Page 19 of Notorious (Hollywood Heartthrobs #2)

OLLIE

U nable to hide my smile as I spotted the logo of Black Canyon Films, I opened the door and entered a spacious lobby with marble floors, chrome railings on the stairs and framing the elevators, and included comfy black leather couches, loveseats, and chairs with slate end tables.

Plants of various varieties placed near the windows, growing healthy and making it a welcoming, classy space.

But centered a few yards from the entrance, and the only way to enter the building, was a gigantic curved desk housing no less than six security guards.

The men and women looked military, and because of what Connor told me about Spencer’s ex-friend and the violence in which sent Mason to prison, I understood the need for added security.

The scanners blocked the right and left of the desk, preventing anyone from sneaking through. I walked toward the desk with telegraphed movements, not wanting to seem suspicious.

“Good morning. Who are you here to see?” A woman with slick dark hair pulled into a bun asked.

I gulped before I stepped forward and somehow found my voice.

“Um, yes. I’m here to see Spencer and Lee Atreus.”

A sigh stuck in my throat, but I pushed it back when I received a tilt of the lips before she started typing. As she opened her mouth, a shout interrupted the conversation at hand.

“Ollie!”

With a smile on my face and my shoulders relaxing from around my ears, I turned to see Connor, who was supposed to be on location for a production.

“Hey, beautiful. Weren’t you supposed to be in Pasadena today?”

Connor, with a skip in his step, approached me and, without hesitation, pulled me into his arms before he dipped me for a kiss.

I may have let out a little squeak, which he found amusing, and I did not.

But when he pulled back several moments later, I was breathless and my body throbbed with restrained desire.

“They have it all in hand, so I came back early when Lee told me you would be visiting.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and asked, “A quick question. How did you get here?”

“Linus escorted me to the back of the property and walked me to Sam’s place. Then Thomas called a taxi for me. Oh, wait, never mind. I teleported here using my big brain. Yeah, that’s what happened.”

He growled, and I let out a sigh.

“They’re still camped outside?” He asked.

“It’s so weird. The news broke two days ago and they are curious about me and you, so they parked on your lawn, even though it’s not even a scandal or a career-ending disaster?”

“Yeah, but they earn a lot of money to stay informed about Hollywood and the players involved. And you’re not someone in their realm of knowledge, so to them, they need to understand the mystery of who you are and where you came from.

Which, by the way, are you sure Cheryl and Robert wouldn’t sit down for an interview regarding their son’s relationship in Hollywood with a man if they find out who you are with? ”

I snorted and shook my head. “Oh, that reminds me. Angel said they called her and begged her to come back to work for them without offering a pay raise or any other incentive whatsoever. She’s talked to her cousins who told her they are having a hard time at the college because when people ask about me, they tell them they don’t talk to me anymore, but not the reason behind it.

Angel said they aren’t aware of where I’m living or haven’t tried to find out.

They haven’t asked her once, but then again, my parents couldn’t care less about me. ”

Connor’s brows furrowed. “Does she want to move out here?”

“She refused when I offered to help set her up out here because her and her family are close, and she doesn’t want to leave the area. But I know her dream, to own a restaurant, so I purchased her the spot she’d been hoping to buy for years. We’ll have to fly there for her grand opening next year.”

Someone cleared their throat and when both of us turned, we had six amused guards and all of their eyes were on me.

“Who’s this cutie?”

Connor, who doesn’t have a reason to feel any type of jealousy, glared at the man with biceps bigger than my leg, trying to look intimidating. Ignoring Connor, I held out my hand and said, “Ollie, nice to meet you…”

“Archie.”

He shook my hand until a choked exclamation interrupted us.

“What?” A fellow guard had a gobsmacked expression.

With one last squeeze of my hand and a comical smirk on his face, my new friend turned to the shorter, but no less muscled, co-worker. “What’s wrong with my name?”

The man glanced at me, narrowed his eyes and studied my face, before his expression cleared. He stuck his hand out and said, “Edgar.”

I smiled as I took his hand. The other four introducing themselves as Connie, Ethel, Sacha, and George. All of them studied me with curiosity, and when I turned to Connor and lifted my brow in question, he laughed.

“You charm everyone you meet, carino mío ,” he paused before he glanced at everyone else and said, “And I met him first. He’s my boyfriend, and no, I’m not sharing.”

My brow furrowed as I wondered if he had shared partners with any of them before, but I shook my head. It wasn’t my business.

“Lee told me you’d be here, but not why,” Connor said.

“Spencer wanted help with a script he likes, so I offered to read it after I finished writing this morning.”

“Come on up, I’ll show you his office,” Connor glanced at the guards. “Ollie has clearance to come and go as he pleases. Can you make him a badge so he can bypass security and head straight for the elevators?”

George said, “Already on it. Stop by when you leave, Ollie, and I’ll have it ready for you.”

“Thanks George. It was nice meeting all of you.”

Connor cupped my elbow and ushered me toward the bank of elevators, pressing the up button. When the doors closed after we walked in, I said, “You didn’t have to give me special privileges.”

Pressing me against the wall, he tilted his head and kissed me, causing all thoughts to flee and leaving me with only need. I clung to his shoulders as he plundered my mouth, and it felt exhilarating.

As he pulled back to breathe, his arms caged me in as he leaned his forehead against mine.

“I missed you, carino mío .”

A startled smile burst wide, and I clutched his waist, pulling him against me as I nuzzled his neck with my nose.

“That’s sweet to hear. I’m glad I saw you here. I am happy you’re not on location all day.”

“Yeah, they had it handled.”

The ding signaled we arrived, and with reluctance, I dropped my arms and waited for Connor to lead me off. Instead, he captured my gaze. His expression was as serious as I’ve ever seen it. Before I could ask, he stood upright and reached for my hand, leading me into an opulent reception area.

“Oh.”

Connor turned his smiled toward me. “You like it?”

“It has more personality than the marble and chrome downstairs, but I understand why it looks utilitarian down there.”

He nodded and led me to the curved wooden desk, half the size of the one in the lobby.

“And this is Andy, knower and seer of all around here. Andy, this is my boyfriend, Ollie.”

I raised my hand to wave when Andy jolted to his feet and came around the desk, his face beaming with a smile. As small, yet powerful arms wrapped around me, I hugged back, amused at the warm welcome.

“Oh, my goodness. It’s so nice to meet you, Ollie! I’ve heard all about you from Connor and Spencer, and I’ve read all of your books. They are spectacular.”

It was unfortunate I had the same reaction whenever someone said they enjoyed one of my books. I peered down and blinked until the wetness dried up.

“That’s very sweet of you to say, Andy. And it’s wonderful to meet you. How’s your day going?”

Connor wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, his chin on my shoulder.

“Spectacular now that you’re here.”

Liking Andy’s energy and seeing why the actors hired him to be the face of the entire production studio, I asked, “Maybe when you’re free, we can get coffee and talk?”

I never made friends as easily as I had since coming to California, but with the genuine happiness and an energy I liked, I accepted his business card and I promised, “I’ll text you.”

The phone rang then, and with one last squeeze of my hand, he headed around and answered. Connor led me around the desk and to the right, where I glanced around. There were two conference rooms with frosted glass on either side of the reception area.

“Staff offices are to the left, while Spencer and Lee share the big office, and Kaid and I have separate spaces next door. There’s a full service kitchen with several coffee options in between the conference rooms. Do you want a coffee?”

I shook my head. “Three’s my limit. Plus, your mom loves the pour over carafe I got her, and won’t let me get away without sharing.”

“Ollie,” Spencer said as he came out of his office and walked right into my arms.

With a hug and a pat on his back, he laid his head on my shoulder. As he settled in, I rubbed his back to give him some comfort as I noticed tension running through him.

“What’s wrong?”

Lee stepped out after his husband with a mischievous smile on his face, but crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.

“There’s something about this story. I can’t quite put my finger on whether I like the twist, but the writing is spectacular. There’s a major thing that happens right after the midpoint, but it doesn’t explain my trepidation. I love the characters… But I give up. Maybe you’ll see what I’m missing.”

We all piled into the larger office and Lee handed me a script.

I sat down and started reading, getting a clear picture in my head as I lost myself in the story.

It was around the midpoint where the protagonist reverted to his old self, and my brain screeched to a halt with the changes.

I glanced up and blinked to see the three men staring at me.

“Oh, sorry about that. I lose myself whenever I read.”