Charlie had given up understanding what was going on. He knew Tanya hated that part, but she played it at her best for who knew what reason. Even Rita wondered what was going on with Tanya, even if she hadn't known her for long. But the fact that Tanya dated Mr Freeman who could be her father while she was Johnny's girlfriend upset the new secretary quite a lot.
One day Tanya sat at her desk near Rita when a beautiful blonde lady stormed in, stopping in front of her.
"Tanya Lester?" the newcomer asked, glaring at her.
"Yes?"
"I'm Kelly Freeman. Stay away from my husband, bitch!"
"Sure," Tanya shrugged, undaunted.
"I mean it!" the lady insisted, threatening. "Get out of his life or you'll see what I can do."
"I said 'sure', fine, whatever you want," Tanya replied. "I don't give a shit about your husband, and I won't see him again, okay?"
Mrs Freeman glared at her and stormed out.
Tanya sighed. She was so sick of it all...
Rita shook her head and averted her eyes.
Charlie showed up – he must have heard the quite loud visitor in spite of the soundproof walls.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Mrs Freeman," Tanya answered, depressed.
"What did she want?"
"She wanted me to stay away from her husband."
"Why, are you dating him?" he asked, nonplussed.
Tanya stared at him, then went to him, stopping in front of him, fists on her hips, defiant.
"Yeah. So what?" she challenged.
"Nothing. It's your life," he shrugged, averting his eyes. He wondered where the sweet old Tanya was gone.
She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the empty set, out of Rita or anybody else's ears. Again she stared at him in defiance and despair.
"Am I not good enough for you like this either?" she asked, frustrated. She had dated Mr Freeman hoping Charlie would be jealous and had called Mrs Freeman's wrath on herself instead. Tanya knew Charlie wasn't jealous of his best friend, but she had hoped adding another man to the mix could have sort of awakened him, but no, here he was, staring at her with his puzzled expression, and she didn't know if she loved or hated him anymore.
Desperate, she grabbed his head with both her hands and pulled him down to kiss him. He tasted good.
"Don't you want me like this?" she whispered. "How do you want me then?"
She couldn't bear to wait for the answer. She let him go and ran away, leaving him stunned, with lipstick traces on his mouth.
***
Rita saw Tanya rush out, banging the front door. What's going on? she wondered. She considered checking on Charlie, then gave up. She nervously shuffled papers on her desk.
Then Johnny came in and she brightened.
"Where's Tanya?" he asked. He didn't look as happy as a few months earlier.
"She... she left," Rita answered, unsure. She couldn't tell him she thought Tanya had just fought with Charlie. Everything was upside down in that office lately – Charlie always quiet and puzzled, Johnny impatient and nervous, and Tanya... first she refused to be a model and then she became one to the bone. Rita didn't know what to think anymore and wasn't happy with Tanya's new look and behavior like Marsha – not to mention Derek and Alex, who had become her biggest fans. Rita felt sorry for Johnny who looked so lost and unhappy with the new Tanya.
"Is Charlie in?" he asked.
"Yes, he is..." she tentatively pointed at the set door. "I think he's in."
"Thanks." He didn't smile and disappeared in the other room.
***
Charlie sat on his high stool, lost in thoughts. He had cleaned the lipstick traces and was startled by Johnny's arrival.
"Charlie," Johnny started. His voice broke and he swallowed as Charlie focused on him, surprised to see him.
"Why did you change Tanya?" Johnny continued, almost pleading. "Why did you turn her into a top model?"
"It was your idea," Charlie reminded him. "Anyway, I didn't want all this to happen, and I certainly didn't tell her to behave like she's doing!"
"Why is she doing it, then?"
Charlie sighed and lowered his eyes. "I'm afraid your girlfriend is in love with me."
I knew it, Johnny thought, desperate. I always knew she loved somebody else.
"I'm sorry, Johnny."
"I should have known she wasn't changing for me," he replied sourly.
"I didn't ask her, Johnny, she did it all by herself, and I'm more stunned than you."
"I know."
Johnny hung his head and went back to the foyer.
"Are you leaving?" a worried Rita asked him.
He nodded without looking at her.
"Should I tell Tanya you came?" she insisted.
"No." He weakly smiled at her. "Thank you, Rita. Bye."
***
Rita decided to understand what was going on. She opened the set door and saw Charlie on his stool, lost in thoughts.
"Charlie, are you all right?" she asked.
"Mmm? Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," was the very absent reply.
"O-okay," she whispered to herself, closing the door. Actually, nothing was okay, but what was she supposed to do? He seemed even more locked up than Tanya and Johnny...
She went back to her desk, and then Tanya came back. She looked impeccable as usual, if she had cried, it didn't show. Rita glanced at her, then gave up asking questions. Nobody would answer her anyway.
Tanya pulled out her glasses from her bag and stared at them, thoughtful. Then she put them down and looked away. Rita wondered if she was having second thoughts about her new look.
Charlie came out of the set and picked up Tanya's glasses.
"Come with me," he ordered. Rita followed them with her eyes, puzzled, as they disappeared in the set again. Tanya was very docile again, as if she had given up fighting. Who or what, Rita had no idea.
***
The dressing room was quiet. Charlie switched on the light and let Tanya in.
"Take off the contacts," he said, pointing her to the sink on the opposite side of the dressing table.
She obeyed without a word, then sat at the dressing table, looking exhausted.
"Close your eyes," he said again.
She did, and he cleaned her face from the make-up. Old Tanya was coming back.
He put her glasses on her. "Look at me," he whispered.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, scared and excited at the same time. He pulled her hair away from her face, as if he wanted the ponytail back.
"Don't you ever dare try to be something you're not," he said. "I want you as you are."
He pulled her closer and kissed her.
"Oh, Charlie," she moaned, curling up against him. "I thought you'd never see me!"
"I see you know," he smiled, holding her tighter. "Maybe I was a little slow, but now you're mine."
"Yes, Charlie." She took off her glasses to hide her face against his chest.
***
"Tanya."
Tanya was startled by Johnny's voice. She had forgotten him as usual.
"Hi."
He looked guilty. He, who had done nothing. The world was upside down now that she was in her personal heaven. She should feel guilty, not him.
"Need a lift?" he asked.
"Thanks." She went to his car knowing she owed him. And explanation before the break-up – as her mind and heart were now so full of Charlie she could barely concentrate on anything else. She frowned, wondering where to start from, but it wasn't easy.
"Johnny, I must tell you something," she said at last.
"I know," he said gloomily without looking at her. "Charlie figured out you're the one for him. He told you to be the old Tanya again and you obeyed as usual. You belong to him and you're proud of it. You never really loved me, and I should have known better."
She couldn't believe he had figured it all out on his own. Then she remembered Johnny and Charlie were best friends and imagined they had talk
ed after all.
"I'm sorry, Johnny," she said, still feeling the need to apologize for her dreadful behavior. "I'm very fond of you, but..."
"I know, your heart always belonged to him." He pulled up in front of the studio. "Never mind, thanks anyway. Have a nice day."
She hesitated. She couldn't stand hearing him talking so fast, almost feverishly, and without looking at her. She was split between the wish to console him and the desire of rushing into Charlie's arms.
"Off you go, Tanya!" he snapped at her indecision.
She quickly kissed his cheek and got out of the car, running inside the building without looking back.
***
Rita saw Johnny in his car, head on the wheel, looking desperate. She knocked on his window, startling him.
"Johnny, are you all right?" she asked, worried.
He slowly focused on her, pulling down the window glass. He was very pale. "I'm fine," he said.
"Bullshit!" Rita exploded. She opened the passenger door and sat near him. She had enough of drama and mysteries. "Damn it, Johnny, I'm sick of all this! I might be the last one on board, but I like you all, and I want to know what the hell is going on in that studio!"
"Not much," he replied absently. "Tanya broke up with me to be with Charlie."
Rita was stunned into silence. His face betrayed the light tone of his words, he was hurting badly.
"I'm sorry, Johnny," she whispered.
"Yeah, Tanya is sorry too," he scoffed. "So is Charlie. Everybody is sorry, now leave me alone."
He looked tired. Tension was killing him. She must do something to help him.
"Johnny, look at me."
"Please, leave me alone!"
"Johnny!" She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "That's enough," she chided. "Tanya is not the only woman in the world. She doesn't deserve you, and I don't think you should waste any tears on her."
He stared at her in disbelief. "Rita, you... oh, Christ!" He hid his face in his hands for a moment, as if to wash away the pain. "I think I really need to be alone, now," he said bluntly.
"All right," she sighed. "If you need me, you know where to find me."
"You're late, you better hurry," he said with a faint smile.
"I bet they didn't notice," she grinned. "Bye, Johnny. Think about it."
"Sure, bye."
She got off the car and let him go. She followed his car with her eyes, then entered the building. She wasn't too keen on seeing Tanya and Charlie, but Johnny was gone, therefore she didn't have anything better to do. Maybe they'd fire her now, as they didn't really need her anymore... with a sigh, Rita pushed the studio door open.
***
"Hi," Johnny said to nobody in particular.
Rita, Tanya and Charlie were gathered around the secretaries' desk, comparing portfolios. Rita brightened meeting Johnny's eyes.
"Do you need Rita today?" he asked quickly.
"No, she's all yours," Charlie replied without hesitation.
Tanya nodded with a smile.
Rita picked up her purse and left with Johnny, saying, "See you tomorrow, then!"
Alone, Charlie and Tanya looked at each other, puzzled and amused at the same time.
"Do you think Rita can help Johnny?" Charlie asked.
"Definitely," Tanya said, thoughtful. "I thought she was strange, maybe she's in love with him."
"Good," he smiled. "Considering we're the only ones left, how about the rest of the day off?"
"You're the owner, your decision," she chuckled.
"Day off, then."
They kissed, then started putting away files, switching on the answering machine and off the computer. They were looking around to check everything was done when Mr Freeman came in.
"Hello, Tanya, I'm here to ask you to work for me again," he said.
"I don't think your wife would approve," she replied.
"My wife?" he wondered.
"She asked me to stay out of your life."
"Besides Tanya isn't working anymore," Charlie added. "I want my girlfriend all for myself."
He put one arm around her shoulder and stared defiantly at his customer.
A little surprised, Mr Freeman nodded.
"I guess we won't be doing business anymore, then," he said.
"There are other girls..." Tanya started hesitantly.
"Yes, Mr Freeman, I think we're done," Charlie interrupted her, still staring at his now former client.
Mr Freeman shrugged and left.
"Oh, Charlie, you lost a very good account!" she protested.
"Do you care?" he replied. "I don't. I'd rather not see him again, actually. When I think he dared putting his hands on you..."
"Oh, Charlie!" she laughed. "Let's go home!"
They switched off the light and left hand in hand.
Obsession
Ernie had never looked twice at his brother's girlfriend – until he found them naked and asleep in each other's arms. Martin and Mary had been together for one year when his perspective changed in front of way too much bare skin.
Ernie had come back earlier from work and caught a glimpse of something unusual in his parents' bedroom. Puzzled, he had gone in and found them. He gasped at the sight and couldn't take his eyes off of them.
Martin slept with his head on Mary's shoulder and covered her breast with his hand. Their legs were entwined and they looked so beautiful and sweet that Ernie had to capture them on camera – zooming in on their faces first and then taking the whole bed in the next shot.
He started spying on them, following them with his camera and snapping pictures of their intimacy. He split with his girlfriend and spent a lot of time staring at the stolen pictures of the love between Mary and his brother. He had them printed and hid the little album, often taking it with him to steal one more look at those smiling faces or kissing lips...
He became silent and kept his eyes low at home, fearing his brother could discover him. He was jealous of their love. He wanted to be involved, he was more and more attracted to Mary... but he couldn't steal his brother's girlfriend, could he? She probably wasn't interested anyway, she looked quite taken by Martin.
If only he could take his brother's place.
***
"Ernie!" Martin called, rummaging through the drawer. "Where did you put my black sweatshirt?"
Ernie didn't answer, maybe he hadn't heard as he was downstairs having breakfast.
Martin saw a photo album fall out of a folded cardigan and lie open on his brother's clothes. Stunned, Martin saw himself kissing Mary. He picked up the album and flipped through it, gasping at some pictures of him and Mary.
Shocked, Martin dropped the album as Ernie stepped in the room.
"What are you looking for?" Ernie asked gruffly, noticing Martin had opened his drawer.
"My black sweatshirt..." Martin recovered from his surprise. "Ernie!" he exploded, brandishing the guilty album. "What the hell is this?"
"Nothing." Ernie grabbed the album, opened the second drawer, pulled out the missing sweatshirt, dropped it in Martin's now empty hand and backed away from his brother, holding the album to his chest like a treasure. "None of your business."
"None... what? You spied on me! You took pictures of me and my girlfriend even when we had sex!"
"After you had sex," Ernie replied, hostile.
"Ernie! It was none of your business! You had no right to intrude on our intimacy! How could you do this to me?"
"It's only sixteen pictures, and thank me I didn't use the video camera. Are you done? This should teach you not to rummage through my stuff."
Martin was speechless in front of such boldness.
"What does Helen think about this?" he demanded.
"She's history." Ernie glared at him. "None of your business."
Martin wanted to slap his younger brother, but refrained. He stormed out of the room, fuming.
He was still furious when he met with Mary, and she immediately noticed. He wa
s very jealous of his love story and his brother's intrusion had really upset him.
"I'd love to see those pics," Mary said, unmoved, after hearing the cause of his bad mood.
"Forget it," he snapped. "He has hidden them, but if I find them, I'll burn them!"
"Don't be silly," she chided, hugging him to calm him. "What do you care anyway?"
Martin was crazy for her and set his anger aside. But he couldn't forgive Ernie. He still shared a room with his brother, but they barely talked to each other anymore.
Maybe it was time to move out of their parents' and start a new life with Mary.
***
"Hello," Ernie greeted shyly.
Mary smiled at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised to see him waiting for her at the end of her shift.
"I wanted to talk to you," he said hesitantly. "Are you mad at me?"
"No." She shook her head. "Walk me home, it's close."
Ernie had never seen Mary's house. Even Martin wasn't invited there very often. Mary lived on her own and seemed very jealous of her privacy.
It was a very small apartment in a condo, and Mary let Ernie in.
"You don't think I'm a stalker, do you?" he asked.
"No," she answered absentmindedly. "You know, I always wished to see myself from the outside, I mean, how an audience would see me..."
He pulled out of his pocket the photo album and offered it to her. She grinned and took it, observing each and every picture with great care.
Ernie felt his blood run wild. He could understand now how his brother had fallen for her.
"Lovely pictures," she said giving him back the album. "May I have copies?"
"Sure."
"Thanks. You better go now."
She got up and guided him to the door.
"Mary." He stopped and turned to look at her before opening the door. "Do you love him?"
"Sure," she answered.
She was always so quiet, distant... and still, so close and warm...
Ernie unconsciously moved his face forward to kiss her, but she put her hand on his lips.
"Leave these with me," she said retrieving the photo album. "Go home now."
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