58

4
TINSLEY
What the hell was I thinking? I wondered to myself as I raced away from the studio and towards Lucas’ school for pick up. I had only been back in Ryan’s life for two days and I’m already losing myself to him like I had in college.
And then there was Michael, where had that come from?
Yes, I found him incredibly attractive. Who wouldn’t think an old high school jock with that Louisiana drawl was sexy?
And the way he always called me Miss Tinsley, like it was like a forbidden teacher/student fantasy living itself out in real life. But then I’d gone and stroked his penis like a desperate housewife attacking the pool boy.
I needed to pull myself together and get my head back in its proper place. After all, I was professional, and professionals did not grope and have oral sex with their clients. I had enough on my plate with all Lee’s antics, I don’t have time to muddy the waters with office romance.
At least I found Lee repulsive, I laughed to myself. No fear of having to worry about hauling off and making out with him.
As I pulled into the after school pick up line, I felt somewhat better. From now on I would be a professional. I just needed to plan a wine night with Katie. Being the best friend Katie was, she would laugh at my trysts and scold me for being so focused on work.
“This would never happen if you had allowed yourself to go out on a date or two in the past year,” I could hear her saying. “This is what celibacy gets you, you’re jumping the bones of every superhero you meet.”
And that’s when the memory of Ryan’s dick rubbing against my naked buttocks overpowered me. There was so much territory they’d left uncharted in their one night together. Maybe if I allowed myself to have some fun, we could try all the things I had always wanted but never felt safe enough to let go of my inhibitions.
Lucas was full of vigour when he jumped into the backseat of the car and buckled himself into his booster seat, “Mom, we had an earthquake! Isn’t that the coolest?” I nodded along as Lucas filled my head with information about tectonic plates, fault lines and divergent/convergent boundaries.
“My teacher said that it had to be at least a magnitude three quake because we were able to feel it,” Lucas remarked. “Did you feel it, Mama?”
I giggled to myself, “Oh I felt alright.”
At the stop light, I glanced back at Lucas, still babbling about earthquakes, in the backseat. The similarities between him and Ryan were absolutely jarring.
It’s not just the looks, they had the same mannerisms, the same inflections in their voices. It hadn’t been as noticeable before because the Ryan I watched in movies was always playing a role and tucking away his natural inclinations. The real Ryan was quite obviously Lucas’ father.
I wondered if I had made the right choice in not telling Ryan about Lucas. I’d gone back and forth hundreds of times since Lucas had been born. Ultimately it came down to the fact that this was one cat you couldn’t put back in the bag.
Why should I have been the one to hold him back from pursuing his dreams? I didn’t need his money. I’d lived with my parents until my career had advanced as far as was possible in Chicago. Their guest house had provided Lucas and I with our own space while allowing us to be as close as the backyard for babysitting and the occasional meal.
Lucas and I had never wanted for anything. He had a mom that loved him unconditionally and a grandma and grandpa that filled in the gaps my work created.
It wasn’t until we’d moved to California, to the same town where Ryan lived and away from my parents that the idea of introducing Lucas to Ryan had even entered my mind again. And by then it seemed too late.
Of course, I never would have imagined that I would end up working with Ryan when I made the decision not to tell him. Now I needed to give
my head and heart time to wonder about the right choice in order to move forward.
–
By the time we’d pulled into the driveway, my thinking had returned to the more professional. I’d edited the constantly shifting to do list that lived in my head. There’s the press junket, the cast had been invited to appear at ComicCon in a few months, and before the earthquake I had just set up a children’s hospital tour tomorrow for the lead cast. They had a break in the schedule, and it worked out perfectly.
I figured since I’ve been tasked with bringing good publicity, a children’s hospital visit was about as good as publicity could get. They would interact with the kids, gift them with Falconi swag and of course take lots of photos.
I wonder what Ryan is even like with kids? The hospital visit, while good PR, would also give me a glance into who Ryan truly was as a person beyond the hot sex and good looks. It would tell me if he could handle knowing.
As I began to pull into the garage, the harsh trill of Lee’s ringtone sounded in my ears.
“Uh-oh,” said Lucas from the backseat.
“Uh-oh is right bud,” I agreed. “Let’s see what he wants.” It’s amazing that even seven year old Lucas recognized that Lee was trouble.
“This is Tinsley,” I answered.
“Tinsley, what right do you have to leave the office in the middle of the day?” demanded Lee.
“Mr. Wynn, I’m not slated for any meetings or activities with the crew until 10am tomorrow. I’m not an employee of your studio, I’m simply contracted to assist you with the PR for this film. I can come and go as I deem appropriate. My schedule is very full and if you need me to stay later than 5pm as I did today, you’ll need to schedule a meeting,” I said curtly.
“Emergencies don’t allow time for me to schedule a meeting,” he barked. “Now get your butt down here. We’ve got a shit storm brewing and I understand from reading your job description that it’s your duty to clean up the mess.” And with that he hung up.
“Well Lucas, looks like mom has a fire that needs to be put out. How about we swing by In and Out Burger to get you some dinner since I’m going to have to drag you with me to the office today. Sound good?”
“Awesome!” Lucas cheered. “But Mama, don’t you think we should put out the fire first before we get dinner? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
This boy was pure magic and gave me all the joy I needed to get Lee’s gruffness out of my system.
–
As soon as we stepped off the elevator, I could hear Lee’s voice billowing out of the conference room, upset about something but for once it sounded like it did not pertain to me. I was thankful that I ran in to grab Lucas’ headphones and tablet, maybe the sounds of cartoons would block out some of Lee’s nastiness.
“Well it’s about damn time,” Lee sneered as I entered the room. Lee either didn’t notice Lucas behind me or simply didn’t care.
“So you’re the man that is always cursing on the phone with my mommy,” Lucas said. “You better hope this place doesn’t have a swear jar or you’ll have to pay up bigtime mister.”
The conference room erupted into laughter. Along with several members of the production team, I saw Kai and Thiago wiping tears from their eyes at Lucas’ response. Lee gave me a glare that could cut through steel. Clearly, he did not like being called out by a second grader.
“If you all are about done,” he snarled, “Perhaps Tinsley here can tell us when she was planning on sending out the press release for the children’s hospital visit. Or did she expect us to interrupt our filming schedule without any press knowing; wasting our time, money and resources.”
The room quieted and seemed to lean forward in anticipation of how I would respond to Lee. By now they’ve all heard about the table read. Everyone was thinking that Lee has finally met his match and he’s not happy about it.
“Mr. Wynn. May I see you outside.”
“That won’t be necessary, just do your job,” he said snidely.
Leaving me no choice but to speak publicly, I began, “Mr. Wynn, that press release pertains to an event that up until two this afternoon, no one from the studio knew our cast would be attending. It was made clear in that
meeting that I would announce their visit to the local children’s hospital at tomorrow’s meeting and explain the significance behind sending them, i. e. good publicity, something we are in desperate need of.”
“I have no intention of announcing to the entire country that the Falconi cast has made a visit to a local children’s hospital until that visit actually takes place. Not to mention that there is no interruption to filming. Check the schedule you created. This day was already earmarked for PR.”
“Furthermore, I do not presume to tell you how to produce a movie. Nor should you presume to tell me how to run PR for said movie. I will have my assistant, Alex, craft and distribute that press release following that hospital visit. A critical piece of my assistant’s role is to create and distribute all press releases on projects in which I am lead.”
“Now, if you don’t have any other emergent matters, I’ll be taking my son and going home.” The nerve of this guy who felt he could interrupt my life with his bogus attempts to control me.
“You’ll write that press release now. My movie is too important to pass off to some intern. Now get to work, I want the copy on my desk before you leave tonight,” Lee growled at me.
It had been years since I’d had such an unbelievably brash and small- minded client. The very idea that I would craft a press release raving about the success of an event before it even happened was preposterous.
I would probably need to speak to the studio about his behaviour but there was no point in continuing an argument over something that would take me twenty minutes to finish. As I began to guide Lucas outside toward the now empty reception desk to craft the press release, Thiago and Kai ran up behind me.
“Mama, are you in trouble?” Lucas asked with concern.
“No way little dude, your mom is a rock star. She’s the real hero around her for taking on that super villain,” said Kai.
“Speaking of super heroes, would you like to see where we are filming tomorrow’s fight scene?” asked Thiago.
“Would I ever!” exclaimed Lucas. “Mom, can I?”
“You got it bud. And thank you guys. This shouldn’t take more than a half hour,” I said graciously.
“No problemo. You know where to find us when you’re done,” said Kai. “You know you look exactly like the kid they cast to play the young
Harris Rutledge,” I heard Thiago say as they walked away. Kai started to
look back at me, but I quickly averted my eyes typing away at the press release.
I chewed nervously on my bottom lip. That was all this day needed, for the whole Falconi crew to make the connection between Ryan and I. Too many more situations like this and someone was bound to say something around Ryan.
Thirty minutes later I’d fired off the press release and I had laid a bright shiny copy on Lee’s desk. Lee of course had left right after I started working but I chose not to engage as I saw him rushing out the door. I decided I would bide my time with Lee. However, I did send an email to my HR department and the head of our firm letting them know of the disturbances that Lee had caused thus far.
This type of thing happened from time to time with my line of work. Especially in cases like this where a client already had several strikes against them. I’d let the first several instances slide, but I knew that if Lee continued this type of behaviour, it could look bad for my boss not to know about what had been happening.
Clients like Lee always tried to deflect blame away from themselves and their behaviours. Lee was taking a page out of the magician’s handbook. Misdirection was a great way for clients like Lee to keep peoples’ attention pulled away from what he was actually doing by creating drama elsewhere.
I fired off an email to my assistant, Alex, to do some digging. If Lee was trying this hard to start something with me he was probably losing control of a problem he didn’t want the studio to know about somewhere else.
The sounds of fighting, thuds and crashes, pulled me from my thoughts as I walked onto the set. I watched in amazement as Kai flipped Thiago over his back. Thiago landed unscathed and quickly took a defensive position.
The entire scene somehow had me incredibly turned on. Watching two men fighting tapped into all my knight in shining armour fantasies. I imagined myself as a helpless maiden looking on as Kai disarmed Thiago only to have him whisk me off and tear off my bodice before deflowering me. Note to self-Tinsley, tone down the romance novel reading.
“My, my what have we here?” I said getting their attention.
“Hey there Tins,” Kai said. “We were just teaching Lucas here the art of stage fighting. Want to show your mom what you learned?”
I watched in wonder as Lucas ran up to Kai and appeared to sock him right in the jaw. Kai writhed in pretend agony as Thiago lifted Lucas up on his shoulder and carried him around for a victory lap around the set.
“Lucas honey, that was incredible!” I cheered. “I want you on my side if there is ever an evil super villain in our midst.”
“Wait mom, there’s more,” Lucas cheered.
This time Lucas ran up to Thiago and pulled up on his leg. Thiago executed a perfect front flip over my son that to the naked eye would make it appear that Lucas had flipped him clear over his shoulder.
Thiago landed flat on his back on the mat and pretended to groan in agony. Lucas walked over and stomped a foot on top of Thiago and put his arms up in victory. It was adorable.
Lucas beamed at me, and I shot the two of them a smile. These guys were really something special.
“Wow guys, that was incredible!” I shouted with glee.
“Mom, do you think I could maybe take a martial arts class? Kai and Thiago both have done martial arts,” Lucas remarked.
“Martial arts are wonderful for the mind, body and soul.” Thiago responded. “It transforms the way you think and helps to give you great confidence, skill and dedication.”
“I think that’s a great idea! You guys, I can’t thank you enough for being there today for me. I truly appreciate it. Please let me make you a home cooked meal to make up for it. I heard you both complaining the other day about how you are both tired of eating out for every meal,” I offered.
“You don’t have to do that Tinsley,” said Thiago. “We loved hanging out with Lucas.”
“You don’t have to do it, but I will let you,” Kai chimed in. “If I have to eat one more piece of sushi, I think I’m going to turn into a fish.”
Lucas giggled as Kai made a fish face in his direction complete with fins. I couldn’t help but laugh too. It would be nice to have them over. Now that we are so far away from my family, we hadn’t had more than two people at the table in months. “Just think about it, Thiago.”
“I will Tins. Have a great night. Catch you later Lucas.”
Thiago headed for the door, but Kai hung back. Once Thiago was out of the room and Lucas was still distracted practising his stage fighting moves, Kai moved closer to me. My head spun with the images that I had conjured earlier of Kai having his way with me.
“Kai, that was really something. You sure have changed since we were in college.”
“I hope that’s not a bad thing,” Kai said, he stared deep into my eyes and moved a red tendril of hair out of my face. “I’d hate to think I’ve disappointed you.” His touch made me weak in the knees.
“Kai, I can say with absolute sincerity that there is not a square inch of your body that would disappoint any woman, let alone me.”
“Is that right?” Kai said, sexily. He glanced back over his shoulder to make sure Lucas was distracted. “Cause I have about 9 inches of something right now that would love to show you a good time.”
Kai grabbed my hips pulling me towards him. I could feel his erection pressed against me and I felt moisture gathering between my legs. Pull it together Tins!
“I wish I could.” My hand caressed against his length. Damn, it really was at least nine inches long! “Can I take a raincheck for another night? Maybe when you come over for dinner we can pick up where we left off?” I whispered breathily into his ear.
“In that case, how’s tomorrow night sound?”
“Based on how wet you have me, it sounds too far off but it will have to work.”
“Then tomorrow night it is. What kind of wine do you like?” He said switching to a safer topic as Lucas made his way towards us.
“Surprise me! I’ve never met a vintage I haven’t liked the taste of.” Or a man on this set, I thought to myself.
“Tins, Thiago said something earlier and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since,” began Kai.
“Oh my goodness, look at the time,” I said looking down at my watch. “Lucas, we still have homework and a bath tonight. If we don’t get you home, you won’t be in bed before midnight.” I corralled Lucas pushing him in the direction of the door despite his, and Kai’s, protests.
“Kai, check your schedule and let me know what time works best for dinner tomorrow. Sorry to have to cut the evening short,” I said with a wink as Lucas and I walked out the door.
Damn that was close. I couldn’t take any more close calls like that. Perhaps it was time to tell at least Kai my secret. Maybe dinner tomorrow would be the perfect time to share with him and if I’m lucky we would also be sharing my bed.
Was it possible for me to be falling for all these men? Kai, Ryan, Micahel? Only Thiago hadn’t made a move yet, but it wasn’t from lack of me wanting him.