Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

Laura remained silent for a few moments, trying to process his easy tone and unlikely request.

“I beg your pardon?” She finally said.

“Is this Lara Ballantyne?” Julian suddenly sounded unsure.

“Yes.” She responded, wishing you could just say no and hang up. She anxiously waited for him to speak again, conscious that she was late for lunch but also strangely drawn to find out what he wanted.

“When can you come and see me?” Julian asked. Never, was Lara’s first response, but the mere sound of his voice and the mention of his office was enough to render her speechless.

“Lara, are you there?”

“I-I don’t think I can.” Lara managed to get out.

“I’m sure you can spare an hour Lara. Today maybe? Or do you prefer tomorrow? I’m free after 10am.” He said as if he were consulting his diary, instead of actually listening to what she had to say.

“Why do you need to see me Julian?” Lara asked.

“I’d rather talk to you it in person.”

Lara paused for a moment, before spotting Tony having a glass of wine in the outdoor seating area of the restaurant. She caught his eye and waved with an apologetic look on her face.

“Julian, I don’t think I can.” Lara repeated.

“Lara, we both know this is about Harry.” Julian said impatiently. “And if you ever cared for Harry, then I’d suggest you come and see me.”

Lara heaved a deep sigh and shifted from one foot to the other.

“Fine.” She said firmly. ”But I can’t stay for long.”

“I will get to the point, don’t you worry about that. Is tomorrow at 10 okay?”

“Yes.” Lara said unhappily. She was about to hang up before an alarming thought crossed her mind.

“Will Harry be there?”

“Do you want him to be there?” Julian asked.

“No.” She replied softly. “Well then, I’ll make sure he’s not there.”

Lara hung up and took a deep breath. She could not believe she was being sucked back into Harry’s world again. It seemed that whenever she had some semblance of normalcy in her life, something had to come along and shake it up. She quickly made her way to Tony who looked up at her curiously.

“Are you okay?” He asked. “You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine.” Lara said.

“You don’t look fine. Who was on the phone?”

Lara paused for a moment, but then sighed. There was no use hiding anything; Tony already knew about her past with Harry. Their relationship had been so public during the time they lived together that the whole world seemed to know about her past with Harry.

“It was Harry’s manager.” She told him. “He wants to see me.”

“About what?” Tony asked.

“I don’t know.” Lara shrugged.

“Did you ever sign a confidentiality agreement? Maybe it’s something to do with that.”


“I signed one a while ago.” Lara said, recalling the time she had signed the non-disclosure agreement.


“Lara maybe you should just sign it.” Harry had said in a tired voice.

“Why? Because I’m a drug addict who can’t be trusted?”

“No because I’d rather keep him off my fucking back than have to listen to him bang on about it nonstop.”

Lara looked toward the document on the table for a moment before striding over to grab a pen.

“Nothing he can say or do will change the way I feel about you.” Harry told her as she signed on the dotted line.

“Well why would they want to see you then?” Tony asked.

“I really don’t know. But I told him I’d see him tomorrow.”

“I don’t like to see you like this.” Lara looked up from her hands to see Tony looking concerned. “I just want you to be happy.” He said. “I’ve loved getting to know you these past few months Lara. You mean a lot to me… and I hate to see you hurt.” He reached over to touch her hand with a reassuring smile.


“I can come with you if you want.” He offered.

“That’s sweet, but I think this is something I have to do on my own.” Lara said. “To be honest with you, I plan on telling him to never contact me again. That part of my life is over… they can’t keep interrupting my life like this.”

“That’s my girl.” Tony said as he nodded to the waiter.

As he began to order Lara could not help let her mind wander. Despite her nervousness, she was determined this was the last time she would have to deal with Modest Management- ever.

X
Lara entered the familiar office building and waited at the elevator with what she hoped was her game face. She had worn a sleek black business suit that stopped just above her ankles. It was a recent splurge that she had made with the intention of wearing it to future work appointments. She had pulled back her hair into a long loose braid that fell over one shoulder.

Overall, her external appearance gave her a much needed confidence boost. It was how she felt on the inside that was her biggest concern. She could not help but slightly jump when somebody turned a corner, thinking that it may be someone she would recognise. The last thing she wanted was to be confronted by someone she knew.

Lara rapped on the door and heard the familiar sound of Julian’s voice and even though her first instinct was to leave, she opened the door and walked in.

“Lara." Julian greeted. “Glad to see you could make it. Take a seat.” Lara nodded in response, sat down and looked at him expectantly.


“You’re looking well.” He said politely. Lara remained unmoved as she waited for him to continue. “I called you here today, because…” Julian paused and for the first time Lara noticed that he seemed as nervous as she felt. Lara felt a momentary feeling of relief which was quickly replaced by uneasiness.


“Well because… we need a little help.” Julian said searching her face as though to gauge her reaction. “With Harry.”


Lara refrained from rolling her eyes and kept a steady gaze on an awkward Julian.

“What kind of help?” She asked. Julian paused for a long time and shuffled his files.

“Julian, I can’t stay for long so can you please get to the point?” Lara asked, surprised by her firm tone.

“We need to get you back in his life.” Julian blurted. Lara blinked at him. “I mean we need you… your services that is.”

“I beg your pardon?” She asked.

“Lara.” Julian sighed. “We need your help. Harry has been… struggling for a while now. You’ve probably heard all the stories by now. I’ve never seen him like this.”

Despite her discomfort, it was not hard for Lara to see worry darken his expression.

“I need someone to get through to him, someone he’ll listen to. I don’t know what happened between you two… I don’t care what happened between you two. But I do know that in those last six months he seemed very dependent on you, and I’m sure that given the chance, he will listen to what you have to say. ” Julian said. “Will you consider helping us out?”


“No, I will not.” Lara answered. “You were thrilled to see me go and now you want me back?”

“I only want what’s best for Harry.”


“I was never good enough for him. That’s how you’ve always made me feel. Why am I suddenly good enough?” Lara seethed. “I was a drug addict… or don’t you remember the names you used to call me?”

“You were addicted to drugs Lara. I was only calling you out for what you were.” Julian responded smoothly. “But you have worked hard to get your life together. Even I can see that. But my primary concern has always been about Harry’s career.”


“Harry’s career. That’s all you ever care about. What about him? Have you ever cared for him?” Lara scraped back her chair, her eyes fixed on the exit. “I’m not doing this. Find someone else to do your dirty work.”



“Do you care about him?” Julian asked. Despite herself, Lara stopped dead in her tracks and waited. “Because from what I know, Harry helped you out quite a lot, at the expense of his career and reputation. Wasn’t he the only one who visited you hospital? Wasn’t he the one who helped you go to rehab? Not to mention the monetary support you have received from him. Didn’t he financially support you for almost six months?”


Lara turned to look at him, her jaw clenched, her face flushed with anger.

“What are you trying to say?” She asked.


“I think I’m making myself quite clear. I think that you owe Harry quite a lot.”

“It was never like that. You’re making it sound like I used him.” Lara said.

“Well, you did seem pretty comfortable to live off him for all that time… are you saying you don’t care enough to even consider helping him now?”

“Harry doesn’t need my help.” Lara muttered.

Lara placed her hand on the doorknob and was about to open the door, when it suddenly rattled and swung open, bumping into her in the process. She regained her footing, only to look up to see a shocked Harry framing the doorway. Lara’s heart skipped a beat as the two stared at each other in stunned silence.

Notes

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