Untouchable

by Sienna Grant

  Fuck.

  Folding it back over, I tucked it under my arm, grabbed my phone and headed out into the main room. Paisley and Nikki sat together looking at something on the laptop. I walked over to them and picked up the only coffee left on the table and took a sip. I nearly spat it back out when I found it cold, but I also knew that Paisley had paid for it, so I suffered it and drank it instead. She didn’t look at me when I stood at her side, I guessed she was still angry. I slapped the paper down to get her attention. Her gaze flicked over me, but she soon shifted it back to her screen and dissed me. Lifting an eyebrow at her snub, I grabbed the back of the empty chair and pulled it out, sitting down and looked over at the both of them. They had no time for me, they had their heads together and were focused.

  “So…”

  Paisley looked across to the side at me and sighed.

  “So? Would you like to explain the pap photo first of all? Am I going to make something up to cover your lies, or is it innocent and you’re going to tell me the truth?”

  “I didn’t realise you were my mum.” I felt the scowl tug at my brow.

  “No,” she snapped, “but I am here to make you look good.” She stared at me, lifting an eyebrow and I knew she was waiting for a comeback.

  “I didn’t realise anyone would snap us. I was very pissed.” I narrowed my eyes at her trying to get my point across.

  “Oh, that’s okay then.” She rolled her eyes as the sarcasm fell from her lips. “Did you think that everyone in that strip club wouldn’t recognise you?”

  “Maybe not.” I shrugged.

  She shook her head and sighed. “Jesus, Roman.” A low growl from the back of her throat escaped her lips.

  I couldn’t answer these questions, I was too fucking hungry and the smell of food coming from the other side of the room was affecting my concentration. Right on cue, my stomach grumbled at me.

  “Hang on… one minute.”

  I stood from the chair and went over to the trolley lifting the stainless-steel lids to reveal some hot food and toast. I grabbed two slices of toast, spread some butter on top and placed some scrambled eggs and bacon on top and made a toastie. Taking my first bite, I groaned with pleasure, it was so nice. Grabbing another cup of hot coffee this time, I went back over and sat down.

  “As you were…”

  I sank my teeth into my breakfast and smiled around a bite before chewing. Paisley shook her head.

  “Are you ready now?”

  I nodded and relaxed back against the chair.

  “Is there going to be anything from this girl? A story maybe, of how she slept with the UK’s hottest new star, after the best night of her life?”

  I swallowed down the bite I was chewing and frowned.

  “Is that sarcasm I can hear Ms. Kennedy, because I’ll have you know, if I had slept with her, it definitely would’ve been the best night that she’d ever had.”

  “Ugh really? Why can’t you take anything seriously? I mean, why am I even doing this?”

  “No, Paisley,” I sighed and shook my head, “I didn’t sleep with her. Is that better? We had a couple of drinks and that was it. I was way too pissed to do anything else, so I got my security detail to take me home, she helped me out of the club, that’s all.”

  I stared into her deep, chocolate-coloured eyes, sinking into them. I didn’t know what it was about her, but she did something to me. She looked away before I did and focused back on her screen. I felt a small smile tug at my lips in victory.

  “As long as you’re telling me the truth, I can sort something out in case you have any come back, or a story appears in a few days… now, down to business…”

  “I am. I promise.” I actually meant it too.

  “I’m really not bothered Roman, but I have a job to do and if I don’t do it, then one, I don’t get paid and two, I’ll more than likely get fired. My boss seems to think this job is the pathway to his retirement, so if I don't do my job everyone loses. No matter what you think of me — I’m nothing if not professional.”

  “I can see that.” I nodded

  Her eyebrows raised and I stared into her dark eyes. They had a deepness I’d never seen. The fury that had been set on her face all this time finally began to soften. I gave her a small smile and the corner of her lips tipped up. As I surveyed her, I realised the colour of her eyes matched the darkness of her hair. I had to stop looking at her like that. So, I broke our connection and looked down at the small piece of toast left between my fingers and popped it into my mouth. I rubbed my hands together, before washing it down with coffee. I glanced up and watched the working of her throat as she swallowed and looked at her screen. I’d almost forgotten there were two others in the room. I coughed and got up to get another drink.

  “More coffee?” I asked Paisley.

  She looked up and nodded.

  “Please.”

  I took as long as I possibly could pouring two cups, all I could think about was the fact that I was glad I knocked that round off in the shower. Otherwise, right now, I’d be up shit’s creek with the biggest hard on in history.

  Chapter Eleven

  As he left my side, I glanced back and watched him saunter away. The view from the back was as good as the front one, I didn’t mind seeing either if I was honest, but he had to stop looking at me like that. The butterflies that reared their teasing heads when he first texted me the other night, swarmed back with a vengeance, when he looked at me. He stared right into my eyes and I could feel my resolve softening. It didn’t mean he was any different to what he’d been at school, but I was beginning to see another side to him. I kind of liked this side. He wasn’t the mean kid that he was back then. Maybe it was seeing him in a different light — maybe I was totally wrong, and I was setting myself up for a fall. Who knew, but we had to work together anyway and if meant being nicer to each other, then that was what I’d do.

  Before I knew it, he was back and sitting down after putting both cups on the table. Nikki left us and I discussed with him what my plans were. I told him about the hospital and went over the final details and asked him about his schedule.

  “You’d need to speak with Nikki about that. She tells me where I have to be, and I go.”

  I smirked, “Well aren’t you a good lad…”

  “I try to be at times. Honestly, it’s a wonder I haven’t had a kick to the dick.”

  A laugh burst from me because I could see that coming a mile away. He folded his forearms on the table as we shared a moment. The short meeting, we were supposed to have, turned into an all morning one until lunchtime rolled around. It was easy to get distracted by his smile, his arms, the smell of his aftershave.

  “I’m at the studio this afternoon, I need to be out of here by one.”

  “That’s fine.” I nodded, “I just wanted to arrange a press conference and maybe try and get that rep of yours up.”

  He rubbed his hand over his hair and dropped his gaze.

  “If that’s okay with you?”

  “Erm, yeah, just go over it with Nikki.”

  When he looked back up, his gaze had darkened, and his eyes were on mine before he sat up straight.

  “Are we done here?”

  “I think so…”

  “Rhys. Get Kevin to meet me in the underground car park, I need to go to the studio.”

  “Was it something I said?”

  I felt guilty bringing up his ways, but I thought he’d take it in good nature. Maybe not. His hand settled over mine, heat travelled through me creating a small spark. Only I didn’t feel it on my hand. I felt it way down in the pit of my stomach.

  “Of course not, but I do have to get going, I’ve just remembered I need to speak with the producer and stuff…”

  He moved his hand and immediately I felt cold. He left the table and walked back to his room. No more than a minute later, he was out again, pulling a hoodie over his head and now he had a pair of white Nike huarache trainers on.

  “Nikki, you re
ady to go?”

  I knew Nikki had left us to discuss my plans, but I hadn’t realised she’d gone to get changed. She came out of her room looking every inch the professional I knew she was, and she looked amazing. She pulled her handbag on her shoulder and came to stand next to me.

  “Yep, let’s do this.”

  “Sorry to cut this short. I thought it was later.”

  “Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got everything I need anyway. I can work at home or Costa, whichever I need most.”

  I shut down my laptop as we were talking and packed my stuff away and left with them. The heat in my body rose as we travelled down to lower ground floor. I wasn’t sure if it was the lift that was stuffy, or the fact that Roman was standing behind me. I glanced around me and Roman stood behind us, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest, while I stood next to Nikki. My gaze found his as I looked around. His eyes turning a deeper shade of blue as he stared back. I needed to get out of there, I was beginning to sweat, and I knew it was from the close proximity and not the small enclosure we were stuck in. I looked forward just as the lift reached the ground floor. The guys were staying in and going to the basement, where his car would pick him up. The doors slid open and I turned to them.

  “Have a good day, guys.”

  I smiled and stepped out before letting out the breath I was holding. The doors closed behind me. I stood still for a minute for my heart rate to return to normal before setting off for the car park. I couldn’t wait to get home. I had to stop letting him get to me like this. I think I preferred to be angry at him. At least I didn’t get flustered when I was angry.

  After getting a few hours work in, I decided to close the laptop and put Netflix on, searching for a series that I could binge on. When, I couldn’t find a series I decided on a romcom. What’s better than that when a girl’s on her own?

  Once I’d grabbed a glass of wine and sprawled myself out along the couch, I clicked play. Derek Hale was being his very charming self in Can You Keep A Secret, and I was thoroughly enjoying it, while drooling over him at the same time. The knock at the door dragged me from my drool fest. I touched the screen of my phone to check the time. It was just gone nine p.m. When I reached the front door, I pushed to my tiptoes and looked through the peephole. I turned the catch on the door and opened it, raising an eyebrow at my visitor.

  “Roman. What are you doing here?”

  Chapter Twelve

  My hungry gaze raked over her slim body, starting from the chocolate brown of her hair that she’d piled on top of her head, right down to her bare feet, leaving me with a dry mouth as she cocked a hip before me. Her thighs were bare in the small shorts she was wearing, and I could see a sliver of her belly under the small, cropped t shirt she wore. I probably shouldn’t have come here but something inside me told me to. Something changed between us today. We seemed to find a middle ground. I knew she’d felt what I felt when I’d touched her.

  I closed the gap between us and stepped up into her space. Her nostrils flared at the brief contact and her breathing picked up as she backed up. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, and my gaze fixated on her neck and back up to her lips, as her tongue poked out and licked them.

  “So… are you going to let me in, or do I need to stand here all day?” I said in a low and sarcastic tone, standing just a metre away from her.

  Her eyes locked with mine as she stuttered.

  “Um… yeah of course.”

  She shook herself out of whatever stupor she was in and closed the door behind me.

  “Thanks.” I sauntered slowly passed, giving her another look over and eating her up with my eyes.

  “Sorry, I’m not exactly dressed for visitors.”

  Holding her gaze, I smirked.

  “I think you look fine.”

  I wandered further inside and looked around me.

  “So, did you need something?” Her voice was soft behind me and I slowly turned.

  “Not really. I thought we could talk more about your plans for my new image after we got cut short today.”

  I turned around and faced her, lifting an eyebrow. She walked around me and picked up the remote control, pausing whatever it was she was watching.

  “It could’ve waited until tomorrow, I’m sure. Would you like a drink?”

  She dropped the remote onto the cushion and disappeared through the door to her kitchen. I viewed my surroundings. Her place was a little on the small side, but I suppose for this end of London, it was one of the better ones and it probably cost her a bit too. Once I’d perused my environment, I realised I hadn’t answered her question, so I followed the path she went and propped my shoulder against the door frame and watched her. I folded my arms across my chest and flung one ankle over the other and watched as she moved around her kitchen. The slight tan of her long, slim legs had me licking my lips, I ran my gaze up until I was met with the hem of her jean shorts, that led to the shapely curve of her arse.

  “Have you finished?”

  At the sound of her voice, my gaze shot up to her face. Her lips pouted as a crease sat between her eyebrows while she scowled — obviously, she’d caught me. I smirked, because there was nothing else that I could do. She passed a can of Pepsi along the counter to me.

  “Do you not have Coke instead?” I screwed my nose up, but I was just fucking with her.

  “No sorry, Coke tastes like shit. Take it or leave it.”

  “I tell you what, I’ll just take it.”

  A smirk tugged at my lips as I stepped up and dragged the can towards me before I opened it up and took a drink. My gaze never shifted, even when I tipped my head back. She crossed her arms over her full chest and smirked back, as I pulled the can from my lips. She pushed from the counter and walked around me, leaving the kitchen, and going into the living room. I soon followed her lead and joined her. As she sat in the corner of the soft grey couch, she lifted her legs and tucked her feet beneath her. I sat at the other end. I twisted my body around as she handed me her notebook.

  “Okay. Read this. This is what I’ve been working on this afternoon. It’s just some articles to get the critics talking and maybe get some exposure. I’ve documented your last couple of drama series and reviews.”

  Paisley passed me a notebook and I read over the list of the things she’d written down, and I was silently impressed.

  “Have you arranged this already?”

  “A couple of things… Obviously, I don’t need confirmation for press releases. I’ll arrange those. My office is happy with anything as long as you are, and we get good press for it. I had an email today back from the hospital administrator, he is going to call me back when he’s spoken to the doctors, but I think this could be really good for you. You see stars doing this all the time and it gets great coverage. Those kids will love it and being teenagers, it will get some of those who aren't quite on your side to look at you differently. You can give something to those who haven’t got much hope to cling on to.”

  I think I heard everything she’d just said, but I was too busy watching her lips move. I should’ve been listening to her because this was my career. She took her notebook back and placed it down on her thigh. Seeing the bag of Haribo’s, I reached across to take them before dipping my fingers in.

  “Hey, those are mine.”

  Pulling out a ring and a cherry, I held them up.

  “Well look at that, it seems I’ve taken your cherry…”

  I twisted my lips to stop my own laughter and Paisley tried to not look amused, but she failed.

  “No matter what you think, Roman, you’re not that special.” Popping the jelly sweet into my mouth, I grabbed her notebook again and flicked through her work, laughing.

  “Do you mind?” Her voice rose a pitch higher.

  “Not at all.” A smirk tugged at my lips.

  “Was there a reason you came here tonight, Roman? If not, maybe you should leave and let me get back to my film.”

  “What’re you wa
tching?”

  “Can You Keep A Secret. Chick flick.”

  “Ahh. Figures.”

  Our eyes locked, but she broke first and looked away. She snatched the notebook back and opened it up to where her plans for me were. She was doing anything as long as she didn’t have to look at me. I placed my hand on the notebook.

  “Do I make you nervous?”

  Her chest rose and fell more than once before she looked at me.

  “A little…” she answered in a small voice.

  She dropped her feet to the carpet and got up.

  “If there’s nothing else you need; I’m a little tired.”

  She moved away from me, giving me her back. Standing from the couch, I walked towards her and stepped up behind her, inhaling the sweet scent of strawberries from her hair, as it wafted up my nose.

  “What do you want from me, Roman?”

  “I want you to look at me.”

  She pushed her shoulders back, the top of her back rose as she inhaled deeply, and she turned around to face me.

  “There. Now what?”

  “I’m not sure what it is about you, but you have me chasing my own tail, I don’t understand it.”

  She rolled her eyes before putting them back on me. “We’re going to be working closely together, Roman. We don’t need crap between us, but I actually think it’s more of a game with you. I’m not going to be your game Roman, your next project. As a person, I haven’t changed, I’m still that geek you couldn’t bear to look at in school. I just made a career out of it… so please, don’t make things harder than they need to be.”

  I heard her words, and instantly they sank into my already warped mind. A pink hue had risen up onto her chest and her breaths quickened. No matter how many times she tried to tell herself that she didn’t want me, I knew she wasn’t only lying to me, but she was also trying to kid herself. I saw it this morning and I was seeing it now.

  “You’re the one making it hard.” A smirk tugged at my lips at my own joke.

  “Ugh.” She shook her head before meeting my eyes again. “Maybe you should go.”