincere I really am"
"The words are the easy part it's selling them where you've got to work at it and you're just not convincing" she said repeating his own words back to him
Sean smiled as he looked down at the beautiful woman before him.
"I went to the apartment and the guy told me you'd moved out a year before he wouldn't give me your address. You're not in the phonebook and you must have got a new mobile phone. If I wasn't sincere why would I have flown all this way and gone to all this effort to find you?"
You tell me. You have to remember that this is the same guy that up and left me without a word. If he had indeed only come back for me then there was a reason for him being there and it wasn't a simple case of him missing me. So why is he here? And what is he really after? Is it me or is it just somewhere to lay his head?
Before Ryan could reply the sound of heels coming towards them followed by a huge holler.
"Rachel!! Did you arrange the car? And where is my coffee?" she said walking around the corner and seeing Ryan stood with Sean at the door. "Who is this?" she asked Ryan who looked up at Sean almost pleadingly. Ryan turned to face Eliza.
"This is Mr Slater he came in to make some enquiries he was just leaving" he said looking at him
"Are you the Eliza Duquette?" asked Sean barging past Ryan and walking over to her taking her hand and shaking it before kissing her hand.
"Yes I am"
"I have heard nothing but rave reviews about your work and I came in here today to see if I could schedule a photo shoot with you but your assistant informs me that you're extremely busy and don't have time for a mediocre shoot"
"My assistant had no right to tell you whether I was able or not to do a shoot with you all perspective work comes to my desk and I make the shoot schedule. However I am very busy and have a pretty busy schedule for the next month but if you wanted to make an appointment I would be more than happy to do a shoot with you"
"Fantastic that suits me I'll just pencil in a shoot right now with Rachel" he said looking back at Ryan and smiling.
"Very well, Mr Slater it's been a pleasure but I have to go and prepare for a very important lunch date"
"It was nice meeting you" he said as she walked away
"Rachel call me when the car arrives" ordered Eliza as she walked upstairs back to her office.
"You jackass" snarled Ryan as she heard Eliza's door close. "Why did you do that?" she asked approaching Sean
"Well we didn't want her knowing you were talking to your ex potentially soon to be boyfriend did we?"
"Ex and will never be again boyfriend and you thought you'd help by telling her I was throwing away custom?"
"Yeah I didn't think that far ahead"
"Oh bullshit you knew exactly what you were doing well it won't work Sean"
"Ryan all I'm trying to do is tell you that I'm sorry and eighteen months or not I never stopped loving you and I still feel as strong for you today as I did for you eighteen months ago. I can understand you being angry I would be too in your position but I just want to make things better and maybe we could do that by getting into a couple or ten positions together"
"Ooh you're just unbelievable" she said walking away and returning to her chair behind the reception desk.
"Ok so that proposal was a little too soon but in a couple of days you're going to appreciate a proposition like that. Just give me time to win you back with my desirable ways. What was it that you liked about me?"
"I'm beginning to wonder"
"Oh yeah my dimples, my chest, then you paid special attention to my abs…oh I remember how that felt…all those games we used to play with each other. All the props the ice cubes, the whipped cream…do you remember?"
Ryan did remember as hard as she had tried to forget she couldn't.
"I remember you liked to take nice long showers together" he said as he leaned on the counter. "It has to be said our passion was insatiable"
"Sean stop it, you're wasting your time. When you failed to contact me eighteen months ago it all went with you. You left and so did 'us' the passion, the insatiable lust, the partying, the total disregard for everything and everybody else. We were wrapped up in our own little cocoon and it was good I won't deny that but anything we had has gone and I have never been happier"
"We never really had the break up sex" said Sean with a devilish grin
"And we never will" she said leaning in and getting in his face
"It'll be fun for me to see how long you can keep this going"
"Hey" said Roxie as she walked in and noticed Ryan was talking to someone "Oh sorry"
"Don't be we're done…for now anyway" said Sean smiling over at Roxie who immediately found him attractive. She smiled back and made her way over and offered her hand along with her business card.
"My names Roxanne Del Toro but my friends and close acquaintances call me Roxie"
"I'm Sean" he introduced himself taking her hand and her card
"So Sean what are you doing here?" asked Roxie
"I came to see Ryan" he replied.
Ryan began to panic that Sean was going to reveal who he was to her friend.
"Really?" she asked intrigued
"Yeah I'm arranging a photo shoot with Eliza or trying to"
"She's pretty busy" replied Roxie
"So Roxie you're what Ryan's friend?" he asked already knowing the answering
"Yeah best friend"
"And you've just come back from Europe right?"
"Yeah" she replied a little confused "You talk to clients about me?" she asked Ryan
"Nah me and Ryan have spent a lot of time together in this room in my attempts to get a shoot. After the tenth attempt you get tired of talking about photography and all that. Isn't that right Ryan?" he asked looking at Ryan knowing he had her backed into a corner
"Yeah that's right. So Roxie why are you early?"
"Just am no particular reason. So Sean…" she continued infatuated by the hot man before her "Are you a model or something?"
"No"
"Oh I thought with you wanting a shoot and looking like you do"
"Thanks for compliment but I'm just an admirer or Eliza's work"
"Oh and you're from London?"
"Yeah how did you know?"
"The accent it's really strong very…sexy"
"Now Roxie it's starting to feel like you're hitting on me"
"Maybe I am" she replied admiring the view
Just then a black town car pulled up outside the door. Ryan picked up the phone.
"Your car is here" she said putting the phone down instantly
Moments later the office door slammed closed and Eliza made her way down the stairs she looked over at Sean.
"Make sure you book that shoot in Mr Slater. Rachel make sure the Dawson and Finster contact sheets are ready for when I get back" Eliza looked outside to her car. "Where is Gerard? I always have Gerard as my driver are you completely incompetent that you can't get even the most minute details correct Rachel?" she said shaking her head at Ryan
"I'm sorry Eliza I thought they were aware of your preferences"
"Yes well make sure they're aware for when they pick me up. Mr Slater once again it was nice to meet you" Eliza then shot a look at Roxie "…Isabelle"
"Ms. Duquette" replied Roxie
Eliza made her way to the car and left for her lunch with Forelli. Roxie shook her head in disbelief and looked at Ryan.
"Is she really that dumb that she can't remember our names or just that rude?"
"Just that rude" replied Ryan picking up the phone
"Now Rachel that's uncalled for she's your boss" said Sean with a smile
As Ryan tried to sort Eliza's car out Sean and Roxie talked among themselves.
"So are you new in town?" asked Roxie
"No I've been here a few times now"
"So you don't live here then?"
"No I like to take extended trips though so I may be around for a while yet"
"That's good to know…you have my number so if you ever want a guide or anything else"
"I've got your number" he replied flirtatiously
"Jesus!!" screamed Ryan "Why is it so God damn hard to change her driver what does it matter who they're driving for as long as they're driving somebody? Because Gerard is Eliza's regular driver and she's weird about having new people. All she wants is to swap drivers" Ryan rubbed her forehead as Roxie and Sean watched on "Thank you" Ryan hung up the phone
"Why do you take her crap?" asked Roxie
"She is the Mecca of this business I know you can't understand this because it's not your business but to me she is a God and who better to learn from? Eliza Duquette could make or break me and if she chooses to help me she could send my career soaring. Just her name on my CV whether as her assistant or her dry cleaner it makes the world of difference"
"I guess that makes sense then. Are we going to have lunch before her evilness comes back?"
"Yeah sure go set it up I'll be over in a minute me and Sean need to book a date for his shoot"
Roxie smiled at Sean and walked away to go set up hers and Ryan's lunch in the waiting area. Sean watched Roxie walk away and Ryan pulled him to get his attention.
"Cut that out" she whispered
"What are you jealous?" he asked leaning back on the counter smiling at Ryan
"No but I don't want you anywhere near me, here or her" she said pointing at Roxie "Sean just leave and don't bother me again" Ryan looked past Sean at the clock on the wall. Sean followed her eyes and saw the look of panic in her eyes as she looked up at the clock.
"Expecting somebody?" he asked
"Will you leave?"
"When I've made my booking yeah"
"You don't want a shoot with her"
"No I don't but she's expecting it. What will you tell Eliza hah?"
Ryan knew he was right and no matter what reason she gave to Eliza she'd find a way of making it her fault.
"Fine!" she said walking over to retrieve the diary.
As Ryan searched for the diary Sean caught a glimpse of the advertisement Ryan had previously printed off. He pushed some papers out of the way and looked down at the advertisement which read:
Eliza Duquette's Fine Photography
Full Time Second Assistant
Job responsibilities:
Working reception at the Duquette studios.
Assisting Ms. Duquette and the First Assistant with day to day jobs.
Scheduling and assisting on shoots and printing process.
To apply please call Ryan McMahon at…
Sean looked over at Ryan and while he had the chance he lifted the advertisement and place it in his back pocket. Ryan returned with the diary and placed it on the counter she looked for suitable dates and circled a date.
"That is the only time she is free so you'll have to come in on the nineteenth of next month at ten forty five and Sean you better turn up"
"Don't worry I'll be here"
Just then the door opened and Randy walked inside he waved at Ryan and she smiled back. Sean looked over his shoulder and looked at the tall masculine guy stood at the door and mockingly waved at him. He turned back to Ryan and smiled as he watched her pencil in the shoot.
"So he's the reason you were looking at the clock. How long has he been warming my side of the bed?" asked Sean
"There's your booking and here's your card if there is any problem or you need to cancel just call this number and I'll sort things out for you"
"If you don't answer me I'll have to ask him"
"Go away Sean"
"One…"
"Sean I mean it"
"Two…" counted Sean "Thr--"
"Seven months I've been with him seven months now zip your lip and leave"
"Ok" he said agreeing "Thank you Ryan"
Sean turned and walked towards Randy his eyes examined the familiar face before him and he stopped as he approached him. Ryan's heart jumped into her throat as her ex stopped at the feet of her current boyfriend.
"You're Randy Orton"
"Yeah" replied Randy
"I'm a big fan my names Sean" said Sean extending his hand
"Nice to meet you man" replied Randy
"You're dating our little Ryan over there"
"Yeah I am"
"Lucky you well treat her right and it was nice to meet you seriously I'm a huge fan" Sean looked over at Ryan "I'll see you in a month" he then looked over at Roxie "I've got your number Roxie"
Sean walked to the door "Hey man why don't you stay and have lunch with us"
"Oh no I have to go"
"No seriously come on please it will make a foursome and I won't be surrounded by women"
"Well if you're sure" replied a happy Sean
Randy walked over to Ryan and kissed her softly before making his way over to the waiting area to eat lunch. Ryan looked at Sean and shook her head at him and mouthed the word 'Please'. Sean then joined the lunch party with an anxious Ryan slowly following behind. She didn't know what to expect and she just prayed that Sean wouldn't say anything about their past.
