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. :)
Stella has just asked you if you have any idea of you might have sent her the email with pictures of you and Grant.
You can't really think of anyone. "I have no idea."
"Someone doesn't like you very much... And it doesn't surprise me, successful people like you will always make others jealous. Anyway, it must be someone who knows you well, at least someone who knows that you have a secret relationship with Grant which is going to cause you trouble at work... It's pretty specific..."
You agree with Stella but you refuse to accept it's any of your friends. "They'd never do that. Such a mean thing..."
Stella sighs. "People can be really evil sometimes. Well, I'm deleting this. Unless... you want me to find out who this is?"
"What?"
"I don't know, I can reply to this weird email address saying I need more proof or something. Ambush this person. If you want to know who it is. I know I would. I mean, if it's anyone I considered my friend..."
"Oh dear..." You feel tempted by Stella's offer. More than angry you're curious to know who had all this trouble to frame you. "Would you do it?"
Stella smiles. "I can try. I would love to nail this bitch too."
You giggle at her slang words. "You're definitely the best boss I've ever had."
"Well, you're the best employee I have now, so we're even." She winks at you. "And honestly, you and Grant, uh? I guess I wasn't wrong when I said you should give him a chance when you first met him... He's adorable, right?"
"He is... More than that, actually..."
"Hahah! I believe you. Well, in the meantime, I need to call someone..." Stella picks her mobile phone and dials a number. "It's the agent for that actor everyone is raving about right now. I'm trying to get him to convince the said actor that our agency is the best for him. By the way... funny, he has the same last name you have... You don't happen to be family, no?" She jokes as she says your father's name. She's doesn't seem to expect you to really answer that.
You make a stupid smile wondering if you should tell her or not. When you're about to say he really is your father, she starts talking on the phone.
"Hi! Happy New Year to you too! Yeah, you know why I'm calling... Oh come on, tell me you have at least talked to him... You know we're the best agency around... Right... Who? Yeah, sure, she does..." Stella looks at you with a smile. "And yeah she's brilliant, you've heard correctly. So, are you saying that we have a deal if I assign that specific publicist? Yeah? Perfect. She's here with me, let me ask her." Stella keeps smiling at you and puts the call on hold.
You shake your head almost in disbelief. Has your father really interfered in your work? You feel like killing him.
Stella grins. "You have realized what he wants, right? We have the client if you are his publicist. What do you say?"
You roll your eyes. "I think you need to know something before... The man you're talking to is my father. I always asked him not to ask for any favors for me. I'm sorry, I have no idea why he said that..."
Stella laughs. "Oh my god! Of course, how come I have never realized it? And why haven't you told me before? Or him, for that matter? Oh well, I don't mind at all. He's right, you're good and if that's what it takes for us to have this new contract... You won't work with your father, you know that. I just called him instead of the actor's manager because I know your father better and I know he has more influence..."
"Oh well, if that's ok with you... I just want to make clear that I never asked him to do anything like this."
"Oh relax, this is a good thing. And I know that, I'm the one who called your father not the other way around..." She winks at you and gets back to your dad. "Ok, we have a yes. And oh, you sneaky man, you have this talented daughter who's working with me and you never told me? Right, she told me the same. But hey, as if she would ever need favors! Hahah! Take it easy on her? Yeah, sure..." Stella winks at you.
You whisper some words to her. "He's worried because of the whole Grant thing."
Stella nods like she comprehends what you're saying and speaks to your father. "Oh, if you're worried because of Grant and your daughter being together, don't be, just let the two lovebirds enjoy their love in peace. Yeah, I'm serious. Wish all the problems in the world could be so easily solved as this one. Ok, we'll talk later to discuss the details. Thanks. Bye!"
Stella looks at you with an amused smile. "This is a day full of surprises... And it's just 9.30..."
"Indeed..." Your sickness is suddenly back again and you wonder if that is gonna be also a surprise on this day. You want to go the bathroom but Carol, lawyer and head of the legal department of the agency, walks in at that moment.
Stella explains her the whole situation.
Carol nods. "Well, assuming that Grant's lawyers agree with all this, yes, I suppose that can be arranged and it's probably the best for everyone."
Stella looks at you. "They will agree, right?"
You shrug. "I guess so. Grant and I were supposed to meet them at lunch today to discuss this whole thing but yeah, this solution is all we wanted so I don't see any reason for them to disagree."
Carol speaks again. "I just don't want them to try to take some advantage of this situation... Like blaming it on you, "she looks directly at you, "saying you were unprofessional and then demand some indemnity. Monetary, I mean..."
"What? No!" You say shocked. "Grant is their client and Grant would never do that."
"Ok, so can I call them, explain this whole situation and see if we all agree on this solution?" Carol asks.
"If you could hang on just a second... I'd like to tell Grant myself first." You say.
Stella and Carol nod and you stand up. "I'll call him now. I'll be right back so we can discuss my new clients, ok?"
Before going to your office you stop by the bathroom. You freshen up yourself and thankfully the feeling of throwing up disappears.
Then you call Grant.
"Hi, babe!"
"Hey, Grant."
"Everything ok? Any news?"
"Well... I guess the problem of my job is solved."
"What? Have you talked to your boss already? Why didn't you wait till we speak to the lawyers? She didn't fire you, did she?"
"Calm down. She didn't fire me but I was rushed into telling her. Apparently someone has been stalking us, they took pictures of us together and sent them to my boss."
"What the fuck?" Grant says astonished.
"Yeah, but never mind. We'll deal with that later." Then you tell him what you and Stella talked about and the solution you found together.
Grant seems happy. "Oh, great. That's wonderful. That way everyone is happy. So, I'll get your boss as my publicist, uh? Fine, she seems nice. I'll call my lawyers then to tell that."
"Ok, good. Carol here is just waiting for their approval so she can work on the new contract."
"Ok. I'm so relieved it all turned out ok... By the way, how are you feeling? Better now? You seemed a little under the weather this morning. I thought it was because of all the anxiety of talking to your boss..."
You pause for a moment, trying to find the courage to tell Grant. "I'm not very good, no..."
"Why?" He asks worried.
"I've had some strong dizziness and nausea. I even threw up my entire breakfast..."
"Oh fuck. Babe, you need to see a doctor. If you really are pregnant you must have the proper medical assistance. For the baby's and your own health sake. Don't be afraid, I'll go with you. I'll be by your side all the time."
"I'm properly terrified with this, Grant. I'm most likely to have two more major clients, my career has just taken off and I... I can't afford to be pregnant right now." You burst into tears.
"Hey, hey, calm down, babe. Don't panic, please. Tell you what, I'm gonna talk to my lawyers now and we'll go to your office right away. We'll sort this new contract thing and we'll talk. Can't you take the afternoon off? I'll go with you to see the doctor."
"I can't, I have a meeting with a new client."
"Ok, we'll think of something. I'll see you in a bit, anyway. Try to calm down, ok?"
"I'll try."
"I love you."
"Love you too."
After you hang up you look up for the number of your gynecologist. Luckily, she's free to speak to you, after you set up an appointment for today.
"Hi, doctor Lewis... I already made an appointment with your secretary for late this afternoon, but I'd like to speak to you first."
"Yeah, she told me it was urgent. What's wrong?"
"Well... I'm afraid I might be pregnant."
"Oh. I see. Have you taken any pregnancy test?"
"No, I haven't. I haven't had the guts honestly. I'm late for over ten days and this morning I have been having this horrible morning sickness. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting too..."
"I see... I'm looking at your file now... You've always had regular cycles... The symptoms you describe do indicate pregnancy but I see here that you are on the pill too. Did you forget to take it someday...?"
"No, that's the thing. I have always taken it when I was supposed to. Plus, my boyfriend and I have always used condoms, so..."
"Mmmmm, weird, ok... Well, we'll see then. We'll do the test today when you come here and some other exams. Just try to relax in the meantime, ok? I can tell you're pretty anxious."
"Of course I am. I mean, we've done everything we should to prevent something like this to happen and now..."
"I understand. I can't really figure anything more out until I actually see you, so just try to calm down till our appointment, ok?"
"Yeah, I guess some more hours of anxiety are a piece of cake. I getting pretty used to it. By the way, is that ok if my boyfriend is there with me?"
"Yes, of ocurse. Bring him."
"Ok. Thanks, doctor Lewis. See you later."
After a deep breath you return to Stella's office to talk about the new clients.