Page 31 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

So, I was surprised to find out she was interested in talking to me. I hardly ever give interviews outside the purview of my company. I know this one will be a bit more in-depth than I’m used to giving.

I can’t imagine a better person for the job than Harley.

“This might not be live, but we’re doing each hour in one take. That alright with you? No restarting answers or pretending like you didn’t say something,” Harley explains with a smirk.

Or pretending like I didn’t do something? “Don’t worry, I did my research. I’m prepared.”

Her eyebrows jump briefly before she looks through the window separating the booth and the board. “Alright, count us in, Dre.”

“Grant Neville interview part one. Harley go in three…two…”

No “one”. Dre simply points to Harley. And suddenly, she alights as if someone has flipped her switch. “Hi, I’m Harley Solace. Past Harley, not the live version. And this isSomeone’s Gotta Do It, where I come to you five days a week to pull back the curtain on careers across sector boundaries to show you just how hard America is working.”

I have no doubt she’s said this hundreds of times, but it doesn’t come off as overly rehearsed. It’s as if she’s talking to an old friend on the phone.

“This week’s guest is very special, so special we could only take up his time for one day as opposed to our usual five. I’ll be talking with the CEO and founder of Infinium Entertainment, Grant Neville.”

She pauses and I’m wondering if I’m supposed to be introducing myself. She quickly starts to speak again. “Yes, I had to leave air for the gasps and applause.”

I laugh and hope it’s not too loud on the recording.

“None of this could have been made possible without our sponsors at Rebus Mattress: Mattresses For Life. And, admittedly, nepotism,” Harley adds with a waggle of her eyebrows. “Grant, why don’t you tell the audience how we know each other?”

I can appreciate that she wants to be transparent with her listeners. However, to askmeto characterize our relationship makes my pulse race. “I’ve known your father since college.”

“Alpha Phi Alpha,” she says in a singsong voice.

“Yes, that was our fraternity at USC.”

“You’ve known my dad since before I was born,” Harley says.

My jaw drops. Was that meant to be pointed? I can’t tell. She’s looking at me directly. But it doesn’t seem like a challenge. Just a fact.

Just like it’s a fact that we never should have fucked.

Just like it’s a fact that I’d like to fuck her again.

Get your head out of the clouds. Bring it back down to earth.“Um, yes. I actually remember when you were born.”

Harley laughs, her eyes rolling to the side. Is she blushing? “Well, that’s a story for another time. We’re not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about you.”

“I can’t imagine I’d be a very good interviewer. Not like you are.”

“Flattery, Mr. Neville, will get you everywhere.”

Now this feels like banter. A back and forth. A flirtation.

I’ve got to stay calm. This is on recording. And there’s no backtracking. That’s important. Everything I say is going to be included just the way I say it.

“How fast can I jump in?” Harley asks.

Our eyes meet. Now thatisa challenge. She wants to know if she can go from zero to sixty, jump into the questions she wants to know, the juicy details about how I run my successful media empire. Not unlike how the two of us went from zero to sixty with our attraction. We’re good at that.

Who am I to stop her?

“This is your show, Harley. You’re in charge.”

A grin spreads across her lips. “Excellent.”

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