by JA Low
“Seeing as it’s only 7am in the morning and I am currently eating my breakfast, then no.” Those blue eyes narrow at me. I got him there.
“You don’t seem to be doing any work.” His glare moves to Gabriel. “Every morning I see you flirting with Emily when you should be bringing me my damn coffee.” With that little tirade he storms out of the kitchen. Gabriel flips him off.
“He’s in a great mood today,” Gabriel grumbles as he moves around the kitchen
“Yeah. You might want to warn the staff I got a Google alert, about the people that shall not be named, last night that they were honoured in Beverly Hills for some bullshit art thing.” Gabriel rolls his eyes, preparing the asshole’s coffee. Since my fateful coffee incident, Gabriel has been the one taking his morning coffee to him in his studio, neither of us trust me with the hot liquid.
“He hates those sorts of things,” Gabriel adds.
“Yeah, he might, but it still sucks seeing your ex with her new toy boy being honoured by them.” Gabriel nods in agreement. “I need to come up with something to take the focus off them on Instagram and bring it back to him. I can only take so may photos of his artwork. Judging by the female fan club they want pictures of him. Preferably in the nude.” I roll my eyes. He has no idea the amount of porn I get to see on a daily basis via his social media accounts.
“Good luck with that.” Gabriel smiles.
“Maybe I should take his coffee to him today. Try and get some action shots.” Gabriel isn’t so sure.
“I should come with you.” I roll my eyes.
“One mistake and it’s being held over me. I can do it, it’s technically my job.” Gabriel hesitantly gives me the mug of coffee; I give him a big thankful smile.
Slowly, I make my way to his studio. I haven’t been there in over a week since I caught him jerking off. Not going to lie, the man is an asshole and if I could poke him with white hot iron pokers I would, but it was the hottest thing I have ever seen. I may have, on more than one occasion, used my little vibrating friend to help me finish off myself over that spank bank material. I am going to hell for that. I knock on the door loudly and wait patiently. Nothing. I do it again, this time harder, hurting my knuckles. Still nothing. Shit. I push open the door, the studio is quiet, I make sure to look down and not trip over anything. If I spill another mug of coffee on him, I’m fired for sure.
“Hello,” I call out, hoping not to catch him in a compromising position again.
“Oh, it’s you,” he growls. Okey-dokey, that kind of stung.
“I have your coffee.” He turns and looks at me then takes the offending mug out of my hands. “I guess you can do your job.” I let that barb go over me and channel my mantra of I will not kill my boss.
“Yes. It’s amazing what you can achieve when there aren’t any hazards on the floor.” Those blue eyes flare over his coffee cup but he doesn’t say anything. “Actually, I need to grab some new photos for your social media. Your fans are wanting more of you.” I give him an enthusiastic smile.
“No.”
“Yes,” I argue back. He raises an eyebrow at me, surprised that I dared not agree with him.
“No.” He says the word forcibly this time.
“Yes. And I can do this ping pong match of words all day if you like.” He lets out a frustrated sigh. “Can you just pretend to be painting and I’ll take a couple of snaps. You won’t even know I am here.” I shake the phone in my hand.
“I do not pretend to paint.” Oh my God, I internally roll my eyes at him.
“Well then just paint and I’ll snap away.” He doesn’t move, he just sips his coffee, slowly, in silence, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. I will not kill my boss. I hate silence and I will always want to fill it. “So, what have you been working on?” I try to take a look at his canvas.
“Nothing of importance.” Ugh, this man is infuriating. He takes another sip of his coffee, slowly. Fine. I pick up my phone and take a snap of him sipping his coffee.
“What the hell? Emily!” He glares at me.
“I just needed a candid picture and now I got it. I can leave you in peace now. Thanks.” I give him a smile and waltz out of the studio. I can hear him cursing in the background and I do a little happy dance. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Tonight is Louis’ first social event since I started working with him a month ago. I’m really nervous because I’m not sure what to expect. Well I know what to expect from Louis, him being a dick, probably drinking too much, maybe trying to bring home some kind of skanky woman, no different to any other night at Casa la Groupies. I may have pleaded with Daniel to come with me because I don’t trust Louis, but he had business in Dubai or something, which is kind of convenient. As Louis’ assistant I have to go and keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t mess up and make the front page of the gossip magazines again. Basically I am babysitting a fully grown man and I’m hoping, no praying, that I will be able to control him. I even asked Gabriel if he wanted to be my plus one for the evening, I couldn’t even pay him to accompany me. So guess I’m all on my own tonight. I can do this. I’m just overthinking it. It’s going to be all okay. How much trouble can he seriously get into at a private party? What the hell am I saying? He can get into plenty. The party is at some rich guy’s house, not sure what the party is for as nothing was mentioned on the invite, maybe they are just celebrating being rich or something. Daniel assured me there would be influential art collectors there tonight, he believes it will be a good way to reintroduce Louis back into society, slowly.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Louis glares at me as I make my way down the stairs.
“What?” I look down at my dress. I’ve chosen a chambray shirt dress, with a cute pair of cream wedges. My strawberry blonde hair is pulled up in a messy bun, my make-up is natural. I think I look cute. Louis is dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up showing off his tanned arms, he looks effortlessly casual. Damn him.
“You look like you’re wearing a tent.” I look down at myself again; I guess I could put a belt with it. What the hell am I thinking? I don’t give a stuff what a boy thinks about my clothes, I feel good. Toby used to do that to me all the time and I would go and change into something that made him feel good but not me.
“What does it matter to you?” I pull the strap of my bag up over my shoulder.
“Because you work for me.”
“Exactly, I work for you. Not dress for you.” I ignore his asshole stare.
“You represent me and this…” He waves his hands in the air. “Is not how I want to be represented.”
“I’ll remember this conversation when you're obnoxiously drunk tonight, because people are going to be talking more about that than what your assistant is wearing.” He lets out a frustrated huff and turns on his toes and stomps out to his car.
Emily - 2
Louis - 1
We arrive at the luxury home; it juts out and hangs along the rugged coastline. The driveway is filled with every man’s dream cars, millions of dollars’ worth of ostentation wealth laid out before us. I can see Louis hesitate in the car, he looks a little nervous.
“We don’t have to stay long,” I tell him. He turns to me and gives me a sad smile, then opens the door to get out of the car. Of course, ever the gentleman, he lets me get my own door. I straighten out my dress then quickly try and catch up to Louis who is striding into the party ahead of me.
“Louis, you made it,” a tanned silver fox greets him, kissing Louis’ cheeks. He looks genuinely happy that he’s turned up. See Emily, tonight is going to be alright. “And you brought a date.”
“No,” we both answer in unison.
“She’s my assistant,” Louis clarifies.
“A very beautiful one.” The silver fox reaches out and kisses my hand, honey coloured eyes looking at me approvingly. Um. No thank you. I look to Louis for help.
“Hands off, Phillipe,” Louis warn
s him. This relaxes me; he understood that I was put in an uncomfortable position. “We don’t fuck the help, remember.” I turn and look at him in shock. What the hell? Phillipe chuckles, his honey eyes bouncing between us.
“I don’t fuck my help; doesn’t mean I can’t fuck yours.” I’m seconds away from turning on my heel and telling them all to go fuck themselves. I am not some piece of meat to be leered at. Then a beautiful brunette slinks up to the silver fox, linking her arm with his, like a beautiful leech.
“Louis darling. Nice to see you again,” she purrs, hungrily looking him over.
“Selena.” Louis nods in her direction but doesn’t seem interested.
“Mon trésor, this is…sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” Phillipe asks me. Oh you want to know my name now?
“Emily,” Louis tells him.
“This is Emily, she’s Louis’ assistant. Isn’t she a beauty?” Is this guy serious? The brunette looks me over, a smile forms on her face, I feel awfully uncomfortable right now.
“Oh yes. Look at her creamy skin, mon chou. It looks delicious.” Panic filters over my body. What is going on? I turn to Louis again, seeking his help.
“Selena.” Louis’ voice deepens and his eyes narrow in warning. “She’s not part of the scene, Phillipe,” Louis looks at Phillipe. The silver fox chuckles.
“Fine. We get it. She’s off the menu. You’re no fun anymore, Louis,” Phillipe teases. “I guess we will have to find some more fresh meat to play with, mon amour.” He turns and nuzzles Selena’s neck. “I’m sorry, princess, Daddy couldn’t deliver tonight.” What the…?
“Unless Louis wants to?” She looks over at him, seductively sucking on her red ruby lips. But before Louis can answer her indecent proposal they are distracted by some new guests. Louis puts his hand at the small of my back and moves me away from the kinky couple.
“They like to share.” I’m slightly confused. He must see that on my face. “Seriously, Emily. Are you that sheltered?” I didn’t think I was, but judging by his question maybe I am. “Phillipe and Selena are swingers, they like sharing.” My mouth forms an O. “I need a fucking drink.” Louis storms off toward the open bar, I follow after him. Shit, did Louis get invited to a sex party? I hope it’s not because that’s going to make my job harder. Wrong use of words there, Emily.
I’m not having fun. Not like I should be, I’m here to work. Louis told me to stay in this seat and that he would be back. But that was, I look at my watch, that was thirty minutes ago and I don’t see him anywhere. Bugger. I jump up off of my chair and start looking for my fucking alcoholic boss. The party is pumping now, there are maybe about a hundred people at this party. There’s a tonne of older men with younger women. I wonder if they are all swingers or if it’s just the host? I haven't seen any sex happening just lots of chatting, maybe it happens later, maybe they are checking each other out trying to work out who they want to sleep with. Okay, this is a little out of my comfort zone. I look around the room and the girls all look like the same versions of each other. Big boobs, Botox face, plumped lips, tight dress and hair extensions.
I continue walking around the party, pushing my way through the guests, deflecting the advances of a couple of older, creepy guys. I’m pretty sure this is a sex party, and I am most certainly not on the menu. If I don’t find Louis soon and something happens, Daniel is going to fire me. My job is to clean up his reputation, and being seen at some rich man’s sex party probably isn't what Daniel had in mind. Did he know? I scan the party again but still nothing. He's not inside. I know this because I may have stumbled upon the sex part of this party upstairs. Need to bleach my eyes out when I get home. Now what’s left is outside in the expansive gardens. If he is asleep behind some bush I’m going to kill him. Begrudgingly, I make my way to the gardens. Grabbing my phone, I flick the torch light setting on so I can find my way in the darkness. I search for a good ten minutes until I round a corner and find a white ass. Their pants are around their ankles, I move the light up the body, tanned legs are wrapped around the waist. I move higher, and the light catches their faces.
“What the fuck?” Selena screams, trying to shield her eyes from the torch light.
“What the fuck Emily?” Louis screams at me as he continues to pump into Selena. I turn on my heel and run away. Ugh. Fucking asshole. He’s fucking his friend’s girlfriend in the bushes and here I thought he was in trouble. I was worried that I was going to find him in a pool of his own vomit. I’m an idiot. I stomp back into the party, push my way through the people and walk out to the driveway where all the cars are. I find our driver and our car parked about one hundred meters up the road and make my way to the car.
“Oh, Miss Emily.” Yanis, our driver looks at me startled. “Are you ready to go?” I open the door and slam it shut.
“No. Louis hasn’t finished screwing some woman in the bushes yet, I guess when he’s done, we can go.” Yanis nods but doesn’t say a thing. I busy myself on my phone while I wait.
An hour later Louis opens the car door, his blue eyes are wild with fury.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“Now you found me.” I barely look up from my phone, texting my girlfriends like crazy. I also may have Googled ten ways to kill your boss and not get busted.
“I thought something had…” He doesn’t finish his words; he angrily rakes his fingers through his hair.
“I’m fine. Have you finished? Or are you taking a break so you can go back for round two? I’d like to know just so I can plan my night.” Rage seethes behind Louis’ eyes.
“I never go back for seconds. No one is worth it.” He’s such a dick.
“Yanis, looks like we are ready to go. Louis has finished fucking around.” Louis slams the car door and I can hear him cursing as he rounds the other side. He opens his door and slumps into his seat then slams the door shut. I can smell her perfume on him, it makes me want to gag. He pulls open the mini fridge in front of us and pulls out a bottle of vodka, taking off the lid he throws back the bottle taking a hefty sip. Then he surprises me and hands the bottle to me.
“I don’t know where those lips have been.” I turn my nose up at the vodka.
“Places that you will never get to experience.” He takes another swig from the bottle.
“Good. I would rather stay disease free, thank you.” I fold my arms across my chest.
“You are the most infuriating woman I have ever met.” He takes another sip.
“The feeling is mutual,” he huffs beside me, cradling his vodka. It’s a long silent trip home.
11
Emily
“How did it go?” Daniel calls me the next morning.
“It went okay.” I’m not sure what to tell him.
“Looks like he behaved, there’s nothing in the press this morning.” Phew, this makes me feel better.
“Yeah, I guess he did.” Daniel doesn’t buy it.
“What did he do?”
“You could have warned me it was a sex party.”
“What?”
“The host was a swinger.”
“Oh my God, Emily, I had no idea.” I can hear it in his voice that he’s telling the truth. “Were you okay at the party? Fuck. I should have been there. I didn’t mean to put you in that kind of situation.”
“Daniel, you didn’t know. I was okay. I waited in the car with Yanis while Louis finished up.”
“Finished up?”
“Yes. I found him in the garden behind the bushes with the host’s partner. Apparently it’s all above board. I thought it was best I give him his space.”
“Fuck.” I can hear the frustration in Daniel’s voice. “I’ll talk to him. He shouldn’t have left you, not…not in a place like that.”
“Daniel, it’s fine. I’m fine. Please, we don’t need to make a big deal about it.”
“But…”
“No. Seriously. It’s okay. Eye opening, but okay.” He’s not convinced, but I don’t need him rocking the bo
at with Louis. After last night I haven’t seen him yet, and honestly I’m not sure if I want to.
“You’re doing a really good job. I know he is a difficult man to live and work with, but you are handling him fantastically. I know Louis isn’t surrounding himself with the greatest of people at the moment, but I’m just hoping it’s a phase.”
“Isn’t he a little old to be having phases,” I say honestly.
“Yeah. He is.” Daniel lets out a sigh. “But I just don’t know what else to do with him.”
“Maybe he needs to get away from France for a bit. It holds so many memories for him here. Maybe he needs a change of scenery.”
“Are you trying to score a holiday?” He chuckles. “I mean, you do deserve one.”
“I hear the Seychelles are nice this time of year,” I tease.
“Why yes, that does sound nice. But I get what you are saying. Maybe he needs to get away from it all. Away from bad influences.”
“Maybe he needs a shock to the system to get back to being a great artist again.”
“Leave it with me, I’ll see what I can do.”
“He’s destroying it.” Gabriel runs into my office, his face panic stricken.
“What are you talking about?”