I knew there was a lot to get through right now.I had a long day, night, and who knew how long after that of comforting Clara ahead of me.Then there was work and figuring out what we should do now that everyone knew about us.It would probably be better for the company if we put out some kind of official statement – and there would be a police investigation because what Helen had done was both criminallyandmorally wrong.
We had a lot to talk about with our relationship and how we went forward from here.The one thing I was sure of was that we would go forward together – the rest was just detail.I thought maybe once the shock wore off and Olly realized what had really happened here today, he would need my comfort as well.We had a lot to get through.
But for now, just for a moment, I could enjoy this sensation:
Leading my boyfriend up to my house for the first time, so he could meet my sister and see where I lived.
It was the first step of many.
And I would take them all happily with Oliver Harvey by my side.
Epilogue: Olly
I nodded at Keaton to give him his cue.He stepped forward and nodded to the clients with a smile that only lightly betrayed his nerves.The well-fitted suit he was wearing made him look like he knew what he was talking about even if he wasn’t sure.
It also made me think about ripping the suit off his body – but that was just me.
“This is our mockup of what the footage will look like,” Keaton said.He pressed the small button in his hands that controlled the projector and it began playing the video he’d made up.The video was like all of the clips he’d made for us.Thoroughly professional even when it didn’t need to be.He always made videos that were release-worthy even when it was just a pitch.
Making him my video pitch specialist had been the smartest thing I ever did.Sponsors who wanted video content were now seeking out our athletes specifically to work with him.He was making the kind of name for himself as a commercial director that made me worry one day he’d want to strike out somewhere else.Maybe alone.Maybe even into real filmmaking.
I would have to follow him if he did.I knew that now.I couldn’t be apart from him for any real length of time.
It had been two years and he still hadn’t moved out to sit with the content creation team.He still worked from my office.We’d had to put a new desk outside for ourjointsecretary.
But if he wanted to branch out then I wouldn’t stop him.This was a real talent he had.Maybe a once-in-a-generation talent.Ace was due for a promotion but there was nowhere left for him to go.It would be easy for me to step aside.
I was ready – whenever it finally happened.
“That’s incredible,” the client said.The pitch had finished playing and Keaton faced them now with a confident beam.“And you can do this with all three of the stars?I understand that one of them is signed with the Coleman Group, not you.”
“We work very closely with the Coleman Group,” Keaton informed him happily.“We’ve already got pre-approval from Caleb Coleman himself to go forward.You only have to pay once; we’ve agreed to split the fee between us after the fact.”
I knew from the look on the client’s face that they were sold.
The rest of the meeting seemed to drag on interminably now I knew that it was over anyway.I kept glancing at Keaton and thinking about going home tonight.As soon as we were done here.I thought about the new sheets we’d bought for the master bedroom.How cool and luxurious the satin was against our bare skin.
“Well, I think we’re all in agreement here,” the client said, looking at me expectantly.
I put on my professional smile and nodded.“If you’re ready to sign,” I suggested.I gestured to the documents our secretary had written up earlier.
We were finally home within twenty minutes and it still wasn’t fast enough.
“You were excellent in there,” I told Keaton as we stepped through the door.
“Excellent, was I?”he chuckled.He loosened his tie as he kicked off his shoes and I drank in the sight of him hungrily.
“Radiant,” I said.“Exceptional.”
“I was nervous as hell,” Keaton said.“I’m glad they signed.”
“They all sign,” I reminded him as I hung up my coat on a peg.“Once they see your videos.”
Keaton waved a hand as if I was wrong.The pink on his cheeks didn’t lie.He was pleased by my compliments.
“It’s your pitches that turn them around,” he said.“They want to work with the best agent in the world.It’s nothing to do with me.”
“Oh yeah?”I waited until he was over the threshold of our entranceway and standing in the living room.“I’d like to turn you around.”I pounced and grabbed him around the waist.I spun him to face me and kissed him hungrily like I’d been wanting to kiss him all day.
