Photo Credit to Henning Witzel via Unsplash

Los Angeles

The patio at the Chateau Marmont was filled with people - high-spending tourists hoping to get a glimpse of a celebrity or two, entertainment lawyers and their second and third wives meeting for dinner, models occupying space but not eating anything, and even the odd actor and actress hoping to keep their meetings a secret. Jared had booked a table for himself and Adrienne late in the evening in the hopes that most of the place would be empty, but to his chagrin it seemed like the hotel was bouncing with activity. 

The hostess had sat them under a clear umbrella near a heat lamp toward the back of the patio. He couldn't help but look around at the other diners nearby, hoping none of them would recognize them. Even though Adrienne had brought her laptop and several binders with her and he'd brought along Kennon (whom he left if the hotel bar with instructions to stay until he summoned her), the late evening timing of their meeting could raise a few eyebrows. 

"I'm glad you had a chance to get away," Adrienne said softly as she looked at him over the flickering candle at the center of the table. 

He smiled. "I'm glad its just us." He wanted to reach over and take her hand, but that would have crossed the line. "I missed this."

After their reunion in London and month ago, all he had wanted to do was return to the States with them. But he had the tour to do. So he put his head down and focused on the next time he had a break, planning to return to L.A. to see them as soon as possible. Vishan had been called to China for a business deal, but Adrienne was free as a bird as she prepped for her next film. It suited him just fine to have her by himself. 

"How's the tour going?" she asked, sipping her water. 

He sat back and sighed. "Its going well. I think we finally got things set up to how we like them. I'm back in Europe for a couple weeks and then we come back to America for a full tour through the summer."

"How long are you touring for?" Adrienne asked. 

"Right now we have dates set up through the end of the year and we're aiming to have more for next summer, if things get set up correctly," Jared said. "It feels good to be out there on stage again. Especially with new material."

Their food arrived and Jared realized how hungry he was. The jetlag from the trip had messed up his internal clock and he wasn't sure if he was hungry or tired 90% of the time. They ate mostly in silence, occasionally commenting on their meals. He was vaguely aware of a group of women at a table nearby looking in their direction, so when he was finished, he made a show of looking at the files Adrienne had brought with her. 

"What are you doing?" she asked with a chuckle.

"We've got an audience," he said without looking up. "My two-o'clock. I figure I better make it seem like we're working."

As much as it pained him to have to put up this act, he knew it was the only way they could get away with their new arrangement. People had to believe they were working together otherwise it would raise questions. Even though it obviously wasn't cheating, the media wouldn't see it that way and it certainly wouldn't be well-received by Rai Industries' more conservative investors. 

"Well since you're insistent on working, you could check the numbers on the budget for the next project," she suggested as she finished her salad. "Hayley swears they're right, but it never hurts to be sure."

He chuckled and flipped through the pages until he found the right one. He looked at it for several seconds, trying to make sense of the numbers in the spreadsheet in front of him. But it was pointless. As their date had progressed, he realized there was a very real possibility of them being alone for the rest of the evening and he began to form a list of things he wanted to do to her when they were. He gave up and closed the file. 

"They, uh, they look fine," he said. 

The candlelight was hitting Adrienne in the perfect way, making her skin glow in the evening light. A chill had settled over them and he shivered slightly, wondering how she managed to stay warm in the halter top dress she was wearing. The white of the fabric made it seem like she was an angel sitting opposite him. She finished her salad and he asked for the check when the waitress came by to pick up their dishes. The second he was finished paying, he was ushering Adrienne to the valet station. 

"So...your place or mine?" he asked as they waited for his car to be brought around. Roger was already waiting at the curb. 

She paused as she opened the door. "Mine," she said softly, looking over her shoulder. 

He watched as her driver whisked her away, aware that several photographers were snapping his picture from across the street. He gave them a quick wave as he got into his Bronco and drove off after her. He hadn't been to Adrienne and Vishan's house since it had been fully renovated, but it looked exactly as he remembered it on the outside. Terra cotta tiles paved the driveway up to the Spanish-inspired three-story mansion in the hills. The wrought iron gates slid shut behind him and he pulled through under the portico to park in the large motor court between the security guards' guest house and the main house. 

"Have a good night," Roger called from the covered porch in front of the guest house. 

Jared gave him a nod as he ascended the stairs to the front door. He had to wonder what the security guard thought was happening if he was at the house so late at night. But he just assumed Vishan had him on an ironclad NDA and paid well for his silence. He didn't even have to knock on the  dark walnut door; it swung open as he approached. 

"Welcome, Mr. Leto," a robotic feminine voice said as he crossed the threshold apprehensively. 

"What the fuck?" he asked. 

"Its the security system. Vishan designed it himself. No one else in the world has it," Adrienne explained. "Top of the line, probably better than the system used in the White House."

He followed her voice and found her leaning against the railing of the balcony above him, looking down. He took the curved wooden staircase up to meet her, barely registering the high ceilings or general grandiosity of the space. He only had eyes for her. 

"You haven't gotten a tour since things finished, have you?" she asked, as if the idea suddenly popped into her head. "Come on. Let me show you around."

"Adrienne," he said simply. He couldn't tell if she was being coy or nerves had taken over, but he was in no mood to play real estate agent. 

She looked back at him and swallowed as if she was contemplating her options. He returned her gaze intently. Finally she took his hand and led him back down the stairs. He barely registered the hand-carved details in the wood work or the height of the barrel ceiling as they walked toward the master wing on the main floor. Her high heels clicked on the tile floor as she walked ahead of him. The double doors opened into a cool-colored oasis with tall ceilings and plush carpeting. 

He could see a lavish bathroom through a set of glass doors at the end of the hallway and lights from the pool reflected across the wall in the sleeping area. He stopped her when she reached for the light switch, preferring to keep the room dim. A California king bed dominated one wall and another set of double doors led out onto a lanai overlooking the pool below. He didn't care about anything else in the moment, though. 

Jared's mouth found hers and they settled into a frenzy of kissing and touching. He silenced the alarm bells going off in the back of his mind as he remembered that this was OK now, that he wasn't breaking any rules or hurting anyone. They didn't have to hide what they were doing from Vishan anymore. As he eased her dress over her head, he sighed happily knowing that things were finally alright. 

Adrienne's skin glowed in the pool light as she settled back against the charcoal-colored sheets. He slid his own clothes off and moved to pull her shoes off. Her skin was soft against his calloused fingers as he trailed them up her legs. He could see her breathing heavily in anticipation of his next move. When he came to her underwear - white and lacey, he hooked his thumbs under the soft fabric and tugged the down, easing one delicate foot out at a time. 

When she was completely exposed in front of him, looking up with lust-filled eyes, Jared slid on top of her and eased between her legs. He cursed loudly as he entered her, his eyes nearly rolling back into his head. He had forgotten the electricity he felt anytime he was with Adrienne. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced with anyone else. She was like a drug, highly addictive and dangerous, but the perfect solution to all of his problems. 

As they moved together, her fingers entwined in his hair and he looked down at her face, trying to memorize the slight upward tilt of her eyes and the perfect slope of her nose. He would stay like this forever if he could. For a brief moment, he wondered if he felt the same with Vishan. He'd never been in love with another man before, but it couldn't be much different, could it? 

Vishan made him feel the same way Adrienne did. And the things they could do together were different. It was the same, but different. With Adrienne, he felt like he was in control - she submitted to him with ease and he never had to question if she'd communicate with him. But with Vishan, he could sense some reservations, something keeping him from fully opening up. Jared wasn't sure if it was because Vishan hadn't adjusted to the idea of being with a man, or if there was something deeper. But the biggest reason he was attracted to Vishan was his confidence and the air of mystery he had. Jared had made it his personal mission to learn every little detail about Vishan, like a project he had to complete.

As he approached the edge, he realized how stupid he'd been to leave the pair of them. They complemented him in every way possible and he filled the gaps they had together as well. He hissed as Adrienne's nails dug into his back, but he didn't care as pleasure and pain mingled into one blissful moment. She whimpered his name as she fell and bit her collarbone hard enough to draw blood as he followed her. 

I missed this, he thought, laying next to her and pulling her close. 

He fell asleep with the weight of her body next to his and the scent of honey in the air. He slept deeper than he had in months. 

***GOSSIP BOARD***

SKYWRITER98 POSTED: Jared and Adrienne Geraci were at Chateau Marmont last night having what looked like a working dinner. 

LETOGIRL420 POSTED: I don't know too many working dinners that take place that late at night. And it certainly didn't seem like they were working for most of the meal. 

SKYWRITER98 POSTED: It was kind of weird, but pics from another site show that they were working some of the time. And they left in separate cars. So I don't really know what you're trying to allude to. 

SOUPSON34 POSTED: Some people are suggesting that Adrienne and Jared are having an affair. And its kind of weird that he's out with her late at night for work. 

SLYASAFAWKES POSTED: Where did they even get that idea? They're rarely seen out together. This is the first time I think its just been him and her. Every other time its been them out with her husband or her producing partner. I don't really think this is suspect either. He's on tour. He's on a quick break. Maybe this was the only time they both had to meet up? Maybe she's talking to him about another producing role or even another acting role. Who knows. Either way, they left separately and she seems to be happily married from the sound of things. I wish people would just stop starting rumors.