I arrived in my office the following morning not feeling well at all. I hadn't gotten much sleep; spending most of the previous night trying to track down Victoria with no luck. I gathered she had checked into a hotel under a different name. I still had to go to work, so carrying a huge cup of coffee that probably wouldn't be enough to do the trick I sat down at my desk and got started. I got maybe a page into the episode when I once again hit my desk in frustration; it was beginning to become a habit. Why hadn't I given her the damn card? Why had I tried to keep her away from Stamp? Was it really for her benefit? Or was I being as selfish as she had accused me of being?
I left my office hoping to take a walk and clear my head. As I was walking through the lobby I ran into Stamp coming out of an elevator.
"Well well well; If it isn't the Emmy nominated writer of Eye Candy? How are you Duncan?" He asked me with an edge to his voice.
"I'm doing well Stamp. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here checking on my client of course." My heart dropped. Had Victoria found him last night and already signed on. That possibility quickly was flung out of the window as a different realization made its way in.
"Strong?"
"Yup he's all mine. And from the sounds of it so will your girlfriend very soon."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh she didn't tell you? How does it feel to be kept in the dark? Victoria didn't really appreciate it. I doubt you will either."
"Out with it Stamp." I felt my anger rising through my chest as he continued to stare at me with his huge grin and dead eyes.
"Well I'm meeting with her in a few minutes to sign all the papers. By the end of the day I will officially be her manager. Don't worry Duncan I'll take good care of her. You on the other hand might not be so lucky."
"No need to worry about me. I'll be fine."
"No you won't." He responded shaking his head.
"You got in my way. You tried to stop her from coming to me, which was not a smart move at all."
"I don't trust you. "
"Why is that Duncan?"
"Ariana. What the hell did you do to her?" He smirked looking incredibly pleased with himself.
"I did what I had to do to protect her career. She may be sad but one day she will thank me for it. As will Victoria, when I convince her to get rid of you."
"Don't you dare try to come between us!"
"I'll do whatever I damn well please. Whatever I find to be necessary." He looked over my shoulder and I turned around to see Victoria and Eric Strong laughing and talking together. "Then again, I may not have to do much. Go back to work Duncan. While you still have a job. Last I checked the guys upstairs weren't very enthused with your work. They say it lacks passion." With that he walked away towards Victoria and Eric. I followed close behind hoping to get a chance to talk to Victoria.
"V!" I shouted to her. She looked at me and the smile she had went away instantly the moment she did. She turned and stormed out of the building. While Eric smiled at me and shrugged his shoulders following her outside of the building.
I went back to my desk and sat down feeling utterly depressed. Things were getting out of hand way too quickly and I had no idea how to slow them down. I lay my head back against my chair and stared up at the ceiling. I closed my eyes hoping all of this would just go away. A knock at my door woke me up and I looked up to see Kiersay at my door. She looked great in a pair of tight jeans and a black top.
"You doing okay superstar?" She asked me. Concern on her face and in her voice.
"Not really. Everything is kind of crashing down around me right now." She made her way towards me around my desk and held me tightly against her chest. The hug was comforting and I allowed myself to just enjoy having a friend present. I held her tightly and took a deep breath of her scent. It calmed my nerves a bit, so when she asked me what was wrong I was able to let everything out. I told her about the network edging me out, Strong taking over and the whole sordid situation with Stamp. Kiersay listened without saying a word or passing judgement. She waited until I was finished before asking me.
"Why?"
"Why what?" I replied.
"Why did you not want her to sign with Stamp? That's not like you."