Flirting With Disaster
Task One: A Luxury Background

"Remember three months ago when I told you that next time we're doing a scam we would do it for the big bucks?" a blond reminisced the 'old' days, with the intention of reminding her brunette friend of the promise they made.

The brunette girl sighed, and rolled her amber eyes which were covered by her black Rayban wayfarers. They were in a red BMW M3 convertible with the roof down. The car was parked in front of the Brooklyn bridge, ready to cross to Manhattan.

"Honey. This is the 'big bucks' you know. Don't be too greedy" The brunette defended herself as she slid on one coat of Chanel lipstick in the lovely shade of coral. It was four months old now, and it was time to buy a new one in the same shade. She would deal with it once her new scam was finished. She was almost broke at the moment.

Gorgeous. Twenty five years old. Charming. Charismatic. And lastly, broke.

"Massie. 500.000 Dollars, is definitely not the 'big bucks'." The blond lamented, sounding extremely frustrated. Her blond hair was messy because of the wind that blew and the roof-less convertible, but it didn't mean she didn't look perfect.

"Who ever said 500.000 dollars? Manhattan people are rich, honey. I'm aiming for a big million. Good enough for us to live for a whole year" Brunette smiled, not being able to wait to accomplish her plan.

"Well that's 500.000 dollar each." Blondie rolled her eyes, sipping mineral water from the green Perrier bottle.

"Four million then. The plan is still the same. Remember, stay in character. Claire." Claire. That was the blondie's assigned new name. "You're a French socialite with a English origins. Your parents own a law firm in France and London."

"Alright then, Massie. I have a feeling this would be one hell of a scam." Claire was appeased at last. She looked at herself in the rear view mirror, and slid down the Chanel half-tint glasses. "You're Massie Block, a Hungarian socialite. We met in a Swiss boarding school, attended Cambridge University together. Your parents own a publishing company in Hungary and you are an heiress"

"Perfect life we created for ourselves" Massie smiled. The red BMW convertible drove off the New York sunset, and headed towards the Plaza Hotel in Fifth Avenue, ready to make some good and fast money.

The Plaza Hotel
New York, New York
Friday April 22nd
15.00

Massie Block parked her car in front of the Plaza Hotel, and got out as the valet helped with the parking, and the luggage men grabbed their Louis Vuitton trunks, duffel bags, and Gucci suitcases, ready to bring it to their room they planned on not paying.

"Ready to do this?" Massie asked as she stepped in Plaza's door which was obviously opened by the doorman. Claire nodded.

They walked towards the reception, and when Massie saw the hotel's manager, she managed to grab his attention and make intense eye contact. When Massie was sure he was staring at her amber colored eyes, and not her kilo-metric model legs, Massie elongated her tan bare legs and made Claire trip when she least expected it.

Claire shrieked, grabbing every guests' attention and then squirted lots of water on the pavement next to her foot and threw the bottle inside her Gucci patent leather shoulder bag and soon started fake-crying.

The manager walked towards the girls alarmed, and Massie leaned next to Claire trying to look as concerned and anxiously as possible. "Oh my God! Call 911!"

Claire tried as hard as possible to not laugh, which made her look like she was trying to stop tears from coming out. Her face turned red, which was convincing enough for them to get on with the scam.

"Is she okay?" The manager rushed over, and took a look at Claire's ankle.

"I cannot believe this, we come to a five star hotel. The Plaza, which proclaims itself to be the best in New York, and you can't even afford an employee to dry a wet floor?" Massie shouted, sounding shocked and convincing.

"I am sorry ma'am for the inconvenience, I am sure we can make up for it" the manager almost begged. He obviously didn't like the fact that Upper East Side rich people were witnessing such an embarrassing moment.

"You bet you will!" Massie angrily snapped. She helped Claire up with the help of a few bodyguards in the hotel. They helped her to the couch next to a marble table.

Massie instead headed towards the reception, as the manager went behind the reception's desk. "Sorry for the inconvenience, ma'am"

"Let's just get this over with and give me the room key, it's under Massie Block." Massie shook her head, looking extremely stressed out.

He typed Massie's name inside and found no result. Apparently there was no reservation under Massie Block. "Ma'am are you sure it's under Massie Block?"

"Of course it is! For the apartment room in the last floor!" Massie tried not to shout.

"Maybe it's under your injured friend's name?"

"Try Claire Lyons then, tell me if that works" Massie twitched her lips, intimidating the manager to death.

He typed the name in, and shook his head. "Sorry no result"

"Listen to me. I made a reservation, and you have nothing under my name. My friend enters the main hall in this hotel, and she falls hurting her ankle and head because of the lack of service." Massie paused, sighing in. "Now what I want is the penthouse for three months, like I reserved and paid for!"

"But ma'am there is no reservation under your n-"

"Listen to me, mister. I do not care if Angelina Jolie is staying in that room! I want the room now. You don't want to know what happens if you don't. I'll most definitely sue."

"I'll see what I can do" the manager looked down on the computer and did what he had to do to get a room for the young and stunning lady. "Thankfully the room is free. It's the room with the view of both Central Park and Fifth Avenue, which is considered the best one in the hotel"

"That's what I like to hear" Massie sounded relieved when she said that. She looked by the elevator, and saw the luggage people next to a luggage holder with all of their expensive suitcases and trunks just waiting for the manager to tell them the room number.

"I am not sure if we can let you stay for three months"

"Mister, I have paid for three whole months and that's what I am going to get. I also received the bill, so don't make me stress out again. I need a rest and a shower. Now please let's get this over with" Massie lied through her white teeth.

"Fine, three months in the penthouse. Since you paid for everything, all charges on the room service and the spa will be on us. These are the room keys, please enjoy your stay and let's make sure this little accident remains confidential" the manager asked, obviously thinking about the Plaza's reputation as the best hotel in the city to uphold.

"Finally, something good happens. Could you get the body guards to help my friend Claire upstairs?" Massie asked. Claire was obviously not hurt, but to make it seem realistic she had to overdo it.

"Most definitely. Matt! Paul! Help the lady to her room!"

Massie walked towards the golden and marble elevator, and waited for the bodyguards to come inside with Claire and rode up to the last floor. When they arrived, Massie opened the room with the card key, which opened the door to what seemed to look like paradise.

"Lovely." Massie murmed as Matt and Paul helped Claire to the sofa. "Thank you for your help." Massie said handing them a tip of ten dollars each. She might have freeloaded with the hotel, but she knew that she had to tip the more needy. After all a five star hotel couldn't care less about a room being booked for three months without any profit.

But when a lower-class person worked hard to satisfy the guests, they had to be paid, otherwise it wouldn't be just mean but that would be immoral as well.

When the bodyguards shut the doors behind them, Claire immediately jumped off the sofa, and headed towards the bar and made herself a nice and fresh cocktail that was needed to celebrate the success of their first task in their mission.

"Great job, Mass. It was most definitely impressive how you intimidated the manager" Claire congratulated her best friend, as she poured a few cubes of ice in the blender.

"I know. It's all about controlling the moment. Then when the enemy is trying to react, you immediately throw in their imperfections" Massie explained as she turned the air conditioner on with the remote control.

"You're a genius" Claire said as she made a huge noise with the blender.

"Tell me about it"

"When will the mission start then?" Claire asked once she was done blending the drink. She poured it on a cocktail cup she found, and handed it to Massie who eagerly accepted it.

"As soon as we can. But today we can rest in the Plaza's very exclusive spa" Massie said smiling just at the thought of getting massaged at the best spa place ever.

"Well that's tempting, but don't we have to unpack?" Claire asked genuinely, Massie turned around to see if she was serious, but when their eyes matched, they burst out laughing.

"Let's go, you silly!" Massie said hugging her with one arm. "And don't forget, you have to walk like you have a twisted ankle"

"Don't worry captain, I know what I'm doing" Claire said pretending to limp when she saw a white gloved butler walking in the floor's corridor.

"Well we learned from the master didn't we?" Massie said thinking about that one time when she was eighteen years old, living in the valley. She met Claire while they were both working at a grocery store. Both broke and desperate.

When they first met Adele Manning, their mentor, life savior, they knew that things would never be the same.


You'll probably notice the similarities with Heartbreakers.

Such a funny movie!

Please review!

I'll update soon!