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Date Posted: 06:46:58 12/03/07 Mon
Author: Mary
Author Host/IP: cpe-71-65-120-3.woh.res.rr.com / 71.65.120.3
Subject: Characters & Shadows - Chapter 15
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Characters & Shadows - Cont." on 15:54:28 11/25/07 Sun

Chapter 15

“Of course I am. Just a little distracted. Bad day at the office.”

“What was the crazy Russian up to this time?” Carla said with a roll of her brown eyes.

“Closing the doors.”

That got Carla’s attention, “What?”

“It seems that the warnings were true. His flamboyant spending finally really did bankrupt the company. The money runs out in under 30 days unless a miracle occurs.”

“Wow. Here I am blabbering with gossip and you lost your job today, I’m so sorry. What are you going to do?”

Nikita shrugged, “I don’t know.” She had once again lost her appetite and instead poured a glass of wine for herself and Carla.

“Well you can go to work for someone else.”

“It’s not that easy. I’m not really trained and Petrosian, well, he was desperate when he hired me.”

“But you have experience now.”

“Not enough.” The two friends sat in silence for a while sipping their wine, “I’m thinking about leaving town maybe, I thought you should know.”

“Are you crazy? You can’t do that over a job. Besides you are going to be in a show.”

“I don’t think that is going to work out. And even if it did it doesn’t pay much until after it opens and that’s weeks away.”

“You could talk to Michael. I’m sure he would help.”

“Absolutely not. That’s the last person I would talk to about this. It’s my business, not his.”

“But he was here last night.”

“Yeah for a few minutes to drop me off. But I have only known him a few days and I don’t think I really even like him very much.”

“Oh you are such a bad liar. You are starting to have feelings for him aren’t you?”

Nikita sighed, “Even if I were, and I’m not saying that I am, but I hardly know him and I’m not at a place were I want a relationship anyway.”

“Girl you are too young and beautiful to be thinking that way. I haven’t seen you with anyone the whole time I have lived here. I know you don’t like to talk about it and I respect that, but whatever happened in your past relationship, you have got to get over it and just move on in your life.”

Every nerve ending in her body tensed, “It’s not that simple.” She snapped.

“Then let me help, let me be your friend. Tell me about it. Talk to me, please.”

“Don’t do this. Please…”

“No. we have put this off for too long Nikita and you know it. You live like a hermit over here. No one comes and no one goes. You have no friends, no interests, no family, no calls, no deliveries, nothing. You don’t even have a pet or a plant. This is just not normal. Now you can tell me. Are you running from the police? Or your boyfriend? Did you get into something that you couldn’t get out of. I can keep your secret, you know that, but…”

That was it, today had just been too much and she had had it, “Stop it! I want you to leave. Now!”

Carla changed tactics immediately, “Ok, ok. Calm down. I’m sorry, I know I pushed but I just want…”

“No. No. No! I don’t want your apologies. I don’t want your friendship.” Tears were running down her face, “I just want you to leave. Just leave. Please…”

“Ok, I’m going. But I’m just down he hall and this isn’t over.”

“Just go.”

Carla retreated out the door as Nikita stood with her back to her exit and her shoulders shaking in tears.

As soon as Carla was in her own apartment and shut the door she speed dialed her cell, “It’s Carla. I made a mistake. I pushed too hard. She threw me out.”

She listened hoping that she would be given another chance. “I’ll fix it. That’s what you pay me for.”

Again a pause, “No, she’s ok. I mean, she’s upset about the job, and mentioned leaving town. But I’m sure you won’t let that happen.”

“Michael was there last night. Rumor has it he is quite taken with her. Just what we wanted.”

“Yeah, I know what I have to do. Michael doesn’t suspect anything. Talk with you tomorrow.” She clicked the phone shut and went to take a bath.

*****

The letter arrived by courier the next morning to Nikita’s apartment with a dozen white roses and a wrapped gift with a large white bow. She opened the letter first:


Miss Nikita Wirth:

We at the Wolfe Production House are delighted to offer you a temporary position with the Theater Company for the Production of Section One. This show is currently scheduled to be released in three months.

The assuredness of your position is contingent upon the following actions being followed by you:

1. You will speak to no member of the press at any time without a representative of Wolfe Productions with you.
2. A Wolfe Production representative will act as your agent in all matters pertaining to your part in this production.
3. Rehearsals for your part are daily and are mandatory. Your first failure to show will be documented and the cost deducted from your percentage of post net production revenues. Failure to show to two consecutive rehearsals will be considered breach of contract.
4. Rehearsal times and schedule will be set by Production Company representatives and will not be negotiable.
5. The nature of the part you will play requires that you lose twenty pounds in order for the proper presentation on stage. You must stay within this ideal weight by no more that +/- 1% or you will be considered in breach of contract.
6. You will be paid standard industry wages for an entry level actress in this scale of a production.
7. Post Net Revenues will be distributed to the members of the Theater company equitably based on time earned with Wolfe Productions.


These terms are available to you for your agreement for 48 hours. We would appreciate your immediate signature below and return of this signed contract to the Wolfe Production House personally.

Sincerely,

Paul Wolfe
President Wolfe Productions

She laid the letter aside after reading it twice and reached for the box. Taking off the lid she pushed back the tissue paper to discover the contents. There were workout clothes, a written diet, a membership card to a gym nearby, a jump rope, ankle weights, hand weights, a workout video, and a book on how to lose weight and keep it off. And a small card that read:

Nikita:

Congratulations on getting the part. We have a lot of work to do. This is just the beginning. I want you at the gym tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m.

Madeline Sands

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