Chapter 3
Michelle
A wardrobe is nothing without a little black dress. It complements everything I own and I was feeling a little frisky. I can’t show up casually in a pair of jeans and one of my many sweaters.
The woman looking back at me in the mirror is a stranger.
She seems uncomfortable in her own skin. The reflection is how I want to be perceived. A festering sexual desire is building with pressure inside of me waiting for a suitable outlet. The sex toys in my possession are merely distractions from the flesh and blood version between a man’s legs.
I left the comfort of my one bedroom bungalow with low expectations. The taxi was waiting for me. I took the time to apply make-up with a red glossy shine to my lips.
The taxi comes to a stop and I look up to the restaurant with a buzzing clientele sitting down to dinner.
I step from the taxi, teetering on my 4-inch black heels. It’s in my blood to be a temptation. My mother has always been a consummate flirt. Her limited career in the entertainment field had me following her around to every gig. Her claim to fame was a national commercial back in the day.
I tried my hand at acting, but I couldn’t get past the butterflies. I turned my attention to my true passion. I was going to take those not getting the recognition they deserved and give them a platform. I was the one who made the introductions and things skyrocketed from there.
The restaurant is standing room only. The patrons are accustomed to the extravagant price tags. They don’t even bat an eyelash. The women know how to dress to impress. I feel like they are judging me, but I know it’s only my overactive imagination.
Sheila is already one glass of wine ahead of me. She waves at me and I walk over to find she isn’t alone.
Tyson is swirling his glass with his eyes closed. He invites the aroma into his olfactory senses. There’s absolutely no way I can possibly fit into this crowd.
“Tyson has been kind enough to keep me company. You never told me he was funny as well as handsome. Be careful, or I might have to steal him out from underneath you,” She giggles with her hand playfully slapping Tyson’s chest.
“Sheila has been telling me about some of her accomplishments. She studied in Oxford for a year doing Shakespeare in the park to get experience. She has been honing her craft for almost five years in the making. I have to say that she’s already paid her dues and then some. I have the ear of several different producers looking for their marquee star. A few chosen words and you will be on your way.” He took a sip of the wine and smiled with an appreciation for the bouquet and the sensation of warmth running through his veins.
I made myself comfortable even though the man of my dreams is leering at me over his glass.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We still need some kind of publicity to put her over with the people. Ideally, that would come from a Broadway show, but that’s probably reaching a little bit too far. Aim a little lower,” I advise, thinking she’s not going to live and die by the word of Tyson Reynolds.
“There is a role that opened moments before I got here. I don’t want the word to get out so I will write down the name of the Broadway show,” He whispered with his hand scribbling on a napkin before he folded it over.
He slides the napkin inconspicuously across the table until both of us are able to peel it back to reveal the name.
We both look at each other stunned by the revelation. The role in question was filled by a little-known actress on a famous sitcom. Something had to have happened to make her vacate the role in mid-production.
“We’re going to have to prepare her for the audition,” I sputter with disbelief unable to comprehend how he is the first to know of this little rumour.
“Auditions are for those who come off the street without representation. One word of encouragement and the role can be yours. The only thing you have to decide is what contract you’re going to sign. You can have your lawyers read it, but it’s basically boilerplate.” He said revealing a white envelope coming out of his suit jacket.
“This is a bit sudden and I thought I would have more time to think about it. My father taught me never to take the first offer.” She has flaming red hair cut short above her neck and her body is a man’s wet dream coming true in front of their eyes.
“Opportunities like this don’t come around often. I’m going to need your answer before the end of dinner. There are others vying for this role, but I’m giving you first dibs. Don’t think about it for long and this is a limited time offer,” He warns while motioning for the waitress to come over to take our order.
He’s a bit presumptuous and takes the liberty of ordering for all three of us without even consulting us. It’s in bad form and leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. I don’t object and I’m a little bit curious to see how sophisticated his palate is.
The wine bottle is in his hand and he doesn’t even hesitate to fill our glasses when they are half empty. I suspect this is his attempt to get me drunk. Everybody knows liquor has a tendency to lower inhibitions. The trap is set and I’m not one to take the bait easily.
The same thing can’t be said for Sheila. I try in vain to stop her from overindulging, but she feels she has something to celebrate.
Champagne is mentioned and soon becomes yet another thing to put on the bill at the end of the night.
“I don’t mean to boast about his talents, but it’s not bragging if you can back it up. The chef here is a four-star Michelin marvel. His Italian roots give him a leg up over the competition. His traditional training has him delving into a bunch of different tricks to keep his clients happy,” He comments with a bit of a flair for the dramatic.
He’s waving his hands around with a boisterous voice to call attention to himself. It’s not uncommon for him to be the centre of attention.
Tyson had a 5:00 shadow and I wondered how his prickly beard would feel on the inside of my thighs.
His polished reputation is always on the line, but nothing had tarnished it. His risks paid off more so than when it didn’t. It’s a stroke of genius for him to come here with something up his sleeve.
“Are you sure you’re not talking crazy? This whole thing seems surreal. I’m a little confused how something like this hasn’t gotten out. The producer in question is a man of many talents, but keeping a secret isn’t one of them,” Sheila questions the validity without actually coming out and voicing her suspicion.
“This is the one time we’re going to have to agree to disagree. I told him to keep it quiet on the promise I would be able to find him some fresh talent to fill the vacant position. I have some feelers out with more established actresses, but they don’t have that certain something. I warn you there is going to be a lot of pressure put on your shoulders and big shoes to fill,” He declares with his hand slapping the table for emphasis.
I know Sheila is up to the task. It surprises me nobody has snatched her up. I guess their bad luck is our good luck.
“I’m no stranger to proving myself. It’s all a part of the auditioning process. I’d been debating on what company to go with, but what you have done is saved me a lot of time. I’m willing to do what it takes to make this work,” She whispers and moves her hand across the table to touch him while lingering a little bit too long.
“You don’t have to do that. I would rather keep things platonic and professional. I know this is a foreign concept in this business, but some of us are not easily swayed by a pretty face. You have an exemplary talent and nobody should take advantage of you. I will personally be watching to make sure nobody demands more of you than what you’re willing to give.” He very carefully removes her hand and I have to say that I’m impressed and that’s not easy to do.
“This might be the first time I’ve ever been turned down. I’m not sure how to take that, but you have gone above and beyond. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this evening, but I was fully prepared to take it to the next level. You might be one of the last good ones,” She praises and I can tell she has designs on making tonight something to remember.
“There’s no room in my life for the drama of getting involved with somebody. I have no problem finding women. I don’t have to resort to these childish antics. You deserve respect and you should never go against your principles.” The meal arrived and I had to say his palate was refined.
It was almost better than sex, but I didn’t have any reference. Being a virgin at my age is unheard of. I could easily see being with Tyson in the Biblical sense doing things that would be illegal in some states.
The banter was easy and I found myself watching intently to see him in his element. Tyson is more than my boss. He’s showing himself to be a man of discipline. How he could possibly refuse her is beyond me.
We ended the evening and stood at the curb with Sheila getting into a taxi with a big smile on her face. She is destined for big things. I could only hope she would continue to fight the stereotype of the casting couch. It’s not going to be easy, but she’s strong enough to weather the leering gazes of men thinking that they can have something they shouldn’t.
I turn to say something but find myself in a lip lock. I stare at him in disbelief, but the passion behind the kiss is too hard to resist. I believe it had something to do with the abundance of alcohol he had consumed.
His tongue is in my mouth and I feel him igniting my libido. I sink into it, wallowing in the pleasure he inflicts with his hand slowly moving down until he has me up against him.
I finally broke free of his embrace long enough to slap him hard enough to get his attention. It would be easy to let him control me, driving me wild until there is nothing left but the mere presence of him next to me after putting a smile on both of our faces.
He literally laughs and makes it seem like it’s no big deal. The valet brings his car and he doesn’t offer to drive me home. I stand there like an idiot wondering how he is going to react the next day.
I’m going to find out if what I did to reject him is going to ruin everything. I almost forgot the woman I was for the chance to be with him.
It would be wrong, but I knew it would feel right in so many ways. I touch my lips and I can still feel him there like a phantom putting ideas into my head. These are not ideas I would normally have in the workplace, but I feel completely under his spell unable to break free of what could’ve been.