Moments that Lead to You
(Yeah, I changed the summary. The first one just wasn't really doing it for me...I like this one a lot better!) Alright, alright! On to the second chapter! =D Now before we begin there are some little factors I'd like to point out.
First off, the story from here on out will broken into three parts, What happened to Lindsay, What's happening now, And the events that lead up to Lindsay kidnapping. I pretty much labeled them so u wouldn't get to confused. I'll be throwing in suspects left and right for who it was that got rid of Lindsay, so pay close attention as the story goes. In this chap my first suspect is revealed! Can u guess who?^-^
Enjoy!
Choice
She found she wasn't so afraid anymore, as the night time scenery dashed by at an ungodly rate. Lindsay sat in the back of the black van wearing only her pajama's a thin un-zipped sweater and her ever loved cowgirl boots.
The large man that had broken into her house had been punctual and to the point with just the simple action of pressing the gun to the side of her temple.
He had instructed her to quickly pack up to two bags of clothes and any other necessities she may need. The gun he held in his hand had been very intimidating leaving the blonde frozen wide eyed for a second until he snapped at her to move, and it was then she fearfully began his instructions pulling out two large suite cases and filling them with cloths. But as it turned out her pregnancy wouldn't allow her to move fast enough for the older man's taste so with grudging breath he made to move her to sit upon her bed to wait while he quickly finished up her packing for her.
He instructed for the younger girl to slip on her boots and a sweater seeing as how the night made for slightly chilly weather.
Lindsay did all this with little to no argument and once done the man lifted her bags and instructed her out of the house and towards a black van that was waiting for them outside.
He ordered her into the van as he made to stuff her things in the trunk, and when Lindsay opened the back of the van's door she was surprised to find a woman sitting inside patiently applying lipstick to her lips, a compact mirror in hand, as she waited for them.
And yes she had been terrified when the man took his place at the wheel and tore off at high speed down the road towards wherever. She had been mentally contemplating the risk of asking who they were, why they were doing this, and where were they taking her but she found, not to soon after they had driven off, that she didn't need to.
The lady who sat in the back seat spoke first very nicely and conversationally and with a strange accent,
"My name is Esther."
Lindsay, whose gaze had been lowered to the ground, quickly snapped her head up to find Esther smiling politely at her,
"Your name is Lindsay? Is it not?"
The blonde stared at her before giving a light nod to the head not really sure of what else to do at the moment.
Esther looked to be in her mid to late twenties her hair was dark and cropped short and with dark green eyes and the ruby red lipstick she wore contrasted sharply to her very pale skin. Her slim figure was hidden beneath the large black overcoat she wore.
"Do not be alarmed love." She spoke gently, "We are not here to harm you."
Not here to…?
Lindsay furrowed her brow before giving a light pout. Her blue gaze shifted to the man in the driver's seat then back to Esther. Then pointing an accusing finger at the man she said in a small voice.
"But…He pointed a gun at me…" Her tone had been close to that of a whinny child who had been poked by their sibling one too many times.
Esther blinked her green eyes before turning a quick gaze on the other man,
"Paul, you pointed a gun at a pregnant girl?" Her voice was on the verge of incredulous.
Paul gave a light grunt, "It's not what you think." He muttered his tone low and rough, "I just wanted to make sure she didn't make any noise. That's always the best way to go when scaring people into silence."
Esther gave a disapproving frown.
Paul was tall and very broad which, in hindsight, made him extremely intimidating. He was slightly tan with dark brown eyes and his hair was short and dark just beginning to hint at grayness.
"And she was taking so long to go." Continued Paul slightly grudgingly, "Look it's ten o' three and we should have been hitting the highway at ten. We're behind schedule!"
Esther rolled her eyes, "Oh please, we are making good time." She looked back to Lindsay then with a smile, "Do not mind him. He's just a little…punctual. You have my word, love; we will not be hurting you in anyway."
Lindsay, to say the least, was very skeptical about that.
But Lindsay was also very simple minded and didn't know the terms of holding long grudges even, so it seemed, against her very own kidnappers. Especially when Esther had made it so easy for her, by way of, asking Lindsay questions in order to get her to calm down.
How old are you?
What school do you go to?
Do you have many friends there?
Simple things like that, and it didn't take long for Lindsay to begin to talk freely. As though she had known Esther all her life!
Esther, for one, seemed glad that Lindsay didn't seem so frightened anymore she listened on fascinated as the blonde spoke animatedly and happily partook in the conversation whenever it so warranted.
And by the time she was done talking they were speeding down the highway and Lindsay's fear had been left far behind them.
Esther knew about her reality show career and asked about that. Lindsay spoke fondly of all the cast members (even Heather) how at times the show could be very stressful because of all the drama that was usually accumulated with reality TV but with the strange and wacky cast members there was hardly ever a dull time. She fully enjoyed her role on the show!
Esther smiled, "That all sounds wonderful, love." She spoke kindly.
Lindsay grinned happily, "Yeah it totally is!" Then with a gasp she excitedly asked, "Have you ever seen it!?"
"No, I'm afraid I've never seen Total Drama Island or Total Drama Action. But if it is as entertaining as you make it out to be I will surely buy me a season sometime."
"Oh, we can watch it together!" Exclaimed Lindsay happily.
Esther laughed, "I would like that."
Smiling Lindsay opened her mouth to speak again before abruptly closing it shut with a shocked look on her features, "Ohmygosh!" she cried out upset to which Esther's pleased look turned to that of slight worry.
"What is it, love?"
"This whole time all we've done is talk about me!" Cried Lindsay in true disarray, "You must think I'm a total brat or something!" With a smile Lindsay said, "Okay, you've so gotta tell me something about yourself!"
Esther blinked before her emerald eyes softened gently felling quite charmed,
"Well," she began lightly, "I believe that is fair. What is it that you would like to know?"
Now if Lindsay had been thinking clearly she would have brought up all the earlier questions that had before plagued her mind. But Esther had taken away her alarm and fear and taken away the blondes ability to see her as a kidnapper. To Lindsay Esther was now just another girl she found pleasure in talking with.
But being that as it may Lindsay was still able to come up with a curious enough question that suited the situation and still remained on the friendly terms that Esther, herself, had set up.
"So, like, what exactly is it that you do anyway?"
Esther's smile twitched before saddening just slightly. It was not a question she had not been expecting so when she answered it came out planned and simple in a way that left little room for questions,
"Paul and I work as personal relocators for hire." It was then her green eyes saddened as though in apology before she said, "It is our job to make people disappear."
~*~A moments time back~*~
He had a good twenty minutes before his shoot to introduce this week's show of Total Drama Island and to Chris that was plenty of time to chill and take a breather from his very own chaos.
It was still fairly early in the day as he stood leaning casually against a tree a nicely heated cup of coffee in his hands leaving the young man quite indulgent.
He was just bringing the cup of steaming coffee to his lips for the umpteenth time when suddenly his name (or something close to it) called out to him effectively startling the host to nearly spill his hot drink all over himself!
"Hi Chip!" Cried Lindsay happily coming from seemingly nowhere.
It had been by pure luck alone that Chris had managed to catch himself without spilling a drop of coffee.
Scowling he turned to the blonde who seemed to have realized the start she gave the other man she gave a small apologetic smile.
"Whoops, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you, Chip."
Chris's glare turned dull and passive as he merely stated, "Chris." He reminded for what had to have been the millionth time, "My name is Chris, Lindsay."
She gave a puzzled look with a slight tilt to the head.
Chris rolled his eyes before raising a dull brow at her, "You want something?"
Lindsay smiled nodding animatedly.
Chris gave a mean smirk, "If this is about fixing the showers in the communal bathrooms you can forget it." He gave an uncaring shrug, "There's simply not enough room in the budget for heated water and the hair and makeup crew."
Lindsay blinked before giving a light pout, "Well…there was that…" Her look turned zealous as she then said, "But that wasn't what I wanted to tell you."
His bored look back in place Chris looked away from her, "Then what is it?" he asked his voice dripping with disinterest as he raised his cup up to his lips for his well deserved intake of coffee.
Her next words had been spoken with such ease and poise that at first Chris didn't even fully register them,
"I'm in love with you."
Of course when they did register his reaction was thus.
He jerked up from his casual lean against the tree as he choked lightly on his drink.
"Wh-what!?" He yelled turning an incredulous look on the blonde, "What did you just say!?"
"I'm in love with you." There it was again that simplicity and poise. Obviously she didn't know what she was saying.
The early morning left most of the campers still snoozing in their beds leaving the campgrounds empty for the most part. It was then he wondered briefly what the blonde was doing up so early?
Smiling Lindsay decided to elaborate, "Yeah, I'm in love with you. I totally just found out the other day when I was doing a magazine questionnaire."
Chris's incredulous look turned to that of bitter complication as he furrowed his brow, "Say what now?"
"A magazine questionnaire silly!" stated Lindsay happily, "It read, 'How to now if the guy your crushing on is just a crush or much more.' And I scored a perfect one hundred." Her smile softened and a light pink tint rose to her cheeks, "With you in mind."
Slowly Chris gave a slight nod to his head raising a quizzical brow at her, "Uh huh."
"Buuuut," Lindsay continued with a thoughtful look on her features, "I think I may have known I loved you even before the questionnaire. So like," She furrowed her brow in deep thought. How long had they been doing the show now? "A year now?"
Chris's dull glare grew slightly more irritated, "Four weeks Lindsay. That's when you first came to the island. Four weeks ago."
Lindsay laughed, "Oh yeah right, so three years then." Lindsay stated happily bringing up two fingers.
Math wasn't really her strong point.
His bored glare still in place Chris regarded her momentarily before looking away from her with a deep frown before bringing his cup of coffee back to his waiting lips. After taking a quick drink he muttered irritably,
"Girls your age can be really stupid."
Lindsay frowned at the strong indication of that statement.
"You read some bull crap magazine and automatically think you're in love."
Allowing his gaze to fall to hers he gave a slight smirk saying, "You're just lucky I'm not the type of guy to take advantage of that."
…Not that the idea hadn't crossed his mind…if only for a second.
Lindsay didn't get what he had been trying to say with that last part but she easily understood what that first part had been about. He didn't think she understood the gravity of the word 'love'.
With a deep frown on her lips she placed her hands upon her hips before proclaiming,
"Look, I know what I'm saying okay! I mean seriously what kind of girl do you take me for Chip!? I totally gave this a lot of thought!"
"You just found out about it a few days ago through a magazine article!" Yelled Chris irritably before catching himself and with a furrowed brow wondered what the hell he was getting so upset for? What did he care if she had some stupid school girl crush?
Lindsay pouted, "If I say I'm in love with you then I'm in love with you!" she cried.
Chris tensed up slightly before looking cautiously around them for any listening bystanders.
"Will you shut up!? Geez you want the whole island to here!?"
Raising a brow Lindsay crossed her arms with a light huff, "It's totally my age isn't it?" she asked still slightly upset.
Chris looked back to her, "What?"
Her blue gaze fell to the ground, "The age difference…It bothers you doesn't it?" She gave a mournful sigh, "It totally bothered me too…But, "She looked to him bashfully, "I…didn't fall in love with a number. It just so happens that you're a different age than me." She shrugged, "That's all."
Chris blinked. What the hell was that supposed to mean!? And there was that 'L' word again!
He looked away from her with a light scowl. She was making this far too easy.
He wasn't blind he was, after all, your average young hot blooded male so of course he had noticed the very attractive young girl upon her arrival on the island. Hell just about every other guy had!
And he knew his limits. The producers of the show had been quick to put his playboy status and the arrival of the sexy young teen together and had warned him quite specifically to keep his womanizing ways and the Total Drama series as separate entities or the consequences would easily cost him his career.
Just who the hell did they think they were telling?
Like he didn't know! He knew better than to go chasing after some under aged girl who also happened to be one of his many contestants on the show.
He could very well play the good boy and follow the rule 'Look but don't touch.'
Crappy rule, though it was.
But this was different. This changed everything entirely. She was claiming to be in love with him! Do you know how much leverage that gave him!?
After all, people in love were known to be ignorant and blind, which in Lindsay's case just up'd the ante tenfold!
He could play his cards and get a lot more from the blonde before she even knew she was just a quick fix. A fun time he could screw around with during his time on this show.
The thought now more than ever was highly appealing.
But Chris was never known to be a stupid man. He very well knew the consequences for such an illegality.
With a light smirk Chris made his way from the tree he had momentarily been leaning on with a careless,
"Not interested. Little girls don't do it for me."
Before making his way pass the slightly upset blonde toward where he knew the camera crew would be setting up by now.
Lindsay fumed at his retreating figure. He really could be such a jerk sometimes! If it had been any decision of her own she never would have fallen for the mean host in the first place!
But then again…when was love ever about choice anyway?
~*~Three weeks after Lindsay's disappearance~*~
On a sunny afternoon the large office room in the large production studios building was crowded with the loud cast of Total Drama Island and Total Drama Action.
Talking animatedly the twenty one teens along with some of the camera crew and Chris sat at a large and long table awaiting the producer's arrival.
"How can the producer's be late for their own meeting?" Asked Ezekiel as he sat hunched over on the table, "It's a little… unprofessional eh?"
"Boy, don't even worry about it." Said Leshawna easily leaning comfortably back in her chair, "They're doin' this mess on purpose just to sweat us."
"They could at least serve lunch while we're waiting!" Whined Owen, "I'm STARRRRVING!"
"We're all hungry, Owen." Replied Courtney with a bored yet irritated look on her features, "We've been sitting here for nearly two hours now!" Her glare became slightly more fierce, "I mean seriously who schedules a meeting on a Saturday only to show up late anyway!?"
"I'm with princess here." Replied Duncan dully, "This is one Saturday I'm never gettin' back."
"Whine, whine, whine, groan, groan groan," Replied Noah in his usual dry and sarcastic tone, "Instead of sitting around complaining why you're all here why not do the intelligent thing and go to the source."
With this said Noah raised his eyes up over the brim of the book he had been reading to rest on the cast's sadistic host.
The part of the cast that had not been caught up in their own conversation all followed Noah's gaze up to rest on Chris as well.
With a light smirk on his features Chris sat back with his legs brought up to cross casually on the table balancing himself on the chairs hind legs. He tapped quickly on his cell phones keypad to caught up in whatever he was typing to give the cast's accusing looks any notice.
Gwen narrowed her eye's "Ahem!"
It was then Chris looked up from his phone.
He stared at the cast for a moment as they, with their accusing looks still in place, stared back, finally he grinned,
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Why the hell are we here!?" Screamed Heather angrily her dark hair growing out but still boyishly short.
Chris rolled his eyes, "You guys have asked me this like twenty times since we got here! What are you gonna keep asking me till the producer's get here!? I already told you I'm as skeptical as all of you!"
Courtney scoffed, "This is all probably just some hoax to trick us out of our Saturday! Is that it Chris!?"
"If that was indeed what this was, why would I sit here and waste my Saturday as well!?" Chris asked furrowing his brow irritably.
Courtney only scowled.
"You know something pretty boy!" Yelled Eva angrily banging her fist against the table, "Out with it! I don't think I can take another moment in this room with you psycho's!"
"Psycho! Where!?" Cried Izzy happily looking wildly around her to see just who Eva had been referring to, "Who else is a psycho!? I totally thought I was the only one! Hey, whoever it is tell me through ESP and I'll totally communicate back!" She cried happily bringing her hands up to cradle the sides of her head the way a psychic would do during a reading.
"Alright that's it!" cried Gwen standing to her feet before making a show of stalking irritably towards the door, "I am so outta here!"
Raising her head from Geoff's chest Bridgette called from her sitting position on her boyfriend's lap, "But what about the meeting, Gwen?"
"I don't care anymore!" said Gwen opening up the large office door, "If it was so important they would've been here by now!"
But before she could step one boot clad foot out the door Beth's voice called out to her sadly, "But what if it's about Lindsay?"
The brunette sat looking to the ground quite forlornly she had said little to nothing since her arrival there.
It had been a thought that had at some point crossed everyone's mind though no one spoke of it and the idea had been quick to dismiss. I mean sure the blondes disappearance was still somewhat of a big issue even after three weeks it was hard to come across a magazine or tabloid without some new tidbit of information on the polices search for her. But even if that's what this meeting was about what could it possibly be that the producers had to say on the matter? True the cast members knew nearly nothing about the producers but they could assume they took up a lot from the host by way of basing their main concerns on the show and it's ratings instead of the well being of its cast mate's. What did they care if one of them went missing?
"I highly doubt that's why we're here." Replied Gwen in low tone, "But I guess I can wait a few more minutes." She replied closing the door back shut.
After all there was always a possibility, right?
The room had fallen silent as the teens turned to their thoughts about their missing friend and Gwen was just about to reclaim her seat when suddenly the office doors flung open to reveal four high class business men making their way importantly toward the front of the room.
"Sorry we're late folks." Said the first producer (not sounding very sorry at all) he was a tall slim man with black hair that was beginning to bald, "were you waiting long?"
"About two hours!" Gripped Duncan impatiently.
"Oh," he grinned, "Ah well, important business matters. You know how that goes."
But before Duncan had a chance to give a sarcastic reply he continued, "Anyway the reason you all were called out today was to discuss important matters of the show. Now as I'm sure you're all aware of-"
"Ah, hold on a sec." Replied Chris still typing away on his cell phone. Without even looking to his boss's he asked, "Since when do we include them in any discussions about the show?"
Katie sitting next to her BFFL raised a brow at the host, "We so have just as much right to be here as you, right Sadie?"
Sadie nodded her head, "You are so right Katie, especially since we're about to do a third season. We're, like, totally what the show is all about so we should totally get to go to all the meetings!"
Katie gasped turning a happy grin to her friend, "Ohmygod, Sadie you totally just took the words right out of my mouth! I was so just gonna say that! We are what the show is all about right!?"
"Oh we so are!" Cried Sadie happily grabbing hold of her friend's hand.
Chris scowled at the two as they continued agreeing with one another, the producer continued,
"As I was saying, yes, you guys are what the Total Drama series is all about. And, yes, we are headed into our third season." The producer smiled, "But the matter at hand here remains that when we first started the Total Drama series we had twenty two contestants," He looked to all the teens before concluding with, "Now we only have twenty one."
So this was about Lindsay after all.
The next producer who spoke was also lean though slightly shorter than the first he had a brown goatee and dark wavy brown hair that stopped at his shoulders,
"Now first of all as I'm sure you all know our worries and concern for Lindsay show out tenfold, I mean she's one of the highest rating characters of the show!" He grinned causing the other teens to give annoyed and disapproving looks.
Rating's was not the issue here.
He continued, "When we found out about her pregnancy we even went as far as to postpone the third season, which, may I remind you all we should have started filming weeks ago."
To this a slight stir had broken out amongst the cast and before long a slight murmur of talk began to rise up.
Yes, the news of Lindsay's pregnancy had been a surprise indeed! Especially since during their break from the show (Just a few weeks after Total Drama Action) she had not seen much of the jock Tyler. No way could it have been his, which was even more startling since Lindsay did not seem the type to sleep around.
Tyler was careful not to meet anyone's gaze as he kept his head lowered to the ground. The day that he had figured out that Lindsay was pregnant had been the day that she had broken up with him. Before she had begun to show and the media took strong interest in her suddenly bulging stomach she had called him up and he had been the first to know.
The first few weeks he had been mad, furious even. But as time went by he had come to the conclusion that the blonde had made a mistake and when reading, one day, in a magazine a direct quote from Lindsay herself that she would not be keeping the baby he decided then that he could forgive her. But when he called her up to tell her this he was startled to hear that even though Lindsay was happy for his forgiveness she did not want to continue their relationship. When he asked 'why'? The blonde had taken her time before simply replying,
"It wouldn't be fair to either of us."
He still was unsure but after nights of pondering he had come to the obvious and simple conclusion that, she was in love with somebody else.
But his disdain for that soon turned to fear and worry with Lindsay's sudden disappearance. Who the hell would kidnap a pregnant girl!? And why!? And as the day's turned to weeks his worry along with everyone else's soon began to turn to the worst possible conclusion.
Tyler's jaw tightened as he kept his gaze firmly on the ground ignoring his cast mate's concerned questions of 'Are you alright'?
Whilst everyone's attention was turned to Tyler, Beth raised her brown gaze knowingly to rest on the host.
His expression was passive and laid back as he continued to play around on his cell phone.
Beth's gaze turned into a slow scowl.
The third producer a slightly chubby man wearing an obvious wig cleared his throat loudly and persistently effectively gaining the cast's attention.
"The point is we simply cannot delay the season any longer. So we-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Cried Trent furrowing his brow, "Are you saying we should do the season without Lindsay!?"
To this a lot of angry talk began to rise up, 'How that was entirely cold!', 'How they shouldn't be worried about the show when one of the cast mates was missing!', and 'How none of them would feel right carrying on a third season without Lindsay!'
To which the last producer a tall man with sleek dark hair gelled back and a sharp mustache called out over the protesting,
"In case you all have forgotten this is a game show! You are competing against each other for a cash prize! You should all be thrilled that this leaves you with one less component!"
"Wow," said Heather casually leaning back in her seat, "Even I find that in bad taste."
"But this isn't about the game show! This is about Lindsay!" Cried out an upset DJ crossing his arms he said, "I just would feel all kinds of guilty carrying on with the show knowing she's still missing."
The last producer rolled his eyes, "Alright fine we'll take in a double Lindsay. A girl to fill in her place until the real Lindsay is found, how's that?"
Another angry uproar ensued, 'What are you crazy!?' Are you seriously that heartless!? That's not what we meant at all!', and 'That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!'
Noah chuckled amusedly behind his book, "Another Lindsay? That right there shouldn't be too hard a roll to fill."
The producer frowned, "Listen we've waited long enough! We can't postpone the third season any longer! Now you guys don't have to like it but we are starting the third season with or without Lindsay in two weeks!"
Another upset uproar!
"This is the lowest of the low!" Cried Gwen angrily before turning an accusing glare on Chris she demanded, "I can't believe you came up with this, Chris!"
At the sound of his name Chris looked to Gwen. Having been avoiding the discussion at hand it took him a while to register what she had said to him,
"What are you talking about?" He said with a rise of his brow, "I told you I didn't know what this meeting was about. This is the first time I'm hearing about any of this."
Gwen scowled. A likely story!
Finding this an opportune moment to find out the hosts view on the situation Beth spoke up,
"But don't you think that's unfair!?"
Chris looked to her, the brunette faltered slightly, "I mean shouldn't we…er wait to find Lindsay?"
Chris frowned before giving a light shrug, "We all have contract's here. If this is what the producer's wanna do it's what we're gonna do."
Beth stared at the host incredulously through the upset controversy filling the room.
The brown haired producer smirked at Chris, "A very good point. Well said, Mclean."
Chris turned a dull glare onto him before moving to stuff his cell phone into his pocket and standing from his seat, "I'm outta here."
He muttered uncaringly moving to make his way out the now noisy room. His exit going unnoticed by the other angry teens as they argued with the three other producer's on the subject.
The brown haired host raised a brow, "Meeting's not over yet."
"It is for me." Replied the host easily, "I've got someplace I need to be, this whole thing's pointless anyway."
He missed the other mans hateful scowl as he made his way out the large office doors.
He had only made his way halfway down the large halls when his name called out to him,
"C-Chris! Wait!"
He turned to find Beth had followed him out of the meeting room.
He brought a hand up to rub lightly at his forehead feeling a slight headache coming on.
"I have to tell you something!" Cried out the brunette, "Something important! It's about-!?"
"Listen Beth this seriously isn't a good time!" Cried the host irritably causing Beth to pause in her pursue of the host, "Whatever you have to say cannot be that important that it can't be bothered with someone else! I'm late meeting someone!"
And with that said he turned on his heel and made his was way down the hall toward the elevator leaving a stunned Beth behind.
~*~*~
In another large building all the way on the other side of town sat a woman hunched over her desk in a large and beautifully decorated office. With a trained eye she read over the many forms of contracts used for her employees being sure to go over each and every little detail before signing it and placing it in a pile of other contracts that would, later on, need to be sent out.
Her slightly curly hair was pulled up in a messy style held by two chopsticks. Loose pale blonde tendrils fell haphazardly down into her face but she paid it no mind as she continued to concentrate on her papers.
Light brown eyes guarded behind fashionable glasses were quick to flash up to the sound of her door opening with a swift force.
Lowering her gaze back to the papers on her desk she said,
"You're late."
"Bite me; I was waiting over two hours for some dumb meeting with the producers of Total Drama."
The woman furrowed her brow as she straitened from her hunched position over her desk,
"And I don't remember Andrea announcing your arrival? Where is that girl anyway?" She muttered distractedly as she tried to order her cluttered desk.
Chris took a seat in a chair across from the other woman looking slightly exhausted he said,
"I told her I'm capable of letting my own presence known and for her to go ahead and take ten. Seriously Judy I think you're running that woman ragged."
Judy felt her brow twitch in slight annoyance though she forced up a smile, "Oh really? And since when do you take a personal concern on the well being of my receptionist's by way of giving them unauthorized breaks?"
Chris smirked at her, "Only when I'm sure it'll cause you extreme annoyance."
She rolled her eyes before leaning back in her chair returning Chris's smirk with one of her own,
"Whatever, anyway the reason I called you here," She started getting straight to business, "you are about to love me."
"Is that so?" Chris replied nonchalantly allowing his gaze to wander to one of her large windows which overlooked the busy city.
Leaning in on her desk she grinned excitedly saying, "Guess who got you a guest star appearance on the tonight show!?"
Chris sat quietly displaying the exact opposite of emotions as his ecstatic agent.
"I don't know…who?" He replied after a moment's silence.
Judy instantly deflated, "Aww, come on! What's the matter!? I thought you'd be excited, this will be really good for your image!"
"Yeah," Chris sighed, "I guess."
Judy huffed pushing herself back in her chair, "All the phone calls I had to make, all the strings I had to pull, all the ass I had to kiss and this is how I'm repaid?" She sighed in distraught, "I don't understand it…I really don't."
"Do you know what that meeting was about?" Chris asked suddenly.
Judy fumed lightly as she rotated her chair from left to right, "No," she muttered still slightly bitter, "but I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"The producer's called me and the cast in to announce their start of the third season."
Judy raised a dull brow, "Isn't that a good thing?"
Chris raised a hand to rub lightly behind his neck, "How are we supposed to do a third season without…all of the cast members?"
She gave a light shrug, "The producer's think you can."
"The producer's wanted to give a replacement."
"Hmmm." Was her only response.
Chris raised a dark and irritated gaze up to meet hers, "Is that all you have to say?"
She gave her head a light tilt, "What else do you want me to say?"
Chris looked away from her, she sighed, "Look, It's obvious you're upset about this so-"
"I'm not upset." Chris muttered quickly with an irritable look.
Silence followed before Judy muttered quietly, "I would hope not."
Chris returned his gaze back to her raising a brow ever so slightly, "What?"
With another sigh Judy repeated, "I would hope not." Then giving Chris a stern yet in a way apologetic look she said, "You're not the type to get so easily upset over someone else's misfortune and if you were to show your concern now of all times…I would have to assume that…" She trailed off looking slightly unsure.
Chris's dark gaze narrowed, "Assume what?"
Fidgeting slightly she was unable to finish her sentence under his accusing glare so instead she said; "You…were always kind of close to that Lindsay girl." She lowered her gaze away from his, "It gave people ideas you know."
Chris was silent for a moment before muttering, "Don't be stupid. She's a pregnant seventeen year old girl whose been missing for the past few weeks. I'm just curious is all."
Judy kept her gaze down ward, "That's right." She muttered quietly, "She's a pregnant seventeen year old girl." She raised her gaze up to Chris's, "And it's the pregnant part that is making people wonder."
Chris watched her closely before a slow and smug smile graced his features, "It does make you wonder doesn't it?"
At his smug look Judy gave an unpleasant glare, "Are you screwing with me?" She hissed bitterly, "Don't act so smug like you've gotten away scotch free with some ingenious crime. There have been tons of accusations, rumors!"
"To which," Chris replied calmly knowing it annoyed her, "I've announced over and over are not true."
Judy narrowed her honey brown eyes, "She seemed very fond of you."
Chris chuckled, "Well yeah, I mean come on, it's me!"
"This isn't a joke!" Yelled Judy in frustration, "I'm your agent Chris! It's my job to build up your image then sell it! I can't do that if…if your name is smeared!"
His smug smile still in place Chris said, "Judy this is showbiz! You know as well as I do that there's always gonna be a slight smear towards your good name." He gave a pointed look, "Even with things that aren't true."
Judy looked away irritably before quietly muttering, "Good name. There's a laugh."
Chris grinned in amusement, "What was that? I didn't catch that last part."
She only gaze him an irritable glare. Chris's grin grew, "You're doing your job fine, don't worry about it."
Slamming her hands down hard on her desk effectively giving Chris a slight start Judy stood up angrily glaring down at the young man, "I can't help but worry about it you stupid jerk! Do you know what the magazines have been saying!? And even though I've been able to douse some of the flames that maniac, Charles is still a constant pain in our sides he's hell bent on destroying you're reputation! And he just may succeed with you running around doing god knows what with that…that…" Judy scowled horribly, "Teenage girl! God Chris seriously I told you not to get involved with her!"
Chris stared at her wide eyed as she continued, her face getting slightly flustered, "You-you can't just do these things Chris and think no one's going to ask questions! That no one's going to put two and two together! You're…whatever with her was the worst thing you could have ever done to screw up your career!"
She finished angrily glaring down heatedly at the host breathing slightly unsteady from all her yelling.
Chris stared at her slightly awed for a moment, he enjoyed pissing her off every now and then but he had never pulled it off to this extent.
Now Chris was a popular icon for celebrity magazines, he was most favored at night time clubs or Hollywood parties where he could usually be found causing some form of trouble. He was used to getting a good earful from Judy for his reckless partying and unwanted garner for attention and her constantly bailing him out of trouble for his acts of fault. Her anger was understandable but despite that there still raised the perturbation…
Chris's look became slightly passive as he then said, "I think the bigger question right now, the thing that everyone is most focused on is: What happened to Lindsay?"
He stood from his seat, "At least that's what everyone should be worried about. Not, who got her knocked up, don't you think?"
Judy's frown deepened and her eyes narrowed dangerously as she lowered her head slightly causing another stray strand of curly blonde hair to fall over her face,
"You trying to say something?" She asked lowly.
But with a light gasp she jerked her head up quickly when she felt that same strand suddenly pushed back and to find Chris leaning in close brushing her hair behind her ear. Her brown eyes widened in shock as she felt a light blush rise up on her cheeks, he looked to her with a smug expression on his face.
"Nothing at all…just that," He smirked his voice low and teasing, "If I didn't know any better, Juds, not only would I think you were accusing me but…I'd also have to think you were jealous about it or something."
Judy's blush intensified, she opened her mouth to protest… her words were at a loss.
Chris leaned away uncaringly before making his way to leave the lovely office.
"Text me the information on that Tonight Show appearance later." He called back casually over his shoulder.
Closing the office door behind him, Chris left Judy still frozen in place her heated blush still stained on her cheeks.
Slowly she once again lowered her head before bringing a hand up to place against her cheek, grudgingly wishing her face would cool down…and her heart would stop pounding.
Oh, if only she could she would choose not to be affected in such a way over her own troublemaking, playboy client!
But then again…when was love ever about choice anyway?
~TBC~
And there you have it. Oh and don't worry I'll reveal who Charles is soon enough.^-^ As said before there will be quite a few more people to point fingers at so keep up! Don't be afraid to review guys, give me your thoughts the good and the bad!
(Oh and FYI, no, Chef was not in this chap...and there's a reason for that...)
Peace)-AR