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Date Posted: 12:36:06 12/19/07 Wed
Author: Mary
Author Host/IP: PMP.jax.org / 209.222.204.104
Subject: Characters & Shadows - Chapter 21
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Characters & Shadows - Cont." on 12:34:19 12/19/07 Wed

Chapter 21

She awoke startled, instantly on guard and adrenaline raced through her bloodstream forcing the fight or flight reaction when she jumped back from the sleeping man laying in her bed. She clutched at the sheet covering her and tried to force herself to breath, deeply in and out before she passed out. It hit her like a freight train at full speed, she had slept with Michael and he was right there next to her and she must have finally lost her mind.

Frozen in place she trembled as rational thought semi-returned and the events of the evening came back to her. With embarrassment she realized how much she had wanted to make love with him, and it was even worse that her body was betraying her as she sat there and the same feeling began to stir in her again. He was just an arrogant man, and an actor at that, what was she possibly thinking? She knew what she was thinking, he was the most charming and attractive man that she had ever met. And he was compassionate and intelligent. That was a deadly combination for her. He had just come into her life and gotten under her skin immediately. And now he had totally stolen her heart.

His gentle lovemaking had been amazing. He had found spots on her body that she hadn’t even known existed – and they’d only made love once. To say she was confused was just about the understatement of the year. What was she supposed to do now? She had a contract she hadn’t signed, a job that she just lost, and ex-husband that would kill her if he found her, and now <i>this</i> with Michael. If it wasn’t so terrifying she might actually laugh at the absurd way her life had turned out.

He was still sleeping, has not stirred with her quick movements. She studied his face in the soft light that filtered into the room from the kitchen. It was a strong and handsome face, soft and boyish in sleep. And man was he handsome. Something inside of her just swirled and swooned when he was nearby. She felt foolish and childish, but she couldn’t help it. He made her feel all the ways that she was sure she was never going to feel again in her life. He was amazing and she knew, against all her best judgment, that she was falling in love with this man.

But that complicated everything in her already messed up existence. So much change in so short a period of time. She wished she could freeze everything for a while and just have time to think, but there wasn’t time. She had to make decisions and make them quickly. She was out of a job and that just couldn’t be. The part in the production didn’t pay much, but it was better than nothing. And she could spend time with Michael. Time that she really wanted to spend.

It was a luxury and she knew inside that it could go no where with Michael. No matter how much she might care for him it had to stay simple and fun, there was no room for a serious relationship in her disastrous world. But for a little while, just a little while, she could pretend. She could be what she had always dreamed of being since she was a little girl – an actress. She could be up on that stage where she felt whole and she could have a crush on the leading man and for a little while she could be happy.

She wasn’t fooling herself when it came to any thoughts of a relationship with Michael. She knew his reputation and knew that she would never be good enough for someone like him. So from his perspective once she was gone then he would be free to pursue the life that he was meant to have. One of the spotlight and glamour that came with being a star. He would forget her and that was ok, but she would have these memories to last her for a long, long time.

She made her decision then that she would take the part. She would spend time with Michael and treasure this gift that had come into her world even if it was for just a short period of time. It was something that she would have forever when she was alone again and on the run.

She watched as he began to wake and looked over at her, “Hi there.” He said sleepily.

She smiled, “Hi yourself.”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, choosing his words carefully, “I didn’t expect for this to happen, at least not this fast…I mean, not tonight and maybe not…well, at least…”

Her smile broadened, “Michael, it’s all right. Neither one of us planned this. It just happened.”

He was worried that she was regretting what had occurred, “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine. Really.”

They both knew a moment of uncertainty as she sat there watching him stare off at the ceiling. She broke the silence, “What are you thinking about?”

He looked directly into her blue eyes as he answered her, “How lucky I am that I met you.”

She blushed at his honesty and the sincerity of his words. “I’m pretty lucky myself you know.”

“You are?” his teased as his hand reached out and gently began to stroke hers.

Her smile lit up the room, “Yes. I’m very excited Michael. About meeting you. And, I’ve decided that I am going to take the part in Section One. I’ll sign the contract tonight.”

He smiled as he pulled her down against him and took her in his arms, “That is fantastic. You won’t regret this, you’ll see.”

“We have a lot of work to do you know.”
“We have time. Besides, we haven’t even really had dinner.”

“Mmm. She kissed at his neck, I thought we had something much better than dinner.”

*****

Paul sat in his office pondering events of the last few days. He was tired on this night. Trying to keep Madeline in line was becoming more exhausting each day. She was brilliant and incredibly talented, he knew that he had to have here in the company. But she came with a price, and a high one at that. Not just money, although her salary was expensive, no she wanted something else, something that he couldn’t give her. His heart. He couldn’t give it to her because he wasn’t even sure if he had ever had one to start with.

Perhaps many, many years ago when he had first met Corrine he may have had a heart then, may have actually given it to Corrine as part of the marriage. But whatever occurred, the years had taken a toll and he was feeling very hollow and empty on this night. He loved his wife, always had, but her mental illnesses over the years would take a toll on any man, even one as strong as Paul. She had been in and out of institutions, doctors, pills, everything that they could think of. But she was destined to spend her life as she was depressed, occasionally suicidal with deep psychotic episodes that were lasting longer and longer.

Paul was so very tired of it, but there was one more very important thing that she had that he could never give up on. That was money. His wife was worth just over $15 billion dollars of a corporate empire built by her grandfather and left to her by her father. She was the only child of the baron and he had adored her. When she married the will had been changed to leave everything to her, and to the husband that always took care of his daughter. If he was to divorce Corrine he was left with nothing.

But it was more than that. There was a team of attorneys and accountants that took care of all the money. They paid all the bills, managed the investments, etc. Paul was given a hefty stipend each month, but not nearly enough to pay for the things he really wanted nor enough to finance the productions that he wanted to put on. No, that money had to be found elsewhere, particularly since the disaster of the last opening. He had to get more creative after that in order to obtain funding for Section One. Keeping that source of funding from Madeline was proving to be quite difficult, she was far too perceptive for his tastes right now.

So it had been difficult to send her home on this night and convince her that he simply needed some time to himself before he went home to Corrine. Madeline wanted him to stay the night with her, but it was of course impossible right now. The sex would have to wait, he had other business to attend to. While he was dreading the expected call, he did want to get it over with.

The phone on the desk rang finally. Paul sat up a little straighter, gathered himself and answered briskly, “Yes.”

“Mr. Wolfe payment is due, you’re late.”

With the same direct tone and arrogance he replied, “I told you I need six weeks. The production will be ready by then and I’ll have the money in full.”

“My employer does not wait for anyone.”

Paul used an even stronger tone not letting the other man have control of the conversation, “This time he will. Tell him I want to meet.”

There was a laugh at the other end of the line, “Not possible.”

But Paul did not let it go, “Make it possible. I have a deal he will be interested in.”

Paul then hung up the phone never letting the other man reply. He sighed and prayed that this worked. He picked up the picture of Nikita on his desk and held it up to the light. Yes, this had to work.

*****

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