Doctor of the Heart

Chapter 6: However Long

"Lucky, lucky girl, you are," Anna shook her head upon seeing Cameron appear in the doorway to her office. "You're lucky I am good at what I do, the best, even," she boasted.

Cameron sat down on one of the hard wooden chairs in front of Anna's desk. "Do tell," she said flatly.

Anna laughed, "We'll just wait until Jason joins us. How about that?"

"Um, a-alright," Cameron didn't like the sound of Anna's tone. She was in too good of a mood, wasn't panicked, and wasn't talking down to her like she was over the phone during Cameron's breakfast that she was unable to finish. Anna had excused herself to take a phone call on her mobile phone, leaving Cameron alone in her office. Pulling out her own phone, Cameron sent a message to James, How are things at work? I'm anxious about this meeting... xoxo

"Sorry about that," Anna had returned, sitting herself on her desk to face Cameron, crossing her legs casually. "Jason will be here shortly. He has a proposition that I think is just brilliant!"

"Oh? Am I allowed to know what it is just yet?" If it was anything that had come out of Jason's dirty mind, Cameron was willing to bet she would not be in agreement with their plan of action.

Anna chuckled, winking at Cameron. "Just you wait. Can I get you coffee? Tea, perhaps? Some green tea will boost your metabolism."

"Um, sure," Cameron took it as a subtle jab at her appearance, adjusting her posture.

While Anna was making tea for herself and Cameron, Jason gave a single knock at the door before letting himself in, "Hey, toots." He greeted Anna.

"Jase! How the hell are you, ya handsome devil?" Anna accepted a kiss on the cheek from Jason in greeting.

Jason glanced down at Cameron, "It'll be better when we can put this whole thing to bed."

Cameron glanced away anxiously, "Do I get to know what this proposition is? Or will the two of you have your fun batting me around?"

Sighing, Jason couldn't prolong the inevitable. He pulled up a chair, sitting on it backwards before speaking. "Listen, I know we had this conversation a few weeks ago, but for the sake of your career, you'll reconsider."

"Seeing as some...photos were distributed to the public, we thought we could use this as a sort of marketing for us. Good PR for you, even." Anna had inserted herself into the conversation.

"Good PR, that's right," Jason agreed with Anna. "You're gonna be staring in a little love scene for us, doll face."

"I'm sorry, what?" Cameron had heard them correctly, but was still taken aback by the request.

"We ain't askin' anymore," Jason's voice was firm, "because of your little slip up, and the fact you took those pictures while you were in our studio, we're using those pictures as a teaser for your next appearance."

Cameron's stomach sank, she could throw up if there was anything left in her stomach to throw up. "No, no, you're joking, right?" She looked at Anna, pleading.

Anna shook her head, "This was the only way we could see getting past this little scandal, and turning it into something positive."

"Then, I-I'll quit. I could get another modeling job in an instant," Cameron was trying to hide the panic in her voice.

"Not if you're black-listed, you can't, tootsie," Jason chuckled.

"And what would that do to your reputation if you just left this all out without any resolution?" Anna folded her arms.

They were right. Cameron's shoulders slumped, knowing she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. "Fine, what is the scene?"

Jason and Anna shared knowing glances before Jason spoke first, "We thought we'd take all of this publicity that you and your little boyfriend you play doctor with have been getting, and use that to our advantage."

Cameron's eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?"

Jason and Anna shared a glance before Jason answered her, "We're casting Anthony to pose as Doctor Drake for your big debut."

Her chest tightening, Cameron couldn't hide the unease she felt as she grimaced at the proposal. "Seriously? Do you have an outline for me to look at? I've never done anything like this before. I don't know what to do."

"Easy, easy, we're still working out the details," Jason put his hands up to ease Cameron.

"Anna, please," Cameron begged her publicist, "surely there is another solution. I don't want to do this, please."

Anna shook her head as she sipped her tea casually, "You'll be fine. Don't worry, you won't actually have s*x with Anthony if you don't want to."

"Why the hell would I?" Cameron's voice rose with frustration, her tone going up an octave at the notion. "And why Anthony? He's such a flamboyant snob."

Jason laughed, "He's got the body for it. Besides, his ratings are the highest out of all the guys here. A rising starlit like you paired with him, it's a rocket ship to the moon, babe."

"We'll make him look a little bit older to match your lifestyle, if that would make it better," Anna suggested, thinking she was being helpful.

"Well," Jason slapped his thighs before rising from his sitting position on Anna's desk, "I think that's about it for now. Good meeting, productive. Always a pleasure, Anna Marie," Jason kissed her cheek before making his way to the door.

"Anna, you can't be serious about this," Cameron turned her attention back to her publicist.

"Ah, ah," Anna put her hand up to stop Cameron from talking, "I'll let you know when it's your turn to talk. Now listen, your contract has been signed, your ass is ours. And if we want your ass on screen, it'll be on-screen. You've been able to skirt around having to perform for long enough. If anything, this is very long overdue, and Jason has been patient with you, refusing this part of your job." Anna was silent a moment before giving Cameron permission to speak.

Dejected, Cameron hung her head, nodding slightly, "Yes, ma'am."

"Good girl. Now go home and enjoy the rest of your day off. We'll be seeing you on Monday morning to have a meeting with the producers, directors and Anthony, of course."

"Of course," Cameron muttered to herself. How was she going to tell James what she would have to do to fix this? How would he react? It wasn't just her that didn't want to perform on stage faking an orgasm, it was James as well. Taking out her phone once more, she composed a brief message to him: Meeting is done, I'm going home.

In the solitude of her car, Cameron couldn't help but sit in the driver's seat, staring blankly at her dash cluster. "I wanted that to go better." Her frustration rising, she tried to breath through her anger, but couldn't help but let a little spill out in the form of yelling, "I wanted it to go better!"