6662 LaLaine Street, Home of Laurel Quinn (10:15pm):
Tony pushed open the lobby door of the apartment building that contained thirty eight floors and he walked over to the elevator pressing the button. In his hands was a bottle of champagne with a pink ribbon on it. He wasn’t dressed in a buttoned up shirt he was famously known for. He instead had on a black t-shirt, blue jeans and brown boots. His hair wasn’t styled with gel and he still had scruffy facial hair that he didn’t really want to bother shaving off.
For the first time in many weeks he looked relaxed, happy and calm. It was a new feeling for him and he couldn’t help but smile to himself.
The lobby door swung open and he turned around to see Laurel walking in. She paused as she saw Tony waiting for the elevator.
“Tony? What are you doing here?” Laurel asked in shock.
“Oh hey! I was actually here to see you. I didn’t see you at the showcase and I was worried.”
“Yeah I instead met up with Jace. I wasn’t really in the mood to be in a setting with a lot of people.”
“Oh okay. Well I’m glad to see you’re okay and I brought champagne.”
The elevator doors opened and Laurel entered followed by Tony. She pressed the button labeled ‘25’ and the doors closed. As the elevator started to ascend she looked at the bottle in Tony’s hand.
“What’s the champagne for?” She asked leaning against the wall of the elevator.
Tony cleared his throat. “It’s a gift of celebration. I’ve been trying to tell you some great news. I enrolled at the San New Community College.”
Laurel gasped a little and smiled. “That is amazing, congratulations!”
“Thank you. But don’t worry, this will not interfere with my commitment to Publicity!. I’m taking a few courses online.”
“You don’t need to worry. As long as you’re happy with learning that’s all that matters.” Laurel looked up at the screen and she watched as the numbers began to change from 10-18 in a quick pace. She smiled and confessed, “I thought you were going to tell me about you and Jace dating.”
The words caused Tony’s eyes to widen in disbelief. “Wh-what me dating Jace? That’s-that’s crazy.”
Laurel glanced over at him and she arched her eyebrow. “I’m sorry, am I supposed to wait until you came out the closet to me? I have no issues with you being Gay or with you dating Jace. He’s a great guy. I just hope you’re careful around him. He may seem sweet and innocent, but he is a Private Investigator. He knows a few things about me. But you’re a hit man, so make sure you tread lightly around him.”
Tony was still in shock his boss knew about his sexual orientation. It made him nervous many years ago to tell his parents but they ultimately didn’t care and even with his line of work no one seemed to care either.
He knew Laurel was right about Jace. He had his reservations about the young Private Investigator when he first met him last year, but they have something special together and that couldn’t be denied. Tony had a past as did everyone, he knew that when the time was right and he tells Jace the truth; all will be great…He hoped.
The elevator finally made it to the Twenty Fifth floor and the doors opened, Laurel stepped out into the hallway and walked down her stiletto shoes echoing through the hallway. “I think it’s sweet. You two are cute together. I also think it’s sweeter that you two have been keeping this a secret for two months now.”
Tony followed her and gripped the champagne bottle tightly. “How did you find out?”
“There’s a security camera in the staircase and I caught you two making out. I must say I knew you were aggressive but I had no idea just how aggressive you really were. It was shockingly hot. I guess now I know why middle aged straight women write Gay romance novels.” She laughed taking out her apartment keys from her purse.
Tony’s face turned red and they finally approached the apartment 25F, just as Laurel was about to put the key into the keyhole, the door opened and a man wearing a business suit was standing inside of her apartment.
Tony gripped the top of the bottle tightly seconds away from smashing it over the intruder’s head. Laurel looked at the stranger in irritation and she rolled her eyes at his presence.
“We’ve been waiting for you Laurel. Are you two the only ones?” the man asked.
Tony didn’t understand why Laurel wasn’t as defensive as he was. She ignored the question and stepped into her apartment as if she knew the stranger. Tony kept a careful eye on him as he followed her inside and they both stopped in the living room.
Standing by Laurel’s television screen was a man. He was about forty three years old, he had a bald head, stood at 6’1 and he had a stocky figure. He was wearing a black and white tuxedo that wasn’t really form fitting but at the same time it wasn’t baggy either.
Tony recognized the man as Vincent Capella. The infamous King Pin of New York City. The man was responsible for the murder of two hundred men. He sold weapons to gangs, weapons overseas to various countries that were allies to America and he made sure the streets of New York were safe and sound in any way possible. His tactics were dangerous and very deadly to those who opposed him, and he was not a force to be reckoned with. This was a man you wanted on your side when you go to war.
Vincent placed his arms behind his back as he saw both Laurel and Tony. “How is it that you’re a Fixer and yet I’m the one that has to clean up your mess?” His voice was deep and his tone was stern. His Emerald eyes were set on Laurel, making it obvious to Tony he was speaking directly to her.
Laurel rolled her eyes, an action that Tony hoped she wouldn’t take any further than that, he didn’t have any of his guns to defend himself or Laurel if the occasion arose. He kept his grip on the head of the champagne bottle and he carefully eyed every movement Capella made.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I always clean up my messes.” She replied back causing Capella to smile amused by her answer.
He opened his mouth to say something when he paused as he saw Tony’s knuckles turn white while gripping the bottle. “Laurel, it seems your friend over here has something on his mind.”
Laurel glanced over at Tony and she placed a hand on his right shoulder calming him down. “It’s okay Tony.”
“No it isn’t!” Tony stated breaking his silence. “That is Vincent Capella. He is a ruthless killer. He murders people without batting an eye!”
“I am truly offended by that statement!” Capella gasped as if he truly took offense. “I don’t kill ‘people’. Just men. I am a gentleman after all.”
Laurel squeezed Tony’s shoulder gently. “I know who he is Tony. But I promise you he isn’t here to hurt us.”
Tony looked at Laurel staring into her hazel eyes. “How do you know that?”
“Because-“Laurel began speaking not taking her hand off of his shoulder. “-He’s my father.”
Tony froze in shock and he looked at Laurel unable to comprehend why he didn’t know this fact sooner. But another thought crossed his mind, if she was able to keep that a secret, what else is she hiding from him?
[End]
A Letter To You (The Reader)
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading these six crazy stories and enjoying who Laurel Quinn is and the crazy life she lives. This is the first short story I have ever worked on and I can tell you it isn’t the last short story nor will it be my last story ever!.
Publicity! isn’t over. I am working on another set of six amazing stories. Laurel Quinn has a lot of stories to tell and a lot of scandals to fix.
I again want to thank you for purchasing this book and reading it! Hope you’re ready for the second installment. If you thought this was crazy, wait until you see what happens next.
Until next time!
~ Edwin Betancourt
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Publicity!: Six Scandalous Adventures of Hollywood's Crisis Manager Laurel Quinn Page 11