ROYAL TOWERS ~ 3 ~ HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND
Hanna placed her research files in a neat stack. Then she dropped them in the top drawer of her desk and pulled out her legal pad before standing up and walking toward the conference room. She took her usual seat with a view of the city below and waited for the rest of her colleagues to arrive. She placed her pad on the desk, and next to it, her smart phone.
"You're early," Duncan smiled taking the seat next to her, as had become his custom.
"I like punctuality," she replied.
"Me too," he said.
She smiled politely as the conference room filled up and Melinda took her post last. She had a stack of files in her hand and cleared her throat.
"Good morning," she said looking sternly down at them all. "We have a lot of go over for this week so I would appreciate your full attention. The new superhero sequel premieres tomorrow. Duncan I want you on the press line. Bring an intern."
She placed a file down in front of him and continued pacing around the table.
"Hanna," she continued. "Here's your chance to shine. I want you covering the fashion circuit. Specifically look out for menswear. This will serve as the precursor to mens style at fashion week."
Hanna nodded and received her own file.
"Moving on," Melinda said as she assigned everyone else a packet. "We are moving forward with the September issue. As you all know..."
Hanna was distracted when her phone lit up. She glanced at the incoming message and saw Duncan listed as the sender. She narrowed her eyes and turned toward him.
"Read it," he mouthed.
She covertly picked up the phone and read the message: Dinner tonight? Hanna typed back a quick response and then shook her head. She watched Duncan's face fall and he sent her another message: Please! Once again, she shook her head and tried to turn her attention back to the morning pep talk.
"Alright," Melinda finished up, "Stay on game people. We have a lot of work to do."
Everyone gathered their things and filed out of the conference room. Hanna tucked her notepad under her arm and stood up.
"Hey," Duncan tapped her shoulder. "What do I have to do to take you to dinner?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," she replied.
"Is it because I asked about Ali?" he sighed. "I didn't know it was such a sore subject. I want you to know..."
"It's not that," Hanna assured him. "I just think we should keep it strictly business."
"Well can I at least give you a ride to the premiere tomorrow night?" he asked.
"I think that would be acceptable," she smiled.
And that conversation is how Hanna ended up on Hollywood Boulevard in a violet bandage dress on the red carpet outside the Chinese Mann Theatre. Duncan stood next to her jotting down notes on his legal pad. She was crouched next to him tapping the photographer to take pictures from every angle while she scribbled down her own notes.
"You holding up okay?" Duncan asked.
"I'm good," she replied as the last personality walked past.
The event planners and PR teams ushered their clients off the red carpet and pushed them into the theatre to find their seats, leaving Hanna and Duncan to settle in behind the important people.
"Look," he said as they were herded through with the press, "I sent in an intern on my behalf and managed to secure a screener. So, you know, we can skip the formalities and maybe you'll finally accept my offer for dinner."
"I guess I can't dodge you much longer, anyway," she laughed.
"There's a great steak house on the corner," he offered.
"A steak house?" she mused. "Fancy!"
"Or Italian," he said quickly.
"You pick," she smiled taking his hand.
They walked toward the restaurant row where Duncan made a last second decision to pick Italian and they grabbed a table on the patio. A chipper waiter took their order and quickly brought out two waters and a bottle of the house red.
"Wow," Hanna laughed. "I didn't even realize this place existed."
"It's a hidden gem," Duncan told her. "If you can get through the throng of tourists, you deserve the best ravioli on the West Coast."
"I have a confession," Hanna replied. "I'm not a huge fan of pasta. Not since before junior high."
"Why didn't you say so?" he asked. "We could have gone elsewhere."
"No, this is fine," she assured him. "Italians make the best salads."
"You're a cheap date," he teased.
"Is this a date?" she asked.
"I was hoping it might be," he replied. "There's cheap wine and I have a beautiful woman across from me. It may not be a date but this is definitely a dream come true."
"You are so corny," she laughed.
"It was worth a try," he said.
Their dinner continued with only a few more uncomfortable pauses, which Duncan filled with his lame attempt at comedy. The check arrived too soon and they were still getting to know each other. As is protocol on traditional dates, Duncan foot the bill and they got up to leave.
"So," he said as they strolled toward the parking lot, "we should probably see that movie. You know, so we can write about it for the magazine."
"What are you thinking?" she asked. "A matinee?"
"I do have a screener," he replied. "We could go back to my place. I've got popcorn and a ninety inch television."
"Tempting," she bit her lip.
"I only live a few blocks away," he said. "Promise, no funny stuff. Just watching the movie so we don't look like idiots at work."
"Okay," she smiled. "Let's do it."
She followed him to his car and he drove them to an old art deco building less than a mile east on Hollywood Boulevard. Hanna stared up at it in awe as Duncan pulled in. They got out and she followed him to a spacious loft.
"Wow," she gestured to the television. "You weren't kidding about the size."
"Was that a euphemism?" he asked.
"Strictly business," she reminded him.
"Right," he smiled popping the movie in.
They took a seat on the couch as the credits started. Hanna sunk into the sofa and let Duncan drape his arm across the back of the sofa letting his hand rest on her shoulder. The film had barely begun before his fingers stroked a strand of her hair. She knew what was coming next. She turned to face him and Duncan instantly moved his hand to her chin before placing his lips over hers. It was over. No use in fighting it now.
Hanna woke up on the floor of Duncan's loft. Her body was barely covered with a throw blanket and he laid naked on the floor next to her. She shuddered at the thought of all the cheap wine they had consumed the night before. She rolled over and threw on her crumpled dress. Then she grabbed her underwear and shoved it in her bag before slinging it over her shoulder.
"Hey," Duncan rolled over.
"Good morning," she smiled. "Didn't mean to wake you."
"You're leaving?" he asked.
"I should probably change before going into work today," she explained. "I don't want to be that girl."
"You can shower here," he offered.
"I appreciate the offer," she laughed, "but I'll just see you at the office."
"Alright," he smiled standing up and kissed her cheek. "Can I give you a ride?"
"I'm literally two blocks away," she replied. "It's no big deal."
She broke away and slid out the door. Then she headed a few blocks to her own apartment and took the elevator. As she was lifted higher, she slipped off her heels and dug through her purse for her key. Finally the doors opened and she stepped barefoot onto the concrete. Just as the doors closed behind her, she bumped into a tall dark, rock-hard gentleman.
"Hanna," Caleb smiled down at her. "What a nice surprise this morning."
"What are you doing up so early?" she asked.
"Me?" he scoffed. "I'm going to work. How was your night?"
"Oh this?" she tried to smooth out her hair. "It was...uneventful."
"Sure," he laughed. "Looks that way."
"You know what?" she spat at him. "I don't owe you an explanation. So what? I went with a guy and slept with him on the first date. It's the twenty-first century. I can do that...and it was practically a second date anyway."
"Noted," he smirked.
She scoffed and scampered away down the hallway until he was out of sight. How dare he judge her! Especially after the concerto he played against their shared wall on her first night in this apartment. Who did he think he was?
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