Impetuous Designs

by Major, Laura

  “So, I checked out. What’s the hold up?”

  “Do you know how long it takes to round up rooms and homes for the show? Not to mention all the legalities.”

  “Jimmy, Jimmy…Jimmy... Why make this hard on yourself? Was your position at the network handed down to you or what?”

  “Look, you’re a comedian too! What are you getting at?”

  “You spent all this time checking me out…”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “I guess I’ll have to design the picture for you. Why not use my clients? The viewers will see what kind of work we do and you’ll have more potential clients for future shows than you know what to do with.”

  “Those potential clients will still need to be screened.”

  “Well, my firm can help with that too. At least the network could be making money from advertisers while you’re corralling more rooms and homes to design.”

  “Will your clients agree to us filming their projects?”

  “You let me worry about that.” Nate winked at his brother as he watched Mitch rub his chiseled jaw.

  “What is it you want, Long?”

  “I’m looking out for the success of the show, isn’t that what you warned me about when I was in your office?”

  “Who are you kidding? The sooner this show gets off the ground, the sooner your contract will be over. Well, I hate to break it to you, Nate, but this show’s going to run for years. I can feel it.”

  “Not without any projects, it won’t.”

  “Fine, get it done. This is a temporary arrangement, got it? We’re building the show, not showcasing your business. Once I get the rhythm of screening and securing projects, the only reference to Long Designs will be in the ending credits of Eye Design.”

  Nate hung up the phone without another word and gave his brother that famous Long smile.

  ***

  Mia emerged from the salon fingering the wavy tresses swinging down her back. I could get use to this. Too bad extensions require as much maintenance as my layered bob did. Mia thought as she caught sight of herself in the window of her silver bullet on wheels. Sliding into the black leather driver's seat, her cell vibrated on her hip. The specialized tone told her it was the call she’d been waiting for.

  “Are you calling with a taping schedule?” Mia asked skipping all salutations.

  “Patience, Mia, is a virtue.”

  “It’s more like a luxury I’m not willing to pay for. Now answer my question.” Mia felt her heart race in time with the sports car’s engine as she entered the expressway.

  “I think I’ve provided plenty to keep you busy these last few weeks.”

  “Yes and I did my homework…learning the part…keeping up this ridiculous hairstyle.”

  “Fine. What’s a medallion?”

  “It’s a circular ceiling accent for a light fixture.” Mia knew Sandy was stalling but wasn’t sure why.

  “Nice. I’ll see you on set tomorrow at 7 sharp and stop running your fingers through that weaved mop on your head. No wonder you have to go to the salon so often.”

  Mia quickly removed her free hand from the tangled mess she was making of her layers. How did she know? And why are we meeting at the set instead of meeting at the first home site? The loud sound of a dial tone assaulted Mia’s ears before she could protest. Mia blew all the air out of her lungs as she drove, she rarely woke up before nine much less appeared anywhere at 7 AM. That’s why she drove the reality television highway for all it was worth. At least with that preparation and sleep was part of the show.

  Chapter Three

  “This better go as planned. My ass is on the line here.” James pulled on his tie, no longer caring that he still had several hours till the end of his workday.

  “I’ve got everything within my control,” the voice assured him through the phone’s receiver. “So, relax Jimmy.”

  “Mia is completely on-board, Sandy? That doesn’t seem likely.”

  “Oh, she’s on-board as long as she thinks she’s steering the boat. What about this interior designer?”

  “Do you know Nate Long from Long Designs? He’s not all fabric swatches and paint chips. Besides, his reaction is what worries me.”

  “I’ve heard about him. Supposedly, he makes the bad boys of the silver screen look like girl scouts and yet has the design and construction sense of the design T.V. circuit's most notable interior designers.”

  “And this won’t work without him.” James placed his head in his hands.

  “We have an agreement. You know the consequences for not honoring it.”

  “I haven’t forgotten.” Jimmy knew he could no longer stall the cast of Eye Design from meeting again after that initial tumultuous test taping. Since then, his Eye Design crew had been following Nate around for several weeks and they even brought Mia in by herself for what was supposed to be a couple of screen tests. Now they were going to try taping at a live home site.

  “Well then, get plenty of rest because tomorrow will call for another award-winning performance.”

  James hung up not knowing how many more performances he had in him.

  ***

  Pacing the set, James thought his chest might explode. Where are they?

  “Look Jimmy, what are we waiting for? Let’s go to the site.” Nate kept eyeballing him—even taunting him. Does he know what's going on here?

  “Nate, I thought it best we meet here first. I don’t know how to bring this up but…” Jimmy began to wring his hands as he spoke. Each word took all of his energy to leave his lips.

  “Will I still like you after this?” Nate stepped closer toward Jimmy forcing him to step back to reclaim his personal space.

  “I didn’t think you liked me, Nate.”

  “I don’t, but I thought it sounded better than asking if what you are going to say would leave me with an incredible urge to snap your neck.”

  James swallowed hard and coughed, “Like I was saying…”

  “What were you saying Jimmy?” Sandy said as she entered the room and walked over to the two men.

  “Sandy! I was just going to say to Nate here that you should be arriving any minute.” Jimmy regained his strength as he stood next to Sandy forming a unified front.

  “Ahem, excuse me.” Mia stepped to the side leaving Sandy and Jimmy to square off across from Nate. “Would someone explain to me what we’re doing here?”

  “While you’re at it, can someone explain to me what she’s doing here?” Nate jerked his head in Mia’s direction.

  Jimmy knew that Nate didn’t like the presence of the reality queen and her manager needed no introductions. She was known for having the most troubled clients in Hollywood.

  “Didn’t Jimmy tell you?” Sandy crossed her arms and gave James a sideways glance. A gesture that made the sloppy red hairs dangling from her bun appear even more fiery under the stage lights. “Meet the star of Eye Design, Mia Simpson.”

  James felt himself hold his breath in anticipation of the wrath that was sure to rage forth from the sparks he saw in Nate’s eyes. “Well Nate, say something.”

  Nate never took his eyes off Jimmy. “After all that time I spent arranging clients for you and letting your film crew shadow me on the job.” Then Nate shifted his glare to Mia grabbing her hand in a shake that appeared to Jimmy to be a little too tight from the contorted look on Mia’s face. “Well, I guess you knew exactly where the hell you were going didn’t you?”

  “Nate, don’t forget you have a contract.” Sandy always seemed to speak when Jimmy was at a loss for words—for that he was grateful.

  Feeling a surge of strength, Jimmy spoke up. “Yes, Nate. We have a show to tape.” Jimmy flinched as Nate released his grip on Mia's hand and stepped toward him. Jimmy closed his eyes only to feel the air shift on his left as Nate stormed passed him toward the stage exit.

  In the parking garage, Nate hoisted his leg over his BMW motorcycle, turned over the ignition, and peeled into traffic in the direction of t
he home site. He was gripping the machine tightly at every point in which he connected with it as his muscles bulged beneath his white shirt and beige khaki pants. The crisp wind pricked his face like little daggers. Why am I so angry? I prepared for this. Nate hated letting Jimmy think he had blindsided him even for a moment. He couldn’t let his ego reveal his plan before the time was right. He knew Jimmy was up to something and felt it had to do with the hosting of the show but he hadn’t betted that this show would be riding on a reality show diva like Mia Simpson. When he nearly ran into her in the parking garage, he should have known her being in the vicinity of the studio meant something. Her presence didn’t ruin his plan; he just had to expand it, making the finale bigger so the result engulfed everyone involved.

  Nate arrived at the site before anyone else. He was grateful for a little privacy. He removed his cell phone from his pocket and selected a preset number.

  “Hey Sam, I’m assuming business is good for you in this market?”

  “For me, yeah, it’s very good. Not so good for others though.”

  “Well, I need your help.”

  “You got it, Bro. Just tell me what you need.”

  After Nate gave him the abridged version and what his next play would be, there was silence on the other end of the phone. “What’s the matter Sam, you’re not up for it?”

  “Oh, I’m up for it. I was just making a mental note.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Never get on your bad side. You know how to hit a man where it hurts.”

  They both laughed. Then Nate spotted a red late model Mustang pulling up alongside his motorcycle in the driveway followed by a UTN van that parked along the curb. Nate closed the cell as Jimmy turned off the ignition.

  “Nice to see you can laugh after what just happened. I was afraid you wouldn’t be here when I arrived.” Jimmy stepped out of the red sports car with caution.

  “You should know me better than that, Jimmy.”

  “I do, and that’s what worries me.”

  ***

  “What the hell was that? If he’s going to be acting like that on set, I don’t know if I want to work with him.”

  “Relax Mia, he was caught a little off guard is all. He’ll come around. ”

  “Stop telling me to relax, Sandy. Did you see the look on that man’s face? That wasn’t the look of someone who will be coming around. That was the look of someone that wanted my head on a stick.” Mia hugged the curves of the road with precision. After that encounter she offered to drive Sandy to the site. Driving soothed her and after what she just witnessed, her stomach tightened at the thought of what the rest of the day had in store. “Who is he exactly?”

  “Nate Long owns a very successful interior design firm here in town.”

  Noticing that no further elaboration was coming, Mia pressed further. “I take it he was under the impression the show was his?”

  “We’re not responsible for his impressions, Mia. I have no idea what deal he and Jimmy arranged.” Sandy kept her eyes forward.

  Mia hated being lied to, but it was easier to go along with that than to think that she was just being hired for her pretty brown face and her ‘love to hate’ persona—a persona she was determined to shake.

  ***

  The next day, Mia picked up Sandy on her way to the studio. Yesterday started out difficult and became almost unbearable as every take seemed to make Nate more and more hostile. Mia couldn't help that she kept stumbling over her words. Nate’s demeanor was extremely off-putting.

  Now, Mia had been driving for miles and was pulling into the entrance of the city’s parking garage near the studio before anyone ventured to speak.

  “Mia, I know your first meeting and yesterday’s taping with Nate was a little hostile…” Sandy began.

  “Hostile?” Mia interrupted.

  “OK, it was bordering on violent. But I bet after taking some time last night to reflect on his behavior, Nate will agree to make this working relationship functional.”

  “I don’t know. Nate doesn’t strike me as the reflective type.

  “He’s under contract. So, he has no choice but to make this work. We’re meeting back here at the studio to review the rough takes from yesterday’s shoot.”

  Mia and Sandy made it to the studio’s small conference room. A few moments later, Jimmy entered the room and began to download the video from the server using the computer at the back of the conference table. “We’re just waiting for Nate to arrive.”

  “So Jimmy, are there any other surprises you have for us? I’d hate for a repeat performance of yesterday's meeting with Nate.”

  “Don’t you worry, Mia. I am sure that Nate will be more cooperative this time around.”

  “I don’t think it’s wise to speak for me, Jimmy” Nate remarked as he entered the conference room.

  Mia watched as Nate pulled out an overstuffed executive chair. She wasn’t sure if she’d spent too much time avoiding his sharp looks during the shoot, but now looking at his broad shoulders and the tight curvature of his thighs even through his green khaki pants, she hoped he really could be more cooperative. Until Michael, she never gave much thought to white men. She occasionally found them attractive, but she was far too hung up on the natural sexy swagger of black men. Then Michael came along, dark-haired, with light eyes and the persistence of a puppy looking for a new home. But, Nate seemed different—so sure of himself. As she stared at him, she thought she found a soft intensity behind those steel eyes. He probably doesn’t date black women.

  Jimmy launched the first of several clips and the four of them watched the first scenes of Eye Design. Once it was over Jimmy and Sandy waited in silence. Mia looked over at Nate and his eyes suggested that an instant replay of their initial meeting was brewing. “I think it’s informative, yet entertaining. What do you think, Nate?”

  “Of course you would, Mia. From the looks of it, you’ll be doing all the informing based off of my hard work and I’ll be handling all the monkey business.”

  “There’s just no pleasing you, is there Nate?” Sandy leaned forward across the conference table.

  Leaning forward to meet her position, Nate replied. “I can think of something that would be very pleasing to me.”

  “Well, I’d love to hear it.” Jimmy replied.

  “For the next episode, I suggest we remodel the residence of our star, Mia Simpson.” Nate leaned back in his chair.

  “Nice try Nate, but I think it is a little cliché and self-serving to make the home of the show’s co-host a focus for the show.” Mia’s heart was running the New York marathon in her chest.

  “‘Cliché and self-self-serving’ those sound like the keywords on your resume that landed you the lead spot on this show, Mia.” Nate smirked as he glanced at Mia.

  “Cliché or not, viewers love this kind of stuff. It’s the quickest way to build rapport.” Sandy remarked as she leaned back in her chair.

  Mia thought her heart would explode as she watched the gleam of acceptance in Sandy’s eye.

  “I don’t have to tell you, I love the idea,” Jimmy clasped his hands together.

  “What’s the matter Mia? Is your home not suited fit for a sky-rocketing television interior designer, like yourself?” Though Nate was smiling at her, Mia still felt the chill of his stare tap every vertebra in her spine.

  “Since I’m out-numbered, it looks like we’re about to change that, aren’t we?”

  “Good, but I wasn’t finished. I think we should make it a collaborative effort,” Nate casually leaned forward, this time directing his attention solely on Mia.

  “Wasn’t that understood?” Mia’s chest hurt in anticipation of where this negotiation was leading. Mia began to play the potential scenarios to regain control, even if only in her own mind. Maybe I could play up the angle of not having time to decorate my own home, it wouldn’t seem so odd that the home of a stylista like me would be so bland after months on the reality show circuit and a break-up. S
he knew she couldn’t avoid her past forever if she wanted to genuinely win the hearts of the viewers.

  “Oh, I don’t mean between you and me. I mean between us and our viewers.”

  “That would take a little bit longer, but I think we can pull that off. Audience-participation is huge right now. It’s the quickest way to get them invested in the show. We’ll quickly add an announcement to this episode and begin accepting idea entries.” Jimmy began making notes on a scratch pad that was on the conference table when they arrived.

  “Uhm, one final note you should be making,” Nate continued. “I’ll select the winning entry.”

  “That’s unreasonable. I’ll have to live with whatever you and this mystery viewer come up with. I’ll never agree to it.” Mia tried to regain control by delivering her stance of disapproval after rising to her feet and eyeballing Nate.

  “Mia, you really don’t have a choice. You’re under contract, remember?” Sandy reached up and squeezed Mia’s arm.

  “The reality show diva is never too far from the surface.” Nate said as he crossed his arms.

  Mia caught the tone of satisfaction in his voice. “It must feel good to hear those words directed at someone else for a change.” Mia snapped as she reclaimed her seat.

  “As a matter of fact, it does. It feels real good,” Nate smiled.

  ***

  Over the next several weeks, Mia was living the life of an interior designer. Her television persona had a real purpose. This was the life she intended. A life she could get use to. Thanks to Nate’s superb decorating skill, hate mail quickly turned into letters of adoration. She even had a blog where she gave advice on fashion and how to apply those concepts to the home just as Sandy had suggested. The tabloids had become bored with her and the reputable mags were begging her to grace their covers. Even Nate seemed to embrace his role as her knowledgeable sidekick. He pleasantly coaxed her suggestions in the right direction all the while allowing her viewers to believe all the great ideas were hers. It was almost too good to be true. Mia sat on the floor of her naked living room checking the email account associated with her blog—Mia’s Fashion Designs.