Chapter Four
Melissa sat on her couch looking at the tall, elegant goblet of red wine she had poured for herself. It was from a case that she and her ex-boyfriend Conor had ordered when they were on a wine tour of Napa Valley. The relationship had ended on that holiday. She hadn't wanted to go because she hated leaving Suzy alone in New York City and because she couldn't bear the thought of spending all that money when she needed cash so badly for medical bills, but Conor had insisted that they needed a holiday. Buying the expensive wine had been the last straw and now she had a case of the damn stuff in her apartment that he refused to come an collect but also refused to say was hers either.
She had been looking at the glass for forty-five minutes straight but after her initial sip drinking it was the last thing on her mind. She knew her intolerance to alcohol would leave her senseless if she went too far, but a couple of mouthfuls would leave her mercifully at ease after the weird, uncomfortable day she had just had.
Blushing in front of her client.
Her client trying to bribe her.
The date for her hearing so soon next week.
Blushing in front of her supervisor and then her supervisor's weird and inappropriate behavior.
And then of course there were the usual problems that never seemed to go away; her sister's illness, the medical bills and even the damn rent on her apartment.
She took another small sip of wine from the glass and set it down on the coffee table.
There had to be a way to make all these problems go away somehow.
Sex with Jason Demovic.
The thought was fleeting but intense.
What the hell?
Her mind for years had been as predictable and well ordered as her pristine office space but since her clients meltdown from her simple act of human comfort it seemed no longer to be under her control.
She snatched up the wine glass again and took a large swig that spilled half of it onto the white rug on her living-room floor.
She had imagined that she and Conor would have a lot of fun on that rug but he had never shown any inclination. He had liked bedroom sex only. Plain vanilla flavored. Nothing else.
Not like Jason Demovic. She thought and then instantly remonstrated with herself. Oh for Christ's sake, Melissa. Please. You don’t know that.
She took another gulp of her red wine, ignoring the fact that she had already passed her limit.
Red wine would help her relax, wouldn’t it?
She took yet another sip of wine. Another big one and then looked down at the stain on the rug. The fact that she didn't care about it was a sure sign that she had already had way too much. The rational part of her mind knew that she was doing everything wrong to deal with her problems, but the neglected emotional part sent her into the kitchen to find the open bottle of the expensive Napa red and top up her glass. She knew how annoying it would be to her ex when he finally came to pick it up and found a bottle or two missing.
She returned to the sofa with a filled glass and a tub of ice-cream from the freezer to keep her company. Flicking through the menu on her smart TV she looked for something brain dead to keep her entertained until the wine would make her pass out. It probably wouldn't be very long. She stopped at something called LiveWildCelebs that claimed to track celebrities in real time on live TV. The goal seemed to be catching them in meltdown mode and the theme seemed appropriate for how she was feeling tonight.
"They're only human too." She slurred to herself. It was like listening to another person speak. She had no interest in the rich or famous and barely knew what people were talking about when they dropped their names into conversation, but on her glass of wine she was feeling an absurd empathy for all human suffering, even the superficial glitzy kind of the rich and famous.
The skinny presenter with the big mouth was practically shouting into the screen.
"We're here live outside of one of New York's most happening downtown clubs where the Demovic brothers are holding an all star bash for the launch of their new billion dollar software program."
Melissa sat up straight.
Demovic?
"I know what you're thinking," The presenter continued. "Software--who gives a damn, right? Old tycoons, geeky programmers, who cares? But that was before older brother, just 29 years old by the way, Jason Demovic began hitting the coolest night spots in town every night of the week and leaving with one beauty after another, night after night as though the man is single handedly trying to satisfy all the beautiful women in New York City."
Melissa was bolt upright now and the recognition of her client's name had cleared her head like a patrol car pulling her over on the highway. The dessert spoon of double chocolate chip ice-cream she held was suspended in mid-air with large, sticky globs beginning to join the red wine stains on the carpet below.
"Younger brother Zach already left at a reasonable hour and he was alone. The sensible thing to do if you are a young billionaire with an empire to run."
"Billionaire?" Melissa repeated.
The presenter got more excited.
"Oh my God, we thought older and sexier brother Jason was still inside and we have hit pay dirt girls. Here comes the man himself."
She began moving quickly towards a group of women who were emerging from the club assisted by burly door staff and private bodyguards. Melissa strained to see as more globs of ice-cream continued to drip to the carpet below.
"Trust me ladies you will want to see this one. If you're one of the few who doesn't yet know who Jason Demovic is then you need to pay attention right now because they don't come any more smoking hot than this young multi-billionaire-- and ladies, this one is up for grabs."
"Multi-billionaire? Up for grabs?" The last big chunk of ice-cream left Melissa's spoon and splattered to the rug.
"Mr. Demovic! Mr. Demovic! Jason! It's Chauncey Tales from the Fame TV network. Can you answer a few questions for us please?"
Melissa was transfixed. It was hard to see what was going on-- this was live TV after all--but then suddenly there he was, clear as day, the same burning, dark eyes, the same incredible good looks. He was surrounded by women and body guards.
"Chauncey, it's great to see you." He said as though she were a close friend. "What can I do for you?" He asked her graciously.
"Who are these women Jason? Are you dating one of them? Or maybe all of them." She turned and winked at the camera.
"These beautiful ladies are all good friends of mine."
"Are they friends with benefits Jason?"
He gave an incredibly charming smile and then wagged his finger at the reporter. "That's a very naughty question Chauncey. No, these ladies are just good friends, that's all. Now if you'll excuse me." He turned to start helping the women into the limo. They all looked as slutty and grasping as Melissa imagined celebrity groupies to be and they weren't camera shy. Except for one of them who was making a concerted effort to hide behind the very tall and broad Jason Demovic.
"Oh my God, Beth Lindsay from channel 5, is that you?" The Fame TV reporter screamed as she recognized the budding serious TV journalist getting into the limo.
Beth Lindsay knew she had just been outed. There would be no use trying to deny it.
"Hi Chauncey." She said. "I'm just, uh, covering a story here."
Chauncey snorted into her microphone. "Oh really Beth? Is the story in Jason Demovic's pants Beth? Will we hear all about it on the Channel 5 news tomorrow?"
Beth tried not to look peeved as she continued climbing into the limo.
"Upskirt!"
The word came from nowhere but the camera was sure, zeroing in on the young journalist's nether parts as she separated her legs to enter the luxury car. Chauncey went at it like an attack dog.
"Beth, why aren't you wearing panties tonight?"
It was all too indistinct for Melissa to really see anything, particularly not with her head still a fuzzy from the alcohol.
Beth disappeared into the limo scrambling over a child booster seat next the window seat.
Kids? Melissa thought. He's got kids and he's out with some slut at a night club? Melissa was sobering up by the second. Maybe Jason Demovic thought he didn't need help but clearly his life was as much of a mess as hers was.
Chauncey Tales kept up her assault from outside the car on the street.
"Jason, are you carrying Beth's underwear for her?"
Jason gave his wonderfully sexy, mature billionaire smile again. George Clooney would have been outclassed by his suave cool.
But his eyes still held that intimidating steel. Chauncey Tales was clearly skating on thin ice.
"Thanks Chauncey." He said. "I'll see you later in the week." He ducked into the limo and was followed closely by two other women.
As the car sped away Chauncey turned to the camera to wrap up her piece.
"Well there you have it folks, troubled billionaire and ultra hot sexy playboy Jason Demovic is driving to his software launch after-after party with two unnamed skinny bimbos and one very panty-less news reporter, none other than Channel 5's Beth Lindsay. If there's any decent woman out there who can save this gorgeous bad-boy from himself then you are invited to come forward and make yourself known before this train-wreck crashes to a halt. Now back to Racy in the studio where it appears Canadian rocker Justin Bieber has gotten himself in trouble yet again!"
Melissa shut off the TV.
"No wonder he needs my help." She murmured. "Maybe David just needs to chill the fuck out." She slurred. Bad language was another side effect of her intolerance to alcohol.
She jumped when her phone rang out in the silence of her living room. She didn't recognize the number and considered letting it ring through but then decided to answer anyway. She could use someone to talk to, anyone, the more anonymous the better. A wrong number would be good.
"Hello?" She said picking up the phone.
"Melissa I need to book in for tomorrow."
"Who is this?" She said incredulously, but she already knew the answer.
"Don't play games. I'll be there at 10am. Clear the time for me. I'll pay whatever it costs even if you need to reschedule."
"Who are you talking to Jason?" A female voice in the background whined.
"We want you all to ourselves tonight, turn your phone off."
"I'll see you tomorrow Melissa. I have to go. I'll see you at 10am tomorrow."
Melissa was too shocked to respond.
"Melissa? Tell me that 10am is good tomorrow."
"Uh, yes, yes it is, no problem Jason. I'll see you then."
The line went dead and Melissa sat with the phone in her hand, still too stunned to even begin figuring out what kind of trouble she was getting herself into. An image flashed through her mind and she shook her mind in exasperation.
"Get out of my head." She moaned despairingly.