Page 99 of Doc Showmance
“Damn you both.” She threw up her arms, spun, and left.
Once gone, the cameraman, some new guy I didn’t recognize, leaned in. “Meeting right now in the conference room.”
“Of course, there is,” Amber muttered. “That was…”
“Asinine? Desperate?” I caught her arms to spin her face me before she moved to leave. “Thanks for believing in me.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for. That was stupid.”
“Let’s go do this meeting.”
I needed to tell her I was leaving on Saturday. That was three days away. The dryness in my throat forced me to swallow. By the time I felt ready to talk Amber had already left.Please let this be about orchestrating our dramatic breakup, not me leaving.
The second I entered, I said, “Bringing in Maya was total bullshit.”
“It should’ve worked, but the two of you just can’t be predictable.” Marianna jumped up out of her seat in an animated movement I’ve never seen the lady make. “Like hell you’re leaving on Saturday, Ian.”
Amber froze and blinked at me. Her eyes went wide. “You’re what?”
“Things have changed, Marianna. As I’m sure my agent has alerted you. There’s an opportunity in South Africa that can’t wait. Things were put in motion months ago.”
“I have you contracted to be here for two more weeks. You’re not getting out of your fucking contract.”
The door opened. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Marianna, tone it down.”
Disoriented and slightly dizzy from all the gathering emotions, I watched my agent make his dramatic entrance. Was this scripted? How had my life turned into a daytime soap opera?
Danny marched in, his presence one you couldn’t help but notice. Tall, with dark hair and olive skin. I’d always wondered whether his looks came from Italian or Hispanic roots. His last name “Hicks” wasn’t his given name. He’d entrusted me to this secret last year when he suggested I rename myself to get away from the cloud of my father’s empire.
“Who’re you?” Amber asked.
He held out his hand, “Danny Hicks. You contacted me on the phone the other day.”
“Ian’s agent?” She stepped back after shaking.
“I cleared your schedule for two hours at lunch, Dr. Hardin, so you and I can leave this building to talk over things in private.”
“You did what?” A flush of pink spread across her cheeks. “How’d you do that?”
“It’s what I do. Why don’t you have a seat?” He directed her to a chair and leaned into whisper, but not quietly enough that I didn’t hear, “It’s all going to work out.”
“You coming here resolves nothing, Mr. Hicks.” Marianna whipped off her glasses and threw them on the table.
“Ian, why don’t you have a seat as well.” Danny waved to a chair. “Marianna, this has been an interesting venture for my client, beneficial for all parties, I’d say. Things have changed. The parent corporation for your show just boughtVet in the Wild.They modified his contract. without me really even asking, in order to get him back out to filming. If you’d check your email, you will see the forms I sent.”
Marianna whipped open her laptop and scanned for a few seconds. She glared at Danny. “Are you representing Amber, too?”
“For now, yes.” My agent had a scary smile, the kind that invited the opposition to try to fuck with him. He was a genuine guy when on your team, but if not on your side? You’d get steamrolled.
“You’re leaving on Saturday?” Amber whispered.
I didn’t want to leave.
I fucking loved her. I knew I did.
She made me a better person.
She understood me.
