Forever Box Set

by Wendy Louise

  Joshua is frantically setting everything up at his desk, looking flustered.

  “Are you okay Josh, you seem a bit tense this morning?”

  “I’m fine, I just hate battling LA traffic. Some days it gets me down. Sorry you had to deal with Ethan by yourself.”

  “No worries. It was good to chat to him, makes him seem less of a celebrity and more human. It will make life easier to be around him. I don’t want to feel intimidated by the talent. I need to look at them as normal human beings. This is all so new to me,” I confess.

  “Well you haven’t met Madeline yet, so let’s see how that theory works out on her.” Joshua says with a smile. “You’ll get used to it though. I was so star-struck when I first started working as Ethan’s PA, but now they all seem like regular, everyday people to me. It just takes a little time.”

  I turn to grab a pad and paper so I can start to take notes from Josh on what needs to be done, and I notice a perfectly folded origami flower sitting on my keyboard.

  Ethan must have left it for me.

  That’s what he was doing while we were chatting. My heart skips a beat as I tuck it away on the pin board next to the photo of my parents.

  Josh settles in and starts to show me how the schedules are set up in the computer and on the ipad. Everything is synched together so that I can work on the ipad from home, and still access the same schedules and calendars if I need to. I love the fact that I can work remotely from this office and stay on top of everything.

  He goes in to great detail about the filming process and how the day on set works. When they shoot on location, we need to go too. When they are on their lunch breaks we need to be there to ensure that they eat and are looked after. If they need an appointment set up with a voice coach, or rehearsal time with a co-star, we arrange that too.

  Every aspect of Olivia’s life will be programmed and scheduled by me. I’m starting to understand why she wanted me to do this for her. I wouldn’t want anyone else running my sister’s life like this. She needs me to look out for her and she trusts me to say when enough is enough.

  I can do that.

  I think I’m going to be good at this.

  Time to Party

  I walk through the large double doors in to the grand imposing entrance of Ryan’s home and look around. As always, the usual suspects are here. Lots of scantily clad women ready to offer themselves up on a platter.

  Hell yeah!

  There is a type in Hollywood that flit from party to party, hoping to either hit it with a celebrity and get their name in the paper, or wanting to make it big themselves. They all look and smell the same. Of course most of them are gorgeous to look at, but shallow once they open their mouths.

  Not that I ever complain.

  I’m not in to talking to them.

  I scan the room, noticing that Ryan’s place looks incredible as always.

  It’s your typical Hollywood mansion, showcasing lots of open spaces, high floor-to-ceiling windows, shiny surfaces and expensive furnishings.

  Ryan is known for his parties and they never disappoint. The backyard looks like it has lanterns hanging from every available tree branch and the lights are on over the pool to highlight the lush tropical landscape. There is a large shiny white dance floor set up on the patio next to the stage that has been erected for the evening.

  Expensive finger food is being passed around on silver trays by model-like women, dressed in short black skirts and tight white shirts that leave little to the imagination. Most importantly, the alcohol is flowing.

  I can see Grayson standing towards the back of the double doors that lead out to the patio near the stage, so I head his way as I weave around the bodies, acknowledging some of the people from the Studio on my way with a nod. He is swigging from his beer and smiling at someone who is out of my view. Obviously he is hitting on tonight’s conquest. I want to see who the lucky lady is.

  I round the corner and see…Ava.

  No fucking way Gray!

  She looks incredible in a tight fitting little black dress that hugs her slight curves in all the right ways. Her dark hair is down, unlike this morning, and falls in thick waves halfway down her back and across her perfectly proportioned chest. Her legs are tanned from the Aussie sun, and her shoes are tall and black doing amazing things for those legs. Her plump lips are bright red, and her smile is so bright it could light the length of the Vegas strip.

  She is talking animatedly with Grayson and Jesus does that piss me off. I’ve only been in her company twice since I’ve met her, and all together it can’t have been for more than five minutes, but I don’t want Gray talking to her.

  I don’t want her to be his pick up tonight.

  I don’t want her to be anyone’s pick up tonight.

  I don’t know why I feel like that but I just do.

  She seems sweet and untouched by the LA bullshit, and I don’t want to see her end up like many of the others that grace this room.

  I head towards them with more purpose.

  “Hey man,” Grayson says as I approach. “I was just telling Ava how we love to head to the beach. We should try and get there over the weekend and make a day of it. The weather is supposed to be hot.”

  “Yeah that sounds great.” I look to Ava. “Hey Ava,” I smile at her.

  “Hey,” she says back and takes a swig of her drink.

  I think I make her nervous. I just hope that they are good nerves and not bad ones. I like that I affect her; I just want to be affecting her in the right way. That is, the heart-beating-fast-goose-bumps-down-the-arms kind of way rather than the you-intimidate-me-so-much-I-can’t-be-near-you, kind of way.

  Now, let’s get Grayson out of the way. “Are you all set up and ready to go man?” I ask him.

  “Sure are, we start our set in about three minutes.” Grayson lowers his voice and whispers in my ear. “Lots of great talent here tonight E, but I think I found mine already.” He wiggles his dark eyebrows up and down suggestively.

  I lean in towards his ear and say, “Stay away from her Gray, she’s not your type, trust me, I already told you that yesterday.”

  He pulls back and stares in to my eyes, searching for the reason that I seem to be acting like a crazy man over a girl that I have no right to be acting that way over. “Okay, okay, are you staking your claim?” he asks, smiling at me devilishly and raising his hands in surrender.

  I raise my eyebrows at him in warning.

  Ava interrupts, “What type of music do you play Grayson?”

  “All original stuff but we do occasionally take requests and play some rock covers. What type of music do you like Ava, maybe I can play one for you tonight?” Grayson is working his charm on Ava to piss me off. He smiles at me out of the corner of his eye after that last line.

  I just shake my head.

  Ava blushes pink - damn if that doesn’t make her adorable - and says, “I like current stuff - Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Pink, and I love Jason Derulo.”

  Grayson and I both screw up our faces and say, “Jason Derulo!” loudly back at her at the same time. Not that we have anything against him, he’s just not someone that either of us has paid much attention to.

  “I’m not really in to anyone who likes to whisper their own name at the start of every song,” Grayson says with a laugh.

  Ava blushes more deeply - damn if it doesn’t make her irresistible.

  “He doesn’t do that at the start of every song,” she answers with a smile, “besides his Tattoos album is great. I work out to him all time.”

  I picture her in her workout clothes, tight and sweaty, and I feel the sizeable bulge behind my zipper grow. I shift to readjust myself discreetly as Grayson speaks.

  “Well I’m not sure that we’ll be playing any Jason Derulo for you Ava, not really my scene. I could maybe work some Bruno Mars or Pink in there though. Leave it with me. I’d better get up there. Catch you two later.” He turns and winks at me before heading up on to the stage to start his
set.

  Ava is holding an empty beer bottle in her hand so I gesture towards the bar once the music kicks in, and we head that way to grab drinks. “What are you having?”

  “Just a beer thanks.” Her voice is so sweet and pure.

  Melodic.

  I love the way her accent curls around the words that come out of her mouth. She has the same husky note to her voice that Olivia has, but her Australian accent is much more pronounced. It adds so much to her character, and I hope that she doesn’t lose it while she is here.

  I gesture to the bartender for two beers. I hand her a beer and take one for myself, as we both clink the bottles together before taking a swig of the bitter amber liquid.

  As I turn around to watch Gray and the boys on stage, I come face-to-face with Natalia.

  She is one of my frequent flyers.

  That’s the name I give to the girls that I fuck regularly, who don’t expect any more from me. They’re easy and serve a purpose.

  Natalia is tall and stacked, with bright blonde hair, and cornflower blue eyes that look too large for her too-thin face. Her full lips are painted a shiny pink, and my mind drifts to all the things that her mouth has done to me previously. She smiles, looks me up and down appraisingly and leans in to my ear.

  “Are you busy later? It’s been a while,” she purrs. Her perfume wafts past my nostrils and causes me to sneeze. She has always worn too much.

  With Ava beside me I don’t feel like dealing with Natalia right now.

  Not the impression I want to give.

  I shake my head and lean in to her ear. “Sorry Nat but no time tonight. Call me later in the week?”

  “Okay,” she says as she shrugs and spins on her heel, heading away from me with swagger, towards her next victim.

  Got to give her credit, she takes it from me when she can get it but always has someone else lined up for when I’m not on board. That’s why I keep her around; there are no complications or expectations with her. She’s easy, in all ways.

  “One of your girls?” Ava says with a smirk on her face, but disgust clear in her voice.

  I spin my head around and face her full on. “What do you mean one of my girls?” I ask, trying to sound offended, but failing miserably.

  She cocks her head to the side. “Come on Ethan, your reputation precedes you. I know that you have them lining up at your door.” Her eyebrows are raised and her eyes are smiling so I know I haven’t upset her. If anything she looks bemused by the situation. Almost like it is just what she was expecting from me. That pisses me off a bit. She’s judged me before she’s given me the chance to show her who I really am.

  I think she’s humouring me, but I can’t be sure.

  “Well not lining up at my door, but I’m not complaining,” I say with a shrug as I look back out at the dance floor and see Natalia hitting on one of the Production Assistants. She’ll move on once she realises that he can’t further her in Hollywood. He’s just starting out; she sticks with those of us who have already made it to some extent.

  Ava laughs and it makes the all the hairs on my arms stand on end and a tingle run through my spine.

  “Not what I’ve heard. I don’t think you would have any trouble pulling any woman in this room if you wanted to,” she challenges.

  I give her a full megawatt smile, the type I reserve for the women I want to pull. “Well I will take that as a compliment coming from you Ava. So you think I can pull anyone here right?”

  Bring it on Ava!

  Bring it on!

  “Yes I do,” she says confidently, chin in the air.

  “Okay I’ll take that challenge Ava Lucas. Dance with me?” I give her my best panty- dropping smile, taking her beer and mine and placing them on the tray of a passing waitress. I offer her my hand.

  Her eyes widen and her breath hitches. I don’t think she thought I would try it on her. I don’t have any intention of treating her like one of the women I would usually pull, but I think it would be fun to play with her a bit tonight.

  I like being around her.

  Something about her makes me feel settled. I’m not quite sure what it is, but I like it. I take her hand and pull her towards the dance floor, not giving her the chance to reject me. “Come on.”

  We move to the centre of the dance floor, making our way through the sea of moving bodies. Gray’s voice is loud and soulful across the outdoor area, and there are already a lot of people dancing. Awesome Rebel is pumping out one of their best known songs, a fast rock tune that is heavy on the bass.

  Perfect to dance to.

  Once settled amongst the throng of people, I hook my arm around Ava’s waist and pull her against me. I don’t miss the gasp as it leaves her perfect marshmallow lips. I loosen my grip ever so slightly and rest both my hands on her perfect round hips. My fingers bite in to her skin through the fabric of her dress, and I try to hold myself together so I don’t move too quickly and scare her off.

  We start to move.

  Ava knows how to dance and suddenly the thought that she has done this with someone else previously makes me feel all caveman-like. I don’t want to think of her doing this with anyone but me.

  Our hips are swinging in time to the beat and I pull her closer to me, allowing more contact. The small, fast breaths she is taking cause her perfect tits to brush against my chest, and I can feel them rise and fall with each intake of air.

  She curls her hands around the nape of my neck as she relaxes and gets in to the music. Our bodies melded together, our feet barely moving, but right now I feel like I could be soaring through the sky.

  This girl….

  This girl makes me feel such a contradiction of emotions.

  The settled feeling I felt when I first led her to the dance floor has now evaporated and I feel a little out of my depth. Like there is something about her that is going to unman me, change me, and turn my life in to something that I don’t recognise.

  The rhythm of the song picks up and we move closer, deepening the sweep of our hips and pulling us so close that every part of her that I can press against is in contact with me. My leg bends between hers until she is dancing against my thigh, almost straddling my leg, and the tingles that sweep through my blood stream cause me to harden instantly.

  My heart feels like it is about to die in my chest. It is beating so damn hard that I don’t think it can withstand this dance for much longer.

  Ava’s eyes are sparkling and her cheeks are flushed red, with desire, and want and longing…

  For me.

  As Gray’s voice fades and the song comes to an end, I pull back. For no reason than to stop the thump of my heart that I fear may stop at any moment due to overuse.

  Ava is looking up at me with big round eyes and I want to kiss her so bad, so fuckin’ bad, that I dig my fingernails in to my palms to stop my hands from framing her face and taking what I want.

  She is breathless and takes another step backwards as she says, “Thanks for the dance. I need to go find Liv, I haven’t met Ryan yet.”

  “Okay. Well maybe we can have another drink later?” I say as casually as I can, trying to keep my voice calm and even.

  “Sounds great. Catch you later,” she says as she hurries away.

  Great, what the hell was that?

  This girl has been in my life for five fucking minutes and she’s having some sort of weird effect on me.

  I don’t get it.

  I don’t like it.

  At least I think I don’t like it.

  Fuck - I need another drink!

  What was that?

  Oh.

  My.

  God.

  I.

  Am.

  Mortified.

  Mortified!

  What the hell was that?

  I shouldn’t have danced with him. It brought feelings to the surface of my skin that I should not be having for Ethan Drake of all people. He is Hollywood royalty, a real celebrity and soon to be a huge movie star, and I
was dry humping him on the dance floor at the first party I’ve been to in LA. Get a grip Ava.

  Who the hell do you think you are!

  I hurry through the large crowd to where I see my striking sister lounging next to a large tropical-style pool. It’s amazing. There are real waterfalls, a huge bubbling Jacuzzi and so many lounge chairs that there are too many to count. I don’t think I would have enough friends to fill them all. It looks like a luxurious resort.

  Candles are floating on the surface of the water and flickering in hurricane lamps on the side tables that sit beside each lounge chair. Lanterns fill the trees. It is serene and beautiful and it screams expensive.

  “Hey Sis…” Olivia calls out to me, “…come meet Ryan.”

  A man stands up from the lounge chair next to Olivia’s. He is tall and ruggedly handsome. His dark hair falls across his forehead, and he has dark designer stubble along his strong jaw that highlights his wide smile and kind eyes.

  A total grade-A hottie.

  Perfect for my gorgeous sister.

  He holds out his hand to me. “Hi Ava, so great to meet you, I’m Ryan. Liv has been so excited about you coming out here.”

  He has a slight twang to his accent; he must be from the South.

  It’s adorable.

  “Nice to meet you too and thanks for having me here tonight.”

  “You’re most welcome. I’m glad to meet some of Liv’s family and I hope to meet the rest of them at some stage too.” He gives Liv a wink and she smiles at him sweetly. Wow, maybe this is more than just a fling to her; that would be a first for my sister.

  “Take a seat with Liv and I’ll get you a drink. What would you like?”

  “Just a beer thanks,” I say with a shrug. I’m a simple girl at heart. Give me a beer and chicken wings any day and I’m happy.

  Ryan smiles and shakes his head at me. “Oh no, this is the first time you’re at one of my parties so you have to try the signature drink. Tonight it’s a martini with midori and pineapple. Let me get you one.”