I looked at the faces of my friends seated at the table around me. There was everything that I had expected to find. Disappointment, anger and sadness. Mark met my gaze and held it. A quick nod from him letting me know he was behind me and I had his support. Marty shook his head keeping his gaze fixed on the table. Maiara was quiet, her hand firmly grasping Mark's.
"Duncan, you can't do this." Brad said killing the silence. "You can't quit. You can't stop."
"Brad.." Mark said looking at him. "We don't have much of a choice."
"There's always a choice." Brad continued. "I know i'm not as locked into this world as you guys are. But in the restaurant, whenever I tell people I know you guys, their demeanor changes right away. They all admire the work you have put in and all you've done for this town." He took a beat to make sure that our eyes met. "If someone as obtuse about the ways of Hollywood as I am can see that, you know that you've done something special."
"What would you have me do?" I asked him feeling a lump in my throat. I never knew Brad felt this way and I couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
"Endure." He answered. His hand in a tight fist against the table. "It was always going to get worst before it got better. Change never comes easy and it never comes without a cost."
"Brad, how would you feel if it were you?" Marty finally spoke up. "If someone had intimate pictures or knowledge about you? About your family? What would you do?"
"I don't know." Brad answered after a beat. "But I do know, that you guys are fighting for something really important. There's bound to be people who are going to get hurt in the process. Our restaurant was blown up, with us almost inside it. If it wasn't for Duncan... " He took a beat. The memories of that awful night coming back to haunt us all. "We lost everything that night. But when we were called to help, we did what we could."
"That was your choice Brad." Mark chimed in. "We can't make that choice for them." Brad nodded realizing that it was a lost cause.
"I'm sorry Brad. I already called in a press conference for tomorrow." I revealed to everyone. "To stop this any other way, I would have to become someone i'm not." Everyone took a beat. Brad and Cindy were the first to rise to leave.
"We'll be there. At the press conference." Brad told me when he had reached the door. "By your side as always." I nodded to my friend who gave me a brief smile before leaving. Mark, Maiara and Connor were next. Maiara gave me a kiss on the cheek. Mark a solid pat on the back. Marty and I were left in the conference room, both of us leaning back against our chairs.
"What now?" Marty asked looking at the ceiling.
"This." I told him as I slid a plane ticket across the table.
"What?" He said seeming confused as he picked it up and looked at the destination. "Duncan!"
"Marty, enough." I told him as I stood from my chair. "We're losing In Talent. Makes you realize what's important in life. Go get her. No more fear." We looked at each other and he nodded. He stood and hugged me.
"Thank you!" He said before rushing for the elevator. Surprisingly it opened before he had even reached the button. Sasha Grey walked out wearing a pair of tight blue jeans and a black top. She was dressed simply but still looked sexy. Marty took a beat to say hello to her, before riding the elevator back downstairs. As the doors shut, I noticed him clearly taking in the sight of Sasha's ass as she walked towards me.
"Sasha what are you doing here?" I asked her as she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.
"Oh I finished the changes on my novel and thought I should bring em over." She said proudly removing the pages from her purse. I held the hefty pages and felt a sadness at the realization that I couldn't go any further with it.
"Sasha, I'm sorry. But I don't think i'll be able to help you any further." I said trying to avoid her gaze.
"Why not? Are you dropping me as a client?" She asked not sure if I was joking or not.
"We, huh, we have to close the agency." I finally admitted to her.
"Because of the leaks?" She asked and I nodded. "I'm so sorry." She said as she pulled me in for a tight hug. I closed my eyes and chose to simply enjoy the human contact and the warmth of Sasha's skin. "Are you okay?" She asked holding me tighter.
"I really don't know how to answer that question." I told her. "Losing this place, everything we've worked for, hurts beyond belief. I know it's the right thing to do. But it's also the last thing I want to do."
"I know." Sasha said simply holding me. She looked up at me, the same sadness I felt was easily mirrored in her eyes. "Come with me. I want to show you something." Sasha held my hand and led me towards the elevator. "Follow me to my place okay?" She asked me when we had reached the garage. She headed for her car and I grabbed my bike.
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