by Young, Luke
“Any of us could die at any moment. No one knows when and why things happen, but I can guarantee you that marrying you is not bad luck.”
The door opened and a nurse entered the room. “Hello.”
“Hi,” Victoria replied, wiping her cheek.
“We’re going to take you down to x-ray now, but your mother can wait here if she’d like.”
Jim and Victoria shared a look then after taking a moment to compose herself, Victoria said, “No son, I think I’ll go grab a cup of coffee.”
“Um, okay—”
Victoria interrupted his reply by pressing her lips against his and delivering a heart-stopping, tongue laden super-long kiss. When she pulled away from him she said, “Be good now son and listen to the nice lady.”
The nurse stood frozen as Victoria flashed her an enthusiastic smile then headed out the door. When she finally turned her attention to Jim, he shrugged self-consciously and said, “We’re, um, French.”
Other than a little persistent back pain, Jim was fine. His tests all came back normal and we was released from the hospital about an hour later. Prescribed pain medication, he was told to follow up with his primary care doctor and seek massage therapy if the pain did not subside within a few days.
13
Jillian flew out to Los Angeles and the next morning met with her agent, the producers, studio executives and the director. The ninety minute meeting was productive and ended with everyone on the same page in terms of the talent, locations and the expedited shooting schedule. With a solid plan in place, Jillian’s agent drove her back to the airport.
Ten miles away in sunny Beverly Hills, Natalie Fox formerly known as Natalie Brookhart sat out by the Playboy Mansion’s pool surrounded by half a dozen other Playmates. Having recently been named Playmate of the year for 2012, she was the envy of all the other girls’. After changing her name to escape the publicity of the trial and reinvent herself as an actress, she had yet to secure anything other than a stint as a body double in a film that opened to disastrous box office numbers and closed the very same weekend.
A few of the other girls were lounging topless, their perfect, but obviously, fake breast baking in the hot summer California sun while Natalie lay on her stomach with her flawless, yet completely natural, breasts pressed down on the soft chaise lounge resting over her untied bikini top.
The large outdoor television played a re-run of last Friday’s Access Hollywood. Nancy O’Dell and Billy Bush appeared with a smile. Billy began, “Breaking news out of Hollywood— the film adaptation of bestselling novel, The Leg Thing, has been green lit and in a big way…”
Grasping her bikini ties, Natalie sat up on the chaise and looked to the screen, wide-eyed.
Nancy said, “Superstar and romantic comedy box office gold, Amanda Joseph, and sexy heartthrob Chance Hart have signed on to play the lead roles. Paul Ford, the recently disgraced bad boy writer/producer/director of the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time, Wedding Party, will direct and executive produce the film.” Billy said, “And get this, they’re fast tracking this production to begin shooting next month in Miami. You’ll remember that sales of the book took off after Natalie Brookhart, last year’s Playmate of the year, filed a civil suit against the author Jillian Grayson. Turns out Miss Brookhart was not only the inspiration for this based-on-actual-events story but the inspiration for the title as well.”
All the other girl’s eyes were glued to the screen as Natalie looked away preoccupied watching the water stream off the waterfall into the enormous lagoon shaped pool.
Billy continued, “As you know Nancy, the book didn’t hold my interest, but I had a hard time turning away from Miss Brookhart’s stunning pictorial. It’s no wonder that the flexible femme fatale was selected as Playmate of the year.”
A stunning brunette called out, “Way to go Natalie.”
Natalie returned her attention to the television and smiled.
Nancy said, “I, for one, loved the book and look forward to seeing how the story adapts to the big screen. After the high profile trial, the buzz surrounding this production was huge, but then plans stalled for more than six months as producers were in talks with Reese Witherspoon to lead the cast. But after her high profile arrest during her husband’s DUI incident the producers decided to go in another direction. And now with Amanda on board the lights are all green and a summer 2014 release is planned. Next up the first pics of North West are out and boy is she adorable. We’ll be right back.”
Turning her attention to her cell phone, Natalie dialed a number. She headed toward the mansion. “Jeremy, it’s Natalie.”
“Hey Natalie, tell me you’re going to take it.”
“What?”
“The CSI Miami.”
“No…ah.” She shrieked. “I told you I don’t want to play a dead hooker. I don’t even have a line.”
“That’s not true. There’s a scream.”
She sighed. “I’m calling about The Leg Thing.”
“Oh yeah, I heard it was greenlit. What about it?”
“I want to be in it.”
“Do I even need to tell you why you can’t be?”
“I said I want to be in it!” She shot back forcefully as she climbed the stairs to the second floor.
“Uh… Natalie look, I mean, you sued the author and the publisher, you sorta disrupted her wedding, you attempted to have sex with her husband, you, you… didn’t you try to blackmail a witness?”
“That was never proven.”
“All right, but Jillian Grayson is a producer on the movie and she would never—”
“Jeremy?” Interrupting him, she slipped into her large luxurious suite, slammed the door and stood in front of her king sized bed adorned with a pink satin comforter.
“What?”
Flopping back on her bed, she put on an evil grin as she switched into a soft, sexy voice. “Jeremy?”
“Yeah?”
“Can’t you just reach out to them to see what they say?”
He sighed.
“Do you remember that night after the Playmate of the Year party?”
“Yeah, sure, it was… wow. But, uh, what about it?”
With her eyes narrowing, she growled, “Don’t you think you owe me?”
After ten seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, she repeated “You owe me this, Jeremy.”
“All right, I’ll try, but don’t get your hopes up.”
“Then you’d better not get your hopes up about another night like that or being my manager for much longer. Got it!”
“I said I’ll—”
Pulling the phone from her ear, she ended the call, tossed it on the bed and sighed. She flipped over onto her stomach, holding her chin up with her hands and stared down at the pure white shag carpet. Spotting her pink iPad mini on the floor, she smiled.
After retrieving it, she performed a Google search first to recall the director’s name then to learn all that she could about him. The more she discovered about his bad boy partying reputation and obsession with health and physical fitness— from running to yoga to working out, the more she smiled.
14
Back in Miami, Victoria entered the crowded tennis club and scanned the room for Jim, but she didn’t see him. One by one she noticed the super-attractive staff she didn’t recognize— a young man and woman behind the counter who could pass for runway models. Then she spotted a drop dead gorgeous male instructor rushing through the lobby. Mesmerized, she moved to the large glass wall to view the courts below and spotted a female tennis instructor working with a man. She was dressed in the standard issue white staff shirt, but hers was probably two sizes too small with every fiber straining to contain her magnificent breasts.
The young man behind the counter called out, “Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Hi, I recognized you from your picture.”
She gave him a confused look.
He said, “In Jim’s office.”
>
“Oh, okay.” She moved to the counter and read the name tag off his astonishingly defined pectoral muscle. “Todd.”
He smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Great meeting you. Are you new here?”
“It’s my third week.”
Her gaze dipped down quickly to his well-defined biceps then returned to his face. “I haven’t been here in a couple months, but it seems like there are a lot of new faces.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard a lot of the members saying that.”
She looked past Todd to the open office door and found it empty. “Do you know where Jim is?”
“He’s in massage room B.” He glanced to the clock. “He should be out in a few minutes. You can wait for him back there if you want.”
“Thank you.” She made her way back to the new spa addition and stepped into the calming environment of the feng shui decorated waiting area. Finding it empty, she walked to the only door and leaned in close to it, listening. Unable to hear a thing, she cupped her hand against her ear and remained perfectly still.
Suddenly the door opened and a twenty something tall blonde appeared and looked at her, surprised. “Oh…”
Victoria jumped back. “Sorry, I, uh—” She looked the young woman over from head to toe noting her perfect body, super-tight white yoga pants and even tighter shirt.
“Can I help you find something?”
“Jim.”
She smiled. “You’re his girlfriend, right?”
“Yes, Victoria Wilde.”
“Oh, nice to meet you. I’m Ashley.”
“Ashley.” Victoria delivered a polite smile.
The young masseuse narrowed her eyes. “You look so familiar, I mean, I’ve seen your picture, but your voice… where do I know you from?”
“Not sure.”
Ashley shrugged. “Anyway, we just finished up. He’s back there in room B taking a shower, you know, washing off all that oil, but you’re free to go back.”
“Thank you.”
Victoria watched the young hottie head away and studied her perfect ass shaking her head. She pushed through the outer door then opened the door to massage room B. There she heard the shower spray and spotted Jim inside the glass enclosed circular shower which was frosted for privacy up to about his shoulder area. She smiled gazing at his defined shoulder muscles. His eyes were closed and he was rocking back and forth rhythmically. Her eyes widened with suspicion and she moved to the glass, standing on her tip toes and looking down to confirm that he was in the midst of pleasuring himself.
“Holy shit, you scared me.” Turning from her, he ran his hands over his chest in some lame washing motion in an attempt to play it off. “Um, what are you doing here?”
“How was your massage?” She asked in a catty tone.
“It was fine.”
“Ashley is pretty.”
“Who?” Still facing away from her, he turned off the water before pulling the towel down. Then he went to work drying himself and wrapped it around his waist.
“Your young masseuse.”
“Oh, yeah, I guess so.” He stepped out of the shower and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“You didn’t get a chance to finish did you?”
“No, she finished my massage.”
“Not the massage.” She glared at him. “You didn’t finish jerking off.”
“What, I, uh… what?” He widened his eyes and made a silly face.
“Are you really going to deny it?” She looked at the bulge protruding from his towel and shook her head. “You’re still pretty hard.”
He glanced down then turned away reaching for his underwear. “You’re crazy.”
“I saw you doing it.”
He sighed, busted. “Look, okay, sorry, yes, I was doing that, but—”
“Let me make sure I understand this. Three minutes ago little miss perfect body hot blonde was rubbing you all over and now I find you in here fantasizing about fucking her while you’re jerking off.”
He scoffed. “I was not thinking about her.”
“Really!”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“I saw her ass in those pants.”
He pulled his underwear on then his shorts and looked her in the eye. “Okay, yes I was blowing off a little steam in here and yes I’m a little horny. We’ve sorta been in a bit of a slump, right?”
“I was sick for a couple weeks and I was just starting to get my strength back when I got my period. I guess you could call that a slump.” She shot him a snooty look. “Nothing stops you men— we could be on our death bed and you’d still be trying to stick it in.”
“That’s not true.” He pulled his shirt over his head then sat down on a chair and grabbed his socks. “I know you’ve been sick, so I’ve been trying to take care of you and not, you know… I’ve left you alone.”
“Yeah, you were pawing me all night last night. At one point it felt like you were taking my temperature.” She shot him a sickening expression.
“I must have been dreaming or something.” He made a face. “Sorry, if I’m so attracted to you that I dream about you and want you subconsciously.”
“It sounds like you’ve been daydreaming about someone else!” She folded her arms across her chest.
A knock at the door captured both their attention. She sighed and Jim said, “Come in.”
Ashley poked her head through the doorway. “Sorry, I really need to make up the room for the one o’clock.”
“Oh, sure. We’re done.”
Stepping into the room, Ashley grabbed a bundle of dirty towels from the table then studied Victoria’s face carefully. “I know I know you.”
Victoria returned a bored expression then glanced down to the young masseuses super-tight pants for the first time noticing she could pretty clearly make out the outline of her lady parts. She widened her eyes and scoffed, mumbling to herself. “Perfect.”
“Did you ever live on Paloma Drive?”
“What?” Victoria tore her eyes away from Ashley’s lower half thinking it was painfully obvious, yet rather sexy, if she had to be honest with herself.
“Paloma Drive in Coral Gables… you ever live there?”
Victoria nodded. “I did, like more than twenty years ago.”
“No way.” Ashley’s face lit up. “Victoria Wilde right?”
“Yeah.”
“You used to be my babysitter.” Ashley beamed bouncing on her heels.
“I babysat for the, uh, Morgan’s I think.” Victoria shrugged.
“I’m Ashley Morgan.” She smiled.
“Ashley, yeah, it’s a, really, really great to see you again,” the ex-babysitter replied slowly taking in the whole Ashley package from head to toe one last time.
“This is crazy.” Ashley shook her head.
“That’s one word for it.” Victoria cupped her hands together and let out a slightly maniacal chuckle. “Wish we had more time, but I’m sure you have more amazing massages to give…” Turning her attention to Jim, she widened her eyes. “…and you, I’m sure, have some things to finish up.” She kissed him on the cheek then took off out the door.
“Bye,” Ashley said.
“Victoria, wait,” Jim called after her following right behind.
Ignoring him, she walked with purpose to the lobby. He gently took hold of her arm and she spun around to look at him. He sighed. “Can we talk for a minute in my office?”
“You know what?” She glared at him. “I think I would like that.”
He watched paralyzed as she stormed behind the counter past Todd and into the office. When she turned back to discover Jim wasn’t behind her, she saw the look of absolute regret on his face.
Poking her head out of the office, she gave Todd a bright smile and said in a super-calm voice, “Oh, Jim?”
After closing his eyes a moment, he headed toward the office. As he neared Todd he whispered, “If I’m not out in ten minutes, call the police.”
The you
ng man returned an odd look as Jim made his way into the office and closed the door. Jim glanced to Victoria then looked down to the floor and sighed.
Tilting her head, she delivered a scornful expression. “So you wanted to say something— what is it?”
“I figured the way you made your way in here that you might want to yell at me some more first.”
“No, not really. I was looking forward to what you had to say.”
He gave her a skeptical look, took a deep breath then began, “Look, I was—”
“Did you see her in those pants?” Victoria lit into him then plopped down in his chair. “I mean, you can clearly make out her vag and everything.”
“I thought you wanted to hear what I had to say?”
“You had your chance.” She scowled at him.
“What? I…” He narrowed his eyes, mystified. “I didn’t at all have—”
“Back to your friend, you can see everything.” She glanced down to her midsection twice then widened her eyes.
“Oh…” A look of realization spread across his face. “No, that’s just her piercing.”
“Piercing?”
“Yeah, she’s got a H.C.H.”
“A what?”
“Horizontal Clitoral Hood piercing.” He shrugged.
“What the hell is that?”
“It’s just a piercing across her, you know… some of the girls are doing it now.”
“Why?”
“I really don’t know.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure I saw some other stuff outlined down there that I actually recognize… like, like… normal human type parts.”
“You mean camel toe?”
“Sorta, but in a sexy way, not a freakishly scary way.”
“I didn’t really notice,” he said with a shrug.
“Uh-huh… You didn’t notice.” She giggled maniacally then shot him a skeptical look. “So how the hell do you know that her lady parts are pierced?”
“Well, I mean, she…” He shook his head. “Um, what?”
“Wait, did she show it to you?” She looked at him with sharp contempt.
“Um, yes, but…”
She let out an incorrigible groan.
He raised his palm up in his defense. “No, wait, she sorta lifted it out and I didn’t really see anything else, just the stone and the gold thingy.”
