Secrets and Lies (a Les Twins fanfic)

Chapter 17: This Means War

The next morning was the last day of the Gaultier fashion shoot and the set was already being packed up. Staff buzzed around everywhere bagging and tagging things.

Gabby got there early hoping to talk to Laurent alone, but he and Larry were having a phone meeting with their management team in one of the conference rooms.

From a distance she could see both of them smiling through the office’s glass window so she assumed they must have been happy to hear the news about TVOne.

Sasha came down the hall pushing a cart and Gabby waved her over.

“Is today the end of your fake internship?”

Sasha grinned. “Yes, I’m just helping clear everything out and picking up my paycheck. Then that’s it.”

“Well, I guess you didn’t need me to introduce you to the twins after all. You met Larry, didn’t you?”

Gabby gave her a knowing look. Sasha’s already huge blue eyes widened and her face flushed.

“He—he offered to give me tour of the studio,” she stuttered.

“Mmmhmm, I bet Larry’s a great tour guide.” Gabby tried not to laugh at the tortured expression on Sasha’s face and finally let the poor girl of the hook.

“Anyway that’s none of my business. I just wanted to give you one of my cards.”

Sasha looked relieved. “Thanks a lot. It was great meeting you.”

*   *   *   *

Gabby was waiting in the hallway alone when Larry came out of their meeting. Laurent was still inside.

Larry stopped smiling when he saw her and walked toward her with an unreadable expression on his face. “You hear the news already?”

“Yeah, I did. Congratulations.”

“So you’ll be staying in Paris longer?”

She paused and glanced at Laurent through the glass before answering. “I’m not sure yet.”

Larry stepped closer only inches away from her face and lowered his voice.

“I know you have a man back home. I hear you on the phone the other day. I say nothing because you were leaving. But now…,”

Gabby moved her purse from one shoulder to the other. They glared at one another. The silence was deafening. She wondered when in the world Larry had time to be creeping around listening to her phone calls, but that didn’t matter now.

“So what exactly are you saying, Larry?”

“I’m saying I’m gonna tell Lau.”

“Please don’t do that. You need to stay out of this. I’ll tell him myself.”

“You had your chance.”

“I know I messed up, but this is not your business.”

“I make it my business.”

Larry started to walk away. Gabby took out her phone and pressed a few buttons. He stopped and reached down to touch his phone buzzing in his pocket.

“You should check that.” She put her hand on her hip and waited.

He pulled it out and whirled back around toward her. “What the—? What’s this?”

The picture of Larry and the girl on the balcony came out a little dark, but you could still clearly make out both their faces and the Spiderman boxers he was wearing that night.

“That could be news or not. It’s your choice.”

“Oh so now you threaten me?”

“I’m asking you, as nicely as I can at this point, to please let me tell him myself.” Her voice was dry and serious.

Larry’s face changed. His mouth was smiling slightly but his eyes were dead cold as he nodded at her slowly.

“C’est des conneries.” (This is some bullshit.)

Laurent came out of the office after Larry stormed off. Gabby waited until she was sure Larry was out of range before she said anything.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” Laurent cocked his head to one side and looked at her.

She took a deep breath. “Lau, about last night…I need to talk to you. Not here, though. Can we go somewhere?”

He folded his arms and shrugged like it didn’t bother him. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

“Yes we do. I know you’re upset with me and I’m not staying in Paris if it’s gonna hurt you.”

“I don’t have a problem with you staying. It’s just business.”

Laurent’s words stung, but she knew she deserved them.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

She dropped her head and turned to walk away before he could see the tears in her eyes.