The Proposition

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Copyright © 2012 by Helen Cooper

Chapter 1

Alice sat still in her chair as she watched Oliver staring at her. It was if she didn’t want to do anything to break his intense gaze. She couldn’t believe that she had just had sex with Oliver Park, one of the most famous actors in Hollywood. Someone she had been fantasizing about forever. She closed her eyes briefly as a stirring of pain enveloped her. This wasn’t how she had imagined it would be. She had always thought that she would one day meet him on the street and that they would glance at each other and fall in love at first sight. She had pictured them in a whirlwind relationship, followed by a quick marriage and a bunch of babies. As she watched him she knew that those fantasies were never going to be reality. Oliver Park was a twisted individual. He had casually taken her and then called someone else for a date as she sat there. He didn’t care about her or her feelings. And yet, she sat there still. She wanted the job as his assistant and
screenwriter
. But she knew it was about more than that. She wanted to get to know the real Oliver Park.

“Tomorrow, I expect you to wear no underwear. Do you hear me?” Oliver spoke softly but firmly. She looked up at him in surprise and shivered.

“Why?”

“Alice. I won’t say this again. Do not question me or my intentions. Understand?” Oliver looked at her lethally.

“Yes.” She spoke softly but wondered how she was going to provide feedback if he didn’t want to hear her talk.

“No underwear. Bra or panties.”

“Ok.” Alice wanted to tell him to fuck off and run out of the room but she couldn’t move.

“Good.” He smiled at her then. A sweet soft smile, one she recognized from all the romantic comedy movies he had been in.

“Here’s my proposition. Listen to me carefully. I will not repeat myself.” He leaned towards her and she could see the hair in his nostrils. She leaned closer to him to make sure she could hear everything he said.

“You are going to be my assistant in every sense of the word. You will help me write this new screenplay, you will be at my beck and call. Understand?”

She nodded, even though she had some questions for him.

“No matter the time of day or night, if I want something, you shall deliver it.”

“Ok.” She gulped. She didn’t know if she would be able to do everything that he was saying but she figured she would just end the agreement if she felt it was too much. She looked at the clock behind him to see what the time was. She wanted to rush home and tell Jess and Liz exactly what had happened that morning.

“Do you have somewhere to be Alice?” He
spoke with a deathly quiet to his voice.

“Not really.” She squeaked out, trying to hide the annoyance from her voice. She wasn’t really a passive kind of girl and she wasn’t sure how long she was going to be able to put up with his pompous personality.

“Do you want me to smack you?”

“What?” She screeched. “I don’t know who…” She was interrupted by his laughter.

“There is the Alice that I came to respect last weekend.” He paused. “I don’t want you to see me as someone who is forcing you into anything Alice. Please speak up if something is not pleasing to you.”

“But you just told me to keep my mouth shut.” She spoke loudly and angrily frustrated at this man that she couldn’t figure out.

“I was pushing you Alice. I need to know you are someone whose will cannot be broken easily.”

“Uh, ok.” Alice wanted to stick her tongue out at him but decided that that wouldn’t help her cause.

“I can’t afford for you to fall under my spell Alice. Everything we do has to be mutual.”

“I didn’t see you asking me when you just took me on the floor earlier.” Alice retorted back at him.

“I didn’t see you saying no.” He gazed at her and licked his lips. She was mesmerized by his tongue and had a sudden urge to feel it on her again. She shook her shoulders and spoke.

“I didn’t want to say no.” She looked at him defiantly. She was not going to let him think he was the only one benefitting from this weird relationship. She was getting a writing job and hot sex with a movie star.

“In fact I think you were the one to initiate the sex. Couldn’t keep your hands off me could you?” Oliver grinned and this time the smile touched his eyes.

“Ha. You wish.” Alice laughed and grabbed her phone from her handbag as it rang. “Hello, oh hi Peter. Can I call you back? I’m kinda in the middle of something? Awesome, I’ll see you tonight.” Alice put the phone back in the bag and looked up to see Oliver staring at her with his eyes narrowed.

“You better turn your phone off when you are work. No personal calls on my time.”

Alice sighed. He was back to being an ass again. “Yes Sir.”

“Do you have a boyfriend Alice?”

“What?” She was outraged at the suggestion. “Do you think I would have slept with you if I had a boyfriend.”

“Women do weird things to get where they want. And there are many women who will do anything to sleep with a
movie star
.” He shrugged his shoulders as he looked at her.

“I am not one of those women, thank you very much. I have no boyfriend and I would never have slept with you if I did.”

“Good.
” He looked satisfied at her answer. She wanted to ask him if he had a girlfriend and she wanted to know who Maribel was but she was scared of his answer. Maybe she didn’t really want to know who the real Oliver Park was.

“Go home and change and I will pick you up at 8pm tonight.” Oliver dismissed her.

“What? Tonight? I have plans tonight.”

“Do you want this job Alice?” His eyes were hard as he gazed at her.

She sighed. “Yes.”

“Then be ready at 8. And remember no underwear.”

“Are we going to be working or am I going to be your sex toy for the night?” She asked him bluntly.

“You will see.” His eyes shimmered.

“And what happened to Maribel? I thought you had dinner plans with her.”

“Nothing happened to Maribel Alice, I will still be having dinner with her. Just be ready at 8.”

“Okay.” Alice stood up walked to the door. Just as she was about to walk out she felt Oliver’s hand on her shoulder. She turned around to look at him and he leaned down and gave her a long and lingering kiss. She was surprised at how gentle it was. She kissed him back passionately. This was something she would have fond memories of.

“I’m glad you’re my new assistant Alice. I’ll see you later.” Oliver smiled at her,
and tapped her softly on the ass as she walked out of the door.

“Who is this man?” Alice mumbled to herself as she got into the elevator. She knew that was one question that may never get answered but she also knew that she would do anything to find out.

Chapter 2

“Alice, I cannot believe you are going to go out with him.” Liz looked at her sternly. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Liz, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s as if my brain is operating of its own accord. Part of me is petrified that I accepted his proposition. Another part of me is exhilarated. I do not know what I am doing.” Alice spoke quietly as she applied her
makeup.

“Alice, you are off of your rocker. I swear I’m not going to let you out of the apartment.” Liz lectured her.

“Liz, I’m 25. It’s fine. I know what I’m doing.” Alice grinned at her friend. “Now how do I look?”

“You look hot,” Liz laughed. “Omg, we are totally going to be on TMZ. You know that right?”

“No we won’t.”

“Oliver Park hires a hooker. Omg, you are the modern day ‘Pretty Woman’.” Liz fell on the bed in theatrics.

“Ha, I wish. He didn’t offer to take me to Rodeo Drive. But maybe I should ask him to.” Alice laughed at Liz’s look of despair. “I’m joking Liz, I’m joking.”

“Seriously Alice, are you sure you know what you are doing?” Liz sat up in the bed and looked at her seriously. “I’m scared for you.”

“Don’t be scared. I’m not.” And Alice realized as she spoke that she was telling the truth, she wasn’t scared. She knew that Oliver wouldn’t hurt her. “Dude, I’m like the real life Ana from ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’.”

“Dude, does he want to hit you?” Liz looked at her with bugged out eyes.

“No Liz,” Alice grinned at her. She paused for a second and wondered what it would be like to be in his lap. “He’s not into that stuff.”

“How do you know?” Liz looked at her with her eyebrows raised. “Come on Alice, just cos you have been a fan for years means nothing. You don’t know the real Oliver Park. He could be a huge freak.”

“Don’t worry Liz. I will quit if he gets too freaky okay?”

“Okay.” Liz sighed. She knew there was no talking Alice out of this agreement she had found herself in with Oliver Park. She was worried for her friend. “By the way, Peter called earlier, he wants to show you his new book or something.”

“I know,” Alice sighed. “I spoke to him earlier, he is coming round tonight. Tel him I had to go out and I’ll call him tomorrow.”

“Alice.” Liz looked at her sternly.

“What?” Alice tried to look innocent.

“You know that boy loves you, stop leading him on.”

“I’m not and he doesn’t.” Alice
thanked her lucky stars when she heard the doorbell. Liz jumped up and ran towards the front door. Alice
sighed;
she hoped Liz wasn’t going to interrogate Oliver.

She hurried into the living room behind Liz. She was wearing a red lycra dress that clung in all the right spots. She left her hair loose and had on a pair of
4-inch
heels. Liz and Oliver were sitting on the couch talking about his latest movie when she walked in.

“Looking very nice Alice.” He smiled up at her and stood up. He took her hand and kissed it. “You make me feel like an old man.”

Alice groaned. “Yeah right.” He removed her hand from his quickly and turned to Liz confused. She wasn’t used to him acting this nicely to her.

“Liz, I’ll see you later okay.” She gave Liz a hug and walked towards the door.

“Nice to see you again Liz. I’ll be sure to get you tickets to the sequel.” Oliver smiled at her friend and followed her to the door.