The Publicist's Plight (Book I in The Harrison Inc. Series) | ✓

Chapter Three: It Isn't Stalking. It's Research

Garret isn't moving, nor am I. Instead, we stare at each other like we each have two heads. Only difference is, I'm the one who looks like a complete fool in reality, with coffee dripping from my mouth.

"I'm...sorry, Sir I'll...clean up this mess." I finally say. I can feel my face tingle, and I know that a blush is creeping up to light that will eventually be impossible to hide.

Garrett laughs as I quickly stand up. "Don't worry about it, Leslie. I'll call someone to clean this up."

Still chuckling, Garrett gets up and walks to his desk. He looks small in comparison with the giant piece of polished Italian wood in front of him and huge windows that stand behind him.

As Garrett picks up the phone on his desk, I finally take the chance to let his words travel through my mind completely. Without my espresso entirely in the way.

First and foremost, Garrett is retiring. Not only is he retiring, but I'm the only one who knows he is retiring, based on his technical enforcement upon me to vow secrecy of the heart wrenching announcement until Monday.

In a publicist's mind, this will be a nightmare, given all of the publicity that will come to surround Harrison inc. in the up and coming days after the announcement of retirement. But in my mind, as someone who is well aware of the unpopular and somewhat invisible puppeteers, the Board of Directors, who run this establishment along side Garrett, I can't seem to understand how, in God's graceful name someone such as Sebastian Harrison will convince the Board to let him take the chair.

Second and proceeding, there is no possible way Sebastian will get past the brick wall hence known as the Board of Directors. Sebastian, infamous party boy, tabloid king, and reckless heathen to society apparently can't even remember how many women he has slept with in the past month, which I find absolutely disgusting.

I have never met Sebastian. I have seen him on TV, most commonly E! or Extra or some entertainment based informational program. And every time I see him on my High Definition television screen, it isn't a favorable segment. Either he's caught partying on some yacht with two naked girls at his side, or passed out in the arms of his trademark entourage who finds it comical that their leader isn't even aware of what his name is.

Out of all of his siblings, one being a lawyer, another being a charitable saint to the world, and the last known as the "Poster Woman" for young upcoming mothers and current mothers with their abstruse lust to look smooth, slim, and unrealistically stunning, Sebastian is the only one who truly hasn't accomplished anything worth mentioning. At least with his older sister, Elizabeth, who happens to be pregnant, females in her position want to look as radiant as her by buying her body oils and comfortable clothing. Sebastian just serves as an example to pre pubescent boys who wish to intoxicate themselves and surround themselves with flocks of women, dismissing the fact that Sebastian is actually beyond rich enough to do these things without a steady, commendable occupation.

"I wholly expected this reaction, Ms. King." Garrett says amusingly. I look up during my deep analyzation and smile faintly.

Ignoring the small puddle of coffee on the ground, he sits back in his original spot on the couch and props his ankle on top of his bent knee again, a ritual only I have noticed he does every meeting or discussion.

"Mr. Harrison," I start, "with all due respect, I'm...very confused. You haven't told anyone else?"

"Well, on that part I have actually lied. I've informed the head of the Board. And you can guess how that resulted."

Christopher Reynolds, head of the Board of Directors, not to mention the most emotionless and accustomed member of the entire team. He has a tendency of openly criticizing my publicity methods, claiming that they "herd the public into a false representation of what Harrison Incorporated is." From that day forward I've made sure to steer clear of him, however Garrett doesn't have a choice.