Thank you once again for the wonderful reviews, I am humbled.
.HEART – thanks, it was one of those elusive perfect moments. I love Eva too and I plan for her to feature a fair bit
mutt009 – Well I guess Ash learnt Japanese while at college lol, she took a language elective. I am all booked in to get my tattoo and while I'm scared I can't wait! I've wanted one for so long. Thanks for the review
somthgIlike2do – thanks, Eva is a good friend for Spencer. Spencer is a bit of a tease lol
WillowOn3 – Yeah you can have Evie lol, for a little while to help take away all the stress. I so remember the stress of Uni so I understand. Yeah bite marks...I didn't care I ate my chocolate anyway. Thanks, you are too sweet. I find the time to update by being bad and writing while I'm at work lol
drummergirl244 – Ok, ok I'll think multiple times before the usage of cliff hangers. I want to avoid your karate moves
uluvme – oh yeah gotta love some Ethan bashing, glad you liked his proper name lol. Spashley are lusting hard core right now
DarceLynn – yay for a stickless future! Ok keep it sharpened...just give me warning before you bust it out
MrsMusgraveTNG, Mindgamesgoodorbad, LoveAsh87 & bethers85 – Thanks so much!
You Had Me At Um
Chapter Ten – Dose of Reality
It had been three weeks, three long glorious weeks of, I guess you could call it, dating Ashley Davies. We had been spending a lot of time together since our first date and talking on the phone every day, sometimes more than once. She could make me feel things with just a look, just a word that no one else had ever been able to inspire in me. I was falling hard and fast for this girl, and it should have scared me but strangely it didn't.
Eva was rather enjoying my 'love-sickness' as she termed it, and took every opportunity to tease me mercilessly for how mushy she thought I was being. I know that despite the teasing, she was actually happy for me. After what had happened with Toni, Eva had been trying to find someone who she deemed 'suitable' for me. I think Ashley met her requirements, I know she certainly met mine. I know I had felt happier in the last few weeks than I had in a really long time.
Our first date went down as the best first date I had ever experienced…the worst being the girl who took me to her cat's birthday party and made me dress up as a clown to entertain the feline guests, I think it's a little redundant to tell you that there wasn't a second date. A close second was the girl who actually took me to a funeral on our first date…that was certainly a mood killer.
Ashley and I had sat up talking…and yes making out, until the early hours of the morning. We talked about everything and anything. It was bizarre how comfortable I already felt around her. I can honestly say that has never happened in any of my other relationships. I could tell her things that I had only ever told Eva, and I told Eva everything.
I ended up leaving her apartment at about 3am with a nice new hickey on my neck and promises that we would do it again, promises she had more than fulfilled. Although I was getting slightly fed up with always meeting at her place or mine, all the secrecy and hiding. I got that she wanted to keep us a secret but it was hard. Oh well, the benefits of being with her, how happy she made me, more than made up for the difficulty in keeping us a secret.
I breezed into the office dressed to impress and with three large cups of Starbucks Coffee. I had an important meeting that morning and wanted to look good so I was wearing a black spaghetti strapped top that was fitted to all my curves and a pair of tailored dark blue jeans. The top had a modestly low neckline that hinted at the cleavage underneath and highlighted the swell of my breasts. I was teetering around in black pumps and had my hair up in a ponytail, leaving my neck and upper back bare to show off of my tattoo.
I grinned as I walked through the reception area and handed one of the coffees to our receptionist, Hilary, and then practically skipped down the hall to Eva's office, which was no mean feet given that I was wearing four inch heels.
"Good morning my lovely BFF, how are you this beautiful morning?!" I called out in a sing-song voice as I walked into the shorter blonde's office. Eva looked up from her computer and beamed when she saw the Starbuck's in my hand.
"Ok Carlin pass over the 'Bucks and I'll ignore your Brady-Bunch-like cheeriness," Eva said in a mock menacing voice. I giggled and handed over the cup of steaming coffee. Eva took a deep breath in, soaking in the delicious smell of the fresh brew before drinking from the cup and moaning in pleasure, "Oh my God 'Bucks coffee is better than sex!" she exclaimed, making me snort with laughter, yeah I snorted …attractive I know.
"If you really believe that then you have been having sex with the wrong people Evie," I teased, getting me a glare and the finger in response.
"Shut up Carlin, it's a figure of speech! Jesus!" Eva laughed and rolled her eyes, "So are you ready for our 9am meeting? It's not going to be too big of a challenge for you is it?" Eva asked with a knowing grin.
I smiled wryly as I took a seat on the tan leather sofa in Eva's office, "I think I'll be fine Evie, but thanks so much for your concern."
"You sure? This will be the first 'professional' meeting you have had with Ashley since you two…uh got to know each other in the biblical sense," Eva teased, complete with finger quotes when she said professional.
"Yes! It will be fine. And for the record we haven't slept together," I replied.
"Yet," Eva muttered slyly, arching an eye brow at me and smirking rather evilly. I just rolled my eyes and finished my coffee before getting to my feet.
"You Reynolds have a one track mind, and now I'm going to get ready for this meeting," I said haughtily, making Eva crack up and shake her head. I flashed her a beaming smile and headed out to my office to make sure I was prepared for the meeting with Ethan and Ashley.
Sitting at my desk I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I thought of the brunette woman who was effortlessly taking over my each and every thought (both sleeping and awake I'll have you know). I pulled out my folder full of the work pertaining to Ashley's video and skimmed over my notes and work done to date. Things were progressing nicely, despite how distracted I had been over the past week.
At exactly ten minutes to nine I dashed out of my office and down to the meeting room to ensure everything was set up and ready for the meeting that was due to take place. I'll admit my 'setting up' also involved a trip to the bathroom to check on my outfit and make-up. What? I can't help it, if you had Ashley Davies coming to your work place I bet you'd put in an effort too!
Eva did however catch me primping in the bathroom and just laughed while rolling her eyes and shaking her head, a bit of overkill I think. I was just walking back into the meeting room when I heard Hilary leading Ethan and Ashley to the room.
I not so subtly added a little sway to my walk, well aware that Ashley was behind me, and sauntered into the meeting room and walked around to my seat. I slipped on my black framed glasses, because Ashley had told me she thought I looked hot in them, and opened my folder before turning to face the door as they walked in.
I flashed them a warm smile of welcome and walked around the table to greet them. "Hello Ethan, Hi Ashley, it's a pleasure to see you both," I said softly, staring at the brunette rock star. God she looked so damn beautiful. She was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans with black motorcycle boots with a black cut off vintage band tee. Her hair was out in loose curls and a pair of large sunglasses sat perched on her head. She looked casual, yet hot and it was taking all my restraint not to drool and/or jump her.
"Hey Spence," Ethan said pulling me into another of his rather inappropriate hugs, where I swear to God his hand grazed my ass. I wanted to deck him, but for the sake of being professional and keeping a client, I refrained. I looked over his shoulder and caught smouldering brown eyes gazing at me with a look of longing and some anger and jealousy at the way Ethan was man handling me. I would have much rather been in Ashley's warm embrace, I think it's safe to say I wouldn't mind being manhandled by Ashley Davies.
I stepped back out of his arms and gave him a cold smile before turning to Ashley and leaning in to kiss her on the cheek in greeting. I think she pre-empted my intentions because the next thing I know she had taken a step back and grabbed my hand in an awkward hand shake. Frowning slightly I took my hand back and accepted her less than enthusiastic greeting.
Eva came into the room next and greeted both of them with a hug for Ethan and a kiss on the cheek for Ashley, which she allowed much to my irritation. "Ok how about we get right to work?" Eva asked as she took her seat at the table. I said nothing as I settled down in my seat and adjusted my glasses.
I glanced up and tried to catch Ashley's eyes only to have her deliberately avoid my gaze, which confused me. I know she wanted to keep us, whatever we were, a secret but this was ridiculous. If anything her standoffish behaviour was going to make people suspicious, not to mention it kind of hurt my feelings.
"Well we wanted to talk to you both about something. The label is thinking of post boning the video release by about a month or so to coincide with the new release date of the single and album, so that will also mean we want to push back the shooting dates so we can do some publicity stuff with Ash," Ethan explained.
I felt my eyebrows shoot up into my hairline and stared at both of them incredulously as Ashley purposefully avoided my eyes. I couldn't fucking believe it, now we were going to have to sneak around for even longer! The video, album and single were originally due for release in three weeks time and then I figured it would only be like a month or so before we could go public and now they're telling me it will be an extra month on top of that. Oh and on the professional front they were really screwing things up. We had a tentative shooting schedule organised, actors pretty much cast and locations booked, I'd even started working on costumes with a friend of mine who was a designer.
I sighed loudly and smoothed my hand over my hair as I glanced over at Eva who was looking pretty annoyed. She was the one who had done the schedule and booked locations, Ethan had just doubled her work load. Eva looked over at me and our eyes locked, her expression changed to one of sympathy as she read what I was thinking. She knew how much I hated hiding who I was and my relationships. It went against everything I believed in.
Ethan caught the look passing between me and Eva and quickly started speaking again, "I know this is so inconvenient for you guys and will cause a fair bit of work for you and I'm sorry for that, but the label feels that by pushing the launches back a month it will enable us to get some good publicity done and build some buzz before we release all this. We feel this is best for Ashley's career and we will compensate you for the trouble."
I rolled my eyes at his assumption that throwing money at this was going to make it all better. I looked down at the table and slowly slid off my glasses before forcing a smile onto my face and looking up. I purposefully avoided Ashley gaze, as she had been avoiding mine since she'd walked in, and stared at Ethan, "You know this conversation could have happened over the phone and saved us all some time and saved Eva and I the effort we put into the work we did preparing for today's meeting. Ethan this is not a good precedent to set. Are you aware I turned down work in order to do this shoot? So thank you very much, this has cost me business. Seeing as we are not going to be filming next week there is no point in continuing this meeting so if you'll excuse me."
I climbed to my feet and stormed out of the room ignoring Ethan's mumbled apology and attempt to get me to stay. I felt bad leaving Eva in there, but I knew if I didn't get out I'd start yelling. This was kind of how we worked anyway, I was the temperamental artist and Eva was the even-headed business woman. I stormed down the hall to my office and slammed the door hard before I started pacing up and down in front of my desk.
I was mad, no doubt about it. I was mad at Ethan and Marks Records for not telling us of their plans sooner and I was so beyond mad at Ashley for not telling me herself, when I was certain she had known before this mornings meeting. I was also hurt by the way she wad been acting, I wasn't asking her to straddle me in public or anything but it would be nice if she could at least act friendly or even civil towards me.
I had pretty much worked myself up into a frenzy of anger and hurt when there was a tentative knock on my office door. I grunted something that could have been interpreted as 'come in,' but was really more like, 'fuck off and die.' The door opened slowly and Ashley stepped into the room, closing the door securely behind her, which just made me sneer, can't have anyone walking in and catching us now can we? I thought to myself.
She leaned back against the smooth wood of the door and just looked at me, her expression impossible to decipher. I rolled my eyes and continued pacing, my irritation and anger needing a physical outlet. After a few minutes of silence I stopped pacing and turned to face her, "So are you going to say anything or just stare at me?" I snapped.
Ashley sighed and pushed herself off the door to walk towards me. I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned at her. Ashley smiled at me and I had to fight the urge to smile back, which I know she caught judging by how her smile widened. She stopped mere inches from me and looked up into my eyes, "You know you're hot when you get pissed off Spence," she whispered seductively.
I shook my head and took a step back so I could perch on the edge of my desk, "Not going to work Ash. You can't just tell me I'm hot and expect this all to go away, not after what just happened in there."
Ashley looked down at the ground and sighed before raising her eyes to meet mine, "I'm sorry ok, this isn't easy for me you know."
I scoffed and shook my head, "Well it's not exactly a picnic for me either. This is why I don't date people I work with, I should have learnt my lesson with Toni."
"Oh fuck you Spencer! Don't you dare compare me to that…thing you were seeing! I know this situation is messed up, and it just got a lot more so, but we've just got to work through it," Ashley said, trying to control her temper.
"Fine I'm sorry, this situation is nothing like what went down with Toni, I know that. It's just, well not to sound all needy and clingy, but would it have killed you to at least be civil towards me in that fucking meeting?" I snapped, brushing my hair back from my face and scowling.
"We're supposed to be keeping this a secret Spence, you know that and you agreed to it," Ashley began before I cut her off.
"Oh yeah I agreed to it, I just didn't realise that it would mean that in public you'd treat me like a stranger who stepped on your toe. You do realise that by being so standoffish with me this morning you probably made Ethan suspicious?" I asked, still frowning at her.
"I don't know Spence, it's hard to know how to act…hang on a second, why would I just make Ethan suspicious? Why not Eva?" I must have looked guilty because a look of realisation spread across her face and she glared at me, "You told her."
I lowered my head and said nothing, I had no idea what to say. "Damn it, look at me Spencer!" Ashley snapped. I raised my eyes to meet hers and found her looking at me accusingly. "How could you tell her Spencer? How could you when I specifically asked you not to tell anyone?!"
"First of all I tell Eva everything, she is my best friend, my family, and secondly this has been hard on me and I needed to talk to someone. I hate hiding this…relationship or whatever this thing is between us, I hate it and I needed to talk to her about that. I needed someone to help keep me sane through all this. I needed her Ashley. I am feeling things for you that I have never felt before and having to hide it goes against everything I believe in, but I do it because the alternative of not being with you is a reality I don't want to face. I will hide us until your label gives you the go ahead to out yourself, but I will not hide us from my best friend. I can't and I won't," I stopped my rant, breathing heavily and blinking to keep the tears that were filling my eyes from falling.
Ashley smiled sadly at me and stepped forward to cup my cheek in her palm, "Ok Baby, I'm sorry. I've been ridiculous. I get how hard this is for you and I hate hiding us as well. If you need to talk to Eva about it then do, but please remember to talk to me as well."
I nodded and gave her a little smile before a frown settled over my face again, "Just one more thing Ash, why didn't you tell me about the video being post boned sooner? You knew I had passed up work for this shoot and you knew that post boning the video would mean you and me existing in the proverbial closet for longer. I guess I just don't understand how you didn't tell me."
Ashley sighed and dragged over a chair so she could sit in front of me and rest her hands on my thighs, "I was wondering when you were going to ask me that. The thing is Spencer I am trying hard to keep our private life separate from our working one and I was asked not to say anything until the plan was finalised. I'm sorry you lost work because of this, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
I shook my head, "No you can't. I get that you want to keep us separate from our working relationship, but even on a professional level this is just not ok. One of the jobs I turned down was guest directing on a television show, do you have any idea what that could have done for me? The opportunities that gig could have opened up? Not to mention the face that I need the work so that I can finance the independent film I want to start production on. Ashley the fact is that our professional life is going to have impacts in our private life, that's just reality."
"I'm sorry Spence, I guess I'm still trying to figure all this out. Please Baby can we just get out of here and go to your place or something so we can talk? Please Spencer?" Ashley asked, her big brown eyes boring into mine.
I nodded and stood up pulling her to her feet before dragging her into my arms. "Ok I have some work to finish up here, some meetings and editing to do, but can you meet me at my place at seven?" I murmured into her silky curls.
"Yeah I can do that. I really am sorry Spencer," Ashley murmured back.
"I know Sweetheart, I know. We just need to talk and figure this thing out. Just know that I am crazy about you and I want to make this work," I whispered.
Ashley lifted her head from my shoulder and looked deeply into my eyes, "Me too Baby, me too." I felt my breath hitch as she leaned in and captured my lips in a tender kiss full of passion and longing.
Holding her in my arms, feeling my lips dance with hers, I felt certain that things were going to be alright.
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