A/N Again the disclaimer. I do not know personally anyone mentioned. This is purely a fiction exercise. Also because English is not my native language you may have to excuse some mistakes I may write. That being said I hope you enjoy it. :)
It's now almost 7.30AM. You are about to pick some papers from your office when you find Grant already waiting in the entrance of the building.
"Oh, hi, good morning." You smile as he waves his hand at you.
"Good morning. I arrived a bit early." Grant pouts.
"I see. Let me just pick some stuff from my office and then we'll be on our way, ok?"
"Sure. I'll wait."
Five minutes later you're back. "So, shall we? The car is in the garage." You inform him as you walk towards the elevator.
"We can take my car..."
"No, don't worry. This is a car from the agency. For this kind of stuff."
"Oh, ok. Let's go then."
The elevator door opens and you both get inside. You both remain in silence till you reach the underground parking slot. Grant appears to be somewhere between his serious annoyed mood and his happy, teasing mood. At least he's not asking you personal questions like he did during that phone call.
You walk towards the car and he follows you. Once inside you speak. "Sorry, this interview was very short notice so you'll have no stylist for this. But for Friday that is already arranged, ok?"
"Oh, no problem at all. Am I that bad?" He looks at himself.
"Oh." You glance him quickly. "You're fine. You'll have makeup and hair done there, anyway."
"Ok."
You two are already on your way when you speak again. "So, last night you said you wanted to take this time to prepare for the interview..."
"Yeah... I did. I think there's no need of it. It's all good."
"Ok... But just to remind... This interview is about your comeback to Glee. If they start asking you questions about 90210, for instance, be evasive and don't waste time with that."
"I know. Besides, I'm legally obliged not to talk publicly about that role anyway, I can just mention what has already been stated in the press release."
"Right. And if they mention the Scorsese movie... You know nothing about it either."
"I know that." He looks at you almost bored.
You smirk at his expression. 'Is he thinking about the cheating girlfriend again?' You decide to ask him, "Are you ok? You seem a bit distant."
"I'm fine thanks. Don't worry, I won't make another scene like yesterday."
"I wasn't saying that..." You protest.
"But you thought about it..." He smiles.
"I didn't." You reply stubbornly.
"Right." He tries to hide an amused smile.
You roll your eyes and you try to change the subject. "Horrible day today, uh?" The rain hasn't stopped pouring since you two got in the car.
Grant nods. "Indeed."
You sigh while you remember Stella's advice of making your professional relationship a little more informal. You decide to try it. "Hey, sing me something." You say like it's no big deal. Immediately you regret it when you see Grant's surprised face looking at you.
"Excuse me?" He's staring at you almost entertained.
"Well, you sing, don't you?" You snap, blushing a bit.
"Yeah... but... What do you want me to sing?" He asks grinning.
"Well..." You seem to think a bit, feeling very embarrassed. "Ok... sing me... 'Strangers in the night'. After all you're in the run for the role of young Sinatra, so..." You can't help but to smile cheekily, wondering if he was capable of that.
Grant laughs. "Really? You do know that by the time Sinatra sings that song he's no longer young and therefore, if I'm ever cast in the role, I'll never sing that...?"
You chuckle shrugging your shoulders. "Whatever, can you do it or not?"
"Sure." He grins amused. A second after Grant is singing the song and you're making what you think is a probably a dumb foolish face.
'Oh, wow. He's good... And I'm an idiot.' You think to yourself as he carries on with the 'something in my heart told me I must have you' part.
'Brilliant, just brilliant. I ask him to sing me a love song. When he just broke up with a cheating girlfriend. Obviously I can't do this informal thing. Let's go back to just professional...'
After he says the last words you just say quickly and a little embarrassed. "Very good indeed. If it depended on me you'd have the part right way."
Grant grins. "Oh thank you. Unfortunately it doesn't..."
"Yeah, it doesn't." You nod, thinking that if you were already his publicist six months ago he'd have got the Finnick role. And since you can't turn back time you will do everything you can to help him get this role.
Grant keeps his amused smile. "So, do you like Sinatra?"
"Yeah, I can listen to it." You giggle. "Not my favorite music in the world though..."
"What's that?"
"Oh, a lot of stuff. I'm not picky..." You shrug.
"Ok..." He smiles.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what?" Grant is intrigued.
"Did you do some kind of search on me? Yesterday on the phone you asked me if I studied at USC."
"It was on your profile, in the agency website." He simply says.
"Ok... Anything else you wanna know?" Your tone is almost ironic. It's not on purpose, it's just the way you are.
Grant shakes his head. "No, I don't think so."
"You asked me about my age the other day."
Grant shrugs. "Just curious. Like I said, I just wasn't expecting someone so young."
"So young?"
"You graduated last year. You're what? 23?" He looks at you with a smile.
"Close. 22."
Grant raises an eyebrow. "Even younger then."
"Worry not, I'll be 23 by the end of the year." You laugh.
"Ok, so we're basically the same age." He smiles. "Not even a month of age difference."
"Yeah." You nod.
Grant tries taking advantage of your talkative mood. "So, do you live around here?"
You hesitate a bit before answering. 'Whatever.' You decide to tell him. "I live two blocks away from you. I told you I knew the area."
"Oh." Grant seems surprised. "So you're basically my neighbor."
"Apparently."
"Ok... Do you live alone?" He looks at you.
"No. Do you?"
"No. I have a roommate." Grant looks at you like he wants to ask you something else but he doesn't say anything more.
"And... We're here." You announce almost relieved. A few more questions and you two would be asking each other which color was your underwear.
After parking you two walk quickly inside the building to avoid the rain. After some introductions an assistant takes you and Grant to the makeup room. You're checking your emails when the presenters of the show and a producer come to talk to you. You tell them almost the same you told Grant, that the reason he is here is to talk about his comeback to Glee and that he won't talk of any future projects. Grant joins you all when he's ready and after about five minutes of chitchat Grant is taken to the studio and you are taken to a room where you can watch the show.
While you watch the interview you take some notes. From time to time you can't help but to roll your eyes and shake your head. "Unbelievable. You're born for the camera. Look at this. Seducing not only the audience but also the presenters. And the camera. Charming, funny, smart. I want you in a late night talk show."
Fifteen minutes later Grant's interview is finished and he joins you in the room.
"So, how was it?" He asks smiling.
"Good. Very good. I like the way you seduce everyone, including the camera. As for contents, it was good too, you didn't slip anything you shouldn't, you said the right stuff... It was really good."
Grant grins. "Thanks. So much praise, I can get used to that."
You reply seriously. "I only say the truth. So, let's just talk to the producer and then we can leave, ok?"
Grant nods smiling widely. "Sure."
You roll your eyes again which makes Grant chuckle amused.
When you two are finally free Grant asks, "are you going back to the office?"
"Yeah, sure. Why?"
"Cause I'm starving. Do you wanna stop somewhere to grab something?"
"I don't think so... I'd better get back to the office." You reply hastily. "But thanks anyway."
"Seriously? Not even for a coffee?" He makes one of his dazzling smiles, raising an eyebrow.
You shake your head. "No, thanks." Inside your head you just curse him. 'Stop tempting me with those smiles.'
"Don't tell me you're one of those girls on a strict diet..."
You just laugh at his words. "Really? Girls on a strict diet? Clearly, you don't know me."
"Clearly, I don't. Prove me wrong." He defies you.
"Oh no, you have not just said that." You can never refuse a challenge. Even if it's with Grant, your client, and you were supposed to be working. "Let's go."
You two walk back to the car.
"Where are we going?" He asks giggling.
"Somewhere." You reply with a mysterious smile. Five minutes later you stop the car. "Come on."
You two walk to a coffee shop. You go there a lot and you already know some of the people working there.
Grant follows you amused. You sit down and before Grant can say anything you tell the waiter, "The special. For two."
"Hungry, uh? Right away."
Grant laughs. "The special? What's so special about it?"
"You'll see."
Moments after the waiter starts filling your table with all sorts of things. Pancakes, french toast, eggs benedict, scrambled eggs, croissants, apple pie, coffee, juice, cake, fruits...
Grant laughs. "Oh my god, seriously?"
"What are you waiting for? Weren't you starving?" You tease him while you start eating.
"Apparently you were too..." He points at your plate giggling.
"I am a bit hungry, yes." You nod chuckling.
"Ok..." Still with an amused smile he starts eating too.
"So, enjoying it?" You ask after some minutes of silence.
Grant nods, his mouth full of food. "Yeah, it's great." He finally replies. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. I don't want my client starving." You joke. "Here, try this." You put a slice of cake on his plate.
"Oh." Grant giggles. "Slow down!"
"Eat, you're skinny." You tease him.
"Oh really?" He pretends to be offended.
"You're not fat, that's for sure."
Grant laughs. "You're... very high-spirited today." He comments with a smile.
You can't avoid a slight blush upon hearing his words. "Oh. I'm always high-spirited." You reply.
"Yesterday it didn't show."
"Maybe. Yesterday you were all grumpy too." You immediately regret your words. The last thing you want is to remind him of his scene about the cheating girlfriend.
Grant nods. "I was. And you know why. I was being an ass to everyone. But I'm over it."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up..." You apologize.
"It's ok. You were right. I was grumpy."
"You had every reason to be." You mumble like you're speaking to yourself.
"Maybe." Grant heard your words. "But it wasn't other people's fault. They didn't have to bear with my crap."
"I honestly don't get it. Why be in a relationship if you cheat on your partner. I'm generally speaking, of course, I don't know what happened in your relationship..."
Grant hesitates for a moment before speaking. "Well, I don't understand it either. And if you wanna know, I loved someone who I thought loved me back, or so she used to say. I thought we were ok, we didn't fight, argue, nothing. Everything was apparently fine and then I find out she cheated on me with one of our friends. At first they denied but eventually they admitted and... Well." Grant rolls his eyes.
"With one of your friends?! Bastards. Both of them." You state seriously. "I don't get it, really. People say 'never say never' and 'sometimes things you didn't plan happen' but fuck them. You only cheat if you want to. It's an option, it's a choice, it's not fate or destiny. I don't know if she loved you or not, maybe she did, but one thing is for sure she didn't respect you. I know everyone is different. But sorry, maybe I'm old fashioned. I'm monogamous, I don't accept or understand cheating. If you no longer feel like being with someone then dump them, break up, it's better than cheating. I know sometimes it's harder, when there's a marriage and kids in between, but that was not even your case. So..." You realize Grant is looking at you seriously and very attentive at your words. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to preach or judge or..." You apologize somewhat embarrassed.
"Not at all... I agree with you. Totally. I don't understand cheating too. It's... Sorry, can't put it into words." He smirks and you can see he's still suffering with the break up.
"Yeah." You nod, his heartbreaking face is making you feel a bit angry. Angry at who left him like that. "Hey, take a piece of this apple pie. It does wonders for the mood." You smile and extend your fork with a piece of the pie to his mouth.
Grant can't help a chuckle. "Yeah, right. Prozac in a pie, maybe?" He accepts your offer and eats the piece of pie you're feeding him. "Thanks. It's very good indeed." He smiles tenderly.
His smile seems to be contagious as you find yourself smiling back at him the same way. "Try this, too." This time you extend him a piece of lemon pie.
Grant accepts it again, licking his lips after. "Even better, delicious. Is making me fat part of the contract?" He jokes.
"Maybe... You would know if you had read it completely." You tease him.
"Hahahah! That will teach me to keep my mouth shut next time."
"Exactly." You giggle amused.
Grant finishes the rest of his pancake and his coffee. "Ok, I'm full now."
"Yeah, me too." You nod. "Shall we go? I should already be in the office by now." You chuckle, not caring too much. You make a sign to the waiter.
Grant nods. "Let's go. I'll take care of the check."
"No, it's on me. I brought you here." You protest.
"No, I invited you first. I was the one starving remember? Do not contest this or I'll report you to your boss." He teases.
"Really? On what grounds?" You ask amused.
"You disrespected my will. The will of your client."
"Your will?"
"My will of paying. Shsh, it's done." Grant extends the money to the waiter while you're shaking your head and rolling your eyes.
"Unbelievable." You mumble.
Grant smiles very entertained. "Shall we?"
"Yeah." You chuckle again, while you two head for the car.
During the way back to the office you talk to Grant about Friday night.
"Like I said you're going to have a stylist for that. Can we arrange a meeting Friday morning for some fittings and see your options? By the end of the afternoon the stylist will go to your place to get you ready and we'll go to the fucking premiere."
"Ok, I do have the Sinatra screen tests late in the morning. Can we do the fittings before that?"
"Absolutely. I'll tell you the details tomorrow."
"Ok, good."
You nod smiling and a minute after you're back in your office.
"So, we'll keep in touch, ok?" You say when you walk Grant to his car.
Grant smiles. "Sure. I'll be waiting."
"You have more 90210 shootings today, right?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, good work there. Enjoy the rest of your day." You smile.
"You too. And thank you for the late breakfast. I really liked that."
"No, thank YOU, you didn't let me pay." You pout.
"Hahha! Next time, I'll let you pay. Promise."
"Ok, I'll remember that."
"Sure." He smiles again.
"Ok, bye then." You start walking away and Grant gets inside his car and leaves. You let out a sigh. 'Informal professional relationship… Right. Let's hope none of this was out of line...'