Page 74 of Open for Negotiation
“Not today, not before something this important. For all he knows, I was helping you with something or we were just talking.”
“Your hand was between my legs and I was moaning into your neck, Boss.” I turn to check myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed, but it looks nice, and everything else is still in place. “And now I’m sexually frustrated.”
He comes up and presses a chaste kiss on my shoulder. “Like I said before, finish your job here and I’ll take you home and take very good care of you.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
***
The lights that are on set are blinding. I never realized there were so many. There are a over a dozen lights, plus four cameras, all pointing toward two chairs that are slightly angled toward one another with a flat-screen television in the wall between them, where our presentation and 3D mockups will be shown. My palms are starting to sweat and I’m feeling a bit jittery. I can’t stand still while I wait to be called over to take my place.
“Hi, Scarlett,” an older man that I recognize as one of the regular anchors on this station comes toward me with his hand outstretched. “I’m Derrick. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Hello, it’s so nice to meet you as well.”
“How are you feeling? Ready to roll?”
“I’m ready, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous.” I look over my shoulder to where everyone who came from the office to support me is standing, but my eyes settle right on Max.
He smiles and gives me a nod.
“Ah.” Derrick waves toward me. “You’re in good hands here. We’ll walk you through everything and I’ll be there with you. It’ll go perfectly. They’ve got your file all set up and ready to go, so you’ll just talk us through what you’ve prepared. All right?”
“Mmm hmm. That sounds great.” I shake out my hands and take a few deep breaths. I’ve got this. I’m going to be just fine.
The producer comes over to show me to my seat on the set. The microphone they’ve attached to me is tested again, my hair and makeup are touched up, and I can just watch in awe. This is such a well-oiled machine, with every moving part doing exactly what it is supposed to do.
I sneak a peek off stage again to our small audience of coworkers: Garrett, Cassidy, Sonja, but like always, I’m drawn to Max.
He is watching me intently, sending me every bit of positivity and bravery I need right now.
“All right, we are live in sixty seconds!” someone on the crew shouts out and everyone scurries around and into their positions.
I cross my legs and try to adjust myself in the most flattering way. “Okay, I’m ready. I’ve got this,” I say out loud and Derrick smiles.
“You do. No fear. All right? It’ll be wonderful.”
“Ten seconds!” that same producer shouts out and I take one final look at Max and he smiles and mouths I’m right here.
That’s enough to settle my nerves as the final countdown begins.
“Three… two… one… go!”
The lights grow even brighter than they were before, the live sign above the camera illuminates a bright red, and just like that… I’m being broadcast to thousands.
“Welcome back, everyone, we’re happy you’re joining us this morning, and boy, do we have exciting news for you today.” Derrick goes on like the pro that he is, and it makes me even more relaxed. “If you’ve been waiting for a vacation destination in the great state of Georgia, rather than just driving through on your way to one of the beaches in Florida or to visit a very famous mouse in Orlando,” he winks, “then our next segment is sure to make you very happy.”
He goes through my introduction and a very brief summary of the resort grounds and vaguely what everyone can expect, then he turns the floor over to me for a more in-depth overview.
“Thank you, Derrick,” I begin, “you definitely hit the key points, but I think I can take it a step farther on that big, beautiful television behind us.”
“The floor is yours, Ms. Hale.”
I am able to make it through the first portion of the presentation pretty flawlessly, much like I did at the pitch meeting with the city planners and tourism board.
I am flowing through 3D renderings and blueprints on the screen, finding my rhythm and confidence… until it happens.
I click the button to change the slide and I hear gasps from the entire crew and pretty much everyone on the set. I’m confused at first until I turn to look at the screen and I’m met with a very large, enhanced, very intimate photo of myself and Carson Whitaker having sex in his office.
