Rhett laughs, already following Troy out with his folders.
“Hey, the meeting’s not over, what the?” They both stop at the bottom of the jet stairs, and I wipe my mouth at the top. “What are you idiots on about?”
“Her,” Troy says with a shit-eating grin.
“Get a ring. Act engaged, and fly. Then close the deal,” Rhett says fast and just as cocky.
“And report in after,” Troy demands, back-stepping towards his Aston Martin.
Before I can say anything, Sam stops behind me in the door.
“Goodbye, Samantha,” Rhett says with a stupid theatrical wave.
“And congrats!” Troy yells while laughing and leaving.
The bastards walk for their cars, and I turn to Samantha. Looking confused, she puts her hands on her hips. “Congrats? For what?”
22
HARRISON
It takes time to work out what to say and how to spin it. I do not like it. Not one bit. In saying that, I’m in a corner. A very weird corner.
I ask Samantha for a short walk along the side of the Southampton airport and under the trees. It’s a quiet area, and thankfully, no private jets are now taking off.
It is the last pitch in the world I want to make, but it is what it is.
I’ve pitched to movie stars, media banks, Hollywood cinema chains, directors, producers, foreign banks, and global brands my entire working life. It is what I did and what, at times, I still do.
In retrospect, that feels easy.
But here and now, this requires all kinds of suspect and complex layers. Deceit and romance being key. Those I do not like. Especially together.
After three very long and complex sentences, I finish my pitch and look into her big eyes. Sam puts her hands on her sexy leather-clad hips. “No way in hell.”
“It’s only a week, tops,” I plead. “Anyway, it’s inyour contract.”
“The fuck it is!”
“Okay, it’s not really,” I admit.
“I’m paid to cook, not act as your wife.”
“Fiancée!”
“Whatever!”
“Look, I’m desperate,” I say, embarrassed to plead.
“No shit!”
We stare each other out, and I cross my arms to match her defensive, angry-looking, hands on sexy hips. She looks furious, and I had no idea a white lie is a complete no go to her.
“What’s the deal worth?”
“What?”
“What is the deal worth?”
