Page 48 of Game Changer

Chapter19

Buckie

Ican’t remember a time when I felt so goddamn awkward around two women in my life. I have a lot to explain to Zara. I know my introduction of her must have felt awful, but I have my reasons. Especially where Annalise is concerned. The things I’ve heard about how far she will go to ruin anyone who wrongs her are unbelievable. But apparently, she’s been at it her whole life.

“Buck,” Annalise coos putting her hand on my arm. “How about we get out of here and really give the paps something to talk about. I mean they already think we’re an item.”

I pull my arm away from her. “Yeah, about that Annalise. Where on earth did they get that idea from? Because I certainly haven’t done anything to warrant it.”

She smiles at me and looks up at me through her long fake lashes. “I couldn’t say.”

“Look, I’m not interested Annalise. You’re a colleague and that’s all. I don’t appreciate having my name dragged through the gossip columns so you can hang on my coattails.”

Her face turns to thunder, and she stomps her foot. She leans in close to me. “You better watch what you say to me Mr Buchanan. I can make your life very hard if I want to. I don’t need anyone’s coattails to hang on to. I’m doing fine on my own. Remember this moment ‘Buck’,”she sneers, air quoting my nickname.

Annalise turns and walks away, leaving me shellshocked. It’s like someone flipped a switch in her. I have a feeling she wasn’t kidding when she said she could make my life hard. I have to find Zara. I scan the room and find her near the bar chatting and laughing with Shelly and one of the producers of the movie. She looks at me with hurt in her eyes as she sees me nearing them.

“Zara, we need to talk,” I say to her taking her hand. “But first. Shelly, I am not doing any more interviews with that little bitch. I’ve had enough of her drama queen antics. She’s bloody crazy.”

“Hey Buckie, calm down. What are you talking about?”

“Annalise. She’s fucking insane. Sorry man,” I say to the producer who smiles and carries on sipping his drink, obviously enjoying the show.

“Christ, Buckie, we all know that. I swear I’ve never worked with anyone as far up their own backside in my life. But there’s quite a few more press calls to do. You only have three slots left for the UK media, but you have to do the European ones at the weekend too. You can’t avoid her forever. There are only four interviews booked and the journalists are coming here to do them. You’re welcome for that by the way. I had to pull a lot of strings to get them to come over for this.”

I shake my head and sigh, resigning myself to the fact that this is part of my life. I won’t always get to work with people I like or get on with. But I make a promise to myself. No matter how good the film sounds or how much money I’ll get paid, I will never work with Annalise Shears again.

“Okay, I hear you. I’ll do the interviews then I’m washing my hands of her. And there’s also the issue with that question that was asked about us.”

She holds up her hand, stopping me from saying anything else. “You think I wasn’t on that as soon as it was asked? Come on Buckie, give me some credit.”

“Sorry. I know you’re the best.” I turn my attention to Zara who looks as though she wants to murder me. “Can we talk?”

“Mhm,” she mutters, and I lead her out of the function room and into the corridor.

“I’m sorry about that earlier.”

“What, introducing me as your friend? Is there something going on between you two that I should know about?”

I run my hand down my face. “Zara, you’ve no idea. Honest to fuck, she’s cracked. I swear I’ve never had any drama in my professional career until I worked with her. I’ve done absolutely nothing to make her think that we should be anything other than colleagues. I don’t know where she got this notion from, but it certainly wasn’t me.”

“Okay, but why didn’t you say who I really was then? Wouldn’t that have stopped her?”

“That was misguided on my part. I thought I was protecting you. She’ll use anything she can to be relevant and keep her name in the media. It’s all she’s ever known, and I don’t want you dragged through the gossip columns because of someone like her. It’s intrusive and not based on fact. If you’re not prepared for it, it’ll break you. I can’t do that to you.” I take her hand. “I told the interviewer on Saturday that you were my friend when he asked me about the bar. I wasn’t trying to diss what we have in any way. It’s hard to know what’s best to do in this situation. I’ve never had to deal with this before.”

She tilts her head and narrows her eyes at me. “Buckie, do you think I’m a little damsel? That I can’t take care of myself? I’ll let you in on a secret. My name’s already been in gossip columns. You wouldn’t believe the shit that was written about me. When I was trying to open Crush, opposition groups and other business owners were dead against it. It was a disgusting campaign and at the beginning it was traumatic and almost made me give up. But you know I think it eventually made me stronger. You’ll never go through this life pleasing everyone. You’d be exhausted trying. Take care of you and yours, and fuck everyone else.”

“Well, when you put it like that. I didn’t know that had happened to you. I’m sorry.”

“Och it’s old news now. People have got to know me and what I do. One of the pressure group members came and personally apologised after it all. And then signed her whole group up for pole dancing classes when we started them. I can handle that side of your life Buckie. I love you and your choice of career will never change that.”

“I hope you don’t live to regret those words.” I put my hands round her waist and press her against the wall. I kiss her soft and slow, savouring the taste of her mouth and the heat of her body against mine. “I love you too Zara, more than you’ll ever know,” I whisper against her cheek.

A door slamming at the end of the corridor makes us both jump and Zara laughs at my shocked expression.

“Do we need to stay any longer or can we go now?”

I check my watch and see that we’ve been here over an hour already. “Nope, let’s go. I’ll say cheerio to Shelly then we can leave.”

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