Back to Square One (Brandon Bay Babes) (20 page)

He looked so miserable, Kit wanted to reach out and comfort him so badly, it hurt.
 
He was being way too hard on himself.
 
“Does your father know how you feel?”

“He’s somewhat preoccupied with wife number four right now”

“Oh?”

“They’re currently on their honeymoon; cruising the Greek Isles”

“But if he knew how you felt-”

“It wouldn’t matter” Jeff sighed.
 
“These days the publishing business is not about giving the facts; it’s about dishing the dirt.
 
That’s where the money is.
 
And my dad knows it, as well as I do.
 
I’m afraid I’m destined to publish material that doesn’t deserve to see the light of day”

“For sure, some of the stuff M & J print is not fine literature; but
America Now
is a
great
magazine” she stated emphatically, touching his arm.

“Is that the one you fact checked on?”

Kit nodded.
 

“Well, now you know why you were let go” he added with a sad smile.

Kit thought about that.
 
She hadn’t pondered “the why” of why she lost her job; only the inconvenient ill-timing of it.
 
“So are you shutting down
America Now
totally?”

“Not yet.
 
It was my baby, so to speak, so I’m doing everything I can think of to save it.
 
We’re reducing circulation and cutting costs as much as we can –but it’s only a matter of time”

“I’m sorry J.J.” she frowned with compassion.
 
“It doesn’t seem fair that all those horrible trashy rags at the supermarket do so well, and something of quality gets tossed by the wayside like that”

Jeff cringed at her remark.
 
“I guess you have to give the people what they want” he said forlornly.
 

“I don’t think that’s the case.
 
I don’t think that people really
know
what they want unless somebody tells them.
 
We all go through life being told by the media how to look, how to feel, what car to drive.
 
Don’t know what to eat –watch
Giada
; don’t know what to wear –
Vogue
or
Elle’s
for you.
 
Got ice to sell, get
Jennifer Anniston
to pitch it –and Eskimos will be lined up round the corner”

“Maybe we should put
Jennifer Anniston
on the cover of
America Now
?” he commented sarcastically.

Kit slapped the table loudly.
 
“Why not?”

J.J. looked at her doubtfully.
 
“I’m not going to compromise my magazine for the sake of sales Kit”

“Who says you have to compromise.
 
Maybe
Jennifer
has something important to say about the environment or politics or something equally worthwhile?”

Narrowing his eyes at her, J.J. tapped his chin in thought.
 
“Give the people what they want, but wrap it in a glamorous and irresistible way?”

“Exactly.
 
It’s still the same
America Now
; just packaged in a more eye-catching manner.
 
Half the problem is getting someone to pick it up at the magazine stand.
 
Once they read it, the quality shines through and readership will go up –I’m positive.
 
Believe me, it’s a
great
magazine –my job was to read it, so I know that for a fact. It just needs …
tweaking.
 
Perk up the cover shot and change the graphics to something less staid and …
wa-la
”

J.J. smiled at her enthusiasm; although at this point, pessimism rather than optimism was more his mood.
 
“It’s not a
bad
idea.
 
I’ll look into it on Monday; couldn’t hurt to run it by my team, see what they think.
 
Right now, any idea or fresh approach is more than welcome.”
 
He stopped and said seriously, “Thanks for caring Kit Kat”“What are friends for?”
 
Kit chuckled, pretending to buff her nails on her shirt and added, “And you thought I was just a pretty face”

“
Nooo
, you’re definitely much more than that”

“A woman of substance?” she joked.

“Something like that.”
 
J.J. gave her an appraising look and cleared his throat.
 
“So, … made out with anyone
special
lately?”

Kit pretended to look offended, but she knew by now that no topic was off limits between them.
 
She decided to turn the tables on him and asked with a grin, “Why do you want to know?
 
Is
your
love life so lacking in excitement, that
mine
seems fascinating to you?”

“My love life may not be quite as active as yours, but it’s just fine, thank you very much” he said a little stiffly.

“Oh, is that right.
 
Then I’d very much like to hear about it” she nagged.
 
“We talk about mine altogether way too much”

Crossing his arms he asked, “What
exactly
do you want to know?”

Kit took a moment to think up a really good question.
 
“So tell me J.J., are you
really
the
hot stuff
the water cooler girls make you out to be?” she mocked, leaning towards him.

J.J. also bent forward, close enough that she could feel his breath on her face, “You want to find out Kit Kat.
 
Just
try
me
?”

Kit drew back quickly and laughed shakily.
 
J.J. was an incorrigible tease and way too sexy for his own good. “No thanks, I’ll take their word for it; wouldn’t want to get
burned
by you,
Mr. Hot Stuff
”, she then added, “Besides, I’m hardly your type”

“What do you know about my type?” he said sitting back in his seat once again.
 

“Like everyone else, I’ve seen the pictures in the paper” she said slowly, “Don’t you usually go for the tall skinny model types, who’d probably blow away in a stiff breeze”

“Contrary to what you think, I’m a little more particular than that”

“What
do
you want in woman then?” she asked propping her elbows on the table and her face in her hands in anticipation.

“Oh nothing much” he said nonchalantly “She just has to be kind; considerate; a sense of humour is a definite must; honest; loyal; and hopefully as beautiful on the outside as she is inside”

“Nothing much, huh?”
 
Kit wilted.
 
His dream woman was apparently
Barbie
with a PHD.
 
“Well I hope you find your paragon of virtue J.J.
 
But remember, sometimes what
exists
in your head, doesn’t always
exist
in reality”

J.J. looked out into the distance, “Oh she’s out there alright, she just doesn’t know
I
exist” he added with regret.

Charles Rydekker’s new house was a nineteen-fifties Alexander style bungalow belonging entirely to another era.
 
Since buying it a month ago, he had meticulously renovated it to resemble his childhood home, grass-cloth wallpaper and all.
 
It was mod and funky and very “Mad Men”.
 
Kit fully expected June Cleaver to exit the kitchen at any moment, hors d’oeuvres in hand, and wearing a frilly apron.

Kit felt right at home in Jasmine’s Jackie ‘O’ inspired little black dress that fit like a glove.
 
The fact it didn’t fit like
O.J.’s
glove was a testament to her happiness; she hadn’t needed a visit from Ben and Jerry for quite a while.
 

Jasmine hadn’t arrived yet; she had to wait till the shop’s closing time before heading home and getting ready.
 
She informed Kit she would make a fashionable and fashionably late appearance around eight; and that all the fun only started around that time, anyway.

Charles’ party was the talk of the town and everyone who was anyone (not that there
was
anyone who was
anyone
) in Brandon Bay was in attendance.

The San Francisco contingent had made their way up from the city that morning, and were now loitering around and imbibing enough to forget that they were out of their element and out in the sticks.
 
Kit was disappointed to notice that J.J. was not amongst them.

“Kit”

“Oh hi Charles”

“Enjoying yourself?” her host enquired.

“Indeed I am” she smiled.
 
“The house is fabulous”

“Thank you my dear” Charles replied, seeming genuinely pleased.
 
“Um, Kit?
  
I’ve been meaning to ask you something” he voiced mysteriously.

“What’s up Charles?” she retorted, a little concerned.

Pulling her away from the crowd, Charles continued.
 
“In November, I’m hosting a show of new artists, and one of them has had to pull out suddenly due to a family illness.
 
I was wondering; would you care to take their place?”

Kit let out a long breath.
 
“
Really? Me?
” she stammered.
 
“Wh...what would I have to do?”

“I understand if its short notice.
 
It’s in six weeks, and I’ll need ten paintings from you.
 
Ten of your best” He looked to her for an answer.

Wow!
 
That was the last thing she’d expected him to ask.
 
This opportunity was huge; the exposure could make her,
if
it went well.
 
Pushing the possibility of failure to the back of her mind; Kit did some math in her head.
 
She’d already done five paintings that were worth selling and/or exhibiting.
 
If she managed one a week starting right this second, she may have the time; but it would be cutting it fine.
 
All in all, it was something she couldn’t turn down; the chance of a lifetime.
 
Taking a deep breath, she replied, “I’d love to.
 
Thank you, Charles.
 
You won’t regret it.
 
Really, thank you”

“Good, so we’ll talk about it later.
 
Now go and enjoy yourself”

“
And
celebrate” Kit added with a beam, as she left Charles’ side.
 
If only Jasmine were here; she needed to tell someone her news soon or she’d explode.
 

As she scanned the room in hopes that a friendly face would catch her eye, Kit spotted Jeremy standing off to one side and smiled when he looked in her direction.
 
Sexily smiling back at her, Kit still couldn’t fathom why he seemed to be so fascinated by her.
 
She was well aware that wanting something you can’t have, was just the catalyst to make you want it more; but no-one had ever wanted her brand of cute so intensely.
  
It was astounding and kind of flattering in a way.