Page 10 of Sawyer
“What happened?”I want all the details and open my laptop to do a search online for the latest Hollywood gossip.He’s often featured, so much so, I pay little attention anymore.
“I had my security team with me, thankfully.They were helping me inside with my bags and things because I had been in Cabo…”
I look at my screen and see photos of him and some model getting handsy on a beach, and I scrub my face.
“We heard a noise, went to investigate, and there was a woman in my bed.Police were called, and security took her away.”
“What did Bobby say?”I grit my teeth, hating his agent, Bobby, who, in my opinion, is a thieving asshole.He takes too high of a percentage from my brother at every opportunity.But he spotted Sutton first, and they have a long relationship.
“Told me it was great press and to forget about it.So I hired more security, and now they always walk me inside and do a sweep of the house before they leave.”
“Good.Safety first and always, okay?”I tell him like he’s ten and walking to school by himself for the first time, instead of being the global movie star he is.
“What’ve you got lined up next?Do you still promote things on your socials?You know, products and things?”Sutton is always jumping from one movie set to another.Being a workaholic is a trait we both have taken on.The fear of having nothing and the need to make something of ourselves burns deep within us both after being raised scraping by for everything we had.
“Not really, unless it’s big.I’m working with a clothing brand at the moment, so I’m sponsored to do a bit for them.Why?”
“A friend of mine has a soap business they’re trying to get off the ground.Had some success locally, and now they’re wanting to move to a more national distribution.Since they’re trying to get some traction, just thinking I'll send you some.”I act nonplussed about it, but the opportunity is swelling in my stomach at having my brother play a part in promoting Gertie’s Soaps.
“Who is she?”he asks abruptly.
“What?”I pretend I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“You’ve never asked me to promote anything before.Not even your own business.Not even Whiteman’s Whiskey, which I’m still hoping to be the face of for some commercials so put a word in.But the last time you asked me for anything, Sawyer, was in eighth grade when you had that crush on Becca Langer and you wanted me to organize a playdate with her brother so you could walk me over to her place and see her out of school.Which I did by the way.So, who is she?”
“No one,” I say quickly, sipping the remainder of my coffee.
“So there is someone,” he teases, and I try not to huff.
“No.You’re being stupid.”Our conversation’s turning less professional and more like teenagers squabbling.
“Does it have anything to do with you falling in cow shit the other day?Being at a farm is yet another thing you’d never do, and yet there you were.In Whispers, meeting the townspeople.On their farms!”he says like he has agotchamoment.
“Can I send you some soap or not?”My shoulders feel tight, my brother’s teasing grinding my gears, yet I can’t help smiling.
“Sure.I’ll lather up my naked body in your girlfriend's soap.Want me to take a picture with all the suds on me?Maybe she would like to see it.I work hard on my six-pack; I should show it off…”
My jaw clenches.Clearly, I didn’t think this through.
“You’re an asshole.”He laughs, taking great delight in this conversation.
“Yeah, and you have a crush.About time.It’s been years since Mandy, and all those city girls aren’t really your style.Maybe this country girl could be just what you need.”
I think about his words.Mandy, my former fiancée.The one who left me the minute things got hard.
“It’s just soap, Sutton.That’s it.”
“Fine.You go live on denial island.I’m going for a workout.Gotta have those abs popping when I soap up.See you, bro.”He ends the call, not giving me a chance of rebuttal.
As I toss my cell onto my desk, there’s a knock at my door.
“Connor’s here,” Wendy announces, and I stand just as Connor walks in.
“Connor, hey.”Blowing out a breath, I try to get my head back in the game as we shake hands.
“Sawyer, I called the local office, and Jerry said you were back in the city.Thought I’d drop by, go over a few things with you before lunch.”
It isn’t unusual.My door is always open to him, and as we take a seat on my lounge, I wonder what he wants to discuss.
