Damage Control

[CollegeRomantic]

The alarm clock trilled, signalling Reyna that it was time to start yet another day. She reached and turn it off, sighing heavily. She sat up in bed and stretched, easing the kinks out of her muscles. Stumbling slightly into the shower, she attempted to wash away the grogginess, along with her shampoo and soap lather. She dressed in one of her many conservative business suits, careful that it concealed as many of her delicious womanly curves as possible. Giving herself one last cursory glance in the mirror, she strode out of her modest split level and headed off to work.

 

[Sexyone2106]

sleeping peacefully in her nice cozy bed Brittany felt the morning sun beaming thru her window and shining her eyes as she slowly opened them way before she was ready too. As she opened her eyes she noticed her clock said 8:32 "OH CRAP!" she shouted from her bedroom as she sprang from her bed and ran to the shower. She was really late for work and had not one minute to waste. She hurried and got her shower and dressed in a nice but casual pair of low rise jeans that showed off her nice hips and butt and a nice red blouse that cling to her in a nice way as she hurried out the door. She called Rey. "hey girl, its me......Im on my way, i didnt ditch you." she said to Rey on the phone "i just woke up really late this morning. Darn scary movies on tv last night. I almost never went to sleep"

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Reyna smiled slightly as her phone rang. She knew it was Brittany before she even looked at her cell. "Hi. I know, you're late. It's fine. Pam hasn't been around yet so you are covered for about another fifteen minutes or so. See you when you get here" Not wanting to delay the poor woman with a lengthy conversation, she hung up the phone and sat down at her desk to work.

 

[Sexyone2106]

"hey Thanks girl! i'll be there in about 5 mins" she said and soon hung up the phone just before pulling to the parking lot. She ran into the building before Pam could have time to get there and made her way to the office across from Rey's and sat down and got organized before actually even getting coffee. It was rare that Brittany was late but when she was, she knew Rey always had her back. Which was one of the things she liked about her friend Rey, they looked out for each other and had a great time being partners. Today was the day she was meeting with her main client, which always proved to be interesting and she was sure today would be no different.

 

[autumnmist]

******

 

[sharingfantasies]

Beth Coleman

Beth Coleman sat up straight at her desk, her hands folded in front of her, as she listened to the young girl read lines for a teen movie that was starting its shooting next month. Anyone that knew Beth would know from her posture that she was in her "I am being polite but you have got to be kidding me" mode.

She felt bad for the girl, what was her name... Mindy something but the girl just had no acting skills or presence. And truly presence was more important that being able to act. Perhaps, Beth thought, the girl would come alive in front of the camera.

"Thank you, Mindy. As you know the part of the character Callie is that of an upbeat, perky cheerleader. I am not really hearing perky in your voice or your body language." Holding up her hand as the girl started to interrupt, Beth finished her comment. "However, I am willing to see if the camera picks up something I am not seeing. Go down the hall to the door that has a camera on it and give this paper to Bob, the camera man."

Beth wrote Mindy's name on the form and checked off the box next to "30 second trial". Giving the form to Mindy, she concluded the interview. "As of this moment I would have to say you are not what the role calls for, if your taping surprises me then I will give you a call. Please don't call us if you don't hear from us, as you know there are 25 people in the waiting room also up for the same part."

As Mindy's shoulders dropped, Beth's voice softened. "Truly, Mindy, if you are serious about acting, you might want to take some lessons at this acting studio. You have some raw talent but it needs polishing. You might also want to get an agent, that way the parts that you are trying out for will suit your abilities better."

Standing up, Beth walked around her desk and handed the card to the young girl. "It is a very hard business to break into, but with classes and hard work, there is always a possibility of making it. Thank you for coming." Beth smiled at the girl's gratefulness at seeing her, and then walked her to the door.

With a professional glance at the group of young people, most of them only a few years younger than she was at 28, waiting nervously in the waiting area, Beth was disappointed to see that none of them seemed to have what she was looking for. Her assistant, Joan, was at her desk, a phone at her ear and two pencils thrust in her gray hair. When Beth caught her eye and nodded, Joan put her hand over the receiver of the phone and called the next number. Beth watched the next girl come towards her, her nervousness showing, and smiled to welcome the girl.

Beth pushed the lock of sable hair back behind her ear and she reach across the desk for the new person's file. With a smile of encouragement, she listened to the girl talk of her experience in school plays and how she had tried out for the cheerleading team. Beth's violet colored eyes showed her sense of humor as the girl related an amusing story. She knew already that there was little chance that this girl would get the part, but Beth knew how much courage and determination it took to go out to auditon on casting calls.. So she always saw every person, and gave them their chance at a moment on film. She filed their film, along with the portfolio (head shots and resume) each candidate gave her in case a part ever came up that might fit the person. At the end of each year, she and Joan would cull the files of anyone that hadn't shown any promise. Still the filing cabinets for, Beth's company, Coleman Agency, took up the majority of the office space she had maintained since opening her own company four years ago.

Beth glanced at her old fashioned school house clock on the wall as she settled in behind her desk to meet candidate 11 so far that day. The clock said that it was almost nine and that she still had two more hours set aside to interview. Most of the interviews had taken between 10-15 minutes, as she hadn't seen any one with promise. But she had another hundred applicants to see this week and two weeks before she would start to get concerned about finding the right person.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Rey walked into Brittany's office with coffee for herself and her friend. She knew Brit wouldn't have gotten her own yet. She placed the steaming mug on her friend's desk, and leaned against the doorjamb.

"So, sleep through the alarm this morning?" She gave an uncharacteristic grin, always feeling somewhat parental toward her friend. Brit was the laid back, free spirit to Reyna's Ice Princess, workaholic side. Somehow their friendship always worked out.

 

[Sexyone2106]

*Brit picked up the coffee cup sipping on the hot refreshing coffee* "thanks Rey. I must have slept thru the alarm cause when i woke up i was So late. I stayed up til about 11:30 watching 2 scary movies and when i did go to bed i had a problem going to sleep." She laughed "thats the last time i watch those movies alone again. I have a client in about half an hour, you know, the cocky one who thinks he can charm anyone just by smiling the right way?"

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Rey smirked. "Hon, that's because he does charm anyone by just smiling the right way. Especially you." She frowned suddenly, thinking of another such man, one who still had the power to unsettle her. "Hey, how about we grab lunch around 1? I hope to have a meeting around 11, and I should be done by then." Reyna liked to eat with Brittany, her endless chatter and bubbly attitude were good and camoflaging the fact that Reyna had little social life to speak of and was really quite introverted.

 

[Sexyone2106]

*brittany laughs* i dont know why i let him get to me like i do. He thinks that no matter what all he has to do is smile and i will melt, and most of the time it works and i dont know why. I'd love to have lunch, i should be free so we can go to that nice restaraunt down town. I only have the one client this morning anyway. I have some sessions with him later on around 4 though but i'd like to have lunch with you..

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Reyna smiled, a bit distractedly, due to her thoughts one again turning to places they shouldn't go. "All right... see you at one then." She turned and went back to her office, ready to bury her feelings and herself in work once again. Thankfully she rarely stopped to realize what she was doing to herself.

 

[Sexyone2106]

*After watching Rey walk out of her office Brittany kinda sat there for a second as she thought about the way Rey acted, kinda like something was wrong. She pulled up her files on her computer and started to work some before her client came in but she couldnt shake the feeling something was wrong with Rey so she walked into Reys office as she stood leaned against her desk* "Hey, you wanna talk about it?"

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Rey smiled at Britt. "It's nothing, honestly. I've just been in a funk lately. I keep getting the feeling that something is going to happen... I really don't know. I have this meeting later today, but it's really vague as to who it's with, and I think it might be bad news" What she didnt tell Britany was that she had a pretty good idea who the meeting was with, and she dreaded it. She smiled again "I'm sure it's nothing. I just like knowing exactly what is going on at all times, you know?" She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

 

[gagonthis]

"Look... I don't care if he was baiting you man! You can't just go on TV, even on a small time show like that, and start spouting off the kind of nonsense you were spouting and expect the press to react well." Blest sighed. Another big name, more big problems. "Look, I don't care if you DO know the history of psychiatry man, you went ballistic on an interviewer and it's not going to look good to the public!" He zoned out as his client continued talking, grabbing the small snippets he needed to argue. "Yes yes, I know it's your 'religion' man, but seriously, you need to tone it down a bit or you're going to end up burning some real important bridges, mark my words. Fine fine, I'll talk to you later." Sighing heavily he hung up and his assistant poked her head into the room. "Up to his tricks again eh?" She asked, giving him a smile and bringing a mug of coffee in. "As always..." Bles said as he took the coffee thanking her.

Mary had been with him since the beginning and he couldn't ask for a better assistant. She was his rock, the real reason he got any work done. She kept everything emaculately organized and she made a killer cup of coffee, probably one of the reasons he was one of the few people in this business NOT on cocaine he thought with a slight chuckle. "So what's on the agenda today?" He asked Mary as he sipped the coffee. "Well... you have an appointment here in fifteen, and a lunch with that new kid we're scouting, oh and then immediately following you've got a meeting with Reyna..." Mary said, grin large on her face. Blest cringed, usually he enjoyed his meetings with Reyna, but one of his clients had recently gotten hers into a bit of trouble with the press and he was sure she'd have it out for him. "I even took the time to get your good suit pressed and order a batch of Lilys from the florist." She said, grinning even wider than before. Blest merely shook his head at her. "Your interest in me and her is unnatural you know." He said jokingly as she stuck her tongue out at him before ducking out to let his morning appointment in.

 

[Sexyone2106]

*Britt smiled at Rey warmly as she said* "yea i know what you mean Rey. But you know, if you feel that way maybe you should cancel, or if you'd like i could be in the meeting with you. If it makes you feel safe. I'm here for you" *She said as she smiled. After all Rey was her best friend*

 

[CollegeRomantic]

"No Britt, this is something I have to do. Bitsy thinks she is getting married to a certain big name star who just made a major faux pas on Morning Edition yesterday. As usual, I have to clean up after her mess." Unfortunately for Reyna that meant a meeting with Blest Sanders, which meant she would need one hell of a margarita after work today. "Hey Britt..... you up for maragaritas tonight?" It was always good to be prepared.

 

[Sexyone2106]

*Brittany smiled* "yea how about 6:30 at that bar down the street?" *She then smiled as she said* "Maybe afterwards we'll crash at my place, and watch a movie or something. " *she loved being able to spend time with Rey, they were best friends and Rey was the only woman in the world who she actually had fun with.

 

[gagonthis]

The day was going by pretty slowly. His first appointment was pointless.. he just kept arguing circles back and forth with the person. Some people would never change their behaviour and Blest knew that. He wasn't there to improve these people's lives, he was there for damage control when their personal lives became a little too public. His lunch meeting was just as long and finally he trooped back into the office looking completely worn out. He smiled at Mary as he trooped back to his office. "Screen my calls for the next two hours." He said, half-jokingly. "Ok, but don't forget, you're meeting Reyna in half an hour!" Blest groaned, the day had been so long he had forgotten, and now he knew he looked like shit. "Alright alright..." He sighed, standing and going to the bathroom. It was always important to look your best when meeting with people in this business, but he liked to look especially good when he met with Reyna. She could sense weakness. He spent the next fifteen minutes tidying himself up before grabbing his jacket and jumping into her Mercedes, heading to their meeting spot.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Reyna sat in her office, eyes closed, her body as relaxed as it was going to get, meditating. She found it helped to relax for a minute or two before a roudh meeting. So far she had been at it for half an hour to no avail. She had been so lucky, for almost a year, to avoid Blest like the plague. Now her client wanted to marry his client. So much for good luck. He would be there in less than twenty minutes.

Reyna's eyes snapped open and she sighed resignedly. She tidied her desk, made sure her lipstick was fresh, and ordered that coffee be brought in when Blest arrived. She had to look her best and act her best.

"Think mean Reyna. Think mean." She muttered to herself. To survive Blest Sanders she had to be mean. She couldn't think about how safe she felt, sheltered against his body, or how wonderful just being with him could be. Besides, she had a wedding to stop.

 

[gagonthis]

Blest pulled into the parking lot of Reyna's office. He sighed heavily as he checked the rearview mirror, pushing some of his hair back into place before stepping out of his Mercedes, grabbing his briefcase as he went. He was in for a long meeting, and given the nature he knew Reyna wouldn't be happy about what had happened. She was very sensitive about her client, and this bullshit about marriage just wouldn't fly with her. It might be a good publicity booster for his client, but he knew she'd see it as suicide for hers. So he was here to hear her out, listen to her bitch him out in place of his client. He sighed again, those were the breaks.

He walked into the office and smiled at the receptionist, someone new he saw. "Hi, could you please tell Reyna that her 2 o' clock is here." He said smiling at the looked on the girl's face when he used Reyna's first name. Ah well. He sighed, sitting down in the waiting room until he was told she was ready to see him.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

It was game time. Reyna buzzed the secretary. "Send Mr. Sanders in please." She took a deep breath, schooled her features into an icy mask and prepared for battle.

 

[gagonthis]

Blest smiled as the receptionist told him he could go to the back. "Do you need me to take you back sir?" She asked as he rose. "No no, I've been here quite a few times, I know the way." He said with a smile. He steeled himself, walking back through the hallway. Alright. Game time. He put on his best smile and walked through the doorway, seeing Reyna with her usual ball busting look upon her face. "So... what's your client gotten mine into this time?" He asked with a slight smile on his face, knowing the situation was the other way around.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Reyna smiled cooly. "Please Mr. Sanders, have a seat. My assistant has been kind enough to provide us with coffee" Reyna watched the closing door, gauging the time until her assistant was out of earshot before turning accusing eyes back to Blest. "My client, Mr. Sanders?" Her tone was icy, but not personal, she was leaving personal out of this for as long as possible. "Your client has asked Bitsy to marry him. I assume after his ridiculous charade yesterday morning that this was encouraged, citing improved public relations. I assume you know how terrible this would be for both of them." Reyna hoped to avoid media backlash by either stopping the engagement as quickly as possible or delicately breaking it off so that the two could go their separate ways, relatively unscathed.

While he thought, she allowed her eyes to do a cursory appraisal of his body. Just one. That would have to be enough.

 

[gagonthis]

Blest sighed heavily as he took his seat. Right out the gate she was bringing out the ice queen act. He frowned at that. He and Reyna had history, it was true. They'd been quite the hot item in college, but then one day out of the blue Reyna had decided it was over. She was upset over something but never told him what it was. Blest wasn't one for mind games so he moved on... or tried to. He figured it wouldn't be too hard, they wouldn't see each other after school, but he'd been wrong.

"Look, I'm not going to deny that this hasn't helped my client quite a bit." He said, not allowing her cold tone to get to him. "But I can guarantee you this wasn't my idea. Sometimes... well sometimes you just can't stop love. You know that Reyna." He said with a lopsided smile, already going for the kinks in her armor. "Besides the press loves a celebrity marriage, even if Dave is something of a bad boy. There's a lot of buzz about this whole thing. Now explain to me how it's in our benefit at all to break up this perfect couple." He said, his voice heavy with undertones as he allowed one look at her body, still so fine after all these years.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Reyna's mouth tightens, her eyes hardening into a glare. "You don't know anything about love Blest. We know that" She reined herself in, returning to the subject at hand. "She's young Blest, Dave is experienced and he runs with a different crowd. She's new at this, hardly sophisticated enough to be here, let alone get married. What's going to happen when it fails? How will we deal with that? Dave isn't as popular as he used to be. He doesn't need to be blamed for corrupting America's Sweetheart." Reyna absently rubbed her shoulder, the familiar knots of tension still rising there.