DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.
NOTE: Sorry for the delay in posting. Here's the next installment. Let me know what you think.
Chapter Three
Brenda hesitated only momentarily before opening the door to he café. It was close to deserted which wasn't a surprise. No one should put a coffee shop on the docks. Hopefully they closed early. She walked up to the counter and ordered a mocha with two shots of espresso and sat down at one of the many empty tables to wait for her drink. Being she was the only one in the place she knew Kate hadn't arrived yet. But she was a few minutes early.
The bell on the door jingled and Brenda looked up from the folder she pulled from her bag and smiled.
"Kate?" Brenda asked.
"Yes. You must be Brenda," she said walking over and shaking her hand.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Brenda asked. Kate put in an order at the counter and sat down across from her. "I'm glad to finally meet you. I've seen a lot of your work and have been very impressed."
"Thanks. I have to say since you called yesterday I did a little checking up myself. Your name sounded familiar but I couldn't put a face to it. You have a history in Port Charles."
"I'm not here to talk about the past. I'm here to talk about the future," Brenda said as the barista set two cups of coffee down in front of them.
"Why me?" Kate asked.
"Because you have great instincts, you're worldly, you have experience and I think you would fit well with my team," Brenda told her. "And you need a job."
"I know I don't have much room to be selective and picky at what I do, but I'm not sure I would be the best choice for you in the music industry."
Brenda smiled, "What I'm telling you today hasn't been released to the public yet. We're still very early in the stages of development. With so many direct fashion magazines out there promoting the big names, I've been trying to think of how to appeal in a different way to those readers who love fashion. Personally, I'd pick up a copy of Vogue any day and be happy for the rest of my life. But with so many no-name models out there and stereotypes, I wanted to create something new and fresh, while combining it with the business I already have."
"I'm following you," Kate said.
"My partner and I have a record company, as you know. What we are trying to incorporate in is a fashion and music magazine where artists across the world become out models while promoting their music and their style. We literally have no boundaries. On my part, introduction to new music, big names, concerts, etc. You would be the fashion end. You take the knowledge and the connections you have to bring the styles of those genres into light."
Brenda took a sip of her coffee and looked at Kate.
"Sounds interesting. I'm still not sure I'm right for you," Kate said.
"I understand. Why don't you think about it? Think of other aspects, ideas, and give me a call. Like I said, this is a brand new concept for us. Having someone with your fashion magazine expertise would be a great honor," Brenda said handing her a card.
Brenda was drinking the last of her coffee when the door opened and Sonny and Jason walked in. Both of them stopped at the sight of Brenda with Kate.
"What's going on here?" Sonny asked.
"Just friendly girl conversation," Kate said with a smile.
Brenda looked cautiously between the two of them.
"How do you two know each other?" he asked.
"Brenda offered me a job," Kate told him. Brenda only smiled softly.
"Did she?" Sonny asked, looking at Brenda. "What kind of job?"
"One that's none of your business," Brenda interrupted. "It's a project I'm working on and I'm not at liberty to discuss it, and if Kate wants the job, she's not able to either," Brenda told him, picking up her purse and slipping it on her shoulder. "Give me a call once you make your decision," Brenda told Kate because making her way to the door.
Jason excused him and followed her out.
"Is that what my money is going to? Hiring Kate to work in the music business?" Jason asked grabbing her arm.
"No, but thanks for your concern. Remember, we discussed this. You don't have to worry about your money. You'll have it back in the bank before you know it," Brenda said walking towards the parking lot.
"And you just thought you would have you meeting at Sonny's café?"
"She suggested the place. I'm not on the up and up of new businesses in Port Charles so I had no idea Sonny owned it. Are you done yelling at me so I can go?" she asked.
"I don't appreciate you hanging up on me yesterday," he said.
"Then don't yell at me. Besides, like I said, I couldn't talk."
"You can never talk."
"Jax was in the room. He showed up to meet Lois for lunch and Lois didn't tell me. The last thing Jax needs to be on the observers end of a conversation that no one else needs to hear," Brenda said. "Now let me go."
Jason let go of her arm and watched her walk off and instead of approaching a car, it was a motorcycle, one just as nice as, or better than his.
"What are you doing riding that?" he asked stalking over to her as she pulled on a helmet.
"I'm going back to New York. Want to join me?" she asked with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.
"No. Do I need to hire you a driver?"
"On top of the guard you already have on me, no thanks."
Brenda started the engine and looked at him.
"Don't make me regret anything," he said over the roar.
"As long as you're with me, you'll have nothing to regret," she said with a smile before sending up a cloud of dust in the parking lot.
