Obsessed

More flowers, more notes. The good news is the photos haven’t leaked yet. We let Sunny know to keep her eyes peeled for any mention or release of them, but it’s been four days and nothing yet. I just have a sinking feeling whoever it is that’s doing this will leak them at the most inopportune time. But, “There’s no such thing as bad press,” says Sunny. And according to Trent, she’s the best. She did keep his divorce under wraps for a long time. And she also reps some very famous celebrities. Since she’s a family friend of Trent’s, she’s giving us a very, very low rate for her services.

In the meantime, Trent insists on driving me and picking me up from work. I have to call or text him every hour, and he has his bodyguard friend, Bruce, escort me anywhere I want to go, whenever he can’t. Bruce is exactly what you would picture when you picture a bodyguard. Big, burly and mean looking. He’s also gay. But it was really funny watching Lizzy flirt with him, as she’s into the big, meaty guys.

“So, Bruce, how long have you been a bodyguard?” she asked, her voice suddenly perky.

We were in our office, goofing around until showtime.

“Ten years,” he said, not even looking at her.

He takes his job very seriously.

“Hey, lighten up Bruce! Penny’s not even famous yet.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked.

“No, mam.”

“Wife?”

“No, mam.”

“You can call me Lizzy, mam is so formal.”

“Lizzy, give the guy a break, he’s doing Trent a favor…” I said, stifling a laugh.

“Let me flirt a little! I’m going to have a ring on it soon,” she said under her breath, as Bruce smirked.

“OK, OK,” I said, rolling back to my desk and shaking my head.

“Bruceeeee,” she said. “What do you do for fun? And how are you not snatched up?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Probably the same things you like. And I didn’t say I was single, mam,” he said, as Lizzy’s eyes grew wide and her face turned red.

“Oh….I….” she stammered.

“Penny, I’m going to get a coffee, would you like one?” he asked.

“No, I’m good Bruce. Thank you,” I said, laughing as Lizzy squirmed in her seat.

“Mam?” he said, smiling. “Would you like a coffee?”

“No, I’m good,” she mumbled. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she said, throwing a paper at me.

“It was too funny watching you flirt. You are, after all, putting a ring on it soon….”

“I hate you!”

“You love me!”

“Don’t make me re-activate your Tinder account,” she threatened.

***

After the show wrapped up last night, I went back to the office on the set to bang out the last episode with Matt.

Running late. Gonna grab dinner, you want? he texted.
Just get me whatever you’re having.

As I settled into my couch reading over the notes he had left me earlier in the day, I told Bruce he could head home since Matt would be there soon. He really wanted to stay, and it took a phone call to Trent to assure him that I’d be OK the half hour alone in the office. And that I’d lock my door and make sure to not open to anyone except Matt. And that Matt would take me back to Trent’s after we were done.

Instead of reading over the script though, I pulled out all the notes sent with the flowers. They were so random. They all made reference to me in some way and someone watching me. But the instances they mention are so inconsistent. It could mean I had a real stalker on my hands. Someone who knew where I lived and worked. It creeped me out that some stranger was so obsessed with me.

I jumped when there was a knock on my door. When I peaked out the window, I saw it was Oliver, one of the actors on the show. He waved and motioned for me to open the door.

“Hey there,” he said, as I opened the door a crack. I was really paranoid.

“Hey Oliver. What’s up? I didn’t think anyone else was here this late.”

“You know my name?”

“Yea, why wouldn’t I? I know everyone’s name on the staff and crew….”

“Right. Well, I saw your light on and wanted to make sure everything was OK. I know you’ve been getting those notes and flowers…”

“How do you….”

“Security and the big, burly guy always following you around. It’s pretty hard to hide stuff on sets like this.”

“Ugh,” I said, relaxing and opening the door to let him in. “I’m such a newbie at this! And it shows. That’s horrible.”

“No, it’s not! It’s good. It’s refreshing! You know how many sets I’ve been on where the head writers/producers don’t really talk to the actors or crew? You’re so nice!”

“I’m naive is what I am. I’ve had this dream for so long, I didn’t realize I’d be giving up my freedom…”

“Well, there’s no such thing as bad press. So what if you have a stalker? It could be flattering right?”

“Eh. It’s creepy. Plus, I’m so boring! Why would anyone be obsessed with me?”

“Who wouldn’t be obsessed with you?” Matt said, walking in, looking confused.

“Oh! Matt. This is Oliver, he’s one of our supporting actors,” I said, introducing the two and taking one of the bags from him.

“Hey, man, nice to meet you,” Matt said, shaking Oliver’s hand.

“Well, Oliver, it was great chatting with you. But Matt and I have a long night ahead of us….”

“Right. Sorry,” he said, looking flustered.

“Stop by anytime. It’s nice to have another friendly face in here,” I said, smiling as he relaxed a bit.

“I look forward to it.”

“Do you think it’s Oliver?” Matt said, as soon as the door shut behind him.

“Jesus Matt. He’s not even down the hall yet!” I whispered.

“I’ve never seen him in here with you. Or around in general.”

“Matt, I hired him for Christ’s sake! It’s not Oliver. He was just looking out for me…”

“Or taking mental photographs of you for his spank bank later.”

“Oh ew,” I said, throwing a napkin at him.

“I’m just saying, keep an eye on him. I’m gonna tell that big guy to watch him tomorrow.”

“Fine, whatever. Let’s get to work.”

It was a little weird that Oliver stopped by, but he was just being nice. However, I’ve watched enough CSI to know that it’s always the nice ones that have bodies in their basements. Perhaps I would tell Bruce to do a background check on Oliver tomorrow.