claimed he was, Laurent turned a blind eye.
After Laurent learned the truth about George’s embezzlement, he also realized
that the women’s stories must have also been true. He felt awful that he never
helped any of them, but by the time he found out, he tried to put as much
distance between him and George as possible. Still, Laurent was disgusted by
this man in front of him, and disgusted at himself for having been duped for so
long.
Laurent had enough of whatever this
ruse was, and was anxious to be rid of George, “George, I’m not sure what
misguided thoughts led you to believe that I would ever, in my right mind, do
business with you again. So let me be perfectly clear. I don’t care what you
threaten me with, I will never work with you again, I will never employ you
again, I will never be associated with you, in any capacity, ever again. The
thought of you running the French division of The Network is laughable. I know
you well enough, unfortunately, to know that there’s something else you’re
trying to get at, but I’m not sick and twisted like you, so I can’t figure out
what angle you’re playing. Yet.”
“Tsk, tsk, Laurent. Such a
cynic. Seems you’ve been crossed before, eh? Poor baby.” George could be such a
patronizing ass, but again, Laurent did not even flinch.
Laurent chuckled, “I guess you’re
right, at least about one thing, George. Yes, I am a cynic. But I prefer to
think that I’ve learned from my mistakes. It seems to me, that after all this
time, you’re still right back where you were when I fired you. Angry and alone,
and looking to ride my coattails, again.”
George became deadly serious. He
could dish it out, but he most definitely couldn’t take it. “Trust me, Laurent,
you would prefer to have me within the fold than not.”
Laurent laughed, “Trust, George?
Really? That’s rich coming from you. I’ll take my chances. I seem to have done
quite well without you.” Laurent paused and then said, “We’re done here.”
Putting his glass down and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Oh, I’m sure our paths will
cross again, Laurent. Until then.” He raised his glass to Laurent and drained
it in one last gulp before putting it down. He reached for the doorknob and
then turned back to toss one last sling, “Oh, and do give that adorable
girlfriend of yours a kiss goodbye for me. I was so looking forward to getting
to know her better.” He winked and then added, “Next time.” And with that, he
let himself out the door. Once it closed, it was all Laurent could do not to
hurl his glass at the door.
Laurent couldn’t immediately figure
out what George’s angle was, but he knew there was something far beneath the
surface. He would be back in LA soon enough and resolved to put all the
resources necessary to finding out. Laurent knew that he could handle whatever
it was that George was scheming, but the fact that Samantha was pulled into
this made him even more concerned. It also made Laurent vulnerable. He knew
that the simple fact that George had now seen Laurent twice with Samantha meant
that she was important to Laurent. She was a liability for Laurent when it came
to whatever game George was playing. He knew she was a weak spot that George
would seize upon when the time was right.
CHAPTER 7
When Laurent and Sam got back to LA,
there was a period of adjustment. They were back in the real world, with their
own respective lives and companies to run, but this time, they were a couple.
And not just a couple in private like before. They agreed there was no reason
to keep their relationship secret any longer. The Network was a success, the
campaign was award-winning, and, Sam realized, few people thought much about
how Sam and Laurent came to be together.
It was odd though. Great, but odd.
Sam had spent her entire adult life single. She had never been one part of a
couple. She had always just been Sam. Or Sam of Sam Davis Advertising. But now
she was
After Laurent learned the truth about George’s embezzlement, he also realized
that the women’s stories must have also been true. He felt awful that he never
helped any of them, but by the time he found out, he tried to put as much
distance between him and George as possible. Still, Laurent was disgusted by
this man in front of him, and disgusted at himself for having been duped for so
long.
Laurent had enough of whatever this
ruse was, and was anxious to be rid of George, “George, I’m not sure what
misguided thoughts led you to believe that I would ever, in my right mind, do
business with you again. So let me be perfectly clear. I don’t care what you
threaten me with, I will never work with you again, I will never employ you
again, I will never be associated with you, in any capacity, ever again. The
thought of you running the French division of The Network is laughable. I know
you well enough, unfortunately, to know that there’s something else you’re
trying to get at, but I’m not sick and twisted like you, so I can’t figure out
what angle you’re playing. Yet.”
“Tsk, tsk, Laurent. Such a
cynic. Seems you’ve been crossed before, eh? Poor baby.” George could be such a
patronizing ass, but again, Laurent did not even flinch.
Laurent chuckled, “I guess you’re
right, at least about one thing, George. Yes, I am a cynic. But I prefer to
think that I’ve learned from my mistakes. It seems to me, that after all this
time, you’re still right back where you were when I fired you. Angry and alone,
and looking to ride my coattails, again.”
George became deadly serious. He
could dish it out, but he most definitely couldn’t take it. “Trust me, Laurent,
you would prefer to have me within the fold than not.”
Laurent laughed, “Trust, George?
Really? That’s rich coming from you. I’ll take my chances. I seem to have done
quite well without you.” Laurent paused and then said, “We’re done here.”
Putting his glass down and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Oh, I’m sure our paths will
cross again, Laurent. Until then.” He raised his glass to Laurent and drained
it in one last gulp before putting it down. He reached for the doorknob and
then turned back to toss one last sling, “Oh, and do give that adorable
girlfriend of yours a kiss goodbye for me. I was so looking forward to getting
to know her better.” He winked and then added, “Next time.” And with that, he
let himself out the door. Once it closed, it was all Laurent could do not to
hurl his glass at the door.
Laurent couldn’t immediately figure
out what George’s angle was, but he knew there was something far beneath the
surface. He would be back in LA soon enough and resolved to put all the
resources necessary to finding out. Laurent knew that he could handle whatever
it was that George was scheming, but the fact that Samantha was pulled into
this made him even more concerned. It also made Laurent vulnerable. He knew
that the simple fact that George had now seen Laurent twice with Samantha meant
that she was important to Laurent. She was a liability for Laurent when it came
to whatever game George was playing. He knew she was a weak spot that George
would seize upon when the time was right.
CHAPTER 7
When Laurent and Sam got back to LA,
there was a period of adjustment. They were back in the real world, with their
own respective lives and companies to run, but this time, they were a couple.
And not just a couple in private like before. They agreed there was no reason
to keep their relationship secret any longer. The Network was a success, the
campaign was award-winning, and, Sam realized, few people thought much about
how Sam and Laurent came to be together.
It was odd though. Great, but odd.
Sam had spent her entire adult life single. She had never been one part of a
couple. She had always just been Sam. Or Sam of Sam Davis Advertising. But now
she was
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