Hey guys! I'm back with a new story. This ones a little different, but I like it a lot. I hope you guys like it too...
Mal was just a simple girl, with a simple job at a coffee shop and a simple life until the day Lonnie Emerson walked into her life. Lonnie was a tall woman with dark pixie cut hair and a very intimidating stance, but when she walked into the coffee shop, Mal never expected her to change her life.
"One non-fat soy vanilla latte, no cream. Pronto!" The woman said without looking up from her phone. Mal quickly typed the order into the computer.
"Will that be all?" She asked nicely with a warm smile. She expected the woman to answer still looking down at her phone, but she was surprised when she actually looked up.
"Actually" the woman took off her dark sunglasses, "no. What's your name?"
"Mal" she shrugged as the woman looked at her very intently.
"So Mal" the woman continued as Mal prepared her coffee, "are you from Los Angeles?"
"No" Mal wanted to ask why all the questions, but she was too bored, "Portland, born and raised".
"And how does a nice young girl like you end up working in a coffee shop in busy Los Angeles?" The woman raised an eyebrow waiting for Mal's response, but she doesn't have one, "I'll tell you how. You wanted to be an actress, but it didn't work out".
Mal can't help but roll her eyes as she finishes preparing the woman's drink. She came down to L.A. for a reason, and she hadn't failed yet.
"Enjoy" she smiled at the woman who just stared at her for a few seconds.
"If you ever feel like serving coffee just isn't working out" the woman placed a small card on the counter before walking out of the shop.
Lonnie Emerson
Publicity and Media manager
Mal stuffed the card into her pocket before taking another order and completely forgetting about the woman and the card.
MAL
I stumble into the small apartment I share with my best friend exhausted from a really long shift at the coffee shop.
"Hey Mal" Evie says as I throw myself on the couch, "how was work?". Evie is the kind of girl who you'd just want to be. Her family didn't have a lot of money as she grew up, but that never stopped them from giving her everything she wanted. She was always grateful enough to keep her A+ average and a half time job that helped with some bills. Evie got into many amazing colleges, but she ended up going to a decent one that offered her a full scholarship. We met when I first got to L.A. and we were both unemployed, and now she works as a media manager at a small publishing agency.
"Long" I answer throwing my head back, "I had to take over someone's shift and I feel like I was in that fucking shop for weeks".
"I know your not used to working" she smiles sweetly, "but it's really not that bad. You'll get used to it". There is a short silence where I almost fall asleep before she speaks again. "Speaking of jobs" she puts down the clothes she was folding and looks at me, "Remember I need your cut of the rent before the end of the month so we don't get behind, and last mont I had to cover some of it".
"Look E" I sit up, "I know money has been tight lately, but I really am trying get myself on my feet again. I'll find a way to get the money, I promise".
Later that night after Evie had gone to bed, I sit on my bed scrolling through job offers in my area. None of these are right for me, but I have to choose something quick. I close my computer and my jacket falls to the floor. When I go pick it up I notice a small piece of paper next to it, and then I remember. The woman from the coffee shop...
She said to call her if I ever felt like serving coffee was not enough. Maybe she has a job or something, I should call her. I look at my phone. 9:15 p.m. It's not that late. Let's just try and see if she picks up.
I dial the number on the card and wait for it to ring. After a few rings I'm almost certain she isn't going to pick up, but then she does.
"Hello?" She answers solemnly. She doesn't seem like she was sleeping.
"Yes, hi" I don't know what to say, "I'm sorry if it's a little late, but you gave me your card in the coffee shop..."
"Oh, yes. Mal was it?" The woman, Lonnie, seems a little more excited now. "I've been expecting you're call".
"I was wondering what did you mean when you said 'if I ever felt like serving coffee wasn't for me'?" I ask as I sit on the floor with my back against the door.
"I meant, I have a job proposition for you" her voice is like music to my ears, "why don't we meet as soon as possible and talk about it? I think you're really going to like it"
"Sure" I frown. This is all happening so fast.
"Can you do lunch tomorrow?!" Lonnie has all this figured out already.
"I think so" I stutter a little.
"Great then! TheGrill, 1:30, I'll make a reservation" this really seems to be coming together, "I'm looking forwards to it". She hangs up and leaves me speechless.
What was that all about? Hopefully I'll get a job out of this.
The following day I dress up neatly and head to TheGrill. It wasn't the usual restaurant I would usually eat at, but it was important so I made an exception. I take the bus to the restaurant, which makes me a few minutes late.
"I'm meeting Ms. Lonnie Emerson here" I explain to the restaurants hostess, a tall blonde girl.
"Right this way" she smiles and starts showing me the way. I look at the people who are just sitting there having lunch as we walk through the length of the restaurant. Most of them are young, handsome men in suits probably in their lunch break from corporate life, and then there are a couple of women with large sunglasses and designer purses. This is definitely not my crowd. Even if I dressed with my nicest clothes, I couldn't even compare with these women.
"Oh, Mal" I hear Lonnies voice as he enter a roofed patio towards the back of the building, "I'm so happy you called".
"I'm sorry I'm late" I apologize before sitting down.
The hostess hands me a menu and leaves us be. Not moments later, a waiter comes and takes our drink orders. I'm having regular water while Lonnie orders another diet soda.
"So you might be wondering why I wanted to meet with you today Mal" she gets straight to the point. "I need someone to pretend to be someone they're not" .
"Excuse me" I say confused. What the heck does that mean?
"I work for Benjamin Adamson" she finally starts making some sense.
"The movie star!?" I half yell surprised.
"Yes" she nods, "and as you might already know, Ben was Hollywood's sweetheart growing up, but he hasn't had the best image lately. "
"I think I must have seen something about that online" I try to recall what it said, but I'm not the gossip type.
"Yes, well, I need a big publicity stunt to help him get his image back, or his going to lose a big part in an upcoming movie"
"I still don't understand" I shake my head, "what do I have to do with all of this?"
"I need someone to pretend to be his girlfriend" it al, comes together, "and I think you are just right. Unknown to the public, nice, pretty, everything we need to make him look good again. Go to events, keep an eye on him, and we'll pay generously". I'm speechless. Is this really happening? She wants me to date Ben Adamson. There's is no way this is happening. "I do realize it's a lot to ask for, and you can take your time before making a desicion". She puts a large yellow envelope on the table and slides it over to me, "this is the contract you must sign if you take the offer. It's mostly privacy and payment matters, but you should take the time to look ove the document. Once you've signed it you can't quit until you've completed the requested time". She signs a receipt which leads me to believe she has a tab at this restaurant before getting up, "give me a call when you've made a desicion".
I sit there for a couple of more minutes just thinking over what just happened. I must be crazy if I'm actually considering taking this offer.