Secret Relations: Women in Hollywood, Book 1 (13 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Charlotte rested her head on Sean’s chest. He brushed her hair back so he could look into her eyes. “I love you, Charlotte.” He kissed the top of her forehead.

“I love you too, Sean,” Charlotte responded. “Thank you for not giving up on me...on us,” She squeezed her arm around him.

“As much as you hurt me, I couldn’t give up on you. I knew you loved me too. You’ve always had my back. Even when we weren’t seeing eye to eye. I smile from the inside out knowing you truly care about me.”

Sean and Charlotte kissed again. Charlotte eased up from on top of him. “Next time, we might not want to make love in the office, in the middle of the day when everyone’s here.”

She reached down and gathered her underwear, skirt and blouse from the floor.

“You seduced me.” Sean sat up and smiled.

“We can wash up in the bathroom.”

Sean looked at her and found himself getting aroused again. “You go first. I’ll wait right here. If we go in the bathroom together, there will be a round two.”

“You’re right. I have a staff meeting this evening. I got the contract from Terrance. When we’re both dressed, we can sit and discuss it.”

Charlotte and Sean got re-dressed and sat across from each other as Charlotte went over the contract.

“You sure I should do this movie? I’m not an actor,” Sean conceded.

“Terrance sees something in you. If you’re feeling uncomfortable about it, why don’t you let me register you for an acting class?”

“Will it be discreet? I don’t want people knowing about it,” Sean said.

“I am signing a new client. The actress, Rose Purdue. I can ask her to give you some pointers. Are you willing to work with her?” Charlotte asked.

Sean knew Rose was married to Lance King, a music producer he’d worked with on his second album. Working with music producers Lance and Casper garnered him hit after hit. Sean had nothing but gratitude for them both.

“Sure. Maybe then, I’ll feel more comfortable about taking the role,” he responded.

“Sean, you can do this.”

Sean smiled, happy that Charlotte believed in him. “Let me see a pen.”

Charlotte handed him a black ink pen before picking up her cell phone. “Okay, ready.”

Charlotte snapped a picture of him signing the contract. She posted it to her social media pages with the caption: Sean Maxwell is about to take it to the next level.

Sean handed her the paper. She placed it back in a manila folder. “I’ll get this sent over to Terrance and once we get his signature and a copy of the contract, it will be official.”

“You better get Rose on the phone right away. I need to start practicing.”

“Hold on.”

Sean leaned back in his chair and watched Charlotte talk to Rose about mentoring him. He loved to watch her work. Charlotte ended the call. “We’re all set. Rose says she can meet with you tomorrow.”

“Great. Thanks, Charlotte.”

“I’m just doing my job. Speaking of which, now that you’re back, Jason wants to discuss a world tour. And he just got the fragrance samples in for you to check out.”

“You guys have been busy. I’ll stop by his office before I leave.”

“He’s meeting with Casper and Parris Mitchell right now at their residence. I’ll have him call you.”

“Sounds good.”

“I think for the day to day management, Jason will continue to manage you. I’ll step in when need be. Like in the case of this movie deal with Terrance’s production company.”

“That sounds like a reasonable compromise,” Sean said.

“I would hate to lose you as a client.”

Sean leaned forward. “Baby, you don’t have to worry about me going anywhere. I’m yours in
every
way.”

Charlotte shifted in her seat. “You’re being naughty again.”

“They don’t call me Mr. Naughty for nothing.” Sean licked his lips, got up and leaned across the desk. “Give me some sugar.”

She exhaled as he kissed her lips. “I can get used to your kisses.”

“Good. Because I plan to kiss you as many chances as I can get. But, sweetheart, I know you’ve got work to do and I’ve got a few things to take care of myself. Let me get out of here.”

Sean walked out of Charlotte’s office as Charlotte’s man and with his first acting role. Sean wanted to do something special for Charlotte to celebrate. When he left her office, he drove straight to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

He entered into a dress shop specializing in evening gowns. The sales clerks were about to run over themselves to get to him. The brown-haired woman said, “Sean Maxwell, I can’t believe it’s you.”

The redheaded sales clerk asked, “Do you mind taking a picture with us?”

Sean smiled. “Only if you two can help me pick out an outfit for my girlfriend.”

“What size does she wear?” the brown-haired woman asked.

“Not sure. But together I think we can figure it out.”

The sales clerks showed him different dresses. After deciding on a royal blue dress with sequins around the waist area, Sean chose a size he believed would fit Charlotte. “I also need shoes and accessories to go with it,” Sean said.

“Already two steps ahead of you. How do you like these?” The redhead showed him a pair of black stilettos with diamonds around the heel.

“I like those.”

The brunette opened the top of a big black velvet box. “This is a ten carat diamond sapphire necklace and earring set I think any woman would love.”

Sean ran his hand across the sapphire necklace and matching dangling earrings. “I’ll take them. Ring them up, ladies. I would like to have them delivered today around seven o’clock.”

Sean paid for his items and wrote down Charlotte’s address. Before leaving the store, he took a few pictures with the clerks.

“Thanks again, ladies,” he said, as he turned to leave.

He heard one of them say, “His girlfriend is one lucky woman.”

No, I’m one lucky man
, Sean thought.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Charlotte had barely made it in the door, when she heard the doorbell ring. She looked out the peephole and saw a deliveryman holding a garment bag and, what looked like, a huge gift bag.

“Who is it?” Charlotte asked, without opening the door.

“Ma’am, I’m Jules. I have a delivery from Raves of Beverly Hills.”

She opened the door. “There must be a mistake. I haven’t ordered anything.”

Jules looked at the note taped to the bag. “It’s from Sean Maxwell. I was told to deliver it to you at seven. If you weren’t here, I was supposed to wait for you.”

“Give them here. I’ll take them.” Charlotte took the items and carried them inside.

Her heart dropped when she saw what was in the garment and gift bags.

Her cell phone rang. Sean’s name showed on the display. “I was just about to call you.”

“Do you like them?”

“Of course. How did you know my sizes?”

“With the help of two competent sales clerks,” Sean responded.

“I can’t wait to wear the dress,” she said.

“Put them on tonight. I want to take you out to dinner to celebrate us.”

“I can cook something and you can come over.”

“No, baby. You’ve worked a long day. Let me do this, please.”

“But, Sean, you don’t have to take me to expensive restaurants or buy me expensive dresses to impress me. I’m fine relaxing at home.”

“Allow me to romance you the way I want to,” Sean cooed.

“I need a little time to get ready. Why don’t you pick me up around eight? That’ll give me time to shower, dress and do something with my hair.”

“Can’t wait to see how you look in that dress?”

“Neither can I,” Charlotte responded.

Charlotte went straight to the bathroom after ending the call with Sean. She took a shower and grabbed the dress. She looked at the price tag on the dress.

“No way,” Charlotte said out loud. “He paid five thousand dollars for this dress.”

That was the most any man had ever spent on her. Charlotte felt nervous. This dinner with Sean was a turning point in their relationship. She needed to calm her nerves. She glanced at the clock and decided to call her two besties.

She called Kem and Mona on the three-way. She placed the phone on speaker and talked to them while she got dressed.

Charlotte spoke with excitement. “I wanted you both to know I took your advice and Sean and I are officially a couple.”

Kem and Mona screamed with joy from the other end of the phone. They both started talking at the same time. Charlotte couldn’t understand either one of them.

Mona squealed, “I’m so happy for you.”

“It’s about time, you listened to me,” Kem added.

“Ladies, I just wanted to call and tell you that. I’m getting ready for a date with my man.”

Kem asked, “What are you on the phone with us for? Get off and get dressed. Wear something sexy.”

“Call me when you get in. I want details on how this date goes,” Mona said.

“Bye, ladies.” Charlotte walked over and hit the end button on her phone.

Charlotte went and stood in front of the floor length mirror behind her closet door. She pulled her hair back in a bun with a few strands of hair hanging from the side. Satisfied with her look, she removed the dress from the hanger and slipped it on.

The dress was just right. It accented all of her curves. She hoped Sean liked how she looked in it. She slipped on the heels just as the door bell rang.

“Coming,” she yelled. She grabbed her keys and a small black clutch bag.

Sean stood on the other side of the door, wearing a black designer suit and a tie that matched her dress.

He greeted her with a hug and a kiss. “Let me look at you.”

Charlotte walked and twirled for him.

“You look absolutely stunning,” he marveled. “Makes me want to rip your dress off you and make love to you right here and now.”

Charlotte shook her finger back and forth. “Oh no, mister. You wanted to go out, so you’re taking me out.”

“My queen will always get what she wants. Your chariot awaits you,” Sean said, as he extended his hand.

Charlotte placed her hand in his and he escorted her out.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Sean and Charlotte enjoyed laughter and mindless conversation over dinner at the ritzy yet secluded Italian restaurant located in the heart of the city. Reservations were usually made weeks in advance, but Sean pulled a few strings and got a reservation in less than an hour.

Charlotte took the last bite of her food and placed her fork down. She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “The food here is excellent,” she remarked.

“I’m glad you approve,” Sean said, as he motioned for the waiter.

“Yes, sir. Is everything to your satisfaction?” the blond-haired male waiter asked.

“Everything’s great. Please bring us two strawberry crepes.”

“Perfect choice,” the waiter responded. “Let me get these out of the way, if you’re finished.”

Sean indicated with the nod of his head that they were.

The waiter removed their dinner plates and left them alone.

Sean looked at Charlotte. “I know how much you like strawberries, so you’re going to love dessert. It’s one of their signature dishes.”

“So you think you know me,” Charlotte teased, after taking a sip of her wine.

Sean looked across the table at her. “As much as you’ve allowed me to. I’m still waiting on you to take down those walls you have around your heart.”

“I’m here with you now. Isn’t that enough?” Charlotte asked.

“I want all of you,” Sean responded.

Before Charlotte could respond, another waiter approached holding two saucers of strawberry crepes. He placed one in front of each of them.

Charlotte took a bite out of hers. She closed her eyes.

“So what do you think?” Sean asked.

“Scrumptious. I love it.” Charlotte went back to eating her dessert.

“I’m glad you approve.”

Thirty minutes later, they were inside of Sean’s Maybach headed down the highway.

Sean glanced over at Charlotte periodically as he drove. It felt good to see her happy. He touched her hand and their fingers interlocked.

“This isn’t the way to my house,” Charlotte commented.

“I know,” Sean responded. “The night’s still young.”

“Where are we going?” He noticed Charlotte looking at him from the corner of his eye.

“You’ll see when we get there.”

“Sean, I don’t like surprises.”

“You might as well get used to them, because I plan on surprising you a lot. This is only the beginning.”

Sean pulled in front of Club Venus. Valet attendants rushed to open their doors.

Sean handed the valet closest to him a twenty-dollar bill. “Be extra careful with my baby.”

“I’ll take care of it as if it belonged to me,” the man said as he smiled and got into the running car.

Sean walked to the other side of the car and reached for Charlotte’s hand.

They walked up the walkway side by side. Sean paid for their entry into the club. The music was a mixture of Pop and R & B from the eighties and nineties. The crowd appeared to be a mixture of young and middle-aged people.

There were no vacant tables so they stood near the bar.

“Where did you find this place?” Charlotte asked Sean over the loud music.

“One of my band members told me about it. I like to come here when I don’t want to be bombarded with fans. Most of the people here are in their own little world. They don’t bother me and I don’t bother them.”

“I feel like I’ve stepped back in time,” Charlotte said, as one of Gloria Estefan’s songs came on. She swayed from side to side.

“Come on, let’s dance. I can see you want to.” Sean grabbed Charlotte by the hand and pulled her out onto the crowded dance floor.

They danced for thirty minutes straight. When the deejay slowed it down by playing a slow jam by Prince, Charlotte turned to walk away, but Sean reached for her hand and pulled her back towards him.

She looked at him. He wrapped his arm around her waist. She placed both of her arms around his neck. Sean found himself entranced with her. The lyrics to the song expressed the desire he felt.

People surrounded them on the dance floor but as far as he was concerned, no one else existed, but them.

Her thick pouted lips were too inviting not to taste. It took everything within him to resist. Charlotte laid her head on his chest. He pulled her closer to him. He inhaled the fresh citrus smell of her hair. He wanted to rub his hand through her hair. His restraints were weakening.

He whispered in her ear. “I’ve been trying to be good, but I don’t know how much longer I can last.”

Charlotte looked up at him and smiled. She laid her head back on his chest. They danced the next few songs.

The tempo got faster. “Let’s sit this one out,” Charlotte suggested.

This time he didn’t stop her when she walked off the dance floor. He followed behind her.

“Let me find us a table,” Sean said.

“I’m ready to go,” Charlotte declaired.

“I thought you were having a good time.”

“I am, but I’m ready to spend some alone time with you,” Charlotte responded.

Sean knew what she meant and he was not going to deny her that pleasure. “Come on, let’s go.”

Sean held Charlotte’s hand and led her outside. He reached into his pocket and handed the valet his ticket.

They continued to hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes and smile.

The valet drove his car and parked it in front of them. As promised, Sean gave the man a nice tip.

“Your place or mine?” Sean asked, once they were pulling out of the parking lot.

“Surprise me.” Charlotte winked.