"She is. Why?"
"Oh, you know. Just trying to keep straight all the information you've hired me to manage."
I release an annoyed breath and look back down at the stack of folders in front of me. He's right. I need to fill him in on the latest decision that Sophia will stay in my guest house until her house is ready. What I'm not ready for is the question that's going to follow.
"She'll be there for at least another month. Until her house is ready."
"Hm. Ok. Can I ask why she's staying with you when shecould get a hotel, rent another house, stay with her brother, or a dozen other scenarios out there?"
"Lucas."
"Grant, I just need to know what to say."
We're both quiet for the longest minute in history.
"It's a matter of convenience."
"You want me to tell the press it's convenient for her to stay with you."
I run my hand down my face. He knows why she's there. I don't have to say it. I just need to figure out a way for us to spin it.
"My house is close to the studio. Her brother lives all the way in Santa Monica. You know that drive is a nightmare."
"So, it's a logistical solution."
"Yes. Practical. Logistics. Oh, and maybe safe, too. Staying with me eliminates the need for additional security that could be needed at a hotel or rental house."
"Ok, I can work with this. But we're going to have to do some proactive press drops of normal shit happening in your lives—separately—to help deflect and defuse any drama around this."
"Thank you."
"It's what you pay me the big bucks for."
We discuss a few ideas that Lucas can share with friendly reporters to make it seem like business as usual in my life, even with the extra mouth to feed, before the room fills with my marketing and finance teams for another long day of promoting our next blockbuster.
An hour later, I'm headed back to my office when I spot a tiny brunette from the corner of myeye.
"Sophia?"
"Hey!"
Lucas walks past me, giving me a knowing look that I ignore.
"What are you doing here?"
She looks back at the receptionist and then back at me.
"Um, I had an update about our production schedule I wanted to walk you through if you have a minute?"
I look at her, totally confused. "Sure. Come on back." I lead the way back to my office, and once we're in the doorway, I stand aside so she can enter ahead of me, and then I shut the door behind us. As soon as she hears the click, she spins to face me.
"Hey."
She walks over to me. My dick perks up, and I mentally flip through all the reasons why I shouldn't take her right here on my desk.
"Hey."
She stops just short of pressing up against me.
