Chapter 14

Nora didn't run into Pete the entire day. He didn't come to her office for any reason and he didn't ask for her assistance with anything in his office as had been the customer for the past couple of weeks, his PA suddenly resurfaced from nowhere and she was relieved. She'd decided to go see Hector as soon as she closed from work upon Abbie's insistence and then the plans had shattered the moment Pete sent for her twenty minutes to closing hours. She touched her hand to the door knob and took few calming breaths. No matter what happened, this man was still her boss.
"Good afternoon, sir".
Her voice was achingly polite and it amused Pete.
"Have a seat, Nora and please don't play the informal staff with me. Pete. Anytime".
She nodded . She was embarrassed each time the memories of what she'd done with the man came alive in her head_ and the memories did come alive every moment.
"Let's have dinner this evening. I'll pick you up at 6:30".
Pete said casually. Nora's haggard gaze lifted to his. His look was steady and commanding.
"Having sex with you was a disastrous mistake and I wished it never happened"
Pete lifted an eyebrow.
" Hanging out with you for any reason will be a sin!"
She spat. He was far from amused even as he smiled.
"Nora. I'm playing the calm lowlife who would stoop low to gain your affection. I know it was rash to have sex with you right on the first day I stopped by but you will agree that the chemistry between us was one that could not be tamed".
He reached a hand to hers but she pulled her hands back.
"You stoop low uhn?"
"Not like you're not worth_"
She cut him short
" It's fine. I got all I needed to hear. You know , I don't despise you...I despise myself. Do well to stay away from me...and don't stoop low for any reason, Mr. Aristocrat. I'm not interested in you, before you make Mistakes, there was no chemistry between us, it was lust, a rash one".
She stood up and headed for the door.
"I really feel an affinity with you Nora, even though you insult me for wanting you..".
She snorted as she slammed the door behind her.
Lennox was on the phone with Max for the most profitable part of the evening. Max didn't forget to bring Kim into the conversation every five seconds and it annoyed Lennox. The fact that he'd been at her door more than three times for the past few days without any response from Inside made him feel foolish. She was probably on one of those trips she went for shooting or maybe auditioning, he thought. She hadn't told him that she would be gone. She'd shut him out completely and wouldn't reply his texts or take his calls. He thought more often of her than he wanted to and it pissed him that he couldn't control his mind when it came to her. On the phone, Max began to talk about Blair and Lennox's mind was instantly drawn back
"Blair wants to get married soon. He engaged the lass much too early and now they want the seal marriage on their relationship"
He sounded a bit displeased
" I thought that was what you wanted, why do you sound that way now?"
" He's the youngest of you all. He shouldn't be in so much hurry"
Max said.
" They're both obsessed with each other. They should get married if they want to".
" You think so?"
" I know so, Max ".
"You should get married too"
" You said that before. I told you I will".
" Soon?"
" Sooner".
He hung up. How he intended to get Kim to be his bride, he couldn't fathom. He spent the rest of the day on his work while the thoughts of Kim played in his head.
"Want some Tacos or pastrami sandwich?"
Gary asked kim with a bright smile on his face. He'd tried to be extra nice ever since he and Clayton got her mad over a joke. Kim was not angry at them and the treatment they gave her made her regret her previous action that led to all the good acts they where doing now.
" I already ate, I appreciate your efforts, Gary"
Gary's smile faded immediately. He walked closer and took the chair next to her.
"Don't say no, Kim, I want you to have any of these".
He touched the paper bags briefly before pushing them to her.
"I can't eat all of these , Gary!"
She was laughing.
" You have Tess to share with".
"Did I hear someone mention my name?"
Tess was just at the door of the lobby in the company of Joe and Clayton.
"Yeah. We got more food".
"That's good news, oh, I see you, Gary. You're working really hard boy"
Tess said and they laughed.
" Hello. How're you guys, Blakes was talking of a small your in these parts, did he mention it to you guys?"
Joe asked as he drew a chair and sat.
"I didn't hear of it. . Sounds like a good idea though"
Kim replied before turning to ask Gary
"Are there enough paper plates in here?"
Gary nodded. Kim set the table and they all ended up sharing the meal.
Halfway into the meal, Blakes Oxnard the director and Location manager of the movie ' CRADLE' which had Kimberly Foster and Joe Hamilton as the lead characters and lovers showed up with the rest of the crew and cast. His steps were brisk and he looked as smart as any of the cast could remember.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good news!"
He called as he got closer with each step.
"Alright Blakes, what's good?"
Tess asked before making room for Blakes to sit.
"We are gonna tour this town. We're wrapping off this job soon and we should do something fun. Today, we'll visit a few places worth of note....on my care and by the end of our shoot, a big night party!"
His eyes twinkled with excitement as he spoke and lifted his hands and they all cheered him.
"This is the best thing I ever heard Blakes say "
Tessy mused. Blakes pretended not to have heard her and the cheering continued. Kim was particularly animated.
The lady Lennox sat next to at the reception waiting to be received in the manager's office at the Marilyn Sawer Hotels didn't look bad at all. She smelled good and so did he. She looked professional in her pale suit and hair held neatly atop her head in a bun. She glanced at him once and flashed him a seductive yet innocent smile. He smiled back. Her eyes reminded him of Kimberly's. Unusual green eyes that never went wrong with the perfect smile. He studied her profile from the sides of his eyes her pointed elegant nose and Aristocratic cheek bones with an unwavering poise. Her legs where crossed at the ankles and she vocalized eloquently a few lines from the magazine she held only with her fingertips, her thin lips glistened from the obvious use of a lip gloss. He looked again at her elegantly polished nails. Red and claw like nails. He shuddered. He'd always preferred kim's. The nude colours and short nails she kept appealed to him. She looked natural half the time he had set eyes on her and it pleased him more than anything that she had remained beautiful everytime he saw her. Only thing was, the blonde sitting next to him was not as alluring as Kim, she didn't have the spark, the subtle wantonness that he saw each time he looked at Kim.
"I'm Hester Woodhouse, associate MD at Roseau Hotels. I have an appointment with the managing director here at 11:15".
She glanced at her watch briefly before extending an arm for an handshake. Lennox took the feminine hands in his large one
" Lennox Mccurdy, Architect working on the most recent Marilyn Sawer Project, I'm Scottish . I have a meeting with The MD here at 11:15 and I can't but wonder if there's a mix up of some sort".
He said before letting her hands go.
"Oh. I'll see "
She stood up and walked over to the receptionist's counter. She spoke a while with the demure lady and hit her head on her extended palms a few times. Lennox shuddered. The pressure would ruffle her elegant hair, he thought as she walked back gracefully after saying a few thanks to the receptionist.
"There was indeed a mix up Mr. McCurdy. My appointment was for 11:50. See how I already made a fool of myself".
" No you didn't. It's fine. I guess you'd just sit out here in the reception area until then?"
" Yes. Surely. I hear you speak of Architecture"
She began in an almost arrogant air and Lennox could only stare at her.
"Yes. I'm an architect".
"I've heard a bit of your dexterity. I heard the MD at Roseau speak about the scottish man working with Marilyn Sawer. Your next big job might just be with us".
She said without a smile. She spoke with so much air of importance and eloquence and so much business fervency that he smiled despite himself.
"Thanks for the little tip Mrs. Woodhouse "
" You're welcome".
" We're blocking this last scene again, Kimberly Foster, you've done incredibly well since we started, what's wrong, why aren't you suddenly emotional now?"
Blakes was concerned as he spoke to Kim. Kim stood there, head bowed and her hands clasped tight. She now found it difficult to draw in the emotions that she'd so easily drawn when they began the movie, CRADLE. Now every touch reminded her of emotions that she wanted to keep out of her professional life but now it seems there was no demarcation between her personal life and her profession.
"You can do this, Kim. You're not under pressure to do it. Take deep calming breaths and relax, okay ?"
Joe spoke to her. She nodded.
" Maybe I've just had a lot on my mind lately, but I'll be good. Thanks Joe".
She replied. Her hair had been arranged and her face made up more than three times and yet, she couldn't bring herself to what was asked of her. The glass that was supposed to hold the wine for her army lover, Louis had been refilled over and over again. She sighed.
" Kim, all you have to do is, slap him across the cheek in fury, curse him and cry for a few seconds and then hug him, simple, now let's go".
Joe who was playing her boyfriend, Louis that had left her to join the army when she thought they'd get married in the next few days stood there, unmoving. Obviously braced for the slap that was to come. Kim felt her throat constrict. She'd been teetering on the brinks of tears for the past few hours and now she would be able to let it all out after she hits Louis. She was Juliet on the set and she'd brought the character to life well enough, she won't let them down now. The brush ran on her face again and her hair was once again rearranged.
"Action !"
Blakes said.
She slapped Louis across the cheek in so much fury that Blakes threw his hand over his mouth. She spoke then
" I moved on without you, you dumped me, you put my family in shame and ran off to join the army, oh how i hate you!"
The tears ran down her cheeks in torrents as she spoke. Louis took a step forward and caught her tremulous elbow, she broke free abruptly only to move closer again and hug him. He holds her In his arms and speaks above her head while she sobbed
"I'm here to right all my wrongs, my love, we'll be fine"
" Cut. Now that was a relief".
Blakes said. Joe stepped back but Kim was still crying. She was crying with such abandonment that the rest of the crew and cast rushed to her. Joe was dumbfounded.
"It's okay, hunny. Sometimes the emotions are overwhelming".
Tessy consoled.
" That's alright Mrs. Foster, you'll be good".
Blakes said. The ladies led kimberly away while she continued to cry.
Joe looked on as she was led out of sight.
"What do you think, Joe?"
Gary asked Joe
" Maybe she's dealing with some personal issues_ I guess".
" And that's the first time I ever saw her like that, man".
" Yeah. I'm surprised".
" You sure are". Gary replied with a laugh. Joe turned around and saw Tessy staring at him.
"Oh, hello, Tess"
She smiled. Blakes was speaking with the costume director a few feet away and he seemed totally engrossed in his conversation.
" Joe. That was a nice job you two did up there".
" Thanks, Tess"
He grinned.
" Heard we're having a party before we leave tomorrow".
Tess said.
" Heard so too. I look forward to it man!"
Joe was obviously excited and it pleased Tessy. She'd get a dance from him. Hopefully.
Kim felt better as she stood on her stiletto heels in front of the dresser. Her make up was light and beautiful. Her hair had been made to drop down her back In thick waves and her red dress clung beautifully to her curvaceous petite frame. She took deep calming breaths and stepped out of the hotel room where had camped for the period of the movie shoot.
"You look stunning, Kim".
Tessy called from the hallway. Kim hadn't realized she was standing around the place and so she jumped at the suddeness of the voice. It amused Tess
"Chill out, girl. It's only Tess".
She said with a knowing smile. Kim looked at her then. She had her hair bundles into a beautiful flower stop her hair letting only two thin braids trail down her cheeks. She had several beautiful pins in her hair that caught the lights and deflected back. She was wearing the most expensive blue gown Kim had seen for a while. She wore a permanent smile as she began to walk towards her
"Been waiting here so we could go down together... something about girls code"
She said and laughed.
" You didn't have to...why didn't yet knock for me to open for you. You shouldn't have waited here for that long ".
Kim was flustered to think that she'd been there for at least thirty minutes since she'd made sure she didn't rush over anything. Especially her bath.
"Don't be ridiculous, I've only been here for seven minutes".
Tessy said and grabbed Kim's hands.
" Come, they are waiting for us. By the way, you look stunning"
" No, you look stunning, you look Amazing!"
They both laughed.
" Thanks....thought I should dress up a bit today since I've not really done so ever since I broke up with Scott"
Tessy said. Her facial expression went from smiley to sad and it saddened Kim to see her like that. She was such a caring person that even the wickedest of people would not bear to wish her Ill luck in any way.
"I'm sorry about that, you deserve a better chance at happiness, open yourself up for it. You will find someone else... someone who's everything you need"