Category: a to z challenge

Dana tried, oh my god she’d tried, but the man was insidiously short sighted and and “stupid!” she yelled out loud though there were none to hear.  The campaign hinged on the elegance and possibility, the nuance of romance in an idyllic setting.  It wasn’t supposed to be staged with robotic men and women.  No one would buy that, ever!

They needed a man oozing charm, elegance, refined but edgy.  A woman sitting nonchalantly at a table enjoying the setting sun, looking out across the horizon, possibly dreaming of meeting someone special.  A man worth sharing her life with, dependable, the essence of stability, reliability but with charm and grace. A chance meeting, unexpected, surprising, delightful.

Marshal’s idea was staid, dry.  They needed to kick it up a notch, they needed bold dynamic excitement, hinted at, suggested.  These clients were edgy but enjoyed a hint of romance in their advertising.  They weren’t into scantily clad men and women.  This was a step beyond what they expected but it was perfect.

Yet he second guessed her every step of the way.  He was impossible!  What’s more, she’d allowed him to rattle her, for the first time in her career.  She knew she was right.  Her senses were always on target. She’d study previous advertising campaigns, get a feel for the direction they were going. Her intention was pushing them a little past their previously comfortable outlook hoping to capture a fresher audience without alienating the classic long time clients.

Standing straight she marched into his office.

 

 

Sandy stood quivering on the water’s edge, oblivious to the gentle lapping at her feet.  She wasn’t cold.  She wasn’t overheated.  She wasn’t fearful. She was excited. Her husband was returning from overseas. Six long months he’d been gone, forced to finish up loose ends before joining her.

They’d never been apart this long.  Although they lived busy productive lives, their time together was simple, relaxed, intimate and pure.  She pictured it now, the renaissance of old and new.  A mixture of his world and hers combined into one.  Surprising how much she’d missed those moments of sharing.  Sometimes combative, sometimes coalesced, sometimes unforgettable. Always passionate.

Standing facing the setting sun, she waited patiently and impatiently counting down the  moments until he’d be by her side, the beginning of something new and fresh in a land so distant from anything they’d known. An adventure they’d chosen together.  It was time.  She hurried back to the house, slipped her feet into flip flops, grabbed her bag and keys and rushed to the car.

When Malcome arrived, the house was empty. Where could she be? He toured the house, peered out the windows. He couldn’t find any sign of her.  Surely she’d have gone to the dock to meet him.

His phone rang and he answered the unknown number.  “Mr. Greyson?”

“Yes.”

“I have some terrible news for you.”

He listened in horror.  The phone fluttered from his grasp as he fell on his knees to the floor.  She was gone. It couldn’t happen it couldn’t! His love his one and only taken from him? He sat shaking, the quivering wouldn’t stop.  Tears dripped from his eyes as silent racking sobs shook his body.

Maria’s staff was holding together well, optimistic to the end.  Heads held high, they continued their work as per normal.  Today was D-day.  Except for a select few, no one knew what the board’s decision would be.  They held the fate of all the employees working at Lord’s in their hands.

Although a well-known name, their product had taken a nose-dive with the advent of the latest upcoming “upstart” as her boss called Fjord’s.

Maria had to give their advertising department credit.  Although pandering to the younger market with trendy new and promising motivational speaches had managed to steal away several of Lord’s top accounts.  “Reach the Unreachable” was their motto.

Lord’s catered to the experienced seasoned climbers, those with chutzpah and panache who climbed some of the noblest of peaks and conditions considered unscalable.

The marketplace had grown exponentially over the last 10 years but was currently experiencing a down-turn no one could explain therefore the market place was smaller.

All heads turned expectantly when her boss walked through the door.  No one was more surprised than she at witnessing his companion.  A hush fell over the entire group for standing beside her boss was none other than Damian Ranguild, head of the advertising department of the “upstart” company and bain of their existence.

As eye-candy went, he was luscious.  Some women smiled coyly but his eyes continued to scan the room until his eyes met hers.  She wasn’t sure whether to walk to greet him or make him suffer the walk of shame to her desk.  Maria waited.  Her boss’s face was flushed and he huffed and puffed behind the long ranging gate that was Ranguild.

Interesting, she thought.  Standing she held out a hand.  Instead of shaking hers, he held on firmly and kissed her fingertips.  If he meant to surprise her, he succeeded.  A knowing smile lit his face.

Maxxy was jealous of everything.  It didn’t matter what it was or who was involved or what they had.  She didn’t!  That’s all she saw.  Someone else had something new different, whether it was physical or a brainstorm, she wanted it and set about taking it.  She had no close friends.  She was cruel, vicious, mean-spirited and aggressive.  Then sat back and commiserated with herself about what a miserable horrible unfair world it was.

Many had tried, some hung in there longer than others, but eventually, they all left realizing it was a lost cause.  Their efforts met with cold austere dislike as she plunged a knife into their back desiccating eviscerating unappreciative and without any love or affection to redeem her shortcomings.

Today was her come-uppance as it were.  She’d had her eye on a new man who was smart attractive appealing.  For the first time in her brief life, she desired someone who wouldn’t give her the time of day.

Then surprisingly, he did. Delighted with the turn of events, she made room for him in her life.  Progress.  They shared delightful blissful dinners, evenings and nights.  Until she woke up and he was simply gone.  And with him, everything she had.  Her bank account was empty.  Her room ransacked and anything of value was gone.  She was empty.

Binoculars trained on her window he watched and applauded.  His sister, who’d been one of her victims was avenged.  He turned, smiled and walked on.

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Jazzy felt impotent.  This was new!  Having always taken the bull by the horns and pushed on through whatever blocked her way and cramped her style, she was experiencing something she’d never before experienced.  She didn’t like it, at all.

The cause of that impotence was Jason.  He was adorable, fun, gentle, sweet and slow moving.  He planned every last thing!  Her fate was in his hands! If he gave her project the go-ahead, she could begin implementing the necessary changes in the sound room.  If not, it was back to square one.  Making do with what they had.

Surely the money they’d made through the last six months could be fed back into the company.  They desperately needed a decent “live room” so vocalists and instrumentalists could blast away without interfering with others. An additional isolation booth would be a brilliant addition too, allowing more than one vocalist to perform simultaneously.

Once the powers that be heard what they had to offer, there was no end in sight to the possibilities to their grown.  Word of mouth in this business was everything after all.  If one artist found you accommodating, and their sound enhanced, they told others.

The door opened and she looked eagerly at his face, hoping his expression would give away what he thought.  He grinned.  Jazzy was out of her seat and dancing across the room.  “It’s a go, isn’t it?”

He hugged her close, “Yep, you got it in the bag – wait wait!”  He held up his hands, “Within reason!  We can’t afford to go crazy but we can get started on both projects, or you can choose whichever feels right and we can go all in.”

Jazzy’s eyes lit up.  She knew exactly which project to choose!  “Onward and upward, Jason.  You’ll see, it’ll make a huge difference!”

As Jazzy bounced back to her desk, Jason smiled. Jason long ago learned to trust her judgment.  He was gambling on that.  She knew her stuff.  Counting on that, he’d taken every last cent from his personal bank account to make this happen. He knew she was right.  He knew she’d make it work.  More he knew she’d make it a success!

 

 

 

 

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“Why is Jenny in handcuffs and why are the cops taking her away?” April asked stunned.

“There was a theft in her department and they think it was her,” Dawn’s smile held acrimony.

“That’s not possible, she’s the most honest woman I’ve ever met. Honest and fair!”

“Says you!”

“Yeah, says me and everyone that knows her.  She’s not capable of deception let alone theft.  There’s a mistake.  She’s been set up.”

“Why would anyone want to do that?” Dawn looked sideway through eyes the size of slits.”

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave it alone.”

“Are you threatening me, Dawn, are you responsible for this?”

“Leave it alone, April.  There’s more where that came from.”  She nodded toward Jenny.

“So, it was you then.”  Dawn walked away, a strut in her step, one of those walks that carried a threat.

April waited until she’d disappeared before heading to her boss’s office. “Max, you know this is a mistake, right?”

“Yeah, it is and we’re going to do something about it.”

“What?”  April asked, eyes wide with fear, concern, and excitement.

“Leave it to me, April. I’m pretty sure I know how this went down but it’s going to take me time to place the puzzle pieces in order and clear Jenny.”

“Want me to watch Dawn?”

“Furtively, if you can, but be careful.  She has more irons in the fire.  She’s as dishonest as it gets and not without the power to follow through as you’ve just seen.”

“What’s she going to do, take the entire office down one by one?”

“She has connections, willing and able to assist her.”

Dawning realization hit.  “You’re in love with Jenny.”

“What of it?” Max asked as he stood confidently.

“Good to know she has an honest caring man on her side. And a best friend that will go to the mat for her.  We can do this, Max.  We need to do this. She’s never done anything to deserve this.”

“No, and we’re going to free her. When the chips fall, they’ll fall hard, where they belong.”

They watched as Dawn poked her head in the outer office door. “That one needs a take-down.”

“It’s coming.  And the fall is going to hurt for a long time,” Max promised.

 

 

Gena felt completely flustered!  She’d gone about her daily chores as per normal, focusing on shopping not only for herself, but for her elderly neighbour unable to get to the market as often as necessary.

She’d obtained the groceries, carefully packing them separately so she could drop them and run.  Mrs. Humphrey often lay down for a nap late in the afternoon, and as was her ritual, Gena used her key, deposited the requested items and left.

Today however was different.  She stood outside her door listening to the most beautiful music she’d ever heard.  She stood transfixed, heart soaring.

Unlocking the door, she entered, stopping short.  A handsome man a little older than she sat before a piano, plucking away on the keys.  He was obviously responsible for the melodious sounds she’d been listening to. Mrs. Humphrey was sitting in her worn chair listening, eyes closed, the picture of rapture upon her face while the man was completely absorbed in the music both unaware of her presence.

Gena wanted to say something, but couldn’t.  Enveloped by beautiful music, the expressions on both faces, obviously feeling what she felt, she closed her eyes and stood listening until the end of the piece.

When she opened her eyes, she found both staring at her. Mrs. Humphrey with delight and welcome, the man with curiosity and a mixture of perplexity.

“Hi.”  She was beyond flustered.  His eyes stroked her face her hair and it was as if he’d physically reached out and touched her.

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E is for Emotion

Eden was beautiful, talented, young and fresh.  She was what the world was waiting for.  Her talent was next to none.  Her greatest influences were Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Adele, and Leona Lewis.  Spectacular voices, distinct individual uniquely beautiful in their style.

She’d always wanted to sing, ever since she’d picked up a plastic mic when she was five and a half years old and it was obvious to everyone she had a voice like an angel.  She sang for the fun of it, mimicking everyone on the radio.  Her parents used to lay awake at night listening to her hum herself to sleep.

Now she was here, she was playing the big leagues and it was spectacular. Couldn’t be better.  Her voice carried that deeply soulful sound of the ages combined with the sweet contemporary sound of today with a hint of an angel wrapped inside a whisper.

Her performances were deeply emotional, draining, but left the audience wanting more.  As she lay on her bed wrapped in her favourite warm fluffy blanket she sighed. It was all she’d dreamed about, except for one thing.    She was lonely, more correctly, alone.  No time to share the depth of emotion she felt with another human being, man or woman.

She thought music filled her up and it did, without the ability to sing, she wasn’t sure what she would do probably fade away into nothingness, become smoke and simply fly away on a wisp of smoke.

Damian was the first man to cross her path in 10 years that moved her.  He was real, solid, sincere and her bodyguard.  A bodyguard with a serious rep.  Could she, should she take the chance and let emotion lead her where it may? Did she have the courage to reach out?

One day led into the next, and each day she promised herself she’d make a move but didn’t.  Would he? Did he see her that way? Emotions filled her first excitement, then desire, then yearning.  Never doubt. Make the move! she admonished herself, today!

 

“Mac, I always go with my gut and there’s something about this I distrust.  Go in easy, wait for back up – follow protocol you hear me?”

“Yeah, I got it.  You know I’m good, I can take care o’ my own right?”

“You’re a great cop,  but for once, listened to a seasoned cop that knows more than you!?  Something’s not right, I feel it in my bones.”

“What especially?”

“There’s something about the way this went down, the info, the way we received it, and I have to ask why you in particular for the meet?  They didn’t know you were involved.  Someone’s yanking our chain.  I think this is payback and a set up to get to you.  Why I don’t know.”

“Just make sure you listen to me and your gut.  If mine is screaming, yours should be too.  This situation stinks!”

“I know man, I got that right off the hop.  I’ll be careful.  I got a beautiful woman to go home to.  I’m not going to take chances on this one.  I’m with you, I distrust the whole set up but if we don’t go through with it, we’ll lose the whole deal, right?”

“I’d rather lose the deal than you.”

“I hear ya.  Ok, I’m going under.  I’ll contact you in an hour.”

“I got your back, but you be careful Dean.”  Dean nodded and walked out the side door.

“Damn but I don’t trust this!”  Picking up the phone he called his friend and confident to touch base.

 

 

“I’m so confused,”  Cathy responded, frustration evident in her voice.

“About what?” I asked somberly

“One minute he’s the cat’s meow and the next he’s a demon from hell.  I don’t understand the back and forth thing.” Cathy dropped her head in her hands.

“I’d say he’s the moody type.”

“Oh is that what it is?”

“He’s a musician and half the time he’s in his head thinking about what to write and how the score works, and the other half he’s down to earth.”

“Which is which? I can’t figure out which pertains to “us” anymore.  It seems he’s moody all the time.  I’m not sure it’s what I want or what I can live with.”

“You’ll get there.”

“How do you know?”

“Cause your a wise woman.  Go with your heart, a little bit of your head to keep it all in perspective and then add a little more heart.”

“I’m not into this roller-coaster ride.  I figured I’d settle on someone more like me, down to earth, calm relaxed.”

“Seriously, Cathy would that be any fun?”

“Doesn’t he add the missing zip, panache, excitement you were looking for?”

“Most of the time, in spades, I can’t keep up.  And that’s the other thing.  I worry he’ll get bored being with me.”

“He chose you, remember?  That says a lot.”

“I’m still confused.”

“It’s ok, confusion is good, when the cloud lifts, you’ll know what to do.”

“I sure as hell hope so!  This letting people in confuses me.  Makes life messy.”

“Hate to tell ya, but most of life is messy.”

To which Cathy’s response was to roll her eyes and smile.  Messy is good I have to admit.