Just A Little Secret

Author's Note: This story is completely fictional and did not happen. All characters and names are fictional and were made up.

******************

Pacific Palisades, L.A.

Wheels turned forward on the big car as it slowed down hitting the road out of the driveway. The BMW was a dark shade of purple, cruising through the streets of L.A. on a Saturday afternoon. Mike sat behind the wheel driving himself out to meet a new friend of his that had invited him over to his beach side condo home. Life was good in times when you had something to kick back on and make good pay within the film industry. For Mike, this was leisure after an important side project had finally been put into work. Right now his car was on its way to hook up with a recent friend of his that he had met last month, Eric.

Mike had been involved in the film business ever since he was 16 years old. Cast as a teen in a soap opera show for his start, he moved his way up as he became older and from having a parent involved in production he managed to land a few roles as he became a young adult. His major break through came at age 23 in a big budget movie he was pushed in from a ruthless agent that forced a big pay day. One film that had been the work of a washed up director striking gold in the twilight of his career. Mike had been cast alongside a girl that would become a major Hollywood starlet in the future. His own career took a turn for the worst from moving out of the spotlight to focus on low budget, 'B' films for some years at a studio called Dream Attack.

Now none of that mattered as the man was pulling his car into the driveway of Eric's condo home. Mike had met Eric just a month back at a small party up town with a few friends. Eric came off as a wild man, a little bit older but full of life. How he was getting in his movies was something unknown, but with Mike having a bad past in recent films, he knew better than to judge. This was going to be a friendly get together for some drinks, at least according to Eric on the phone. Mike pulled his BMW right in the driveway next to a silver Mercedes Benz. Looking over the car as he stepped out and then went to walking to the front door before taking the slow knock. The door swung open seconds later to Eric's delighted face.

"Ah, right on time Mike! Come on in!"

Eric stepped back so Mike could make his entrance into the luxurious condo. His eyes wandered around marveling the beauty of the place. From the background could be heard some stomping noise coming forward and then Eric stepped forward walking him the way and then Mike spoke up.

"So, what's the score for tonight?"

"I'm going to take you out to this nice place I found up the road and we have some drinks as friends."

"How very kind..."

"I am a nice guy, right!?"

From that minute, a figure came down the stairs and now that stomping sound was made clear as it was none other than high heels and a voluptuous blonde haired woman turning to meet Mike's eye.

"Mike, this is Scarlett. I'm sure she needs no introduction..."

His eyes traveled up into the blue hues of the beautiful actress and then he took a step back. A flood of memories washed over his mind in that moment, as all Scarlett did was play things cool.

"Pleasure to meet you..."

"My name's Mike, the pleasure is mine too Scarlett."

She smiled at him, his eyes travelling up every curve of her black dress. She was dressed to kill in all black with a top exposing her heavy cleavage. Eric looked over at both of them and then pointed back upstairs.

"You two can wait on me, right? I have to go upstairs and fetch my jacket."

"It's going to be in the 70's, you really need a jacket, huh?"

"Yeah, I gotta look sharp in that place, look at you baby. You look absolutely stunning and I want to match that."

Scarlett laughed at him and then he took off to the stairs leaving the two behind. Scarlett watched him fade up the spiral staircase and then waited till she heard the bedroom door open before she said a word to Mike.

"Well, long time no see..."

"Yeah, I could tell you the same thing. What are you doing here with that clown?"

Scarlett walked back now, going towards the living room as she didn't want Eric upstairs to catch a peep of what they were about to talk about.

"Same thing you are doing, about to go have a drink with him. He thinks he's Mr. Big right now.."

"Well, having a bombshell like you in his bed, I can see why."

Her eyes looked up at Mike's and then she sighed.

"Don't flatter yourself honey...I know it's been a long time, I've missed you."

"Yeah, me too. The way I see it, we should be catching up on old times, forget him."

A smile curved over her lips from his words.

"If it's games you want to play Mike, you've found the right person."

Before he could respond, the sound of feet trotting down the stairs could be heard as Eric was coming down to rejoin them. The two looked away and turned to play down any kind of commotion between the two. Eric had put on his black suit jacket and now turned to Scarlett with a grin on his face.

"Come on, I'm ready to go out."

The two began to walk forward to the door as Mike followed behind them. Once they stepped outside, Eric turned to his new friend with a smile and nodded off to Scarlett.

"Let's take my new car, the Benz."

"Oh that thing, it's a real beauty. I was looking at it before I knocked on the door."

Mike walked to the back passenger door and opened it as Scarlett got in the front passenger side and Eric would be the one behind the wheel. When the doors closed they were ready for what would be a silent short ride to this bar down the road. In this time, Mike had all his thoughts and flashbacks to go over in his head with Scarlett. Why did she have to be here to haunt him? Little did he know that this was killing her inside at the same time, their past history together and knowing what almost was a romantic life with the two of them.

******************

2 HOURS LATER

The entourage of friends made their way into the bar earlier for a time of drinking. Time seemed to drift by rather quickly for one man that downed shot after shot of strong whiskey. The main focus tended to be between the stars that once nearly crossed in what still seemed like a short memory ago. It had been 7 years since Scarlett and Mike had been face to face and now it seemed like they were playing games with one another with small flirts. It didn't matter to Scarlett that she was on the arm of another man here, she knew a player when she first met them and Mike qualified as top class ages ago. Now it seemed he was more experience, though was chasing after lost memories with this coincidence of a meeting.

Mike found his eyes traveling over Scarlett from the table as he looked her over with a sense of concern. She returned the view with a smile. All the small talk so far tonight had been meaningless, all the while Eric took the advantage of being out to trash himself with as many shots as he could handle. Now the close drunken man looked over his new friend and smiled like a shark as he spoke up to noticing impression that Mike and Scarlett appeared to have for one another.

"You two know each other?"

Scarlett smirked and responded before Mike had a chance to shoot his mouth off.

"No. He's simply fascinated sitting at a table with an actress such as me, and having drinks with the two of us."

Eric chuckled now, turning to his date as Scarlett caught his eyes and he leaned over to kiss her lips softly. Inhaling his vodka flavored breath, she made sure that his eyes were closed before she looked over at Mike and gave him a wink. The clear indication that he was playing the game right for another chance to speak. Just all that the man needed to drive him crazy over this woman. Breaking the kiss, Eric went for his glass and then noticed it was empty.

"I'll be...didn't I just order another glass?"

"Yeah, and you drank it down. That was your fourth, so far."

Quirking an eyebrow, Scarlett looked at her man and smirked in a seductive way teasing him. All he could do was smirk back, and then she popped the question that had to be on his mind.

"Want another?"

"Fuck yeah I want one more! What else could it hurt?"

Scarlett laughing at him, and then waved her hand for the waiter that was walking behind their table. Grabbing his attention as he walked over, she went to ordering another round.

"Hey, he wants another shot."

"Nah, it's a waste making you have to bring shot after shot over here. Just bring me a fucking bottle of Hennessy, that's what I want."

The waiter looked at Eric suspicious now, it wasn't an every night request like this for the bottle straight up.

"Sir, you sure you can handle it? That will be $230 for the whole bottle."

"Put it on my tab, I got this."

Eric turned his head as did Scarlett at the surprise from Mike. Both of them shocked before Eric's small disbelief began to form into a shark smile.

"You heard my buddy over here! That's my man! A whole bottle of Hennessy just for me!"

Scarlett looked over at Mike now, as she was sure that this move of his was playing right into the game that she had been laying on him all night so far. She wasn't sure at first if her subtle approach would feed into his temptation of pure lust over her, but she knew something was eating at him right now. She gave him a seductive smile now, preying right onto his soul to know what he was up against as he had finally shuffled his cards into her play now.

"So, Mike...I have to thank you for the free bottle. You need to remind me later, cause I owe you for this one."

"Don't worry about it, favor to you as a new buddy."

"I like that Mike, no one is usually that nice to me. Makes me wonder what you're going to ask for later on."

"I said it was a favor to you, I don't want you to have to give me nothing later on."

"I like this guy, Scarlett. He's real classy."

In that moment, the waiter came over with the tray holding that big brown colored bottle of Hennessy that Eric so desperately desired. Mike grabbed his wallet out of the inside pocket of his jacket and threw down two hundred dollar bills and then three ten dollar ones to add it up. The waiter took it and then gave him the nod up front, and now Mike was cradling his new baby, and Scarlett spoke up.

"Eric, how about we go back to the condo and have these shots in privacy? I think I want to be alone with you..."

Looking over at Mike she finished now.

"And to celebrate our new friend here, Mike for coming along."

Eric looked at Scarlett and nodded, and then back at Mike before repeating the notion.

"Alright, I like the sound of that baby. And you Mike, you deserve a shot for you."

In that instance, he unscrewed the top of the Hennessy bottle and looked over at the other man and went to pouring into the glass until it filled the rim.

"This one is on you!"

In a quick instance, he put the glass to his lips and then drank it down slowly. While his head was arched back and he was swallowing the strong alcohol, Scarlett looked at Mike and nodded her head. He gave a small smile back to her, and she read that note very clear. Turning her attention to Eric now, she giggled.

"Baby, you are an animal with that bottle! I love it!"

Eric sat the glass down and then looked over at his lover and grinned big.

"Oh yeah, I'm an animal with this huh? You'll be calling me an animal over something else real soon."

Getting up, Mike patted Eric on the shoulder now and laughed.

"Come on, I'll drive you back home."

The two followed behind Mike now, getting up. Eric was almost stone cold drunk, but Scarlett had his hand and screwed the top back on the bottle before carrying him out by the arm. With Mike leading the way, they brushed through the emptying line that was going in and out of the front door and then made their steps out. The sunlight outside had shifted from the bright baby blue, all the way to a fading orange in the sky. Time had went by back there, and now Scarlett realized the evening hours were soaking in. Mike led them back to the Lexus, and now it was check out time.

"Hey Eric, you got the keys right?"

"Yeah, I think so...just hold on a minute, I think I'm a little slow right now. I know I put them somewhere."

Reaching into his pocket of his pants and digging around slowly, Mike just rolled his eyes as the presentation of a drunk man was made very clear. Scarlett just nodded her head somewhat annoyed when he finally brought them out of his pocket and dangled them up grinning like a stubborn fool as he wobbled around a bit.

"This is what you want, Mike? The keys?"

"Yeah, that's what I wanted."

Snatching the keys out of his hand, caused Eric to laugh childishly, as now Mike was moving to the driver's side as he pressed the button to unlock the car for them.

"You and Scarlett can get in the back. Short trip back to your place, I remember the road."

"No, she can sit in the back. You my new buddy, Mike. I want to sit up front with you."

Mike looked over at Scarlett and then back at Eric to confirm his request.

"You sure, you want to sit up front with me? I mean, I don't mind either way."

"Yeah! Why not? You and me are buddies now! I want to ride up front with my new boy!"

In that moment, Scarlett would have frowned if this was any other man but all she could do was look back at Mike with a big smile on her face. It got her out of having to deal with the drunk idiot slobbering all over her in the back of the car. The way Eric walked out of the bar to begin with, was a clear indication that that the first shot he drank that came straight out of the bottle, would be his last for the entire evening. Mike looked back at her and nodded, and then back to Eric now as he walked back over and opened the passenger door for him.

"Very well, come sit up front with me then buddy!"

"Yeah! You and me, one of these days, we'll be knocking over this town after doing work or some shit, fuck I don't know what I want to do anymore."

The intoxicated man slowly climbed into the passenger side, while Scarlett watched him, making sure he got his clumsy body into the car. With the keys in his hand, Mike went and climbed into the driver's seat and once Eric was put in all the way, Scarlett closed the door and then got in the back seat behind Eric, right as Mike revved up the Lexus to go.

"Vroom! Vroom! I'm a fucking car!"

Scarlett cut up giggling as Eric's wrecked words were sounding more and more incoherent. Mike paid it no attention as he pulled the car out from the parking space and was moving to hit the road now. Eric was slumping over in the seat, resting his head up against the window, as the rest of the drive looked to shift back to a silent pulse if not for the breathing of the three bodies in the vehicle. Outside the window, Scarlett got to view the beach side as the sky kept shifting it's orange colors down darker and the sun was sinking low. She took the silent ride as a way to think back over the situation. The lust between her and Mike so far tonight had reignited old flames. She had anticipated their reunion meeting for all week, and it had come as a surprise to him. She wasn't about to blow this opportunity this time, and the way he had played his cards right, feeding Eric out of the way into a wasted mess, was all the better. Time swept by in those thoughts, and before she knew it, the car was pulling right back into the driveway and coming to a stop.

"Where the fuck am I at!? Damn! I thought I thought i was in some slow car, going to fucking China or something."

Mike spoke up, getting Eric's attention back.

"You're home, buddy...remember? You wanted to come home and finish those shots?"

"Oh yeah! Shots! My big bottle of Hennessy! Wooo! Come on Mike, let's drink this thing down."

"Don't forget about me, honey..."

"Oh no, I could never forget about you Scarlett."

She laughed as she teased him, getting out of the car, and then helping him out of the passenger's seat. Mike got out of the driver's side, and then Scarlett turned over to Eric, putting her hand on his arm.

"Do you think you can make it inside baby?"

"Fuck yeah I can make it inside! Watch me run baby! I can run like a fucking marathon right now!"

Mike went twitching the keys to find the house key, remembering it was the big one with the E letter on it, as he spoke up.

"Wait! Wait! I gotta unlock the door before you run in like like a track athlete."

Scarlett giggled at how the whole situation had evolved. Before she knew it, Mike had raced to the door to beat Eric, and then was unlocking it. Once the door swung open, Eric ran in stumbling, still clutching that Hennessy bottle. Once in, he threw his hands up and shouted.

"Yeah! I'm home now! Let's get some shot glasses and finish this bad boy down, all for you Mike!"

Turning over to Mike, the man sighed and shook his head.

"Where's your bathroom at?"

Scarlett keyed in behind them and then spoke up.

"Down the hall, to the left."

"Thank you."

Looking over at Mike, she gave him a nod, giving a silent message that she'd soon take care of Eric. It was a wonder Eric didn't pass out in the car, but here he was. Mike took off down the hall and to the bathroom, she heard the door open, and then she pointed upstairs to Eric, and jumped up in her heels, causing them to stomp loudly on the floor.

"Baby, let's go upstairs! The shot glasses are in the bedroom!"

"Oh they are? I couldn't remember...help me up the staircase baby? God you're gorgeous tonight."

Taking his hand, she moved the hammered man out and went to walking him up the staircase that was right outside the living room. Eric stumbled, and slumped over the staircase once, but with her efforts of pushing on him, he would get back to moving his feet forward and beyond as he slugged his way up. The staircase was short, and led up to the lone bedroom. The long walk came to a halt as Scarlett opened the bedroom door, and stepped back as Eric tripped on in, falling down to his knees.

"Oh shit! I fell down!"

Scarlett quickly turned on the light and then came up behind him and took his hand, trying to help him up, but he seemed down for the count. Sighing, she let go of his hand and watched his body reel over to the left before falling over. She snagged for his arm a second time and watched it fall down once more, just to make sure that she was correct in her conclusion. He staggered a bit and she looked down at him before officially declaring in her mind that he was trashed and done for the night. Looking up from her position, she turned around and went for the door knob, when she could hear the sounds of foot steps coming up the stairs, Mike was out of the bathroom. Meeting Scarlett in the door way, he looked down to see the wrecked body of Eric and then back up his eyes met the busty blonde A list star. Scarlett gave him a smile and stepped forward, speaking.

"He's out for the night. Now it's just you and I, nothing else between us."

Turning out the light with her left hand hitting the switch on the wall, she grabbed the door knob behind her and looked up into Mike's eyes as she quietly closed the bedroom door behind them, locking Eric in the room as a seductive smile formed on her face. Now the tables had been set with just her and Mike and the final moves of the night. Mike breathed in, as he studied her big blue eyes, and then reminded her.

"Yep now it's all me."

"Mmmmhhhmmmm"

Taking his hand, she went to walking him down the stairs now, as the two came down. Her heels clicking and clacking all the way down as she spoke up once more walking Mike out of the hall and to the living room.

"So what are you doing here again, Mike?"