14
3194 Words
Cindy muted the TV. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had turned on ET to relax only to learn Lance’s new relationship had gone from budding to flowering. His news romance had blossomed into a serious commitment with Cassia Dillinger moving into his posh loft. She was not only taking Cindy’s booking, but now she was moving in? Things had never gotten that serious with her and Lance. What did this woman have that made her so damn special?
Cindy was furious. Thanks to Lance’s management of his new girlfriend Cindy hadn’t worked in almost six weeks. Marcus couldn’t seal the deal. He couldn’t even book her for a Wal-Mart flier. So much for this celebrated manager that was going to take her career to the next level. Lance had blackballed Marcus in the industry, and no one would work with him and in turn her.
She should have never left Lance. She was regretting her decision now. Lance turned out to be more powerful then she had first thought. This little tart he had chosen to replace her with was getting on her nerves. At first, she hadn’t been threatened, but now Cassia was posing a very serious problem. She was putting Cindy out of business and the closer she got to Lance the more popular the little farm girl became. She was becoming the hottest new thing to hit the industry, and with Lance’s support, she was quickly gaining supermodel status.
She had asked Marcus to deal with her little problem, but he was proving inept. She couldn’t count on Marcus for anything. It was time to cut him loose. She was going to have to deal with this problem on her own. She had some friends in low places that might be able to help her, and if they failed her, she was willing to get her own hands dirty. Either way, she was going to knock that little hussy off her pedestal and get herself back on top.
Cindy knew Lance had had feelings for her and they had a history. She’d make a play for him first and if that failed. She’d make some calls.
***
“Where are you taking me?” Cassia asked as she held onto Lance’s forearm. He had said they were going out, but he wouldn’t tell her where. He had even blindfolded her when she got into the car. She was excited but worried. Where were they going?
“Step up.” She heard him say as he guided her forward. She awkwardly stepped up and then forward. She heard him thank someone and then they were walking up and incline. “Step up.” He said again and then she felt what must have been a seat at her knees. “Shuffle.” He instructed, and she did as he instructed. She didn’t know what was going on, but she trusted him. “Sit.” Cassia reached behind her and felt for the seat. She sat down.
Lance took a seat next to her and removed her blindfold. Cassia looked around they were in a movie theatre, and they had great seats. Only they were alone except for the two employees that were standing off to the side with drinks and popcorn.
“Tada!” He smiled holding his arms out to present his surprise. “I thought we would catch a movie.”
She was excited it was the first time they went out together that wasn’t work related or to eat. “This is great.” She grinned. “We must be early; we’re the only ones here.”
“I wanted to be alone, so I bought out the theatre. It’s our private showing.” He said.
“Really?” She couldn’t believe it. Booking the whole theatre had to be expensive.
“Yeah, I thought we could celebrate.” He said with a sly smile. She wasn’t sure what they were to be celebrating. The question in her eyes brought a sly smile to his lips. “I got a surprise for you.”
She was anxious to know what? Lance reached into his jacket and took out a thick folded document. He handed it to Cassia, and she opened it to see what it might be. “What is this?” She asked reading the front page. She couldn’t believe it. It was a contract with Cover Girl. It was a fifty-thousand-dollar contract with the leading makeup company in the world.
“Is this real? You got a Cover Girl shoot?”
“You got the Cover Girl shoot.” He corrected her. “I’m not the photographer.”
She didn’t understand why they would book her without Lance? She got every booking because they came as a packaged deal. “I don’t understand.”
“They want you. They called me last week and asked if you were free. You booked this shoot on your merit.” She was speechless. They wanted her; she couldn’t believe it. Who was she? She was no one. “Did you see the payout?” He said pointing to the section that spelled out what she was to be paid. “Fifty thousand dollars. Do you know what that means?”
It meant she didn’t have to worry about money for the next six months. That she could pay him back all the money, he had spent on her. What she didn’t understand was why they were paying so much.
“That’s supermodel money babe; you’re a supermodel.” He spelled it out for her.
“I’m a supermodel?” He nodded yes, and she threw her arms around him. “I’m a supermodel! I can’t believe it, this is incredible.”
Lance laughed and hugged her back. “Welcome to the industry babe you are now one of us.” She was just so thrilled she kissed him full on the mouth. He had done it. He had done it. He had made her a supermodel. There was absolutely nothing that felt better than this moment. “You have to sign it, and the deal is sealed. You start next week.”
“Wait this says I have to go to New York City.” She said as she read the contract more in-depth.
“So, you have to travel a little it’s to be expected.”
Cassia looked up. “What will you be doing?”
“I have a shoot with Gucci.”
Her excitement quickly faded. “What am I going to do without you?”
“I’m sure you can handle it on your own. It’s only for two weeks, and then you’ll be back in LA.”
“I don’t want to go without you.” She said handing the contract back to him.
“Babe this is a great opportunity. You can’t pass this up you might not get another offer like it if you turn it down.”
“Can’t you come with me?”
“I have to work. This lifestyle doesn’t come without work. You can do this. It’s not like we will never see each other again.” She didn’t know; she was just so used to Lance being there supporting her she wasn’t sure she could do it alone. Besides she would miss him terribly. “It’s just two weeks, and then we’ll be in the same bed again.”
“I can’t do this without you.”
Lance caressed her face lovingly. “You don’t need me anymore.”
“Where will I stay?”
“I’ll set everything up you don’t have to worry. You can stay in the penthouse my family has in New York. We always stay there when we go to New York.”
“Won’t your parents mind?”
“They live in Westchester.” He said. “They won’t mind, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll tell them you’re coming, so they don’t freak out if they find you there.” Lance took a pen from his pocket and handed it to her. “So now why don’t you sign the contract?”
Still unsure she took the pen and signed her name reminding herself this was what she wanted. She supposed she couldn’t use Lance as her security net forever. She was going to have to do this alone.
***
“I want you to check in on her,” Lance said pacing the kitchen.
“Ok I suppose I can pop in a few times but why aren’t you coming with her?” His brother Dominic asked. Dominic was a grown man still living at home. Twenty-one he was spreading his wings. Dominic was a wonderful artist who had just sold his first piece a few months ago. From what Lance was told, a celebrated art gallery in New York had approached him about showcasing his work in a gala.
“I have a photo shoot I can’t go with her. She’s nervous about being in New York alone. She’s just a small-town girl; the big city will eat her up. I need someone I can trust to look in on her.” He said opening the fridge.
“I’m insulted.” Dominic laughed. “You don’t think I can steal your girl.”
Lance chuckled. “I trust you.”
“I’ve seen her on ET; she’s cute. I bet I could steal her away. A little wine and candlelight and I’ll be sketching your girlfriend naked by midnight.” His brother teased.
Lance couldn’t help but smile. He didn’t believe a word. He trusted Dominic; he was a good honest guy very trustworthy. If Lance feared anyone stealing Cassia away, it wouldn’t be Dominic.
“Look just keep her company and out of trouble.” He asked.
“Yeah, I got it. She’ll never even notice you’re not there. But you know Mom’s not happy about this. She’s not keen on the fact that you’re living together now.”
That didn’t surprise Lance. “If I waited for her to approve of something I’d never do anything.”
“Hey, have you seen Lucas lately?” It was a valid question. Lucas also lived in California, but he had a place down in Sana Monica. “No last I heard he was in Mexico City.”
“Not anymore he was just here in New York just a few days ago, and he wasn’t alone.”
“Really who was he with?”
“Do you remember Maxine Perez?”
He did she used to go to school with them. If he remembered correctly, she and Lucas had been close, but they hadn’t seen each other in almost a decade. Maxine’s father had been a military man, and they had been forced to move away when they were sixteen.
“Where did he run into her?”
“At a jump in San Diego,” Dominic said.
“Oh yeah you know now that I think about it I think he brought her to a showcase of mine a few weeks ago. She looked good.” Lance said grabbing a bottle of water. The elevator door opened and Cassia came in. “Cassia just walked in.” He winked at her. “I’ll call you later.” He hung up the phone and kissed her hello. “I just finished all the arraignments. Your flight leaves tonight. My brother Dominic is going to pick you up from the airport and take you to the penthouse. If you need anything at all while you’re in New York call Dominic and he’ll take care of everything.”
Cassia’s bottom lip thrust outward in the cutest little pout. “I wish you were going with me.”
“I’ll call you every night. You’ll like New York.” He promised. “Are you done packing?”
“I packed this morning.”
“Then what do you say we go out for dinner before I drive you to the airport.”
“Do I have to fly?” He understood it wasn’t her favourite way to travel, but it was the only way to get to New York by morning.
“Yes, did you get the pills?”
Cassia held up a prescription bottle of Xanax. She had gone to the doctor in the afternoon to get something to calm her nerves while on the plane. The Xanax had worked so well the last time he thought it would do her some good again. “I’ll just put this in my suitcase and then we can go.” She said heading into the bedroom.
Lance’s cell phone beeped the moment Cassia was out of the room. Taking it from his pocket, he checked his text messages. It was Cindy. He really should have blocked her number. Curious he opened the message and read what was written. She wanted to have dinner. Did she think he was crazy? Why would he have dinner with her? So, he texted back a rather crude suggestion and then blocked her number from his phone.
“Are you ready to go?” Cassia asked coming out of the room with her suitcase rolling behind her.
“I’m ready when you are, Babe.” He said putting Cindy out of his mind. As far as he was concerned Cindy Ratter could drop dead. He wouldn’t give her a glass of water if she were on fire let alone any of his precious time.
They took dinner at a French bistro not far from the loft, after which he drove Cassia to the airport. He walked her to her gate, gave her some words of encouragement and kissed her good-bye. She’d do fine on her own he was sure of it. Still, he wished he was going with her. Maybe if he wrapped up the shoot quickly, he could fly up there and spend a few days with Cassia and his brothers before she had to come home.
It was getting late when Lance returned to the loft. He was walking into the lobby when he came face to face with someone that could ruin his good mood. Cindy stood beside the elevator looking beautiful. She smiled at him and pushed a lock of golden hair behind her ear seductively.
Cindy held up her cell phone with a flirtatious smile. “That wasn’t very nice what you wrote back. All I asked was for you to let me buy you dinner and you suggested I do something alone that you used to have fun doing to me.”
“What do you want?” He asked getting right to the point he didn’t feel like playing her games.
“I want dinner.”
“I’ve eaten.”
“Then drinks.”
“I quit drinking.” He lied.
“Since when?”
“Since now.”
“Then coffee.”
“I’m fresh out.”
“Then how about just a few minutes of your time.”
“My time is very expensive.” He said heading for the elevator.
“You used to like spending your time with me. We used to have fun together.” She said following him. “Don’t you miss me? I miss you.”
Lance paused and turned to look at her. He couldn’t believe her nerve, to come here telling such lies to curry his favour. Did she think he was so stupid? To take her back after what she did to him? “You miss me?”
“I do, I do.” She said placing her hand on his chest. “I miss the time we spent together. They were such good times don’t you remember how we would spend days in bed together?”
“I still do that, but at least she isn’t having more s*x then I am.” Her brow furrowed with annoyance at the mention of Cassia. Lance chuckled. “Oh, Cindy sweetheart, don’t frown it’s giving you wrinkles, but then that probably doesn’t matter because I don’t think you’ve been working, have you? What’s wrong, your new lover boy not cutting it?”
Her pretty smile had been replaced by a nasty scowl which brought a smile to his face. He was happy to see her suffer vengeance was so sweet. He could practically smell the stench of desperation on her.
“Where is the little lady?” She asked crossing her arms.
He was happy to tell her, to throw Cassia’s success in Cindy’s face. “She’s in New York shooting a Cover Girl ad. She’s making fifty grand.” He could see the tension twitch in her jaw. “She’s a supermodel now.”
“Well, then she’s not around to bother us.” She said reaching up to touch his face. Lance’s hand closed around her wrist. He didn’t want her touching him. The very sight of her made him nauseated with all the hate bubbling up in the back of his throat like bile.
“You and I are never going to happen.”
“But we have a history.” She smiled.
“You are history, have the good taste to die with some dignity.” The elevator doors opened, and Lance stepped on and pressed the button leaving Cindy behind him.
***
She watched the elevator door slid shut. Her attempt to seduce him had failed. So, it looked like plan-B. If he were bent of ruining her life, she would do the same. He took away what meant the most to her; she’d take away what meant the most to him. It was time to deal with Lance’s little princess.
- Writer
