Wrong move, buddy. My blood boils. I’m pissed. How dare he walk into my building and insult my wife?
But before I can do something foolish, Katie grabs my hand, pulling me to take a seat. “Bruce” is all she says, her voice calm and collected.
I take a deep breath. She’s right. There’s no point in losing my temper with a guy like Tom. I settle myself back into my seat, eyeing the movie star as he paces around the room like a caged animal. “Chill, bro.”
He stops and looks at me, his eyes narrowing. “I can do this damn job,” he rants. “It’ll be easy. I can be the spokesman for this damn oatmeal.” Tom points a finger at Katie, his hand shaking. “And who the hell are you to say otherwise?”
Oh, he’s pushing the limits now. I grind my teeth, losing my patience. Someone needs to knock some sense into this guy.
I’m about to stand up and kick Tom out of my office because he doesn’t deserve to be here. He’s just a privileged little bitch who throws a temper tantrum anytime someone tells him ‘no.’ Someone should really show him some manners.
My hands clench into fists, and I want nothing more than to drive them into that smug face of his, but before I can lose my cool, Katie places a hand on my arm. Her touch is enough.
I look at her, and she gives me a slight nod of the head.
“I’m the person in charge of picking the talent for our commercials, and you’re the actor who came here to interview for this job – uninvited, might I add. So you have no right to come here and demand anything.” Katie gets up, walks to the door, and props it open. “I think we’re done here.”
She waits expectantly, but he doesn’t budge. Tom stands there like a gaping fish. No doubt that was a low blow to his pride. The famous movie star reduced to begging for a job representing oatmeal. He’s really fallen down the totem pole.
“Please leave, Tom, or I’ll be forced to call security.”
With no other choice, he storms out of my office, mumbling furiously under his breath.
Katie lets the door close behind him.
I’m so proud of my wife. I walk up to her and wrap my arms around her, holding her tight. “Shit, you’re hot when you stay so fucking cool like that, baby,” I whisper into her ear, nibbling on it gently.
“I’d say that went well,” she giggles. “My first interview with a celebrity, and it’s none other than Tom Benning. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Honestly, I had no idea. He just showed up. Jesse wanted to kick him out.”
“I’m glad you asked him to stay. You don’t know how good it felt to bring that asshole down a couple of pegs.”
“I bet.” I gently kiss the side of her neck. “You did great.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” I take her cheeks into my hands, letting my thumb caress against her skin. “You’re a natural.”
“Well, I did learn from the best.”
“And yet, I was the one losing my cool.”
“You were just a husband trying to protect his wife. I appreciate it.” She gets on her tippy toes and kisses me.
I hold her close as we savor one another.
When we pull away, I sit us down on the couch. “Who would have thought? A grown ass man asking to be the spokesman for a kid’s oatmeal company. Do you think he even realized that the baby on the front of the box meant that the food was for children?”
Katie laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t think it’s worth wasting our time over some guy like Tom Benning. He doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together. They say it’s the heavy drinking actually – he can’t remember his lines, and as a result, he doesn’t get jobs anymore.”
“Holy shit, I had no idea. And to think, two years ago, you were in love with the guy.”
Katie gags. “Don’t remind me.”
I kiss her forehead and smile.
“No worries sweetheart. I won’t. I’m just glad that chapter is over and done with.”
She smiles sweetly.
“Anyway, there’s something in my office that I want you to see, Bruce. Come on.” She takes my hand and tows me across the hall to her office. It’s just about as big as mine but with a totally different aesthetic. While mine is clean cut and modern, hers is warm and inviting. The lighting is soft, the furniture is white, and artwork lines the walls. It’s a charming, feminine nook.
She pulls me over to her desk and then lets go of my hand.
I raise my eyebrows in question. “What is it that you want me to see?”
“Is there anything out of the ordinary?”
I look around, spotting something on the desk. I walk up to it, and to my surprise, it’s a pregnancy test placed on a paper towel. When I lean down to take a better look, I see the little pink plus sign. I laugh, pumping my fist in the air. “We’re expecting!”
