Deals Between Billionaires

Chapter 7: Nightcap

As the reporters beg the couple for more answers, Tony leans closer to Laurel's face. He whispers, “Let's go back to my place."

“Okay," She agrees.

Tony calls over their security, he instructs them to clear a path to his Range Rover.

The reporters shove their camera equipment and microphones in Laurel and Tony's faces. Security pushes past them with ease. On the way out, Laurel walks past Joana. Joana hands Laurel her beloved Jacquard Coach tote.

“I will call you; I promise!" Laurel yells to Joana over the commotion.

“You'd better!" Joana yells back.

Grateful for Joana's understanding nature, Laurel blows her a kiss as she walks away.

Laurel and Tony leave PWI HQ behind their security, as they try to pave a way to the parking lot to Tony's SUV. Rick follows them.

“I need to speak to you, BOTH of you!" Rick says through gritted teeth. He tries to keep a smile, in front of the cameras. “Ay Dios."

Laurel and Tony couldn't hear him through the camera clicks and the reporters asking for further comments.

“This is a nightmare," Laurel says, struggling to carry her tote, avoiding other people's feet. “Tony, I just bought these shoes…" She whines.

“Laurie, just try to keep up," Tony tells her.

“Hey!" Rick grabs a hold of Laurel's bag. Her grip is tight, so she doesn't let go. Laurel turns around frantically but calms down when she sees it's Rick.

“Daddy let go! You are going to break the strap!" Laurel whines.

“As if a purse strap is on my list of concerns! I need to speak with both of you. Now." Rick demands.

Laurel stops midway to Tony's SUV. “Seriously? Now you wish to speak?"

“After what you did in there? Yes, Laurel, I wish to speak now. What the hell was that?"

Laurel's abrupt change in direction yanks Tony out of focus, as they were holding hands. Tony approaches Rick.

“Señor Dominguez, this may not be the best place to talk," Tony says.

“And I suppose up there was? Engagement aside, you two in love be damned! Tony, did you truly believe that what you both did up there was wise? Think about the company?!" Rick says in a frustrated whisper.

Security forms a protective circle around the three. One of the guards smacks away a microphone from a boom operator.

“Señor Dominguez, please! Confrontation in the middle of the parking lot will not look better," Tony looks around at the camera flashes and the stray microphones. “Come with me and Laurel. We're headed back to my house to discuss what happened."

“Must we discuss it?" Laurel questions.

“Yes." Tony answers her.

“I am not going anywhere with you, because you both are coming back inside to discuss this," Rick argues.

“Please, with all due respect señor, we can't go back in there. We'll only give the media more ammunition against us." Tony whispers back to Rick.

Rick tuts, holding the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “I see. Tony, I will have Lottie—Charlotte, email you the new estimates and calculations. Both of you, however, can have the rest of the week off. I do not wish to see you in my building." Rick says resentfully.

“Oh, how gracious, Daddy. Perhaps if we spoke sooner, this could have been avoided!" Laurel says to Rick.

“Laurie!" Tony turns to Laurel. His expression softens. “I know, but not here. Not now."

Laurel glares at her father before turning around. She asks Tony, “Can I have the keys?"

Tony nods to her request and hands her the keys to his Range Rover.

Laurel nods back and nudges one of the security guards. “You are with me. Please take me to Tony's car." Laurel looks back at Rick once more before walking away.

***

Laurel wrings the rest of the water out of her hair. She wraps her hair in a towel and proceeds to apply lotion to her body. She doesn't see herself in the foggy mirror.

There's a knock on the bathroom door, followed by soft scratches.

Laurel hears Tony asking Tuna, his cat, to stop clawing at the door. “Laurie, pizza's ready." He says.

“Okay!" She says through the door. Laurel throws on her old tennis shorts and one of Tony's old shirts. Despite being old, the shirt practically drapes over her.

Laurel leaves the bathroom and turns on the fan. She scoops up Tuna and makes her way to the kitchen. She stretches with her left arm and yawns.

The aroma of pan-made pizza fills her nostrils and the sight of Tony pouring two glasses of wine makes Laurel realize, she's not that tired anymore.

“Heaven sent," Laurel says.

“Have a seat, but don't try to be greedy and take a piece. I just got it out of the oven," Tony says, putting the cork back in the bottle of wine.

Laurel sits down at the dining room table, staring at the pizza. She sets Tuna on the ground beside her. In response, Tuna meows relentlessly, until Laurel picks him up again and holds him in her lap.

“We need to talk about today," Tony says, his voice is serious.

Laurel rolls her eyes. “Can it at least wait until after we eat?"

“No, because I know you. You'll get full from three slices and go right to sleep. Let's give the pizza a chance to cool down." Tony sits down and crosses his arms.

“Fine. What do you want to talk about?" Laurel says.

“Where to start? Probably with your dad's rage towards both of us?"

“More so I, than you."

“Or the fact that you announced our relationship to the public without talking to me first! Or the media frenzy about our wedding that we don't even know the details about!" Tony sarcastically adds, “And I'm sure Señor Dominguez is just ecstatic about you announcing his retirement."

“As I recall, you gave the media some words too. I did not ask you to do that." Laurel comments.

“I wasn't just gonna let Felix walk all over you!"

Laurel smiles, “It was sexy if you ask me. What woman doesn't want a man that stands up for her? Nice move."

Tony coughs and clears his throat. “It wasn't a 'move' Laurie, it was instinct."

“Even better." Laurel's voice is soft, her smile doesn't fade.

“I—okay, look." He sighs. “You should have told me. In the hallway, when I asked if you still wanted to do this. You should have told me right then and there what you were planning."

“Dios Tony, it was not planned. I acted on instinct too." Laurel lies. She knows she acted out of anger, but she doesn't want Tony to get more frustrated than he already is. “It was embarrassing, what Daddy wanted me to read."

“You should have sent me a text, an email, hell, my fax machine works too! Laurie if we're doing this, we need transparency. No secrets, no tricks. Now Señor Dominguez is mad at me because I kept our engagement from him, didn't ask for his blessing. He thinks we planned to overthrow the press conference together, et cetera." Tony sips his wine. “What a f*****g disaster."

“What did he say to you?" Laurel asks.

“You were there." He answers.

Laurel drinks her wine. “After I went to the car Tony, I know he spoke to you. What did he say?"

“He told me to keep a close eye on you." He answers.

“That was all?"

“Yeah, that's all."

Laurel nods, rubbing Tuna. “Are we okay? Are you angry with me, Tony?" She asks.

He shakes his head. “Luckily for you, I can never be. But I'm serious. Talk things over with me! I haven't even spoken to my lawyer since we drew up the contract draft and wedding conditions. I still need to finalize everything, draw up agreements, and then there's planning the wedding itself—"

“I understand. But Tony, do not worry about the last part. You must let me be a bridezilla. Mama has been waiting for this moment." Laurel says, stars in her eyes.

“Laurie." Tony says.

“Okay, okay. And from now on, I will tell you everything. I promise." She says, genuinely.

“What are we going to tell Señor Dominguez next week?" Tony asks.

“About what?"

“The press conference, our 'love life,' and you throwing Señor Dominguez under the bus."

Laurel only shrugs. “I will think of something. I have this under control."

“We're a team now. See, you forgot that quickly."

“I did not forget, but you know how Daddy is. Ah, how about we get the story straight about our romance? How we fell in love, our first date, those sorts of things. He and mi mama would certainly love to know."

Tony blushes.

Laurel capitalizes on this immediately. She says, “Certainly you are not squeamish to these sorts of things? 'Mr. Top Ten Bachelors of 2021?' As I recall, you were number three." Laurel references the spread by Ebony Magazine that was published last year. Tony was making an appearance in the Forbes List, and gained popularity almost everywhere else as a result. Exquisite Essentials gained much attention because of it, too.

“If only you could feel how hard I'm cringing right now." He says.

“I bet you still have a copy of it in here somewhere." Laurel teases.

“If you want to tear my house apart looking for it, go ahead. In the meantime, I'm gonna start eating." He says.

On that note, Laurel places Tuna in the chair beside her, and goes to wash her hands. She returns, and there are already three slices of pizza on her plate.

Laurel digs in. After the events of today, famished wasn't even close to how she felt. Halfway through her last slice of pizza, she stops and asks, “When did we fall in love?"

The question made Tony cough on his slice. “We really don't have to talk about this tonight. I'm full and I know you're getting there too." He says. Tony had already cleaned his plate.

“Okay. Well, I want to get some facts straight tonight."

“Okay," Tony finishes what little wine he has left in his glass. “I can tell Rick, that I've always had a crush on you, ever since we met. Even when you went away to Stanford, I waited for you to come back. While we worked together, the feelings only got stronger, and for you, they steadily developed. After a couple of work dinners and a business trip, the one to Dubai, you remember…"

“I remember," Laurel says. She remembers the trip bittersweetly. Even though the trip to Dubai was the trip that acquired one of Paper Weight's most important clients, Laurel couldn't get the limited edition jeweled heeled sandals. The sandals were supposed to be part of her deal-making outfit. She had to wear something entirely different. “I remember indeed."

Tony continues, “Well, after that trip, we got closer. And things weren't as simple as flirtatious gestures around the office that no one noticed. We became more, and I asked you to be my girlfriend."

Laurel leans back in her chair, impressed. Tuna also takes that opportunity to leap back onto Laurel's lap. “You have it all figured out, impressive!" She says, grinning. “It sounds so romantic too."

Tony smiles back at Laurel. “I gave it some thought too," he says quickly.

Satisfied, Laurel says, “I'm tired."

He chuckles, “I know."

“I think Tuna and I are going to lay down."

“Should I drag Tuna's litter box in there?"

“He should be fine. I will just leave my door open, should he have to urinate or something." Laurel stands. She winks at Tony. “Get some sleep, Mister Bachelor."

“Oh my God, I was third!" He says, laughing, then yawning.

“You are first in my opinion, Tony. Buenos noches." Laurel smiles at him before walking away.

“G'night Laurie."