by J A Fielding
“Yes, apart from TMZ, US Weekly and Hollywood Spotter also seem promising,” Pam said turning her laptop to face the two women. “US Weekly and Hollywood Spotter both offered five hundred thousand for the ceremony and an extra three hundred for exclusive honeymoon photos. TMZ on the other hand are offering $1.2 million for the same,” she said as Natasha and Rita looked at the laptop screen in disbelief. “The others were thinking of raising their bids,” she added with a smile.
“Okay. I have heard of ridiculous, but this is it,” Rita said, smiling. “Absolutely unbelievable.”
“I know. It’s actually quite a haggle,” Pam said still smiling.
“I can’t believe this,” Natasha said shaking her head. “I want a simple wedding. A small intimate ceremony,” she said looking at Pam. “Maybe I didn’t get that across well enough?” she asked, convinced that maybe she had indeed sent the wrong message to the wedding planner.
“Oh honey, you did,” Pam said. “But maybe we just need to re-navigate?” she asked looking at Natasha.
“Yes, let’s do that,” Natasha said standing up again. “Call me when you come up with a new plan,” she added walking out.
“Really nice to meet you,” Rita said standing up. “Oh, I would go with TMZ, Hollywood Spotter are kind of all propaganda no truth,” she added as she quickly followed Natasha out. “Are you okay, honey?” she asked when she found Natasha leaning on her car. She looked at her best friend who was all worked up.
“TMZ?” Natasha asked looking at Rita. “I am just a public relations officer who happens to work for NSCS,” she added. “Where the heck do tabloids play into this equation?” she asked looking at Rita.
“I don’t know. But Mitchell is a big deal. You have to admit that,” Rita said.
“Not that big a deal,” Natasha said frowning.
“Actually, I am surprised he is able to take a poop without the world knowing all about it,” Rita said. Natasha smiled at her.
“What am I going to do? I cannot have people who think that Christmas needs any more magic planning my big day,” Natasha said, opening her car door.
“We will figure this out,” Rita said. “We still have time,” she added as she joined her friend in the car.
*****
When Natasha got home that evening, she felt tired and worked up, not just from the meeting with the wedding planner but also having to deal with very unyielding clients. She was expecting to spend some time with Mitchell that evening but he had just called her to cancel, something about a late client meeting that he had to take in Miami that afternoon. She looked at her watch and sighed. It was only seven-thirty. He would probably be on his way back.
She walked to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator before switching the TV on. Her favorite show was on. There was always something about people trying to compete in the kitchen that made her happy. She dropped herself on the couch and held the remote in her hands. After a few minutes, she realized she was not even concentrating on the show. All she wanted was just to be in bed, but she didn’t want to sleep without talking to Mitchell.
“Maybe I should email him,” she thought as she turned her laptop on.
To: Mitchell Schmidt
From: Natasha Black
SUBJECT: Update
Hey baby. I hope your meeting went well. My day on the other hand, horrible. Pam Sanders who is supposed to be Wonder Woman is a sham. She was talking about a Christmas wedding because apparently Christmas needs more magic than the birth of our Lord. And did you know about tabloids bidding to cover the wedding? I mean, what’s up with that?
She looked at her screen and sighed before she took a few gulps of water from her bottle. She heard a beep from her computer just as a balloon popped up at the top left corner of her screen.
To: Natasha Black
From: Mitchell Schmidt
SUBJECT: Re-UPDATE
Hi honey. My meeting did go well, very well actually. The company has a new client, some business mogul from South Africa. I am sorry your day went so badly. I really thought you and Pam would hit it off. And yeah, I had heard some buzz about the bids but I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was a rumor but LOL.
Natasha looked at the message and smiled. Mitchell would never type in LOL…unless of course he was under the influence of…well he never did. She looked at the screen and begun typing again.
To: Mitchell Schmidt
From: Natasha Black
SUBJECT: Re-UPDATE
Did you just type in LOL? How long was your day? Anyway, about the tabloids, did this happen with your first wedding? I hate to ask this but I really feel that our wedding should be a small intimate affair, something that we have control over and not for the entire world to moon over. It makes me feel like the world expects so much of me. And by the way, me and Pam never came to an understanding. All her suggestions were just….I was not feeling them.
She hit send and leaned back in her chair. Somehow, today nothing seemed to cheer her up. Not even the clumsy chefs on Hell’s Kitchen. She looked at her watch again and sighed. This was definitely one of those days she wished Mitchell was around. Her laptop beeped again and she noticed the message icon. She clicked on it and smiled again.
To: Natasha Black
From: Mitchell Schmidt
SUBJECT: Re-UPDATE
I am sorry about Pam. I really thought the two of you would click. Maybe you didn’t tell her exactly what you wanted. She only probably dealt with things the way she did with all her other high end clients. I won’t get back until late, so I might not see you tonight. I miss you so much though, baby.
She smiled as she typed her final message for the night before finally stretching out on the couch. Just then, she heard her doorbell.
“That’s odd,” she thought as she got up. “I am not expecting anyone tonight.” She walked to the front door and looked through the peep hole. She smiled when she saw Rita standing outside with a bottle of wine.
“What are you doing here?” she asked after opening the door.
“Well, I’m your best friend and I feel you shouldn’t be alone after that meeting from hell,” Rita said walking in. “And I have liquid therapy,” she added, raising the bottle of wine. Natasha smiled as she closed the door. Just then she noticed that Rita was wearing in a satin evening dress and a pair of red peep toe heels to match the coat she was wearing. If she didn’t know any better she would have thought that Rita was on a date just before she got here.
“Honey, did you and Dave have plans tonight?” Natasha asked, looking at Rita who was now making her way to the living room.
“Actually yes,” Rita answered as she sat down. “But he had a business meeting today that ran late. We missed our reservation,” she added. Natasha walked to the kitchen and came back with two glasses and a corkscrew.
“I don’t know whether to be happy or sad that I was your second choice,” Natasha said as she sat down. Rita smiled and took the corkscrew from her hands.
“I brought wine. Just be happy am here,” Rita said as she worked the corkscrew. Natasha laughed. “So, that’s the sad story of why am alone tonight. What’s your excuse? Where’s Mitchell?” she asked as she poured two glasses of wine.
“I’m afraid we are birds of a feather,” Natasha said taking a glass. “He had a meeting with a prospective client out of town. Some high end guy from South Africa. Apparently the meeting went well,” she added before taking a long sip from her glass.
“Really? Did the guy book them a room later?” Rita asked smiling.
“Guess so. That’s the only explanation why his flight got late,” Natasha said laughing. Rita laughed and took a sip from her own glass before turning her attention to the TV.
“Hell’s Kitchen,” Rita said. “Do you still watch this shit?” she asked making Natasha look at the TV herself.
“Yeah, I do,” Natasha said shrugging her shoulders. “But for some reason I just can’t seem to enjoy it tonight,” sh
e added.
“Okay sweetie. You need to get this wedding planning situation out of your head before it drives you mad,” Rita said. Natasha put her glass on the table and buried her face in her hands.
“What am I supposed to do?” she asked looking at Rita. “I am too busy to plan my own wedding. I cannot find a planner whose thoughts sync with mine,” she added looking at Rita. Suddenly her eyes lit up as if she had a brilliant idea.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Rita asked. She knew that look. She had seen it on her best friend’s face so many times before, always just before she had great news, or shocking news. She felt her face flush as she looked at Natasha, who was now smiling broadly. “Tasha, you are freaking me out,” she said. “The wine couldn’t be that strong. It’s only aged five years,” she thought still looking at Natasha.
“I just had the best idea ever!” Natasha squealed, her eyes beaming with delight.
“I’m afraid to ask what the news is,” Rita said.
“You planned almost all events I know. High school homecoming, prom, fire and ice ball…” Her voice trailed off as she bounced up and down on the couch excitedly. Rita shook her head.
“Oh no, I am not doing it,” she said still shaking her head.
“Come on, Rita. Why not?” Natasha asked taking her friend’s hands in hers. “You have planned every successful event I know,” she added.
“That was high school, Tasha,” Rita said still not believing that Natasha would ask her to do this. “If your wedding turns out to be disastrous, you would never forgive me,” she said looking into Natasha’s eyes.
“But you get me,” Natasha said. “You know exactly what I like, and what I don’t. Who’s a better person to do this than you?” Rita looked at her and shook her head again.
“Honey, this is YOUR wedding,” Rita said. “The biggest day in your life. What if I mess this up? And who is going to be on maid of honor duty anyway?”
“Think of it as a wedding gift,” Natasha said. “And you still get to be the maid of honor. Only a more awesome one,” she added rubbing her hands together anxiously. “Please,” she said making a sad face. Rita looked at her and took a deep breath.
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal,” Rita said after taking another long deep breath. Natasha looked at her eagerly and nodded excitedly. “I will be a liaison between you and Pam,” she said looking into Natasha’s eyes. Rita quickly held her hand up when Natasha opened her mouth to protest. “As you said, I get you but I cannot in good faith take on a task this great knowing full well that I have never planned a wedding. I do not want my best friend’s big day to be my practice test,” she said. “So, I will take the role of being your voice to Pam Sanders so you can have the wedding you deserve,” she added with a smile as she gave Natasha’s hands a firm squeeze.
“You would do that for me?” Natasha said in a small voice. Rita smiled.
“Who else would I do it for if not for you?” Rita asked as she looked into Natasha’s eyes.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Natasha said as she felt tears well up in her eyes. Rita looked into her eyes and wrapped her arms around her.
“When the time comes and maybe me and Dave get to where you and Mitchell are, I intend on calling in a few favors,” she said smiling. Natasha smiled as she pulled away.
“So we are planning on a wedding soon, huh?”” she asked as she looked at Rita.
“Hey, you are in way over your head,” Rita said reaching for her glass.
“Come on,” Natasha said. “You just admitted that you intend on walking down the aisle with him some day,” she added.
“No, I most certainly did not,” Rita protested.
“Rita and Dave, sitting in a tree,” Natasha said playfully clapping her hands. Rita looked at her in mock anger.
“Tasha stop it, how old are you?” she said. “And this is only your first glass? Girl you have terrible tolerance,” she added taking a sip of her wine. Natasha wrapped her arms around Rita, surprising her.
“I am just so happy for you,” she squealed. “You finally have someone who you genuinely like and he is with you out of his own free will,” she added. Rita looked at her in surprise.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Rita asked. Natasha smiled and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Honey, you are beautiful and hot and everything but you and Leila Ali have one thing in common,” Natasha said. “You would kick anyone’s ass if they even tried to threaten you in any way. Physically, spiritually, intellectually….”
“..Shut up,” Rita cut her short, laughing. “I don’t think I’m that bad,” she added putting her glass on the table.
“Sweetie, I am sure you will be the Madea Simmons of our generation once we turn 70,” Natasha said as Rita’s phone buzzed on the couch. She looked at it and frowned.
“I have a meeting with some art collectors tomorrow morning,” Rita said. “I should be in bed.” She stood up. She staggered a little bit before Natasha held her steady. “I should not be driving tonight,” Rita said. Natasha looked at her and nodded in agreement.
“Sleep over!” Natasha squealed again. Rita looked at her and shook her head.
“Seriously, your alcohol tolerance is terrible,” she said.
“I don’t care about that. My best friend is sleeping over!” Natasha said switching off the TV. “Come on,” she said taking Rita’s hand. Rita pulled her hand away and looked at her in surprise.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Taking you to my room,” Natasha answered looking at her in surprise. Rita shook her head.
“Nah ah, I am taking the guest room,” she said walking towards the guest room.
“Why? Don’t you love me anymore?” Natasha asked in a mock child’s voice.
“I am not sleeping in the same place where you and Mitchell have done the nasty,” Rita called out before closing the door after her. Natasha smiled.
“I wonder if I should tell her that we have also done it in the guest room,” she wondered as she walked to her bedroom.
Chapter 5
Natasha was not sure what she heard, whether or not it was part of her dream. She smiled as she felt a warm sensation trailing her shoulder blade and then up her neck. It was such a great feeling, she was loving every moment of it even though she had no idea what was going on. For some reason, it seemed as if she was being licked by a dog, her dog….wait, she didn’t own a dog. She jolted up, her heart threatening to jump out of her chest and saw Mitchell holding his palm over her mouth. She was not sure whether to scream or not…all she knew was that at that particular moment, she was confused.
“I am going to take my hand away from your mouth, but you have to promise to stay still,” he said in a whisper. Natasha nodded as Mitchell pulled his hand away, slowly. “Hey there,” he said smiling down at her. She looked at him and smiled back, not caring what he was doing sneaking in like a cat burglar.
“What time is it?” she whispered.
“I don’t know, three, four,” Mitchell whispered back.
“What are you doing here so late?” she asked as Mitchell kicked off his shoes and snuggled in next to her.
“Are you complaining?” he asked kissing her forehead. She smiled and closed her eyes as he planted a soft, warm kiss on her forehead.
“No, not at all,” she said turning to look at him.
“I had to see you, that’s all,” he said. “It’s been what, four days?” he asked, still in a whisper. She nodded.
“Yeah. Sometimes I wonder whether we really are in the same office,” she said looking at him. Natasha smiled.
“I know. It kills me sometimes,” he said. “By the way, why are we whispering?” he asked. Natasha laughed.
“Rita’s asleep in the guest room,” she answered.
“But your walls are sound proofed,” he said. Natasha looked up at him. She could barely see him in the moonlight.
“How would you know th
at?” she asked.
“Because I knew the tenants of this place before it became a residential area,” Mitchell said smiling. “It was a recording studio,” he added.
“The whole building? All nineteen floors?” she asked in surprise.
“No of course not,” Mitchell said laughing. “Just the floor you are on,” he added.
“Oh that’s so cool,” she said silently. “Wait, why am I still whispering?” she asked in a normal voice. Mitchell laughed.
“Search me,” he said. “So what exactly happened with Pam? I thought you guys would hit it off,” he said.
“Seriously Mitchell, that woman thinks she is planning the royal wedding or something,” she said looking up at him. “What the hell is a Christmas wedding?” she asked leaning on Mitchell’s outstretched arm.
“Christmas weddings are quite nice. You get little trees and gifts…”
“…the only gifts I want under any tree during Christmas are my Christmas gifts,” Natasha said, cutting him short. “What happened to our little intimate event?” she asked. Even in the dim light, Mitchell could tell that she was frowning.
“We are going to have whatever you want,” he said kissing her forehead. Natasha looked up at him.
“You don’t mind?” she asked. Mitchell shook his head. “Even if I plan an outrageous rainbow colored wedding?” she asked. Mitchell smiled but still shook his head.
“It’s your day, you do whatever makes you happy,” he said. “And so long as you don’t pick out an outrageous outfit,” he added smiling.
“Then you won’t mind that I have appointed Rita as my official wedding coordinator?” she said.
Mitchell reached for the bedside lamp and switched it on. Natasha squinted as her eyes got accustomed to the sudden bright light. “Now he wants to see me,” she thought shielding her eyes from the glare of the bedside lamp.
“What does that even mean?” he asked, looking at her.
“Pam Sanders thinks I am the next Angelina Jolie or J-Lo,” she stated. “I need her to understand my preference and I need her to give me the wedding that I have always wanted. Not some reused royal wedding she did.” Mitchell could hear contempt in her voice.
