Dear Heart, You Screwed Me(34)

“How long have you been over in the US?” he asked as he sipped on his glass of water that the waitress brought him automatically.

“A few months,” I nodded, my fingers slowly running up and down the glass of my own drink.

“How you finding it?”

“I like it,” I smiled at him. “How about you?”

“Couple of years now, I came over when I started the show.” He sat back, crossing his arms across his chest. “I’ll never go back home.”

“No?” I furrowed my brow at his statement. I could never rule out going back home, I would miss it too much, and I would miss my parents so much more. There is only so much video calling you can do. Even if I moved here, I would make a point of going back home. I would have too.

“I have nothing at home for me,” his bright and wide small faltered for a moment as if he was remembering something, but he didn’t let the façade slip for long before he was all toothy grin again.

“I see.” I nodded; my head turned as I saw the waitress walk over to us with food. It smelt divine and looked like heaven.

“Can I get you kids anything else?” the older waitress asked, she was different to the one that seated us.

“Our drinks?” Harlen asked her, his tone was playful and not rude in the slightest.

“Oh shoot, I am sorry. Let me go and sort that out for you right now,” she tsked, rolling her eyes before walking away and muttering to herself, her hands waving around on the air.

I stifled a laugh.

I reached for a chip and popped it into my mouth. “So Harlen, what is this proposition you have?”

“Wow, straight into the business talk,” he laughed, “I like it, eager and ready for blood.” He clenched his hand and banged it on the table making me jump. He was excitable. Like a big ball of energy.

“Well, I have this really boring event to go to on Saturday and I would love for you to be my date,” he said while grabbing a handful of chips and shoving them into his mouth.

“Saturday is going to be a little too late,” I admitted, the blush pinching my cheeks.

We were interrupted when the waitress came with a tray and put four margaritas down in front of us.

“There we go sweetness, on the house,” she winked at Harlen before turning and walking back towards the bar.

“Result,” he nibbled on his bottom lip and nodded his head like one of those nodding dogs you see in the back of cars.

“Mm result indeed,” my eyes widened for a moment, as I grabbed the glass and took a mouthful. Oh man it was delicious and could go down far too easily.

When I meet Connie tonight, I am ordering myself these.

“You were saying?” Harlen asked as he took a bite out of his roll.

“Saturday is going to be too late…” I felt so awkward.

“Late for what?” he looked a little confused.

“I have a deadline to sign you by Friday, if not then… well…” I winced at my words.

“Well, that’s not going to work is it…” he sighed, pushing his plate away as he reached for his phone and started tapping.

He put the phone to his ear before holding his finger up and telling me he would be one moment. Stepping out of the booth he walked out the front door.

And I’ve blown it.

Shit.





CHAPTER 15





I was anxiously drumming my fingers on the table, my appetite suddenly gone but my thirst growing. Downing both margaritas, my eyes stayed glued to where Harlen disappeared to. I couldn’t lose my job. I had to win him back.

Pulling my phone out of my bag I had two messages from Killian. I ignored them. I didn’t have time to read his stupid messages. I didn’t know what to do, did I call Adele and tell her I fucked up? Do I call Connie and get her to try and calm me down or do I call my mum and beg her to book me a plane ticket home.

I could feel the cold sweat starting to prickle over my skin. My heart drummed in my chest, I couldn’t calm it.

Reaching for Harlen’s drink I knocked it back.

I stilled when I saw him walking back towards me, a sly smirk on his face as he sat opposite.

“Thirsty, were we?”

“Very.” I nodded, blushing. Slightly embarrassed I had been caught. I could feel the alcohol warming the blood in my veins.

“It’s sorted. You’re coming with me on Saturday, and you have a three-day extension. So, depending how it goes on Saturday, you could have a new signed actor on your books by the following Wednesday. Game face ready, baby?” he winked.

I swallowed hard.

“Born ready.” I said with as much confidence as I could, but my trembling voice let me down and showed him how weak I was.

“Let’s discuss, shall we?” he clicked his fingers and ordered another round of drinks. This time I went for a virgin margarita. I don’t think Adele would be happy with a drunk Reese back in her office.





Sitting in the restaurant of the hotel, Connie was eyeing me.

“What?” I laughed as I took a mouthful of my cocktail.

“You seem different?” she huffed as she grabbed a breadstick from the middle of the table.

“I’m fine, just a little stressed out about this ball on Saturday. I have never been to something like this.”