Page 13 of Total Creative Control
His thoughts derailed at the sight of Jason Tsang waiting for him at their office door, his black hair coiffed to sleek perfection but his face grim behind the bright red frames of his designer glasses. Jason, the senior PA in their department, was assistant to Lewis’s boss, Toni Beckford, Head of Drama. Toni didn’t do mornings, and so Jason rarely came in before nine. That he was here now was a Bad Sign.
“It’s going to be a day,” Jason warned, taking the bacon rolls from Aaron’s hands and walking with him down the corridor to the pod of desks they shared at the far end. “Lewis has been in since seven.”
“And you’re in too.”
Jason grimaced, depositing the bacon rolls onto Aaron’s desk on the way to his own workstation. “Charlie called late last night. He moved theLeechespitch forward to this weekend because he’s flying back to the States next Monday. He wants to see ToniandLewis. Together.”
Charlie Alexander was a senior executive at Telopix Entertainment. Telopix had been in discussions with RPP about a US version ofLeechesfor a while and Charlie, who had a reputation in the business for dropping projects over ‘creative differences’, would be making the final decision on whether to green light the project.
“Uh-oh.” Aaron set down the post and the cardboard carrier holding their drinks, glancing toward Lewis’s closed office door. From within, he could hear Lewis talking irritably. “Tell me it’s not at Safehaven.” Safehaven was Charlie’s country pile, and his favourite place to host meetings.
“It’s at Safehaven.”
“Crap. Lewis hates it there.”
“And doesn’t he make sure we all know it?” Jason made a face.
“Come on,” Aaron said. “It’s not his fault it makes him feel uncomfortable. Charlie’s bullshit brings him out in hives.”
Jason snorted. “So he has to walk around in a big mood, makingusall feel like crap too?”
Aaron felt a swell of irritation. “That’s not fair. He doesn’t mean to—”
“Aaron. Just don’t.” Jason held up a hand to stop him.
“Don’t what?”
“Defend him! The man’s a selfish prick, and you know it.”
“Not true. He’s—”
As if magically summoned, Lewis’s door flew open, and he stormed out. There wasn’t actual smoke coming out of his ears, but not far off. “Finally,” he growled, glaring at Aaron. “Where’ve you been?”
“At home, in bed. Sleeping. Then on the tube. Ten minutes in Grinder—the coffee shop, not the app. Why, where’ve you been?”
Lewis blinked, his irritation successfully punctured. He scrubbed a hand through his hair, leaving it dishevelled and sexy.Sexier, damn it. “I expected you earlier.”
“And I expected to win the lottery. Life’s full of disappointments.” He picked up one of the bacon rolls and the hot chocolate, which was already oozing cream and sprinkles, and set them on the corner of his desk for Lewis, who immediately brightened.
“I hear you’re going to Safehaven this weekend?” Aaron said, as Lewis pulled the bacon roll out of its bag and took a bite.
He grimaced. “There’s no brown sauce.”
“Yes, there is,” Aaron replied placidly, watching as Lewis opened the roll, lifted the bacon, and finally grunted agreement.
“They should spread the sauce to the edge of the roll,” he said after a moment, his tone grudging.
“I’ll be sure to pass on your valuable feedback.” Aaron shucked off his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair, taking a seat and pulling his laptop out of his bag. “Good job we drafted theLeeches:USApitch last week,” he said. “It’s in good shape, but I imagine you want to do another polish before Charlie sees it?” He glanced up and found Lewis watching him, nodding as he chewed his breakfast. “Jase, are they still meeting at ten, or can we move it earlier?”
“Toni’s coming in for eight-thirty,” Jason said, sliding in behind his own desk. “She’s...not ecstatic. But she’s panicking about the budget—Charlie wants to go through it.” He sighed. “I’m still trying to make it readable. Bloody Excel.”
Luckily, budgets were Toni’s department because if anyone ever asked Aaron to create a pivot table, he’d probably throw his computer out the window. Lewis might do the same. Neither of them was good with figures. Putting a narrative around the figures, though?
Well, Lewis Hunter was a genius when it came to storytelling of any sort. Even now, after working for the man for three years, Aaron was still in awe of his talent. He’d read everyLeechesscript Lewis had ever written and still referred to them constantly as a guide to economy and elegance in storytelling. Aaron’s own fannish scribblings paled by comparison.
In fairness, most things paled by comparison with Lewis Hunter.
Everything about him was bigger and bolder than life, from his brooding good looks to his shocking bluntness, uncompromising South London accent, and enormous creative talent. Even now, in the process of shoving the second half of a bacon roll into his mouth, Lewis was the most compelling thing in the room.