Page 101 of Honest With You

I'm not giving up.

It’s been days since Jesse said those words to me and I’ve spent half my time playing his words over and over again in my head.

One second we were eating Jollibee, laughing as I basically inhaled my food, and the next, he’s professing his feelings for me like we were teenagers again.

After which, sensing my obvious discomfort, he simply kissed the top of my head and sat down to do some work on his laptop. Then, he smirked while I sat there dumbstruck, until I got my bearings and took my work to bed before eventually crashing.

The next thing I remember, my alarm was blaring and it was three in the morning and we both had to rush to work. It’s been so hectic with filming the video, I barely even had time to acknowledge we’ve been sleeping in the same bed for the last three days.

Our routine has been the same with early morning shoots that last until dinnertime. We’ve been eating our meals on set so by the time we head back to the hotel, we take turns showering and pass out on the bed, barely even being able to do any other work. However, today is one of our easier days on set. We’ve got one last sequence to shoot, and then basically we’re free to do whatever we want until tomorrow afternoon when we do quick promo shots all over the city.

I have to admit I’m actually pretty excited about the free time today. I haven’t had an easy workload like this in years. Now that I’m back in San Diego, I have to admit that the initial panic has worn off. Even with Jesse’s revelations. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I actually missed this place. The weather is definitely better than LA and even as crowded as this city has become, it’s still an infinitely nice change of pace from the congested highways and smog I’ve grown accustomed to in LA.

Now I’m glad I decided not to bring security along with me, though knowing my dad, I’m sure they’re lurking somewhere undetected, just in case I‘m recognized. It would be nice to explore the city after this. I just wish my dad had told me beforehand about the pre-production happening at our house. I was looking forward to staying there and sleeping in my own bed for a change.

For the last few months since moving back to LA, I’ve taken up residence in an executive suite at a hotel a few blocks away from work. My dad offered for me to stay at his penthouse but I didn’t want to impose on him.Especially now that he can finally live his life. I couldn’t move in with Reese either, since she was living with her model friends and always away on shoots. Stephen… Well, he said something about a friend staying with him right now. I still have no idea what he does outside of the time we spend together. We see plenty of each other and still have our Saturday night dinners with Dad and Reese, but we haven’t hung out just the three of us together in a while. I kinda miss it. We were inseparable growing up, but that all ended when Reese and I moved to LA with our dad while Stephen stayed in San Diego to finish school.

I need to find a place of my own. Even though my current situation might seem like a vacation, there’s only so much room service and takeout I can have. I want my own space. A home. Especially now, knowing I’m putting roots down as Stephen and I navigate our new roles.

I pull out my phone and text Mel, my executive assistant and right hand woman. She had been our receptionist for years, but when I got back from London, Felicity assigned her to help me out during the transition. I quickly realized just how much her talents were being wasted answering phones so instead of hiring someone else, I took her under my wing and now I trust her almost explicitly.

I shoot her a quick text, asking her to shop around for a condo or house that’s close to work but far enough away from the hustle and bustle of LA life. I don’t mind the extra drive if it means a home.

Sighing inwardly, I force myself to turn back to the monitors as I watch Mickayla belt out the bridge on a… bridge.

My dad’s brilliant idea. I scoff to myself, ignoring Jesse’s imploring look from his perch next to Andrew, the director. They’ve been inseparable since we began shooting and I just found out today that they both went to NYU to study music and have already done a handful of projects together.

Andrew yells CUT and the crew immediately sets the crane up for a wide shot of Mickayla walking down Crystal Pier, while hair and makeup do a quick touch up. We’re nearly done.

Mickayla glances at me, her hand going to her skirt that is flowing in the wind. I shoot her a thumbs up that makes her sigh in relief with a hand to her chest. Her eyes fly around the room until they land on Chuck and a second later, she dips her head shyly. A hint of red tints her cheek, which gives me pause.

I motion for Chuck, who is standing in a corner, glowering at everybody as he keeps an eye on Mickayla. He stalks over to me, his eyes never leaving her and I swear his eyes are doing a sweep of her like a man obsessed and not like a manager.

Fuck.

It’s not unusual in our line of business for professional relationships to turn romantic but the last time Mickayla got involved with someone she worked with, it almost turned into a lawsuit. I need to stick a pin in this.

As soon as he’s standing next to me, I show him the media request I received an hour ago on my tablet.

“I have a request for an interview with ESS04. There’s an option to do a pre-tape, which means two hours of your time tonight or a sit down live at their studio downtown at 5am tomorrow. Which one would you prefer?”

Pulling his own tablet out, he’s cross referencing his own schedule.

Chuck Lassner is an up and coming talent agent that I snagged during my time in London. I had met him at an event where we were both scouting for indie artists. He had purposely bumped into me and flirted shamelessly before he knew who I was. He’s six foot three and looked like if Andrew Garfield had a son with Emma Stone, with his hazel green eyes and gorgeous chestnut hair. We went out for drinks but it never went beyond that. Instead, I secured an exclusive contract with him and he now represents several artists from our London chapter through the talent agency he owns. Since then, he’s been immaculately professional.

I know he’s currently inundated with clients but he’s taken the time to be here to launch Mickayla into the US market and for that, I am incredibly grateful. Especially after the whole Mason fiasco.

“Tonight would be best. It gives Mickayla ample time to rest for promos tomorrow.”

Nodding my head, I shoot a quick email to Min Young, my administrative assistant so she can book a conference room at the hotel for the interview.

“Alright Min Young will be in touch with the details and will make sure you have hair, makeup and wardrobe on-site an hour beforehand.”

“Splendid.” His deep voice rumbles and I wish I could say it didn’t give me a bit of a flutter but it did. Between him, Jesse and Andrew–who incidentally looks like Manny Jacinto from the Good Place–there’s a lot of eye candy around here.

His eyes are still locked on Mickayla but his jaw is tense, as he tucks his tablet under his arm and makes his way to where Andrew is speaking to Mickayla with a grin.

I frown at his hurried gait but then Jesse saunters my way, shaking his head and chuckling.

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