by Jane Brooke
“Briefly Ash, for I know Jane wants to talk in length about it, I will say this. Never, aaaah, never have I read anything so honest, so brilliant, so odd and disturbing. You’re style, well quite frankly, it reminded me of gun shots, aimed directly into my heart.”
Ash threw her head back, gaily laughed for a moment. She lowered her chin and looked into Ann’s blue eyes and purred.
“Ann, you are far too generous with your praise, did you not simply find my savage blonde heroine divine? I know I did.”
As Jane watched, she knew of course that the blonde was the violent, stunning and so troubled ex prostitute, Canadian hit woman, killer that wove her way through the five massive novels in a series set before Ann on the table top.
Watching Ann and her crew, Jane made a decision, one she should have made a long time ago. Taking her I-Phone, she began a call she knew she should have made a long time ago.
“Yes Ash, I loved her, but I have to ask you, do you mind, when, aaaah...”
“Ann, I never mind dialogue about my work, even criticism, I am so young after all. I do not pretend to have all the answers, please dear, be direct, honest, it is all I ask.”
Are you fucking kidding me? Jane thought.
She was so shaken by Ash that she slapped her cell shut, her hands shaking, as she saw Ann’s eyes leering at her. Jane thought she was begging her for help. She had never seen her like that before, as Sue continued.
“Well, you are almost nineteen, how did you write these?...I mean, it seems impossible, do you mind me asking? How and when, I simply must know?”
Ash giggled, as her eyes seemed to grow lost in thought within a moment of that thought. Her eyes closed for a moment. They fluttered open as she seemed to be stricken in such pain as she smiled so softly at Ann and said.
“I must tell you Ann, Miss Jane of course. I am stricken with so many mental maladies, OCD, Dyslexia, bi-polar for sure. I am manic, just to name a few. I have placed dikes around my brain, so I do not self destruct as so many writers before me have. I took a sabbatical from life between fourteen and seventeen years old, and between my training for Tennis, the physical keeps me balanced and sane, I wrote. Within a two year period I wrote these five novels, and of course my erotica, which you are aware of. I was lucky, my parents that so love me, supported me, nurtured me, never judged me, and encouraged me.”
As if a bomb had detonated in the room, her words:
Fourteen to seventeen years old, two Years, exploded around them, froze them, for again how could that be.
Two years to begin with to write five novels of 500 and 700 pages that were simply such air tight symphonies of plot, character and story was virtually impossible.
Jane thought of Wolfgang A again.
Unnerved, which clearly Ann was as we’re the rest of her people, Ann shook her head, literally. She regained her composure and said. “You’re telling me that it took two years to write these? These stunning pieces, that is impossible.”
Ash laughed good-heartedly, grazed Ann’s cheek with her hand, smiled and said. “Yes dear, my doctors said that, but it is true. I would not wish this talent, this burden, this gift on anyone. It is quite destructive you know, but I cope. I so dearly love to do it.”
Dead silence.
Ash then, glimpsed at a simple black sports watch on her wrist, which told Jane, that they must move everything along. Clearly Ash had other business at hand. At the moment Jane hadn’t known exactly what that business was.
When she finally would know, it would be an Earth evaporating and life changing experience for her
When Jane would eventually find that out, it would become a critical mass event for her. But of course she had not known that now.
“Come, please Ash, I know time is moving, please, this is Carol Smith, our head of sports management.”
Moving her down the line, Jane looked at a beleaguered Ann. She playfully winked at her, and got a head shake from her back to her. Jane almost giggled, for she loved seeing her so out of kilter.
“Hello Carol, I love your jacket, is it Cardin?” Ash asked.
Carol, gawking at the towering pixie and really not understanding anything, touched her Pierre Cardin jacket. She inhaled a breath of uneasiness, swallowed, smiled and said. “Why yes, it is. Do you like Cardin?”
“Simply adore him. Now tell me Carol, Knicks tickets. I know you represent Carmelo and Amare. I so adore basketball. Wouldn’t it be divine if we went to a game together? Might we do that? I would pay of course.”
Carol looked at Jane. Jane raised her eyebrows to her. Carol looked sheepishly back at her. Actually, Jane believed that Ash some how was getting off on everything, toying with them. You know, like when a giant brain, say like Stephan Hawking was talking to mere mortals and in his heart knowing that no one in the world knew what in the fuck he was talking about.
“Of course Ash, I would love to, just say when, floor seats guaranteed. They of course will be comped.”
“You’re an absolute gem Carol. Jane, might we begin, I have another engagement in two hours across town, do you mind?”
Another engagement. FUCK.
Jane felt dread wondering if some other crocodile agency was on her list.
Smiling, Jane took her hand, turned her and whispered as she led her past Ann and Claudio to her seat next to hers at the head of the table.
“Of course Ash, it shouldn’t take long, please sit. I want you to think of us as family.”
“I already do Jane.”
As Ash peeled off her small sports back pack, she sat, bent, opened her pack and laid an Apple I-Slate, I-Pod and I-Phone next to them on the desk top. She peeled off her black skull cap, exposing the blackest hair Jane had ever seen. Inhaling her angst, Jane remembered what she was about to do, something she must do. Something to tell Ash that they loved her, wanted her.
“Just a moment Ash. There is something I must do.”
Jane took her cell, slapped it open, pressed in a number and smiled at Ash, who had her hands folded on the table, simply scrutinizing her.
“Hello, Miss Houlter, Jane Braden here...Yes fine, thank you...I am sorry, we will no longer be representing you.”
An audible gasp erupted around the table from her crew, as she exchanged eyes with Ash. She could see them smiling at her. She smiled back with her lips at her. Instantly Jane saw a transformation over come Ash as she listened to the voice on the phone.
Suddenly, as Ash was staring at her, she focused on her lips as they then seemed to rearrange themselves into an “O” of a pout as her pink tongue revolved around them.
Jane gasped, for Ash was looking at her differently now. If she hadn’t known better she would have thought that Ash was trying to seduce her.
Her eyes were stark, greener now, and she was looking at her as if she was something sexual, and Jane was melting inside.
Fuck, what was happening to her? She did not know.”
“We have our reasons Ann, good luck.”
Slapping the cell shut, she looked at Ash, whose breathing was intensified as she seemed to be staring at her mouth and Jane was so pleased by what she just had done, she said.
“There Ash, that is how badly we want you.”
“You did that for me?”
“Of course Ash, there are millions of her, but only one of you.”
Jane literally saw Ash’s body shuddered as she reached across the table and in her mocca colored fingers she took Jane’s hands and squeezed them and pouted a little more. She was either the most manipulative bitch Jane ever meant, or the most raw and UN encumbered sexual female yet created on the planet. Ash whispered to Jane in the most seductive voice she had ever heard, her pupils actually dilating larger, if that was at all possible.
“You are so lovely Miss Jane, thank you. I do hope we might spend s
ome time together, you are so special. I would so love that, would you like that dear?”
DEAR...ENOUGH, Jane wanted to scream, but she did not.
What did she mean spend some time together and Jane wondered if she was coming on to her? Was that possible? Was she, as Ann had questioned; a lesbian. And if she was, what was Jane going to do? She just did not know.
With her heart bashing in her chest, she took a breath trying to compose herself which she did. Jane smiled at her, and almost whispered to her as she did.
“Of course Ash, aaah, anything you need, anything of course.”
She sorta stared at Jane, coquettishly lowered the longest set of eyelashes Jane had ever seen, opened her eyes, looked deep into hers, smiled barely and nodded in understanding. FUCK, Ash was in control and Jane knew it.
“Good then, now, let me clarify everything.” She purred as during the whole time her Apple machines were undulating on the table and her I-Tablet was humming too. The world wanted her, obviously, as did Jane and she knew it.
Lowering her eyes, Ash picked up her cell, scrutinized it, looked at Jane, and silently mouthed the words.
“Just a moment darling.”
“DARLING? Forget it,” Jane thought as Ash began to speak into her phone and Jane could not take her eyes off of Ash’s beige lips, those lips.
“Oui Claude, naturellement...Air du Koweit, di, chez Kennedy...Oui...bon, merci mon beau, je vous verra le matin...au revoir Claude.”
Slapping the cell shut, she laid it on the table, inhaled a huge breath of air and, then expelled it. In progression she slowly locked eyes with Clare, Ann, Claudio and Jane.
“Miss Jane, we are still on for dinner this evening? Is that still the plan?”
“Yes Ash, of course we would be honored?”
“Might I ask where? I have been in Darfur for two weeks, returning tomorrow and well, I so would love to dress, just a bit, be a girl, would you mind Petrossians? I simply adore champagne and caviar and even I need a bit of spoiling at times.”
Petrossians was one of the most elite restaurants in Manhattan, specializing in champagne, and their martinis and of course the way they prepared their caviars and salmon roes was famous. Jane was stunned, AGAIN, but filled with laughter in her heart. She had to ask herself what ever happened to ‘Outback Steak House’ every teenager loved. But, if she wanted caviar; you better believe she would fucking get it.
“Of course, it is Friday night Ash, I shall try...I...”
“Darling, have your secretary call Pierre there, tell him it is for Ash, there should be no problem.”
OF FUCKING COURSE, why hadn’t she thought of that, and she laughed to herself. Nodding at a bemused Ash, Jane punched in her request to Joan her number one secretary, nodded at Ash, and got a smile in return.
She could see her brilliant mind almost revolving as her Apples and her two other machines started buzzing again. Ash smiled at Jane, ignored the undulating machine, giggled, turned to Jane and said.
“If I do not shut these off, I shall never get anything done, but I dare not, please forgive me, I am so the slave to them. Now, and please, I must tell you I am honored sitting here, but I do have an agenda, as well as a plan. I also must run today, as well as train, so with your permission Miss Jane, might I chat a bit about why I am here and what I must have?”
“Of course Ash, we would have it no other way.”
She reached out, squeezed Jane’s hand, smiled and said.
“You are such a dear, thank you.”
Being at the stage of complete disbelief for she kept getting those shocked looks from her three people, she did not like the fact that the alien, she was starting to believe that she was, could break down her powerful people so easily.
“So, I must begin by saying I am humbled that your Agency wants me, your reputation mostly is a stellar one, well very stellar now. I am honored.”
She paused, nailed all with her eyes and Jane was almost positive she was waiting for applause, but not really. Jane truly believed she was an unassuming and humble human being. Nothing she had done publically to the moment to not promote herself would have told her other wise.
“I will not waste a moment of your valuable time, for there is no need for you people to tell me what you can do for me. I already know my worth, value and of course my potential to make a fortune in multiple venues, fashion, commercial endorsements, celebrity, and sport of course. That is of course if I should choose to make the choice of playing tennis any longer.”
“MAKE THAT CHOICE” banged through Jane’s head, and of course all of what was happening was quite impossible, more than that, surreal. What nineteen year old girl, given the chance to do Minolta and Cover Girl commercials and have her face splashed across the pages of Italian Vogue would not jump at the chance? Apparently she was that person, as she continued.
“I will win the US Open next month, and of course that has been my plan all along, a bit more on that in a moment. Early on, I could not but help to see that the world had become a tragic place...”
As she talked on, Jane was wondering about that statement EARLY ON. When was that she wanted to ask, when she was in diapers? But she did not, as she refocused on Ash’s passionate words.
“Women are being besieged world wide, especially concerning the veil, honor killings and such, especially in America. Contraceptive Rights, birth control, Abortion, financial inequity, intrusive vaginal probes, lack of education equality and of course abject poverty, just to name a few.”
What ever happened to having boy friend problems with the Captain of the foot ball team Jane wanted to blurt, but she did not as Ash moved right along.
“I do not love tennis, not at all and being quite the jock, I decided to promote, as well as fund my agendas along the platform of something so frivolous as sport. It simply is a vehicle that will finance my passions and will be my Civil rights platform for the defense of political corruption that has run amok world wide, especially in America. My plan from the beginning, so supported by my parents, was to do this thing, and I am.”
Jane wanted to weep listening to her. She felt so ashamed of who she was that she felt her throat constricting and bile in her mouth from shame, as well as tears beginning to well.
“As I mentioned, I shall win the US Open and, then I shall never play tennis again.”
An audible gasp spread through the room. How could that be? What in the fuck was happening here? Jane did not know. She did know that something remarkable was happening before her eyes. Dead silence, as Jane stared at Clare and Claudio and Ann looked thunderstruck, mouths agape as with their eyes they were begging Jane for answers.
“I neither seek fame, celebrity, nor fortune, yet alas, they have come. I never expected it otherwise. I have very discernable and real wants, as I have mentioned and I am creating “The Ash Foundation” a non profit entity that will fund the beginning battle to help protect females, as well as perhaps begin the war on starvation and world poverty.”
Smiling at Jane, she pushed her Apple Tablet across the table to her, smiled and melted Jane’s insides as she said.
“Miss Jane, please, everything is right here,” She handed Jane a thumb drive. “My plan, my needs and my absolute conditions to prostitute and shame myself commercially, so as to garner the most money for the pop, so we, all together might finally be proud of what we are doing this one time we are on the planet and my agenda is on that drive. Might you have your secretary down load this information? Everything is right there. Would you mind dear? My time, unfortunately is quite dear at the moment?”
“Of course Ash, just a moment.” Jane was stunned.
Ash seemed pleased, and really if she would have asked Jane to buy ‘off the rack’ she probably would have done that too. She was a Svenegali, really, and she knew it and she knew that they knew it too.<
br />
Texting Joan, Jane smiled at Ash. She smiled back and after a moment Jane’s plain Joan appeared through the door, approached them and stood, before her.
“Joan, please, Thumb Drive the information off of Ash’s documents, six times. Immediately Joan, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course Jane.”
Joan turned her gaze to Ash, and literally blinked three times, for Ash was smiling at her. She shook her head once, took the thumb drive, turned and clicked in her ballet flats out the door.
“Thank you Jane, let me continue, there is little time left.”
Jane nodded. Ash nodded back and continued.
“Finishing and monopolizing far too much of your time, I shall say this finally. I know that already I am being eviscerated by the right, and of course once these novels are published, as well as my world views on everything that I just mentioned, well my life shall be wrecked, and it shall never be the same again. I will be called a whore, a deviant, perhaps the Anti-Christ...” She threw her head back and laughed, found some composure, continued.
“I accept this, embrace this and will accept nothing less for I have no shame, nor ego. It is my honor, my privilege, my life duty to help those less fortunate than I. Now, all monies, every cent, shall go to my foundation. I will not though, sell my face, my body, my brain to any company that is morally bankrupt. I shall demand, and of course all of this is in the prospectus you should soon have in your hands, that any company that wants me, shall also donate twenty percent of all profits as an additional fee to the various agencies I have out lined on my proposal. I am adamantant about this, inflexible and unmovable with these terms.”
Stunned silence crashed everywhere around the room. Eye jerks were everywhere, as Ash, her eyes like a sucking in Sonar scrutinized them as if children, which Jane now felt like.
“Therefore my lovelies, you have my terms. Exploit me, abuse me, use me, make oodles of money off of me and if we can come to an agreement, then I am YOURS.”
For a moment there was nothing, words, heartbeats banging, as Ash turned to Jane, and with the most sexual expression she had ever seen on any humans face, she looked right though Jane’s eyes into her skull, and purred.
