Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
He had to call his agent; he’d promised he would. He put him on FaceTime. Levi Klein was a striking man with dark hair and eyes, and he was very sympathetic and told Ash how sorry he was.
“After it’s announced on the news, I want flowers sent to his mother,” Ash said softly. “Could your assistant do that for me?”
Levi nodded, but his eyebrow lifted.
“What?”
“I wondered, because I haven’t seen anyone new on the email chain, but are we still between assistants, or is the man I keep seeing in pictures with you that are popping up online, who’s sitting right there beside you—hello,” he greeted me, “your new PA?”
“Yes, I’m still looking for someone, so if you’d like to send me some candidates, that would be great.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to let me help you this time instead of trying to find someone organically?” he asked, emphasizing the last word, drawing it out with a lot of flair.
“What does that even mean?” I asked Ash.
“I just—you know when you’re at dinner or in a store and someone very helpful comes along, and you know they would be a good fit because they have such great energy?”
I scowled at him. “Have you lost your mind?”
“What?”
“Did you just say that you hire people because you like their vibe?”
“I—”
“Do you actually do that?”
He looked unsure. “Are you mad that I do that? Because you sound mad.”
“I’m horrified,” I was adamant. “When you hire people, you need to see references, you need to run a background check, have someone qualified vet them and ask them tough questions, and for you, especially, they need to be able to understand boundaries and what privacy means for you. And it should go without saying that they be bonded and insured since they will have access to some kind of credit card to buy gifts, to pay for parking, to pay for plane tickets and flowers for friends.”
“I—”
“Lastly, they will be required, no question, to sign an ironclad NDA.”
“Preach!” Levi yelled, leaning in close to the camera for a moment, and then back out. “You are absolutely right about everything. Who are you, because you’re brilliant and we agree on everything, and that’s a fucking miracle because everyone else in his life is insane.”
Ash groaned. “That’s not true.”
“Yes it is, ohmygod, yes it is.”
“You’re painting a—”
“You need people to say no. Right now I’m the only one who does, and you’re just lucky I have the most power.”
“Not anymore.”
“Oh no? Why not?”
“Levi Klein, this is my boyfriend, Cooper Davis. Coop, this is Levi.”
“Good to meet you, Levi,” I said, smiling at him.
“Boyfriend? Did I hear that right?”
“You heard it right,” Ash groused.
“And Cooper seems to be in alignment with me on things, how interesting.”
“I don’t think—”
“He’s gorgeous and smart. Where have you been hiding him?” he demanded. “When did you meet? I will be asked, so I need to know.”
I could tell Ash was hesitant, but he took a breath to answer anyway.
Before he could, I told Levi, “We met about a month ago. Nick Madison gave a surprise concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Did you hear about that?”
“Yes. I follow him on all his socials, so of course while I’m having drinks at a ski lodge in Vail, that’s when I find out he’s singing his heart out back home in LA. I was just sick. I love that man.”
“We all love him, right?” I teased.
“I love him more, but do go on.”
“Well, Ash was there, and I came along as one of Nick’s guests, so that’s how we first crossed paths.”
Levi gasped and stared at Ash. “You know Nick Madison?”
Ash glanced at me and then back to Levi. “Yeah. We met that night.”
“Ashford Lennox! The next time you see him or he’s in town or you fly wherever it is to see him, I expect to be taken along. Do you understand?”
He needed Levi going crazy about this, it helped with the news about Kit, and I had to wonder if Levi knew that as well. I was having warm, fuzzy feelings toward my boyfriend’s agent. Good to know he had a man like that in his corner.
“A month you’ve hidden this from me,” Levi said, motioning to me and smiling wide, clearly delighted. “You sneak. How did you do that?”
“Cooper lives in Chicago.”
“Ohmygod, why?” Levi asked me, sounding horrified, his brows furrowed. “It’s cold in the winter and humid and hot in the summer. We need to get you out of there, like, yesterday.” He shuddered. “Chicago, with the seasons and everything. That’s just terrible.”
I chuckled.
“Are you an actor, Cooper?”
“No, sir, I’m a fixer.”
I could actually see his brain working things out as he sat quietly for a moment. “Oh!” he gasped when he got it. “You work for that wonderful Mr. Colter, don’t you?”
“Would we say wonderful?” I grimaced.