Devotion

1 - Nathan Knight

Covent Garden was heaving, I followed quietly behind my security guard, Oliver, who pushed himself through the throngs of people with ease. Without even looking down at my watch I knew I was late. I also knew that when I did arrive at the Ivy Grill I would be greeted by the extremely disappointed face of my agent, Marie.

“Oh my god! Is that Nathan Knight?!” The excited chattering from a cluster of young women disrupted my thoughts. I flashed my practised smile, giving the group a wave as I slowed my walk.

Oliver stopped walking ahead of me, surveying the group as if they had weapons hidden under their shirts. The girls darted across the street, dodging between the other adults who couldn't care less about who I was. I raised my hand again, gesturing Oliver to step back as he moved to intercept the group.

“It's fine, Oliver,” I assured the man. He had been my security for as long as I could remember but sometimes, he worried too much, and he always disagreed with my need to stop and greet everyone who calls my name.

“Hello there,” I greeted once the four young women finally stopped in front of me. They seemed around nineteen years old, all dressed up for an expensive restaurant was my guess.

“Hi, oh my god, can we get a picture?” The dark-haired girl was the first to speak, her friends seemingly shell shocked at the interaction.

I chuckled softly, I knew the drill and Danielle always told me that laughing around fans was good for my image, made me seem more approachable apparently. I nodded my head in confirmation to the young girls and three phones were quickly thrust in my direction. Taking a bright pink phone from the first girl and switched the camera to selfie mode and draped my arm around her shoulder. I could feel her shaking when she leant again me but I didn’t comment. I never really understood the way my followers got so worked up when meeting me, I was just another person on the silver screen.

“Are you alright, love?” I asked the shortest of the three girls. She stood quietly to the side, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears and waiting for her friends to get their photos first. She looked to be on the verge of tears as she held her phone out to me.

“That’s Annie, she’s shy and gets overwhelmed easily. She loves you, followed you for the past three years!” The dark-haired one spoke, practically bouncing on the spot.

I could see Oliver move into my peripheral vision, tapping his watch in the subtle way we had perfected over the years. Stepping forward, I placed my arm gently around Annie, holding the phone out in front of us.

“Smile, love. You’ll look back at this moment in ten years and wonder why you got to stressed out to see that one bloke of the television.” I snapped the picture when she laughed at my joke, before stepping back.

“It’s been lovely to see you ladies but I’ve dash. I’m late for a meeting and I can see Oliver looking a little impatient.” I joked, nodding my head towards my brooding security once more.

The dark-haired girl spoke once more. “Thank you so much for stopping to talk to us, I can’t wait for your new film to come out! It’s going to be so good!”

I smiled, thanking them for being so polite, before turning to continue my trek to the Ivy Grill. Oliver fell into step beside me, his large build and harsh glare clearing the path for us once more. I was also hoping this new film was going to be good, I needed a big hit to get me in the running for the British Film Awards this year. Marie was insistent that this would be our year, especially if I was on-board with this film. Adam Jeffery had won Best Breakthrough Director last year and according to the media, he wasn’t going to be a one-hit-wonder.

Oliver held the door to the restaurant open as I stepped inside. I could see Marie sitting in our usual corner, paperwork scattered across the once empty table. Taking off my jacket, I draped it over the back of my chair, watching Oliver slide into a chair of his own at the table opposite.

“You’re late.”

Sighing, I rested my palms on the table and glanced up at the woman who had run my life ever since I could remember. I loved Marie, I did, she had been there to help fix any mess I’d ever made as a wild and rowdy teen. Despite my father being mostly absent after mum died, Marie had never taken on a parental role for me. If anything, she was more like the aunt that you’d go to if you did something stupid but couldn’t tell your parents.

“I’m sorry,” I began. “I know I’m late. I stopped for some fans on the walk over here. Took some pictures, had a chat, that sort of thing. I didn’t think you’d mind waiting since it would be rude of me to ignore them when they’re literally running towards me.” I knew if I played the ‘publicity’ card she wouldn’t chew my ear off quite as much. Marie was all about the good press, which is probably why she was so good at her job.

“I understand that Nathaniel but you can’t get into the habit of arriving late, you need to learn how to move away from fans in a polite manner. What if this was an interview? That would be extremely bad press if you had shown up twenty minutes late.”

I nodded, “I know, I’m sorry I-“ My words falling short as the waitress approached the table to take our orders. Taking a deep breath once she’d left, I asked: “What was so urgent that we needed to meet today, anyway?”

Marie new not to arrange anything for Tuesdays, I always kept today free for myself. If there was one thing I learnt, being in the business from a young age, it’s that you should always allow for time to yourself. The hectic world of meetings, interviews, photoshoots and filming would drain you like a viper without you even noticing. That’s what made the industry so dangerous, it could have you crashing down and you wouldn’t know until you hit solid ground.

“The charity gala for you people’s mental health, on Thursday.” Marie took a sip of his lime and soda and began thumbing through the years to find her copy of my schedule. “Your usual partner is unable to attend, Olivia has family commitments that evening.”

“She can’t get out of it?” I asked although I already knew the answer. If Olivia had contacted Marie directly, there was no hope of her attending Thursday.

Olivia had been my date to events like this since I was 19. She was a model my dad had set me up with but she with her sassy attitude and love of love, we weren’t exactly compatible. According to Olivia, I was a workaholic with serious commitment issues but despite her blunt observations, we had become friends.

“No, she cannot ‘get out of it’ Nathaniel.”  Marie pulled another folder from her briefcase, setting it on the table in front of me. “I’ve gone through and gathered some pictures and information on some possible dates you. I want you to have a look through them and let me know by this evening who you’ve chosen. I’ll handle the rest. I would suggest Louise, page four, she seems like a lovely option but you can make your own decision.”

Rising from the table, I tucked the folder under my arm.

“Right, I’ll have a look but I’m going to talk to Olivia. I’ll get back to you later with my decision but if Olivia has any suggestions then I’m probably going to consider it.”

 She knew the role and she knew me. If anyone could find someone who was going to be right for me and the event, it was Olivia.

Marie sighed; it was painfully obvious that she was unhappy with that statement but I was determined to use this. This was my chance to make my own choice, she had given me some rope and I was definitely going to run with it.

As soon as I was back in the car, with Oliver pulling out onto the main streets of London, I dug my phone out of my pocket to call Olivia. I let Oliver know to take me home as I waited for her to pick up my call.

“Hello,” Olivia’s voice flowed through the phone once she answered the call.

“Hey Liv, how’re you doing?” I asked. I could hear her shuffling around before a door closed.

“Hey Nathan, I’m okay, just at mum’s place right now. I take it you know I can’t attend the gala on Thursday?”

I sighed, “Yeah, Marie told me. I’ve got this massive folder full of ‘potential dates’...”

“Okay,” her voice trailed off. “You don’t sound happy about that, though. Are you not? At least she gave you the choice this time.”

Olivia knew how much I craved to make my own choices, to finally be independent of my family and the business.

“I was wondering if you had any ideas? Someone real, that I might actually be able to spend periods of time with, without wanted to gouge my own eyes out.” I could hear the desperation in my voice but I couldn’t bring myself to care, Olivia had never judged me.

“I know of a few people sure; did you want me to make you a folder?” The teasing tone in her voice was evident and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me.

“No, I’ll think I’ll be okay. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’ll give you name’s, professions and a rating on how much Marie will hate it, deal?”

“Deal,” I agreed, chances are the more Marie dislikes them, the more likely it is that we’ll get on.

I listened to Olivia list off her potential date ideas as I glanced out the window. We were almost back at my apartment when I became more interested in her ramblings.

“Lauren, photographer, probably an 8.5. Tian, model, definitely a 10. Alicia, actress, 9.”

“Wait, who’s Tian and why is she a 10?” I asked, sure Marie didn’t warm to everybody but you had to be something for her to really hate you.

“That’s the only information you’re getting, Nathan. All you have to do is pick one, I’ll make sure they’re ready and will meet you just off the red carpet so you can get in the same car.”

“Well, it’s between Alicia and Tian, if you were to choose, which way would you go?” I was genuinely curious. Olivia would know who I was best suited to, as well as who would be best suited to me and I trust her judgement.

“I get in touch with Tian, it’ll be my usual car so look out for that one, okay?”

“Okay, thanks Liv, you’re a lifesaver.”

I hung up the phone as Oliver pulled into the underground parking for my apartment. Stepping out of the car, I made my way towards the lifts. I sent Marie a text letting her know I’d picked a date and Olivia was arranging it, before turning to speak to Oliver.

“Liv’s found me a date, so we’ll meet just off the red carpet,” I informed him, knowing that he would be my driver and security for the night, as he had been to every event I had ever attended with my dad.

A brief nod was all I received in way of response from the stoic man beside me. Oliver had always been the silent and brooding type, somehow managing to make his point with very few words. I first met Oliver when I was seventeen and despite preferring silent interactions, he enjoyed telling me that he had actually been my security since I was fourteen and that I wasn’t a very observant child.