Marry Me G. Hauser (the chimp paradox .TXT) 📖

spotted the

adorable chauffeur on his phone, texting while he waited.

Braxton exited his building and got a nice smile from Scott.

“We meet again.” Scott’s smile was Hollywood bright.

“We do.” Braxton did like the man, but Scott’s reputation for

being a slut and cad was worse than his. He sat in the back of the

limo and tried not to reach for the booze, letting the one shot of

tequila calm him.

“So, red carpet first, then head to the Ritz for the auction,

right?”

“Yes. I have to be at the auction ASAP, so please be waiting

for me around nine? Latest?”

“You can count on me, Braxton.” Scott caught his eyes in the

rear view mirror.

For one second Braxton thought about giving a relationship a

try with Scott, but the minute that idea hit his brain, he heard

Scott talking on his phone, hands free, “Hey, yeah. I’ll be done at around midnight. Can I stop by?”

Braxton sank in the seat and stared out of the window at the

passing cars.

~

“Hello, beautiful.” Fabian kissed Naomi on the cheek when

they met out in front of Jones’ Restaurant. “Look at you. You

always look like a fashion model.” Fabian admired her dark

complexion and braided weaves.

“You too! How can you be single in West Hollywood?

Fabian, you need to get out more.”

Fabian opened the restaurant door for her and they were hit

with the scent of garlic and roasted peppers. A waitress smiled at

them and said, “Just take any seat.”

Fabian gestured to a table by the wall and Naomi nodded

agreeably, sitting with her back to a large mirror in the dim

lighting. Seated across from her, Fabian gave her a nice smile,

glad to be out of the house and with someone he enjoyed. The

waitress brought them menus and Fabian leaned back and took it

from her.

“Would you care for a drink?”

“I’d love a glass of wine.” Naomi opened the menu. “How

about the house merlot?”

“Perfect.” The perky waitress gave Fabian her attention.

“I’ll have the Belgium white beer.”

“Coming right up. And our specials of the day are listed on

that board.”

“Gotcha.” Fabian smiled and the waitress skipped off as if

she either loved her job or was high.

Naomi scanned the menu quietly while Fabian wondered if he

should just get a job at a restaurant. Why deal with all the stress of one of these high-powered business firms.

“Want to share a pizza and a salad?” Naomi asked.

“I do. You choose. I like it all.” He closed the menu.

The waitress returned with their drinks and asked, “Need

more time?”

“No. How about the margherita pizza and the arugula and

fennel salad. We’re going to share it.”

“Perfect!” She took the menus and trotted off.

“Wow. She’s a happy camper.” Fabian sipped his beer.

“Why not? This seems like a nice place to work. Love the

food.” Naomi drank from her wine glass and tossed her long

braids behind her shoulder. “What’s going on with the job

hunting, Fabian? Any luck finding something permanent?”

“No. But I had another interview yesterday.”

“Oh?”

“At Braxton Todd’s PR firm.” He wrinkled his nose in

distaste.

“Ha. I love him!”

“Oh shut up.” He shook his head. “He’s a slut.”

“Come on. Don’t believe everything you read in those

tabloids. What was your opinion? Did he interview you or did

someone else?”

“He did.” Fabian stared at the purple color of Naomi’s long

fingernails for a moment then said, “It was all of five minutes of

bullshit, and I felt as if he was talking down to me. He asked me

if I could file. How demeaning.”

“Oh well.” She shrugged.

“I don’t know if I’d want to work for the guy even if I got

hired.” Fabian felt as if he were lying.

“Don’t think about it. There will be the right job out there.

Just be patient.”

Fabian nodded, but his patience was worn thin.

~

Tipsy on champagne from the red carpet affair, Braxton

slipped away from all the celebs who pretended to be an ‘elite

class’ and not normal people who put their pants on one leg at a

time. He worked for them, yes, but didn’t like many.

His face hurt from the plastic smile he had pasted on ever

since Scott dropped him off. Did he stay for the film? No. He

rarely did, hating sitting without a partner when everyone was

paired off two by two. But this time he had another commitment.

A few miles away he was dropped off at the Ritz Carlton and

hustled out of the limousine, not waiting for Scott to open the car door for him. He sprinted inside and looked for a sign of the

right direction to head. And he found one. An actual placard sign

listing the event, guiding him to one of the grand ballrooms.

Racing, always rushing against time, Braxton spotted the correct

room and peeked in. It was packed with enormous round tables,

people dining wearing glittering gowns and black ties, servers in

black and white and a stage set up with spotlights and a dais for

the auctioneer. A projection screen was behind the dais and

would obviously be used to show off the items that could not be

showcased there.

Braxton caught his breath, ran his hand through his hair to get

it out of his eyes as he tried to find Sophia. He didn’t want to be spotted yet, so he scanned the room and nabbed a server. “Can

you find Sophia Deluca, please? Tell her Braxton Todd is

looking for her.”

The young man’s face lit up and he said, “Yes, Mr Todd.

Wish I had the cash to bid on you.”

Braxton felt his face heat up horribly and tried to be humble

but he was so nervous he was getting sweaty instead.

The young man headed off and Braxton stood outside the

enormous hall, which contained at least two to three hundred

filthy rich guests dining under enormous crystal chandeliers. He

tried to calm down. He stuffed his hands in to his trouser pockets

and felt his phone vibrate.

He took it out and read a text from Sophia, ‘ Braxton, go

around left side of ballroom there is back door.’

He trotted down the long carpeted hall and tried a few doors

that were locked. One opened. It led to a private area behind the

hall where the servers and facilitators were gathering.

“I’m sorry. Am I late?” Braxton touched his bow tie.

“No, darling. You are fine. We are