Dallas, Texas
"What was that all about?" Sue Ellen sat on the edge of JR's bed and watched him look through his closet for a clean shirt, "just a little business problem. Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about", he didn't feel like explaining the whole chain of events. He still hadn't quite worked out how Bobby knew about it, he'd paid good money for silence and someone had broken their promise; he was already formulating a plan for the downfall of the snitch. "Business problem? Bobby is barely in the business. What's he so upset about?" she was a little confused; JR had alluded that he would deal with Bobby and she didn't understand why Bobby would be angry with JR, he was usually very discreet with his underhanded business deals, "he's not in the business; that's the point". She let out a small gasp as it all came together in her mind, JR had done exactly what he intended and somehow Bobby had found out; "he can't be upset, you were just doing what was best for Ewing Oil, any sane person would have done the same". She defended his actions, he was her boyfriend and she felt like she should support him no matter whether he'd done something wrong or not, he needed someone on his side. Her mother had taught her that a wife needed to be her husband's biggest supporter; if she wasn't there when he most needed her, then he wouldn't look too kindly on her when he was at his most successful. "Exactly, Ewing Oil is what's really important here. Too bad that Bobby uses his fists instead of his head", he knew that he wasn't completely acting in the best interests of Ewing Oil when he squashed Bobby's business dealings, but he would never admit it out loud. Part of the motivation was his own ego, he wanted to be the sole Ewing son at Ewing Oil and he would do anything to improve his position. "It's not your fault that Bobby isn't as smart as you", she continued to boost his ego until he felt a lot better, confident that he could talk his way out of any problem; he wasn't concerned with Bobby anymore, instead he just needed to make sure that his father saw things his way. "Thank you darlin'", he was sincerely pleased with the way she was acting, she was the perfect, supportive girlfriend and she would make an excellent wife. He wasn't sure she'd feel the same way about his actions if she ever found out about his hand in her modelling career though, it was one thing for him to do it to other people, but if he hurt her, he wasn't completely certain that she'd be so forgiving. It didn't matter too much though, he had hidden his involvement well and she didn't have the intuition or resources to go and look for that information.
Austin, Texas
"Good news, I managed to get you back on the list. You have a photoshoot on Thursday for a car advertisement", Sue Ellen was pleased to hear that she was back on the list but surprised that she'd been given a car advertisement, those were usually difficult to get, they paid well and the companies were selective about which models they used. "That's wonderful, thank you", she stood to leave and then turned around, "just out of curiosity, did you get an answer for why I was taken off the list?" it wasn't an urgent question, she really was just curious. "No, truthfully I didn't have to do much at all, I came in on Monday morning and there was a message from Mr Harris saying that there had been another change and you were on the list again. There is just one stipulation; everything must be tasteful. I suppose the owners want to make sure that this stays a reputable company. I didn't question it; we both got what we wanted"; Sue Ellen agreed, it wasn't as if she were planning on doing any improper work anyway, tasteful was fine with her.
Dallas, Texas
"Are you sure there's nothing else you need?" Julie wasn't stupid, she could tell that something was going on and JR was not happy about it, Jock had been cold toward his eldest son all week and she suspected that one of JR's unorthodox business deals had gone wrong. "No, no thank you. You can go home if you're finished everything you need to do today", he could use the company of a woman, but it couldn't be Julie, she was too close to Jock for him to spill any secrets and he didn't want to hurt Sue Ellen by rekindling an old personal relationship. "Has daddy left already?" he wanted to make sure he stayed at the office at least as long as Jock did, it wouldn't help him if he added leaving early to the list of 'offenses' against him right now. In his own mind, the Bobby thing wasn't really hurting them and he shouldn't have been treated the way his father was treating him at the moment. Ewing Oil would still get the deals with the companies he had postponed meetings with; they would just be credited to the good work of JR Ewing, not Bobby Ewing, there really wasn't that much harm in his actions. "Yes, he left about ten minutes ago", Julie started to shut the door to his office, closing her and JR inside together, but JR was too quick for her, he had promised Sue Ellen that there was no more him and Julie and he intended to keep that promise. "You can leave" he dismissed her and she could tell by his tone that he wasn't going to give in. She left the room and JR packed up his desk before he made two quick phone calls, "yes, my regular suite in an hour, thank you", he grinned to himself, he'd be able to release some of his tension soon. The encounters he had with these women were anonymous and meaningless enough that he didn't think they would hurt his relationship with Sue Ellen, there was nothing personal between him and the women he hired, it was purely a business transaction and it was purely confidential; Sue Ellen never had to know and would never know.
Austin, Texas
"Ok sweetie, I want you to lean against the car door", Sue Ellen cringed every time the photographer called her sweetie, it wouldn't have bothered her if he weren't so sleazy, she got a bad vibe from him. This wasn't what she'd expected when she had accepted the gig, it was a lot different to the work she'd been doing the past few weeks; this was more about selling herself as well as the product. It made her uncomfortable to know that it was about her physical appeal to male customers more than female; maybe JR had been right in asking her to stop with that kind of work. "Good, now I want you to sit on the hood and look into the distance", posing like this made her uncomfortable, it was definitely about her sex-appeal; she became even more self-conscious as the male model was directed to watch her and interact as if she were the one of the benefits that came with owning this car. "Good girl, now lay down", she heard the direction but knew she couldn't do that, "uh, I don't think I should", she didn't want to cause a scene, but she also didn't want to ruin her reputation by posing too provocatively. "Excuse me?" the photographer wasn't pleased with the model's interruption, she wasn't paid to add ideas, she was paid to pose. "I, I just don't think that would be good for my image. Besides, you have plenty of other pictures in different poses, I'm sure there are a lot of good ones", she wanted to remain strong, but he looked angry and she really didn't know whether she could keep arguing, she was a people pleaser. "Do you want me to call your agency and tell them that you're being uncooperative? I can get a new model here in no time", it sounded almost like a threat and she didn't want to get in an argument, she was in the weaker position, she had just been put back on the list and she didn't want to lose that position again. "No", she whispered and did as she was told; not pleased about her actions but also relieved that she hadn't been fired.
To be continued…