“It’s a done deal then. Get your pretty little ass over here so we can continue with our conversation.”
Tessa
I played right into his arms, didn’t I? It wasn’t meant to be like that but the moment I heard his voice I wanted to be with him. Can a girl help it if she’s in love?
Immediately my mood lifts a great deal; that’s the effect this guy has on me. I contact Peter to make my travel arrangements. He’s one of the few people who has an understanding of my situation. I’ve always been able to have a good chat with Peter and get things off my chest as I know he’ll be discrete. Adam’s lucky to have such an excellent and attentive PA, although Peter’s more than that. He’s a friend too. He once told me that he had a crush on Tina but she never even noticed him. Even to this day, I don’t think she realizes that Peter was a good friend of Adam’s father.
Anyway, I need to get moving. I need to go into the TV studio first. There are some papers to sign for the new show and I don’t know how long it will take me. Peter will arrange a private flight so I don’t have to stick to a schedule.
The TV show doesn’t start for months yet so I have plenty of free time. Family gatherings always help me unwind so I’m looking forward to seeing everyone. I don’t want to put any pressure on Adam, but this might give me an opportunity to talk with him about the show. Okay, who am I kidding! No way will he give up what he’s got on offer, to do a TV show. I know I need to accept that, but then again, I can still try. I’m no one’s doormat and if Adam loves me then he should be a bit more considerate of what I want too.
I arrive at the TV studio and Roberto, one of the crew, comes to greet me in reception. I know he’s got a bit of a crush on me but I always try to play it down.
“Tessa, my love,” he cries out, turning my hand over so he can kiss it on the back. “You’ve finally given in to your impulses and come to sweep me off my feet, haven’t you?”
“Stop that, Roberto,” I say, pulling my hand away from his lips. “You know you can’t behave like that these days.”
“All I ask is one date,” he pleads. “If I don’t win you over, then you can wipe the floor with me, as the saying goes.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I laugh at his strange remark.
“I will be so beaten that you can use me as a broom upon the floor.” He laughs.
Despite his constant attempts, which often verge on being a nuisance, I do quite like him. For this reason, I never stay annoyed with him for long. He’s a good looking macho kind of guy and has the sexiest of Italian accents. Once upon a time, I would have accepted his offer, but other men are not for me anymore.
“Look, Roberto, I’ve got a car waiting to take me to the airport, we need to get a move on. Have you got the document for me to sign?”
“For you, I have anything that you ask of me, but yes, I have the papers right here. You know, there is talk of Brad Pitt playing the part of your husband? I will be most jealous.”
“Haha...I know Brad, we’ve worked together a few times, I doubt he’ll want such a role. He’s like Adam; he wants to play the action hero not everyday romance,” I respond.
“The best thing that can happen for this show is for me to play your husband, Tessa. I would never let you down,” Roberto suggests, and he means it too.
I scan through the document, which isn’t a particularly important one. Not replying to his suggestion, I scribble my name on the dotted line and push it back into his hand.
“You never give up, do you? I’ll give you that, at least, you’re persistent,” I say, turning to walk away from him.
“For you, I will walk to the ends of the earth,” he says, kneeling onto the floor.
It forces an amused smile on my face. “I love you, Roberto,” I reply and send him a kiss on my finger.
He catches the imaginary kiss and pulls it to his heart. One thing for sure, Roberto does make me smile. He’s come along at the wrong time as I have no interest in other men. I can’t dance to Roberto’s tune. Now, there’s only one man for me. I leave for the airport and put Roberto and his silly antics behind me. These days, Adam is all I want.
Chapter 7
Adam
“Wow, you’re quite a distasteful character in this role, dear,” Tina points out as we read through the script together.
“Yeah, but he’s got soul, don’t you think? Like he’s got a weak spot for cats. The man can relate to cats. They’re graceful predators, a bit like him.”
“He’s not in the least bit graceful, dear. He’s a downright unsavory bastard,” my mother comes back at me.
“No. I don’t see him like that. You’re not seeing the clear picture if that’s what you think of him. He’s only evil when he’s fighting evil. Yeah, so he’s a serial killer, but all his victims are bad people. I like him.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re playing him and not me,” Tina points out. “I’d shoot him on the spot and bury him in a big, deep hole.”
“Ha...ha...ha...” I laugh. “It’s time we had a break. Maybe you’re not the right person to help me with this script, Tina. You’re more used to playing nutty, pot-smoking grannies these days.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I don’t smoke the ‘pot’ in my show, I only grow it,” she points out. “It’s important that you know I don’t smoke that stuff.”
“Mother, it’s not real, remember. It’s a show. I know you don’t smoke it. You ask your chef to put it in your cakes instead. It’s fine, Mother, because it helps your arthritis so don’t be ashamed of it. That’ll be why you like tea so much,” I joke.
“Oh, Adam, you’re insufferable,” she glowers back at me. “If I wanted to go on some sort of self-induced joyride, I have far more effective pills than marijuana. What’s more, I do not ask my chef to put pot in my cakes. And, what’s even more, I like tea because it’s more refined and quenches my thirst.”
“I’ve no doubt, Tina. Anyway, you shouldn’t be taking pills, they’re even worse. At least pot’s only a plant,” I try to point out. My mother always knows best so I decide to drop the topic before it turns sour. “So, when’s Tessa coming? She’s meant to message me the details of her flight so I can go meet her.”
As I say those words, I must have been having some psychic moment, because right there and then the door opens and in comes Tessa.
“I’m here!” she announces.
“Oh, darling, why ever didn’t you call us?” Mom asks as she gets up to greet her.
“I had a private plane on standby and I didn’t know what time I’d be leaving. Anyway, Peter made all the arrangements for me. It all happened so quick it hardly seemed worth bothering you,” she explains as she moves toward me to greet me.
I don’t let on, but my mood was lifted to new heights at the sight of Tessa walking through that door. We embrace and I’m overwhelmed with a sense of completeness. It always feels as though something’s missing when Tessa’s not around. I miss this woman, but I don’t tell her.