"Hi, I'm Hugh"
Of course he fucking was. Everyone knew who he was. Floppy haired (now slightly shorter), very English, slightly naughty, newly single thanks to the scandal a few years ago, incredibly sexy, Hugh Grant.
"Hi, nice to meet you" I shook his hand and accepted the chase kiss on the cheek he leant in for. Showbiz and all.
We both sat down at the dinner table of the charity event we were at.
"Terribly awkward thing this, don't you think?" He started. "Sort of like a wedding, being sat next to someone you don't really know for an evening of forced fun"
"Best to drink through it, I find" I sipped my champagne and he cheersed my glass before doing the same.
"So, how have you ended up here?" He asked after a brief chat to the group on the table.
"Well my mum helped with some of the legal stuff for the charity. Sort of in like an advisory thing" I rambled.
"Eloquently put" he teased. "So she works in charity"
"No she's a barrister, she went to uni with Catherine and now helps out their legal team"
"Splendid"
"And of course open bar" I joked.
"I mean, the perfect evening"
"How about you? You're here because..."
"Because I'm a charitably fellow, veritable philanthropist, and can't turn down a dinner next to charming company, and I have been on the wrong side of a phone hacking and I'm sort of on the board" he grinned and my heart fluttered. He really was beautiful. And the seats tonight we're not cheap. "So, You're in the movie business too I gather"
"I am yes, not quiet as established as some, yet, but..."
"Well I knew some of your things and I really don't get out much so you must be doing something right"
"Ha. Thank you. I, of course, know your films"
"Well of course" he joked. I was starting to like his sense of humour. Not really what I was expecting but he was cheeky. "That's not me though"
"What? Charming, slightly flirty, very English nice guy?" I smiled. "Who are you then?"
"Good question. I'm, Umm, we'll I'm a middle aged bore really. A tad in the grumpy side, single - thought I'd drop that in there. Well spoken, well educated, but I don't feel I like really know anything. I don't really get out all that much, And am rather bored with the direction of my life," he paused and looked stone faced back at me.
"Well that was fucking deep" I tried to lighten the mood.
"Too much? I guess I can be a bit of a flirt if needed though" We laughed. "How about you, let's have some sobering honesty from you too"
"Ok well, I'm nearly 30 starting to do quite well for myself, also single" he nodded approvingly "should be able to see my success but can't bring myself to think I've achieved as my family are lawyers and doctors and I feel like I'm wasting my degree by faffing about in movies"
"Troubled upper middle class problems," he teased.
"I guess, better than mid-life crisis"
"Darling, I don't think I'll live that long, 48 is way past half way to where I'm heading" we both laughed.
He really didn't look nearly 50. I thought back to when the big films he'd made had come out, I'd assumed he was ten years younger than he was at, least.
"Anything else I should know about you?"
"I'm sure you'll find out some secrets if you keep my drink topped. Um, I'm really not as bad as everyone makes me out to me. I Over worry and well I guess I have a daughter. That's important. Right"
"It should be yes. How old?"
"She's nearly three. Totally adorable. Tabitha"
"Very cute name"
"My idea, thank you. Uumm she lives with her mum not to far from me and i see her as much as I can"
"Sounds civil"
"That's a very good way of putting it, right now less of the Hugh talk, back to you."
We talked more about my career and what I had planned next. We'd worked with a few mutual costars so swapped a few stories. We were just getting into a discussion about something embarrassing for Nick Hoult when my mum interrupted us.
"Hello" she raised an eye brow at Hugh who was leant towards me his arm over the back of my chair.
"Hello Mrs Marlowe," he looked a little flustered he stood and greeted her.
"Mum, this is Hugh" I waved a hand his way.
"Good evening. We've met, I think"
"We have yes. A board lunch I think, sadly we didn't get much time to actually talk..." he started trying to be charming but my mum has in fierce mode and basically ignored him and talked back to me.
"Quite. Well sweetie, your father and I aren't staying long, he's got a big briefing in the morning and is paranoid about looking tired. If you're staying are you able to make your own way home?"
"Right, yeah of course I'll get an Uber. I'll be fine. Are you going now?" I asked. The food had only just been finished and they were missing the actual money reading bit of the night.
"Yes, I've left a cheque. Dad's just saying goodbye to some people" I give her a quick hug good bye, she nodded in Hugh's direction and headed off.
"Fuck me, she's scary!" He said as we sat back down and he finished what was left of his drink.
"Ha. She can be I guess. I think she's just in work mode"
"Well I wouldn't want to piss her off! I, um, I have a car picking me up at 12 and I am more than happy to give you a lift back if you'd like"
"That would be great. Thank you" I took up the offer, he smiled to himself and I mentally noted to definitely get out of the car at my house, I would not be a cliche!
