Tell It Like It Is

Chapter 9

Lizzy Morgan was very good at what she did, and what she just happened to be doing at that moment was ignoring the incessant ramblings of the woman before her.

"So don't you see why you'd be the perfect person to host a talk show?" the woman droned flatly. "You could be the next Ricky Lake. People already love you for your honesty. This'll be your chance to straight up tell it like it is."

Although, her job did seem freakishly simple at times. Anyone can easily ignore the most annoying woman in the world.

Corey sat beside her, in the comfy leather chair, and nodded along with the woman. "I see what you're saying. Give Lizzy actual people, put her in a room with celebrities and she could make sparks."

Sparks? Lizzy had always considered herself more of a fire creator. She hated when Corey went into her pitch mode.

Lizzy stood quickly. "I really appreciate your offer," she said without a single ounce of personality or joy, "but I love radio, and I just don't think I'd be suited as 'the next Ricky Lake.'" She quickly got up and left the office while the woman stared after her with a slack jaw.

Corey hastily went into clean-up mode. "I'll be just a second," she said quickly then followed Lizzy out of the office. "What are you doing? Are you really so high and mighty that you won't even listen to what she's offering?"

Lizzy stared at her for a second. "You can't honestly expect me to consider that. I'd be horrible on TV."

"Lizzy this is an opportunity, for both of us. You skyrocket yourself to a family name and I can finally branch my company out a little bit."

Lizzy just shook her head sadly and left the building. When Corey finally caught up with her on the sidewalk outside, Lizzy was very angry. "Core I can't believe you'd even force me to come to this stupid meeting. I work in radio. I'm not some stupid talk show host."

"Is this about Will?"

Lizzy scowled harder. "God you sound like my mother! No it's not about some stupid guy that I couldn't give a damn about this is about my job!"

Corey watched her outburst in the middle of the street and drew back a little as Lizzy lay into her.

"I don't care about Will. I just want to be able to support myself with less than three jobs. I just want to actually be successful at what I do, not some washed up 30-year-old who should have listened to her mother." Lizzy eyes were alight but they now glowed with the horrible shadow of a person who had given up. A person who just couldn't handle it anymore. A person who finally got broken. And worst of all, a person who looked as though she'd seen it coming.

Corey managed to find a soft and comforting voice after she quickly swallowed a scared little squeak, "I want you to find all those things too Lizzy. Success, happiness, contentment, and even though I know you're about to pull away from me when I say this but I want you to find love."

True to form, and just as Corey had expected, Lizzy winced and literally took a step away from Corey.

"Lizzy this may have absolutely nothing to do with Will but I've seen the way your face falls at the mention of Melanie Slaide. I've seen how the mere idea of being in the same room as you steals all your words away. I saw last night how you were in a thousand pieces when you walked through that door after dinner. I would do anything to make him just disappear for you but the truth is you're stuck with him and if you just keep running, like you have for seven years, you're only going to hurt worse and this time you wont be able to feel better." Corey took a breath and watched as Lizzy's face quickly turned to stone. The cage was up; there was no point to talking now.

It's tough being best friends with an armadillo.

Eventually Lizzy looked back at Corey and cracked just a little. "I think we should go shoe shopping."

Corey checked her watch. Retail therapy. She could do that…

As Lizzy led her down to Sunrise she realized that although she couldn't help with the Will issue maybe she'd be able to help with the job. What kind of agent would she be if she didn't?

"Lizzy," she hissed as she caught up with her and looped her arm through Lizzy's, "are you trying to tell me you want to go national?"

About three months ago Lizzy had been offered a major step up. A very major step up that would not only catapult Lizzy into a national radio station, but catapult her to a national radio station based out of New York City. Corey had been reluctant to bring it up. She wouldn't just be loosing a client if Lizzy took the gig, she'd be loosing a best friend, but as her manager she left it to Lizzy. Thankfully the amazing offer was turned down.

Lizzy had claimed New York to be too fast for her, but Corey knew that was her way of telling her that she'd accidentally formed attachments. (All attachments for Lizzy were accidental.) She'd formed them and accidentally got comfortable with her life. Maybe that had suddenly changed… Maybe now she just wanted out.

A fast paced distraction.

Lizzy shook free of Corey's contact (just as she always did) and smiled weakly. "I lied. It wasn't just about work."

Corey's interest was piqued and she watched Lizzy's face with interest. A confession? From Lizzy?

Lizzy sighed and entered a fresh little boutique with a famous selection of Jimmy Choos. As she picked up a gorgeous pink kitten heel she looked briefly at Corey. "If I tell you this you promise not to laugh?"

Corey wasn't dumb enough to agree to that as she handed Lizzy a sandal that would look really good with her new baby doll dress.

"Just tell me. You've obviously already decided to."

Lizzy smiled and tried to hold out another five seconds before her confession finally burst out. "Christian asked me to marry him last night."

Corey was very glad she hadn't agreed not to laugh as she burst out in the type of laughter that caused her to spit on her best friend. Luckily Lizzy didn't notice; she was too consumed in her own laughter.

Corey wiped a tear from her eye as her face began to turn red. "Seeing as you're not wearing a ring I don't need your response. What did he say?" she asked smiling and trying to regain her composer as two pregnant ladies regarded them with alarm.

Lizzy rolled her eyes and gave one last laugh. "Something ridiculous. Not even worth repeating."

Corey showed an artsy beaded slipper to the nearest salesman and said, "Eight," then turned back to Lizzy with a look that clearly said she wanted clarification.

Lizzy gave the same salesman four shoes of her own and muttered a quiet, "Nine." She then laughed again for one more second. "Ok. Ok. He said I was the type of woman he wanted to take with him, and I quote, 'all the way to the top.'"

Corey winced. He'd always been an idiot.

"He then told me that I 'understood the type of lifestyle he wanted to live' and that I'd 'never stand between him and his dreams,'" Lizzy continued taking a seat as the poor salesman came back with a stack of boxes.

"And was he angry when you castrated him?" Corey asked taking her one box and the seat beside Lizzy.

Lizzy smiled. "Yes according to Christian being 'simple' is a desirable trait in a wife."

"Was Melanie around when this happened?"

Lizzy stared lovingly at the pink shoes as she tried them on. "Oh god no! It was in the taxi. I mean a taxi! How romantic!"

"So are things finally over?" Corey asked as she decided against her own shoes. They'd rip her feet to shreds and just weren't practical.

Lizzy nodded. "I just don't know who will be more upset; me or Melanie Slaide."

Corey smiled excitedly. "Well," she replied her voice laced with false mourning, "I guess that means no more double dates."

"Pity."

not where I was going with that.

For now you may think of Christian as Mr. Collins. For now. You will see him again later.

ok. I started another story as many of you saw but Ive decided to wait on it. I outlined the whole thing so it's out of my head and no longer blocking this story for me. I like it a lot though so you should be excited.

ok Im done.