The days passed with hard work and busy weekends. Samantha was devoting herself body and soul, and had a great feeling of accomplishment. Teryl gave her more responsibilities every day, testing her, and was very pleased with the performance of her assistant.
In the first two months of the year, Samantha took care of the marketing of several athletes sponsored by Rockstar, and all advertising campaigns were a success. But the only athlete who was absent during this period was Tanner. Samantha knew he traveled on vacation to Europe with Carol. What envy! What a jealousy! When you're beautiful as Carol you get a man like him...
- It's not my case - She sighed - What handsome will look at the ugly and dowdy Sam?
For even more complicate her life, she continued seeing Harry sometimes. But every time she was sorry and didn't understand why was doing that. She felt she didn't love him anymore... Maybe the loneliness was covering her eyes and making her feel scared... Fear of being alone...
But she had to admit that every time she was sad, it was enough to look at a picture of Tanner smiling to gladden the heart and her whole day. She opened the drawer and took one of the cute pictures of him on the Top Gear filming, which made him look like a teenager and not a man over 40 years old. She caressed the picture and smiled.
- I cannot fall in love with him... He's famous, has a beautiful girlfriend and can have any woman he wants... What hope do I have? Damn... Why did he have to be so adorable?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the intercom.
- Sam?
- Hi, Janet.
- All rally drivers arrived for the photo shoot.
- Please take them to the studio and tell Clark mount the Chroma key according to what we talked about in the morning. I'm already going there.
- Okay.
Samantha sighed, looked again at Tanner's picture and put it in the drawer.
- It's a shame that you aren't in this group today...
Samantha amused herself a lot with drivers, especially with Bucky Lasek. In the late afternoon, after the end of the photo shoot, she was at her desk reviewing the job. Teryl entered the room with some papers in the hand and watched her assistant carefully.
- Sam?
- Yes, Teryl? - Samantha smiled.
- Please, sit here. I have a very serious and important issue to deal with you.
Samantha walked to the Teryl's table, pulled out the chair and sat down. Teryl continued to watch her carefully, and began to tap on the table, causing a feeling of distress on Samantha.
- Sam... Do you remember that I promised a surprise at the end of these two months if you had a good performance?
- Yeah...
- Well... I liked much of your work, and you managed to charm to all athletes. All of them only want to work with you. And that impressed me.
- Wow...
- So I decided to promote you to Rockstar Marketing Coordinator.
- Are you kidding me?
- Of course not! You deserved the promotion.
- Thank you, Teryl... I don't know what to say...
- But along with the job coming a new responsibility. You'll coordinate three assistants who are being hired to do the function that you do today.
- I'll no longer care directly from the campaigns?
- No, you'll supervise, coordinate and approve everything before getting to me.
- I enjoyed the responsibility, but I think I'll have idle times...
- Don't worry, you'll not have time to stay idle. From today you'll take care personally of all marketing of a single Rockstar athlete. You have to be his shadow wherever he goes.
- Okay - Samantha wondered who it could be. Maybe Jason Anderson. After all he was the star of the moment at Supercross and Motocross.
- You'll take on one of the main Rockstar athletes. Tanner Foust.
Samantha almost fell off her chair. Her heart raced and she was speechless.
- T-T-Tanner Foust? - She stammered.
- Yes - Teryl responded with the greatest calm in the world.
- But... You're the one who takes care of his marketing...
- But it's time I let other professional handle it. I didn't do it before because I hadn't found a professional good enough to take on the job. So far.
- Teryl... I-I...
- Your life will change completely. You'll accompany him in all races and events he participate, and take care of him about the marketing and media. And I'm talking about America and Europe. So prepare the travel documents, because in early March you'll follow him to Barbados.
- Teryl... The other girls will not be jealous or have some kind of bad feeling because I had been promoted in such a short time... and will work directly with the man of their dreams?
- Don't worry - Teryl laughed - They knew it was a matter of time until I find someone like you.
When Samantha came home, she was still surprised and couldn't believe what was happening. She walked to her office and put the briefcase on the desk.
- I must be dreaming... But I don't want to wake up ever again! - Samantha looked at Tanner's mural - Oh, handsome ... What will become of me living almost 24 hours a day with you? It'll be wonderful and a torture at the same time... See your smile all the time... - She sighed.
Samantha picked up the phone and called her mother to give the good news, then called Harry.
- What a surprise! - He said happily - You never call me...
- I'm calling to tell you that I was promoted to Coordinator!
- I am very happy for you. Congratulations!
- Thank you... But now I will personally take care of a single Rockstar athlete, and have the responsibility to be his shadow... And... And I have to tell you I'm going away for a few weeks to follow him at the races...
- Will you travel?
- Yes... I'll travel far from today.
- And where are you going?
- Barbados.
- Who is the athlete?
- Tanner Foust.
- That guy you die for him?
- Harry, it isn't like that! He's my idol, because I consider him the best driver in the world... That's it...
- I see... I didn't like it. I don't want you to go.
- I called to report that I'm going, and not to ask for your permission.
- My opinion isn't important to you, right?
- Harry, don't make me choose between you and my career... You'll come out the loser...
Samantha hung up. She was nervous. Why she was still with him? She couldn't remember why. He was sexist, outdated and the kind of guy who thinks women can only be a mother and housewife.
- I wonder if all men are equal... - She looked at Tanner's photo and smiled - You're different, aren't you? My handsome...
Samantha came to the agency feeling that there were a thousand butterflies in her stomach. She now had a meeting with Tanner to discuss the trip itinerary and activities. When she entered the meeting room, he was already waiting for her.
- Hi - He gave that famous smile that melts hearts.
- Hi - She smiled a little nervous.
- I was very happy when I learned that it's you who will take care of me.
- For Real? You should be worried...
- And why? - He laughed - I know I'm in good hands.
- I hope you're right - she smiled.
They spent several hours talking, changing some activities, analyzing some strategies. Samantha was increasingly enchanted by this man. Tanner was intelligent, respected her opinion, and accepted her ideas. He was kind, polite and fun.
Without meaning to, she began to compare Tanner with Harry, and she came to the conclusion that Harry was losing 10 to 0. But Tanner had a girlfriend. He was just a dream, nothing more...