I was busy typing away when the people around me started to whisper and move around. I knew why. Harry had arrived as scheduled for the meeting in twenty minutes but I needed to pretend I didn't care. My job depended on it.
While the chatter around me continued, I typed away, trying to focus on my work. I finished my last sentence and printed out the copies I needed with a few minutes to spare. I walked over to the printer, gathered my documents and headed to the conference room.
When I walked in, the room was full of people standing and chatting. I only recognized a few: Jim, Heather and Graham the production and stage managers. The rest must have been the heads of the rest of the crew. It was a full house today.
I made my way over to Jim who would hopefully stick by my side. It seemed everyone else knew each other and I was the odd man out. I was an outgoing person and made friends easily but I couldn't help feel like a small fish in a giant pond right now.
"Ah Penelope. You have everything?" Jim asked halting his conversation with Heather.
"Yes sir, right here." I handed the folder over, giving myself a mental high five for making so many copies of the agenda.
"Great. You're PM skills have been a life saver so far I gotta say."
"Thank you sir."
I stood silently listening to their conversation, taking it all in. I was fascinated by how much went into the tour, all the details and people involved.
A few minutes later the door opened to reveal four more people in suits. Everyone started clapping. I looked around, confused as to why people were clapping, when I spotted Harry behind the suited men who just came in. He was smiling and he was beautiful.
I was so distracted, I forgot I should probably be clapping along with everyone else. I quickly put my hands together but it was too late. Harry had noticed. He laughed and continued shaking hands with everyone.
When he finally got to Jim, they hugged, having known each other for years. He turned to me with a heartbreaking smile.
"Hello. You must be the new assistant. I'm Harry." His English accent shone through and it took everything I had not to swoon.
"Hi. Penelope. Very nice to meet you."
We shook hands and I all but melted at his touch. I need to get it together.
"I've heard great things from this one already." He jutted his thumbs towards Jim. "Well talk later."
He gave me a light touch on the shoulder before making his way to the rest of the room. I tried to hide the goofy smile I had after meeting one of my favorite singers but it seems I was caught by Jim who had a laugh.
"You'll get used to it. After a while he just becomes Harry. Not Harry Winters the rockstar."
I smiled at Jim, grateful for his understanding. "Thank you. He's the first famous person I've met. Hope I didn't embarrass myself."
He shook his head. "No you did just fine. Come on we need to start the meeting. Can you help me pass out the agendas?"
Jim had everyone settle in their seats, saving him two for him and I in the middle. I helped pass out the agendas while he talked and passed them out as well.
When I reached Harry, I handed it to him and he smiled up at me and winked. I smiled back and felt my face flush. This was not good at all. I had met him for all of five seconds and already I could see how charming he was. I really needed to get a grip.
After I passed out the last one, I went to take my seat next to Jim and Heather but Jim stopped me.
"Everyone I'd like to introduce you to Penelope Blake. She is the new assistant on tour. She is a certified Project Manager and is already showing herself to be a great asset. Please welcome her to the family."
I give an embarrassed wave as everyone claps, including Harry who looks quite amused. Why did he have to call me out like that?
"Thank you." I say before sitting down, my face feeling ablaze.
***
The meeting lasts for hours before there is a break for a catered lunch. I am standing at the back of the line when I feel a presence come behind me.
"So how are you getting on so far?" Harry asks his mouth too close to my ear.
I turn my head slightly towards him. "Uh good. Busy but it's really great. I'm excited for the tour to start."
"Good. Well it's quite the experience. Even for an assistant, it will be the most thrilling job you ever had."
I couldn't help but think if there was a sexual tone hidden in there somewhere.
"Yeah I bet." I say picking up a plate as we move up to the table.
"You travel?" He asks picking up a plate of his
own.
"A little. I've been to a few countries for work like South Korea and Manilla. I've been to Italy once."
"With your boyfriend?" He asks placing a roll on his plate.
I pick up a piece of chicken and put it down. "No, my family when I was fifteen."
"So your boyfriend has never taken you anywhere?" He asks doing the same.
"No. No boyfriend." I reply quietly, the sadness of the truth weighing on me. It's the first time I've had to say it.
"Girlfriend?" He asks and I laugh. He's a nosy thing.
"No, no girlfriend either. Just me." I smile and continue down the line, adding salad to my plate. I need all the free food I can get.
"Good, good. It's easier to be on tour without being in a relationship. It gets to be too...complicated." He grabs a grape and pops it into his mouth.
I turn and find him chewing and smiling at me. "Right. Makes sense."
I put my dressing on, completing my plate. "Well I'll talk to you later."
"Wait." He grabs me lightly on the shoulder and I turn to face him. "Why don't we eat together? We should get to know each other better since you'll be my shadow for the next few months."
"Uh yeah okay. Sure." Well this is interesting.
I wait for him to finish his plate and follow him to the table. He pulls out a chair for me and I sit, thanking him for his chivalry. He takes the seat next to me and turns it to face me.
"So tell me about yourself. Where you from?" He asks taking a bite of his salad.
"Originally from Portland but moved to Seattle for work and then moved here with my best friend a month ago."
He nods as he finishing chewing. "Why'd you move here? For the sun?" He laughs and I give him a slight smile.
"More or less. Just thought it would be a change of pace."
He leans in towards me. "Ah well I personally hate it here. Much prefer New York or London. More grit ya see. Everyone here is just so..."
"Pretentious? Materialistic? Fake?"
He lets out a heart laugh. "Right. All those things. I'm glad you aren't one of them."
"How do you know I'm not? Maybe I'm an actress like everyone else." I raises my eyebrow, teasing him.
"Ha. When Jim was introducing you, your face was as red as a tomato. A real LA monster would have eaten up the attention. You look like you wanted to hide."
I waves my hand and laugh. "Well...whatever." He already knows me well.
We both laugh and smile at each other. I glance around and notice Heather eyeing me.
I immediately drop my smile and turn back to my plate, feeling like I was caught doing something wrong. Harry notices and glances to where I was looking, seeing Heather looking at us. She quickly turns away after Harry catching her watching.
"Don't worry about Heather. She's just protective of me. She's known me since I was sixteen."
"Oh I'm not. I just...I just don't want people to get the wrong idea." I say still looking at my plate.
"And what idea would that be?"
I look at him and see that he is looking right at me, his hazel eyes looking into mine.
"That we uh...that it's..."
He bursts into laughter. It's such a wonderful sound his laughter. Even though I'm confused by why he's laughing.
"I'm just taking the piss. I know what she's thinking. Same thing everyone thinks when I talk to a pretty girl."
"Right. Well I just...I'm not that girl. I hope you know that."
"I do. I can tell. Doesn't mean I won't try."
My eyes go wide and Harry laughs again putting his hands up. "Kidding."
I roll my eyes and shook my head smiling. "You're going to constantly pull pranks on me aren't you?"
Harry's lips curled into a devilish grin. "Oh yeah. We're going to have so much fun Pee Pee."
"Pee Pee? No no. No you can call me P but not Pee Pee."
"No I think I'm going to call you Pee Pee and I think you're going to learn to love it."
"Well see."
We both smile at each other and then burst in laughter at the same time. This is going to be a long, but wonderful next few months. I was already starting to see Harry as just Harry.
We chatted for a little bit longer while we ate, talking about our families. Harry has a younger sister and brother who he tries to see when he can but he was always on the road. He hadn't been back to his hometown in three years. I couldn't help but feel a little bad for him as he talked about it. Fame seemed to have its consequences and I knew I would start to see more of that.
I decided I would try to help make those things more bearable for him if I could. Starting with trying to surprise him by bringing his family over for a show. I would try to find out when his birthday was, maybe a show would line up.
After the break, everyone came back together and I went back to my original seat next to Jim. I felt Heather's eyes on me as I sat down, feeling like she was trying to figure me out.
The meeting lasted another three hours but it seemed like everything was coming along and final loose ends were close to being tied up. It was getting real. There was an electric buzz in the air and I couldn't help but feel giddy. Just a few more weeks and I would be in Boston for the first show and tour kickoff.
I felt a long arm wrap around my shoulder. "So Pee Pee, I'm in town for a couple days. Would you like to get together before I leave? I can tell you all the important things like how I like my tea...and when I like my tea. What I like to eat with my tea."
I took his wrist and removed his arm. "Really? Tea is important is it?"
"Of course. I need it to soothe my throat. Can't sing if my throat isn't properly warmed and lubed." He said laughing putting his arm back on my shoulder.
I removed it again. "Hmm. Interesting argument but I think that can just be written in an email or something. I might already have it in my binder of tasks."
"Oh come on. Like I said before, we should get to know each other." He turned to me and got serious. "Look. The tour can be stressful and there will be times when I'm tired and want everyone to bugger off but I'll need you to know me and know what I need in that moment. I'll need you to tell me to stop being an arse and you can't do that if you don't feel comfortable with me."
I contemplated it, knowing it made sense but wondering if it was appropriate.
"Please? The only other people who will tell me to piss off are Jim and Heather but I don't listen to them usually. I need a real friend and I have a feeling you and I could be that."
He stared at me waiting for an answer, giving me the best sad eyes he could. Damn him for having it work. "Ugh fine. But this is the last time you use your sap story to get me to do something."
He grinned smugly at me. "Oh it won't be but it's cute you think it is. I have rehearsal tomorrow. Why don't you come by at like six and watch for a little? We can dinner after, yeah?"
"Hmm I dunno if I'll be out of work by then."
"No problem." He turned his body towards Jim. "Oi! Jim!" Harry waved his hand towards him, indicating for Jim to come over. Jim stopped his conversation and walked over.
"What's up Harry?"
"Pee Pee, I mean Penelope, is going to come watch rehearsal for a little bit at six. I'd like her to meet everyone and get a feel for the set and how things will go. Is that a problem?"
Jim shook his head. "No I've been actually meaning to schedule some time for her to meet everyone."
He turned to me. "Why don't you bring your laptop and go for the whole rehearsal. It will be good experience for you. You'll meet some of the production team too."
"Are you sure? There's a lot for me to do here."
"Of course. One day won't hurt and you need to meet people anyway. The more you know people before the tour the better. Makes getting things from people easier." He lets out a bark laugh and Harry joins in.
I look at Harry. "Is that alright with you? I don't want to be in the way."
"Not at all. I think it's brilliant." He looked overly happy about it.
Jim slapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Okay then its settled. I'll give you the information and a pass for security." He said towards me.
"Great. Looking forward to it."
And I was. I would be getting an up close and personal concert from my favorite singer who was also seemed like he would quickly become my favorite person.