Mandy

Things are getting a bit too surreal for me. Being here with Trey was cool enough, and then Brandon Ryker shows up with a supermodel and her manager. Now Tommy Fowler has joined the fray. I’ve watched his show, Startup Entrepreneur, religiously ever since Dad turned me on to it. It is so cool to see these three guys hanging out. I really need to meet him, so I decide to slip in next to Trey.

“Tommy, this is Mandy Grayson,” he says, knowing instantly why I am there.

“I just love your show!” I add before he has a chance to say a word.

“Thank you, it’s a pleasure,” he says with a glimmer in his eye. He is even more dynamic in person than he is on TV. He envelops my hand within his and looks directly into my eyes. I catch the expression on Trey’s face out of the corner of my eye. I think someone is suddenly a bit jealous.

“Mandy was born in the city, but her family moved when she was just a kid,” Trey tells him.

“Where are you now?” Tommy asks, keeping his focus directly on me.

“I’m in San Francisco.” I smile, knowing that he lives in California too.

“She’s an SEC attorney,” Trey adds.

“Oh… that’s too bad,” Tommy sneers. “And you watch my show? Am I under surveillance or something?”

“I consider myself entrepreneurial, even though I may appear to be working for the other side at the moment,” I explain. “I think it’s good experience.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong, sweetie. Most lawyers make terrible entrepreneurs; they tend to focus on all of the risks instead of the rewards. An entrepreneur needs to possess an almost irrational optimism in order to believe that anything is possible,” Tommy tells her.

“If Mandy is anything like her father, I’m sure there is an incredible entrepreneur buried inside of her,” Trey says in my defense.

“I’m just messing with you.” Tommy smiles devilishly. “How long are you in the city?”

“I haven’t decided, I guess. Why?” I ask, knowing where the conversation is headed.

“I’m just thinking we should go out one night. I would like to get to know you a little better,” he says, moving in right next to me.

“Sorry Tommy, I’ve got her all tied up while she’s here,” Trey reacts aggressively. “In fact, we should get going. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”

Trey sweeps me in with his left arm, shooting a grin to both Brandon and Tommy. “See you guys later. We better go see what kind of shape Liv is in. It’s usually trouble if she’s left alone for too long.”

“Bye guys, nice to meet you both!” I shout as Trey sweeps me away before collecting Liv as well. I like the dramatic reaction that I got out of him when Tommy asked me out. I think he had an instant flashback to when he stole Vanessa out from under him. I wouldn’t be mean enough to let that happen again.

Tommy is good looking, successful and very charismatic but he is also a major womanizer. I definitely don’t need someone like him in my life. It is nice to have a little extra leverage though, just in case Trey remains stuck in his current pattern. He still hasn’t had that conversation with Liv.

“Why do we have to leave?” Liv slurs after slamming a final glass of champagne. “Sasha is so damn cool… she gets to go to Turks and Caicos next week for a Sports Illustrated shoot. Did you know she almost made the cover last year?” she continues to babble all the way out to the elevator. “Get us a bottle of champagne for the ride!”

“There are two bottles chilled and waiting for you,” Tony informs her. He has been standing next to the elevator waiting to escort us to the car. “It’s still bad outside,” he tells Trey.

“That’s alright. I’m going to tackle it head-on this time,” Trey says with an immediate spark in his eyes. “I’m not afraid of them.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Tony eyes pop with surprise.

“I do.” Trey replies, as his steely expression solidifies. Liv and I remain silent as the elevator descends to the first floor. I have been hoping to see this side of Trey.

“Here we go,” Tony says, beginning to blaze a trail for us to follow. The lobby of the hotel is busy, but it’s even more congested once we get out onto the street. Two reporters instantly attack Trey while at least a dozen cameras flash incessantly. “Did you have anything to do with your father’s death?” some insensitive asshole yells.

Trey stops and looks directly into the crowd. “Who said that?” he yells back, scanning back and forth for the guy.

“We don’t want a fight!” Tony warns, going immediately to Trey’s side.

“You! Get up here!” Trey yells at the man who has been exposed by the crowd around him. “Get up here!” He insists, standing still and staring at a young, aggressive reporter. The man slowly begins to move toward Trey after being nudged forward by the people standing behind him.

He clears his throat upon reaching Trey. “I just want to know if you had anything to do with your father’s death?” he stammers.

“I was in Switzerland, preparing for the biggest business meeting of my life when I got a call telling me that my father had been shot down in cold-blood. I dropped everything and raced back to be with my family! Then some insensitive piece of shit like you has the audacity to ask whether or not I had something to do with his death? How do you live with yourself? How can you look in the mirror in the morning and have even one shred of respect for yourself?” Trey falls silent and waits for an answer that doesn’t come.

“It’s my job, sir,” the reporter murmurs. “It’s my job to ask those questions.”

“That’s one hell of an admirable job you have, buddy,” he says with a heavy dose of sarcasm. “No. I had absolutely nothing to do with Dad’s death. I’m just as shocked and grief stricken as the rest of my family. Now if you will excuse me, I would like to go back to the hotel and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a hard day for me and my entire family.”

The reporter takes a step back and allows Trey to make his way to the car. Every camera within a half block was going crazy during the confrontation and they continue to chatter until we are well away from the curb.

“Well done, Trey!” Tony shouts, looking back at us through the rear view mirror. “You kicked ass, my man!”

Trey just shakes his head, obviously reeling from the accusation. “Don’t worry about those idiots,” I tell him. “They need to constantly stir up crap in order to make a living. I think that reporter was expecting you to take a swing at him, but you kept your cool and handled it very well. I’m impressed.”

“I have learned not to resort to violence,” he says, still shaking his head. “Besides, emasculating a man in front of a crowd hurts a lot more than a punch. He’ll be thinking about what I said when he looks in the mirror tomorrow morning.”

“I bet he will.” I know I would be having second thoughts about my career choice if I were in his shoes.

“Can somebody open this?” Liv breaks into the conversation with her unending thirst for alcohol. “I need a drink after all that tension.”

“You and me both,” Trey smirks, popping a cork and handing it to her. “Just drink out of the bottle. Those glasses are too damn small.”

“I know, right?” Liv chirps, immediately taking the bottle to her lips.

“You need a bottle too?” he asks me.

“No. I’m good. How about you?”

“I could use a couple big glasses of something stronger, but tomorrow is going to be miserable enough the way it is.” He looks over at Liv who still has the bottle tipped in the air. “Good thing the funeral isn’t until four.”

The traffic is more stop than go by the time we reach Grand Central Station. What should be a twenty-minute ride seems like it’s going to take a while. Liv looks like a teenager with her phone in one hand and a champagne bottle in the other. After seeing how self-absorbed she is, I reach down and take Trey’s hand in mine. I simply want to feel his energy, the sensation of his body heat mingling with mine. He gives me a look of appreciation and then we both glance over at Liv. She is completely oblivious to what’s going on around her. Not that I mind.

Trey

After a hectic week, an uncomfortable wake and spending the last few hours in a noisy bar I am actually enjoying this slow, quiet ride through the city. The strangest thing is that I feel more satisfaction from simply being close to Mandy than anything I’ve felt in years. Mom’s words from earlier creep into my testosterone charged brain. I really don’t think Mandy is out to hurt me. Either that or I’m still as naive as I was in college.

As if on cue, Liv says, “Sasha says they are hitting Lavo next. That’s not far from the hotel is it?”

“No, it’s just up the street.”

“Can we go?” she asks, totally ignoring the fact that my dad’s funeral is tomorrow.

“Tony? Can you take her to Lavo after you drop me off?” I ask, not wanting to spend another minute in a loud nightclub.

Tony gives me a knowing grin in the mirror. “Sure boss. I’ll just hang out and wait, so you can stay as long as you want,” he offers, turning his focus to Liv.

“Oh, thanks! That’s awesome.” She goes back to texting with Sasha. It’s a full minute before she realizes that she will be going alone. “Don’t you guys want to go?”

“No thanks. I have a headache,” Mandy replies first. “I think I must be dehydrated or jet-lagged.”

“I need to get some sleep, but you go have fun,” I encourage her. “Tony will take good care of you.” I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with Liv tonight anyway. I know Mandy wants me to have the talk with her, but I would rather put it off until after the funeral. I’ve never been good at break ups; I tend to be way too blunt. Not that it’s a real relationship in the first place, but I would still rather do it later.

“Since you guys seem to be hooking up, I’m gonna go flirt with Tommy,” Liv says with a liquor infused smile after we stop at the entrance of the hotel.

“We just…” Mandy begins to explain herself.

“Don’t even try Mandy!” Liv cuts her off immediately. “You two have been acting like you want to rip each other’s clothes off all day. You probably have already… who knows? I don’t fucking care anymore.” She stumbles out of the limo and slams the door behind her.

“Do you think she’ll realize that we are the ones who are getting out here?” I ask Mandy, pausing for a couple seconds before opening my door.

“Hey Liv, do you still want a ride?” Tony yells to her out the window. She spins around on her heel and gives him a vacant look. She’s totally wasted again.

“Keep an eye on her,” I whisper to Tony while passing by and handing him a couple hundreds. “That’s just in case you end up cleaning the car.”

“I’ve done it before, sir.” He laughs, helping Liv back into the car.

“You two go fuck your brains out!” Liv yells at us. “Fucking holding hands right in front of me,” she mutters before going back to her phone. Tony shakes his head and shuts the limo door.

“She’s not going to remember any of this tomorrow anyway,” I assure Mandy.

“Still… it’s not cool.” Mandy picks up her stride toward the hotel doors. Shit. The loving feeling has just vaporized in a matter of seconds.

Mandy

I don’t tolerate cheating. My first boyfriend in high school cheated on me repeatedly, so I am taking Liv’s comment to heart. I know Trey says they are just friends-with-benefits, but I also know that she has been hoping for more. It’s just a weird, fucked up relationship and I am not going to get caught up in the middle of it.

“You have to understand that Liv embellishes things all the time,” Trey says upon entering the elevator. “We have never had anything beyond a little fun and sex. She wanted to experience the high-life and I was simply attracted to her.”

“So you are saying you prefer blondes?” I ask, wanting to see him squirm.

“In the past I may have been more attracted to blondes, but then again I had never met a brunette like you,” he replies, slipping his hand along my cheek line. “You are doing something to me.” He leans forward, kissing my lips and pressing me against the back of the elevator.

I don’t want this, I keep telling myself but my lips are saying otherwise. I feel his other hand on my lower back and it sends a tingle up my spine. God he is sexy. His charisma, intoxicating cologne and those talented lips combine to beat down my resistance. The elevator dings and comes to a stop. Trey pulls back just slightly before giving me one last gentle kiss. “I’m thinking… I now prefer brunettes.”

“That was really nice, but…” I start to reply.

“But it’s been a very long day and it will be a longer one tomorrow. Besides, you are off limits until I have a talk with Liv and set things straight,” he says leading me by the hand to my room. Reaching the door, he looks me straight in the eyes and says, “You are someone special so I want to do this right.” He leans in and gives me one final kiss. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night.” I say, not thinking quickly enough to give a response to anything else he just said. My mind is swimming and my body is tingling from head to toe. I’ve never felt this way. I swipe the keycard the wrong way twice before taking my eyes off of him long enough to determine which way the arrow points. He smirks, grabs the card and instantly opens the door. “I was just going to do that,” I say in my defense.

“Since you were the valedictorian of your law school class, I have no doubt that you can open a door,” he says with his smirk still growing. “You’re just a little distracted. Sleep well.”

“Sleep well,” I reply, while he turns toward his room next door. I slip inside my room and immediately close the door. My hands tremble as I set the keycard on the table. Whew, he really gets to me. Thoughts continue to churn through my head at such a ridiculous pace that I have to stop and think about which steps I’ve done in my nightly routine. I can’t believe this is actually happening. How am I even going to sleep?