Night Owl (The Complete Serial)

by M. C. Cerny

  I open my arms to have her walk into them hugging me. “That was so much fun.” She exclaims, her face bright and shiny from the heat of the lights. Her red lips popping with joy.

  “You were amazing.” I wrap my arms around her swinging her around toward our green room.

  “Did you hear the lead sing–” I cut her off with a long open mouth kiss stealing the breath from her lungs tipping her back and earning us a few whoops and hollers back stage from the crew.

  “I love you, but I might have kill Danny Wood in the studio Monday.” She laughs and pokes me in the chest kissing me back without a care in the world.

  “I got you.” She rubs her finger over my bottom lips that likely sports bright red lipstick. I don’t mind if she brands me with her lipstick, I’m already all hers.

  “No, I got you babe.” I give her a smacking kiss on her neck earning a peel of giggles as I suck briefly to leave a faint mark only I can see up close under the lights. No lead singer is going to steal her away from me, just like no job offer will since I took care of that already.

  “Jealous much?” She tweaks my nose playfully.

  “Hell yeah.” I’m not afraid to admit it.

  “I’d like to see that happen.” She murmurs and we walk away from the stage hand in hand so I can leave her in the capable care of Eli’s team while I finish the show.

  39

  Casey

  “Casey, can I call you Casey?” Rod Berman the 92.5 LAX station owner shakes my hand smiling. I’m reeling from the adrenaline of last night. Bright lights, flashy dresses and a microphone in my hand all night had me feeling my element.

  “Sure.” He’s friendly in a grandfatherly sort of way so holding my hand doesn’t go down into the creepy realm like lately. His hair is frizzle grey puffs on a shiny forehead with keen light grey eyes. His suit looks like a maroon polyester throwback to the seventies and I bite my bottom lip to say nothing.

  “Come, sit down.” He pulls out a chair in his office and I sit while an assistant brings me coffee. “I was hoping to hear from you sooner when we sent the media hire packet, but I guess the mail messed it up.” Sitting behind his own desk, fingertips steeple as his bushy eyebrows nearly touch his hairline.

  “You mailed the contract?” My purse thunks to the floor from my lap showing my surprise.

  “Oh yes, see I knew you were living with Austin. I hope I didn’t overstep anything sending it to your apartment building, but I didn’t want to risk anything going to the office. Confidentiality and all that.” His wink is conspiring and I wonder if he thinks I slept with James for my job just like everyone else. Yeah this is news to me and I wonder if James is involved in me not getting the offer packet.

  “Huh, well I’m sorry there was any mix up, obviously I’m here now and happy to meet with you and hear your offer.” I can hear my phone buzzing inside my purse and I kick it hoping James gets the virtual kick in the ass he’s getting when I get back to the hotel. I strongly suspect he is behind this machination.

  “Excellent. I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to pull you out from Austin’s grasp. Our offer might not be able to match your current one, but it never hurts to try, right?”

  “Right.” James was going to have a lot to answer for when I get my claws on him. James’ capacity for meddling is pretty awesome leaving me little doubt as to where his responsibility in this remains.

  “Here’s is our offer, conditional of course that you can start right away. The salary will build after your ninety day probationary period. The FCC still has a sanction on you.” He pushes a folder across his desk and I open it. He’s right. It’s obscenely low as offers go.

  Insultingly so.

  “I of course would need to mull this over. Can I take it with me?” Rod acknowledges and I get up leaving. I’m sure he wants to discuss it further, but there is no option. I can’t leave Philly to start over at less than what I made during my night show. I don’t think LA has enough dog walking jobs and personal assistant jobs to cover my losses and given that’s what most struggling actors do out here, I think that says a lot about 92.5’s sad offer.

  Exiting the building, I lower my sunglasses to the California glare. An iced coffee sounds good right about now right up until I walk into a chest made of bricks and arms grasping mine to hold me up.

  “Miss Cole, shit. I’m sorry.”

  “Jesus, have mercy.” Clutching my bag against my chest, Ty, the newest of my two bodyguards for this trip scares me rounding the corner. I met him last night during the show. James hired him as part of my security detail while he was meeting with other radio personalities and executives. Keeping on my ass was no joke for these guys especially after my plan to ditch them while shopping with Natalie fell through. My poor co-host was nursing a massive post-show hangover. I suspected these guys were not high-end shopping savvy. Leaving them on cushy chairs in a boutique while I tried on bikini swimsuits bought me some time, but obviously not enough if they found me this quickly.

  “I was following you right up until you snuck out of that dressing room.” Ty runs a hand through his hair making me think he left his cowboy hat somewhere east of Nevada.

  I’m not at all feeling apologetic. “Yeah, sorry about that. Look, I won’t tell your boss if you won’t tell mine. James can be a real pain in the ass.” I locate my cellphone in my bag to see a message from James. He wants a call back ASAP and I want to cut off his balls.

  “Miss, it’s my job to protect you. I’ve already called Priest to pick us up in the car.” Sure enough, a sleek black SUV pulls up and the door opens.

  The man Priest, whose name I learned last night is really Nick glares at the both of us. “Miss Cole, get in the car, please.” He remains polite and I assume he’s mad I was able to give him the drop. Score one for me.

  “How did you find me?” I ask.

  “GPS chip in your phone.” He calmly states like I should have known that already.

  “Fucking for real?” I lift the phone out of my bag ready to throw it away.

  “Uh huh, now I wouldn’t toss the phone if I were you. We can take that up with Eli and Mr. Austin.”

  “I’m not getting in the car with you.” I stomp my foot.

  Ty leans in and says, “Please, Miss Cole. I don’t want to get fired today. Eli is in a shit mood.”

  I turn to look at my young body guard. “Do you get fired often?” I ask and he shrugs trying to nudge me closer to the vehicle. People are passing by us on the sidewalk watching the exchange and making me feel uneasy.

  “Get in, Miss Cole. I won’t repeat myself.” Nick ushers us both, but I can’t get myself to do it. I’m pissed at James. Royally pissed for the GPS and god only knows what else.

  Annoyance fills me. “And if I don’t?”

  “I don’t want to have to escort you inside the vehicle.” His voice is smooth but gruff. I think he would make an excellent radio voice but decline to share that with him.

  “Hmm. Is that your polite way of saying you’ll snatch me off the street corner?”

  He smiles disarming me until he speaks again, “If I have to.”

  I need space. I need time but I’m not likely to get it with these two.

  “Can I walk with Ty back to the hotel?” It’s my last ditch effort which earns me a pointed look.

  Yeah, looks I’m getting in the car.

  40

  James

  Casey stomps into the hotel suite shouting with a destructive tornado force I have a hard time keeping up with her. “So did you destroy my letter for the job offer before or after sex?” She dumps her purse on the couch and stalks to the bar pouring herself a glass of seltzer before I can answer her.

  “Well hello to you too darling.” I lean in to kiss her and she puts her hand up ignoring my greeting.

  “Did you?” She demands not giving me an inch to explain.

  “Fuck me.” I mumble to myself knowing I’m screwed.

  “Mr. Austin.” Priest and Ty stand in the doo
rway having escorted her to the suite and watching our heated exchange.

  “Thank you.” I wave them to go when Casey interrupts us.

  “No really, I’ve been coerced to ride in the car and have these two so far up my ass, I think a string bikini would be easier to wear, they can stay.” My teeth grind, I look at the younger of the bodyguards; Ty whose face is beat red.

  Ty mumbles something about a cat on a hot tin roof and Priest smiles. He gives me a salute grabbing his partner by the collar and leaving, shutting the door. I wonder if there’s an extra charge for angry girlfriends.

  Casey is pissed.

  That’s putting it mildly.

  “Casey, I’m trying to keep you safe until we catch this crazy stalker.”

  “Yeah, and I’m trying to stay employed with my dignity intact.”

  “I’m sorry. Perhaps I was out of line.”

  “So you admit it.”

  “Yeah. I’ll do anything for you.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Uh, did I say anything?” I clear my throat. The contract is long gone and so is my manhood if she steps another foot closer to me.

  Her eyes suggest she’s is waiting for an answer.

  “I threw it out and dumped the pasta from Veruccio’s on it.”

  “You owe me dinner. I looked for those leftovers before we left.” Her cheeks sport twin red dots in her anger.

  “I’m sorry,” and I meant it. “How about I take you to the original Veruccio’s in New York City? Spend a weekend away from all of this.”

  “Deal.” She puts her hand out to shake mine. Like hell I’m ending this argument with a handshake.

  “Get over here.” I grab her hand and tug her into my arms. She gripes and makes growling sounds trying to back away but I don’t let her. “You’re not going to take the LA job are you?”

  She sways in my arms looking up at me. “Are you kidding? The offer was insultingly less money.”

  “Ron can be a real cheapskate, but he scouts talent hardcore. He’s known me since I was in diapers.”

  “Really? Baby James.” We chuckle together.

  “Yeah, he helped me out after my parents’ death. Told me to go to law school before I tackled the company and he was right. It definitely gave me an edge over Elroy and his freeloading.”

  “You don’t talk about them. Your parents.” She’s right. I don’t, but I try not to think too hard about the plane crash that killed them during a ski vacation before I finished college.

  “Probably a conversation for another day. Not much to tell. It was an accident but before that we were pretty normal and loving as far as families go.”

  “Well, I’m jealous then, but happy you’re okay.” She kisses me softly and being that our relationship is still pretty early I know we have time to tackle those heavy topics later.

  “You know, you’re worth more, right?” I tell her and she rolls her sassy eyes at me. “We good now?” I ask.

  “Yeah, we’re good.” She nods and sniffs her nose like she might cry and we stand together hugging–a united front once again. I’m a little pissed on her behalf Ron lowballed her offer, but it doesn’t matter because she’s coming home with me, and that’s all I care about at the end of the day.

  We made it through Monday’s show in LA and flew home directly after. Everyone is overly exhausted functioning on zero sleep and too many Red Bulls. I don’t think Casey’s uttered more than a few words or grunts since she uncovered my plan to keep her from working for the LA station. I’ve got a shit ton of groveling to do and no amount of material items is going to get her to listen to anything I have to say right now. I don’t blame her, I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

  The LA offer was a pittance, nothing what my station offered her. I made sure the deal was enough for her to second guess anyone else, but not enough to make her think I was buying her off. I had some pride and wanted to know she would stay at least a little bit for me. She earned every penny and there was no reason why she shouldn’t be paid her worth. She was as good if not better than the other DJs and co-workers.

  I’m snapping pencils out of boredom and frustration when Tucker comes into my office. “Hey boss.”

  I push aside the pile of paperwork Michelle handed me earlier. “Tuck, what’s up?”

  He tosses a packet I’m familiar with on my desk since I get one every month about this time to review. “Preliminary show ratings. We’re up of course since Casey started.”

  “Good.” I’d prefer he left me alone, but I don’t see that happening when he stands there saying nothing. “Was there something else you wanted?”

  “Everything okay at home?” Tucker looks about as uncomfortable as I feel.

  “It’ll work itself out. If you’re worried about the show, don’t be. Casey isn’t going anywhere.”

  “I didn’t think she was.”

  “It’s me she’s mad at,” as evident by my lonely bed the past week since we’ve been back from LA. Our stalker issue has quieted and Eli is still working an angle. We fight about the security detail and her not being alone when I can’t be with her. Eli suggested one of his female operatives follow her, but Casey put her foot down.

  Casey gets up early for the show and I wake the same time she does, but she’s ready to go before I am. I make her ride in the car with me so I’m certain she’s safe, but our conversation consists of long sighs and rolled eyes when I press her too hard. It’s getting exhausting but neither of us willing to relent. Something has to break and soon and not just because I’m likely to suffer brain damage from blue balls either.

  Tucker leans over my desk and looks over his shoulder quickly before looking at me and whispering, “You didn’t hear this from me, but the lady she used to dog walk for is going out of town, Paris, three weeks I think.”

  “Tucker, I fail to see how…” I think my station manager has hit gold. “Oh my god, I’ve got to go.” I grab my phone and jacket and get up.

  “Go where?”

  “To get a dog.”

  “James, I don’t…”

  “Tuck, get out of my way before I kiss you and make this all weird as fuck.”

  “Right, okay then. I’m going back down to the sound room.” He smiles and I brush past him parting ways. My brain runs with the idea of getting Casey something she needed since this shit storm began.

  41

  Casey

  Something cold and wet touches my neck waking me up. I snuggle deeper into the bedding wondering why James is doing kinky shit this early in the morning on the one day we have to sleep in.

  “James stop it. I’m so tired.” I roll deeper into the blankets and hear him chuckling. If I had the energy I would hit him with the pillow currently under my face.

  The wet sensation turns into a lick and pressure pulls my hair close to my head annoying me. After tossing and turning most of the night I let my eyes open slowly and groggily. The transition from doing a night show to a morning one is still difficult. Lying in bed I roll over to see what James is doing leaning on my hair. Instead I see black eyes looking into mine and a raucous bark in my face full of stinky breath leaps at me licking, wiggling, and paws prancing.

  Bubbled with excitement I’m speechless for a moment. “Charlie! Oh my god, how on earth did you get here?” I hug the little monster tightly to my chest earning squirms, twists, and playful growls. My eyes tear up and I can’t help but feel an overwhelming tide of emotion. Looking over at the foot of the bed is James standing casually his arms crossed watching me.

  “But how?” I don’t understand how Charlie is here in James’ apartment and why. His owner is a royal bitch and having the little stinker here seems too good to be true.

  Walking over to the bed he sits down next to me and pets Charlie earning him a playful bite on the hand. “I figured that someone who needed a dog walker as much as that woman probably didn’t need a dog at all. She was planning a trip to Paris and was going to leave
him behind at a kennel for three weeks.” Shrugging his broad shoulders as if it was nothing.

  “Don’t you dare brush this off!” Incredible news like this melts me into a puddle of swooning female. Clearing my throat I ask him how he managed to get Charlie.

  “Babe, I just made it worth her while. Don’t worry about it.” He smiles.

  “Is Charlie really mine? Like forever mine?” I ask.

  “Yes babe, he’s yours forever.” Leaning down he kisses me sweetly on the head and leaves the bedroom. Charlie snuggles deeper into the blankets and I’m overcome with both joy, and a wave of guilt. James has obviously used his money and influence to get Charlie and I wonder what the hell I have to offer a man like him at all.

  I jump into the shower quickly because I have to go into the office for an advertisement recording. Some mattress company is paying big bucks. Charlie’s nails click softly on the tile floor behind me in the kitchen. James sits at the counter eating a bowl of cereal reading the paper on his tablet.

  “I can’t believe you found him for me.” I hug him from behind.

  “Well, technically it was Tucker who let me know, but I’ll take the credit.”

  “Mmm, I bet you will.”

  “Do you have to go in right away?” James hops off the stool tugging me back toward the bedroom.

  “I think Tucker can hold out an hour… maybe two?” And we quickly learn how loud Charlie can be when he’s locked out of the bedroom.