by Erika Rose
“He doesn’t do all the work.” Stefan barked back.
“Really? According to him you’ve done about zip this past week except hang out at the photo shoots. Since that isn’t in your job description, you did zip.”
Stefan wanted to argue but he knew his father held the check book and the final say. If he wanted to keep getting his salary, which was about twice the size of Roman’s, he needed to placate the old man. “It was a rough week for me, dad, I’m sorry. I’ll do better next week.”
“You’ll be in the office on time?” His father asked sternly.
“9am, sir. No question.”
“Fine, and do try and stop by this weekend. Your mother misses you.” With that the line went dead.
For a moment Stefan considered phoning Roman Panatopolis but knew it would be a futile exercise. Roman was the Chief Operating Officer of Face Magazine and Stefan was his second in command. Even though Stefan’s father gave him the job on a silver platter, he was fully aware that if Roman kept on complaining his father would kick him out.
He rubbed a hand over his brow and pushed his father’s words aside. He was on his way to text Sasha. He slid a finger across the screen to unlock it and opened the texting app.
I met a girl last night, with long hair and small hips and a smile that drives me nuts. I’d like to see her again tonight.
Let me know if you’re free
Stefan hit the send button and within a few seconds he received a reply that brought a smile to his face and made the worry over his father’s call disappear.
She sounds great, hope you got her number.
Stefan read the text over again and burst out laughing. A girl with a sense of humor; now he really wanted to see her again.
CHAPTER 3
Sasha gasped when the text went through. She was just fooling around; she hadn’t really meant to send it.
“Kris! I need you! Now!” She shouted as she hurried toward Kris’s bedroom. Kris was sitting crossed-legged on the bed browsing the internet.
“What?” She asked Sasha even as she pulled off her chunky reading glasses.
“I just sent a text I wasn’t supposed to?” Sasha said her whole face a grimace.
“What do you mean you sent a text you weren’t supposed to?” Kris asked confusedly.
“Stefan, the guy from last night, sent me a text. I typed a text I thought would be funny and then decided to think about it first, but instead of locking the phone I sent the damn text.”
Sasha flopped down on the bed and tossed the phone at Kris. She picked it up and opened the text app. Sasha chewed her bottom lip as Kris read the text and then burst out laughing.
“This is excellent! Especially for you!” Kris beamed. “I still don’t get what’s wrong?”
“Kris, I don’t know this guy. He could be a serial killer or a rapist; I can’t just meet up with him?”
“Of course you can,” Kris said easily. “It’s called dating. You meet him in a public place and see if you can hold a conversation. Really Sasha, sometimes I wonder if you were raised in Manhattan or under a rock.”
“I know what dating is,” Sasha said annoyed. “I just wanted a little time to think about it before I agreed.”
“Well you didn’t agree yet, so let’s stalk his social profiles and then you can decide.”
Sasha moved over to sit next to Kris when she received another text.
She was more than great; she’s been bugging me all day. Can’t stop thinking about her.
Kris leaned over and read the text. “Wow, he’s good,” she said impressed.
Sasha felt the butterflies fluttering around in her belly. “I know.” Even though she had had a few boyfriends before, none of them had excited her with a single touch or glance like Stefan had last night.
She watched as Kris punched Stefan’s name into a search engine. Numerous social profiles and links popped up in the results.
“Looks like Mr. Smooth has quite a busy social life.” Kris said as she opened one of his social profiles.
Sasha leaned closer and looked at the screen as Kris scrolled down. Over the past month most of his check-ins and tags were party related and every post tagged a different woman.
Sasha’s excitement about meeting him tonight crashed and burned faster than Kris could scroll through his other profiles.
Stefan Kelson was a player.
If she had any doubt the pictures of him drinking body shots off a tall brunette’s abdomen vanquished them.
Kris turned to her, her expression neutral. “Right, so this is awkward. I really didn’t expect this.”
Sasha sighed, “Neither did I.” She pushed herself up from the bed and picked up her phone. “I had some studying I want to anyway.”
As Sasha walked out of Kris’s room she didn’t see her friend’s empathetic stare.
She sat down at her study desk determined to get her mind off a certain green-eyed stranger, but not before she cancelled the date.
Sorry won’t make it.
Sasha switched her phone to mute and put it down face down before she opened her textbook.
Sunday afternoon Sasha sat sipping on ice tea as she and her mother basked in the sunny spring afternoon. The balcony of her parent’s beautiful mansion overlooked Central Park, and although Sasha had been excited to leave the nest, she missed the balcony and the view.
“So, how’s school?” Her mother asked with her face aimed at the sun and her eyes closed.
“It’s good.” Sasha’s voice sounded resigned, the way she had been feeling ever since she and Kris had stumbled onto Stefan’s profile. For a moment she had considered having a fling with a stranger. Even though she had never considered it before, she felt disappointed by not having the option. The option was there all right, but there was no way Sasha was going to get involved with a serial player.
“You know Sasha,” her mother said sitting up straight and meeting her eyes with a worried expression. “I know you work harder than probably anyone else in your class because you want to prove something. I’m sure that has to do with your father’s position.” When Sasha only looked at her without commenting she laid a hand over Sasha’s.
“You know dear, you’ll be great no matter what you do, but just be sure to have some fun along the way. You want good memories to keep you warm in your winter years.”
Sasha observed her mother with new understanding. Tisha Morris was nearing fifty although she looked more like Sasha’s older sister than her mother. She had the long lithe body of a supermodel although Sasha had never witnessed a vain moment. A sleek haircut left her golden and sand colored hair just brushing her shoulder. Clear blue eyes concernedly searched Sasha’s. Sometimes Sasha wondered why she couldn’t have gotten her looks from her mother. Instead, she was tiny, brunette, and had boring brown eyes. Her mother was the woman Sasha lived up to, a woman with steel for a backbone and a smile for her worst enemy, things Sasha were still learning about. Every now and then her mother would shock her with simple words that purveyed her wisdom.
“I know mom,” Sasha sighed. “Sometimes it’s just hard, you know. There’s so much I want to do but it feels like I don’t have time.”
A bright bubble of laughter erupted from her mother. “Oh baby, you have all the time in the world. What’s the rush?”
“I’m afraid of making a mistake.” Sasha said, looking at her short unpainted nails.
“Honey, we all make mistakes, how do you think we know so much?” Her mother’s words had Sasha laughing.
“Thanks mom.” Sasha smiled.
“It’s my pleasure. Besides, what are mothers for? While I’ve got you here I want to find out if you’d like to have dinner with us sometime in the next two weeks. Your father’s got a new campaign marketer. He’s such a decent boy.”
“Moooom,” Sasha whined, covering her eyes with her hands.
“Tisha, are you forcing dates on the girl again?” Juli
us Bogart Morris’s voice came from the balcony door. He looked every bit the intimidating senator he was; gray pinstripe suit and charcoal tie. Although everyone knew Senator Morris as JB, Sasha knew that underneath the smooth exterior there was a ruthless man who saw everything in black and white. For him gray didn’t exist and too often Sasha found herself in the gray areas.
“Hi, dad.” Sasha said, getting up. She walked over to him and gave him a hug. To him, Sasha knew she would always be his baby girl.
“Hello, baby girl. This is a nice surprise; if I knew you were coming over I would’ve been home sooner.”
“It’s alright; I know the old folks need some coddling before the election.” Elections had been as much a part of Sasha’s childhood as chocolate and birthday parties.
“Well, I’ve coddled them enough. If things are going the way they are with the new Campaign Marketer I won’t have any problems.”
Sasha’s eyes widened and her father laughed. “Don’t worry; setting up is your mother’s department. I’m merely impressed with his skills.”
“Phew,” Sasha said, gesturing wiping sweat from her forehead.
“But honestly Sasha, you never bring anyone home. Do you date at all?” Tisha asked concerned.
Sasha immediately thought of the date Stefan had invited her on, which she cancelled. He couldn’t have been that interested; he didn’t even phone when she didn’t reply.
“Mom, I see people! Just not anyone interesting enough to bring home.” Sasha defended herself.
She had only ever brought two guys home. The first was her prom date who had been grilled about his grade and choice of schools although he was just a friend. The second had been a guy she briefly dated when she had started at NYU. After being grilled about his lineage, his parents’ financial status and his prospects for Sasha, she had decided it was better not to bring anyone home at all.
That was one of the many problems of being an only child: overprotective parents. Throw in a senator in the public eye and they bordered on paranoid.
“So how’s school, Sasha? You still my top girl?” Her father asked sitting down with them.
Sasha sighed inwardly and knew she would spend the next half hour discussing each class, her grades and her plans after NYU. She took a fortifying sip of ice tea and started, knowing her father wouldn’t stop if she didn’t start.
Even though he had trusted her enough to move out, he still made sure he knew about every aspect of her life.
CHAPTER 4
Stefan kicked back in his leather chair behind the large desk in his office at FACE on Monday morning. He had come into the office early, abiding his father’s request, only to have Roman gloat that he had already done Stefan’s work.
When Stefan demanded to know why he needed to be in early, Roman cockily told him that if he didn’t have anything to do he could play coffee-maid. Stefan bit his tongue and stalked to his office.
This really had to stop. Roman was not only goading him but was openly embarrassing him. Stefan knew it, but also had to admit that Roman had some valid points. Stefan was free-loading and ditching most of his work on Roman, and not because he couldn’t do it. He simply didn’t enjoy it.
He took his phone and wandered to the studio two floors above, where they were currently doing the photo shoot for their Spring Edition.
The model was wearing a white dress with bright red poppies and was stationed in front of a red backdrop. It looked striking but it needed something. Stefan moved through the lights, cables and staff and stepped in behind the photographer. He peered over his shoulder at the screen. It worked, but something was definitely missing.
“Do you mind?” The photographer glared at Stefan for entering his personal space. Stefan held up his hands and moved back a few steps.
Make-up was called to touch up the model. Knowing it would take at least a few minutes, Stefan pulled out his phone and walked to the snack bar in the corner. He picked up a green apple and flicked to his messages.
He stared at Sasha’s message with the apple halfway to his mouth. He had probably looked at that message a thousand times since Saturday and still it didn’t make sense to him. She had come back with such a quick witty reply and then a few minutes later had shot him down like a duck mid-flight. What happened between her first message and the next? He had thought of phoning her a number of times, but something held him back.
He wanted her too much to screw this up.
He wouldn’t admit it openly but knew his irritability with Roman was partly because he didn’t hear from Sasha. She had mentioned studying at NYU, maybe if he went to the campus…
He shook his head. What a stupid thought. What were the chances of coming across her by accident on campus, almost zero?
Just then he heard the photographer start instructing the model for her position. Slipping his phone in his pocket, he moved closer. He stopped a few feet behind the photographer and watched the screen. Something was definitely missing. He glanced at the apple in his hand he still hadn’t taken a bite of and the idea jumped to him.
“Wait!” Stefan shouted into the quiet room.
The photographer turned around with a murdering glare. “Excuse me?” He took two steps towards Stefan coming up right in his face. “What did you just say?”
Stefan shrugged and flashed his smile. “I told you to wait, I’ve got an idea.”
The photographer smirked. “Listen everybody; daddy’s boy just had an idea. Probably the first this century.”
Snickers and hushed gasps travelled through the studio, Stefan felt his temper that slumbered most of the time slowly awaken. “Look, I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just I have an idea that could make the picture exquisite instead of great.”
The photographer burst out laughing. “Really, daddy’s boy has an idea that would work better than mine. Well come on pretty boy let’s hear it.” He was openly mocking Stefan now.
Stefan pressed the snooze button on his temper and held up the apple. “If she holds this as if she’s about to take a bite, the green will pop on the red and white.”
For a moment Stefan thought the photographer considered his idea before his eyes widened and he bellowed. “This is preposterous! You might be daddy’s boy but you don’t tell me how to do my fucking job. Shut the fuck up or get out.”
Stefan stood his ground not making a move.
“Get the fuck out or I will!” He bellowed again.
Stefan heard a familiar throat clearing behind him. Shit! His dad!
“What’s going on here?” His father said with a forced smile. The snickers and quiet whispers quickly died down. Almost everyone in the room seemed to stand taller at the sight of Tommy Kelson.
Everyone at FACE had the utmost respect and a well-placed fear for Thomas Jonathan Kelson, better known as Tommy. FACE was one of the many companies Tommy owned and if he fired you the chances were slim of even getting an interview ever gain.
The photographer immediately rushed forward. “Your son is telling me how to do my job. I can’t work like this Tommy; it’s him or me. You decide.”
Stefan’s temper jolted awake. If this guy didn’t work for his father he would’ve been on his ass by now. “I wasn’t telling him how to do his goddamn job, I simply made a suggestion.” Stefan held up the apple. “The setting for the cover is great dad, but if she held this apple the color would pop more.”
Tommy looked over at the model and back to the apple. “Try it with the apple.” He barked at the photographer.
The photographer didn’t move. He kept glaring at Stefan with his fists clenched. Tommy cast a furious look Stefan’s way before turning back to the photographer. “If it’s not better with the apple, he’s out.”
Shit! His dad was serious. Stefan chewed his cheek and hoped to the heavens that he’d made the right call. It’s wasn’t as if he liked the job - or even did it for that matter - but his father had made it clear that if he didn’t work, h
e wouldn’t get his trust fund money every month. That would mean Stefan would actually have to find a job and work.
The photographer tossed the apple at the model, who shocked everyone by catching it with a firm grasp. “Little League.” She shrugged, trying to find a smile amidst the tension in the room.
She posed with the apple exactly as Stefan had suggested and the only sound in the room was the ‘click’ from the camera.
Stefan’s father stepped up to the screen and asked the photographer to bring both images up side by side.
Stefan didn’t chance joining him, as things were he was already half way out the door. After a few seconds, his father turned to the photographer.
“It’s better with the apple. Just because you’re the best doesn’t mean you’re always right.” Relief washed over Stefan. The photographer huffed and proceeded to take another dozen shots of the model with the apple.
Tommy walked past Stefan and cast him a furious look. “Outside, now!”
Stefan followed his father, ignoring the stares from the other staff, into the small foyer in front of the elevators. Before Stefan could thank his father for supporting him his father cut loose.
“Don’t ever put me in that goddamn position again. You’re damn lucky you were right or you would’ve been out on your ass. I know you don’t particularly feel you need to work for your salary but some people do, and if you can’t stop interfering with people I’m paying to do their jobs, yours is on the line.”
Stefan nodded. He knew there was no arguing with his dad now, and instead he changed the subject. “What are you doing here? You never come by the FACE offices.”
His father shrugged. “I promised Roman I’d make sure you were here today. When you weren’t in your office, that redhead from advertising told me I might find you here.”
So his dad was checking up on him. “Right.”
“Right. Stefan, I know you’ve had it easy and it’s probably my fault. I spoiled you. I gave you everything you wanted trying to make up for the many nights I spent at the office. In retrospect I made a mistake by doing that, but you’re a grown man now. One that needs to start taking responsibility.”