Part 2
Jason pulls his bike into the underground garage of the building and again helps a cold and shivering Abbie of the back. The two walk to the elevator in silence until Abbie finally says, "Your last name is really Morgan? "That's too funny."
"Yeah, I'm really a Morgan." "Come on, the elevator is this way," he says as he grabs her garment bag and leaves the guitar case to her. The two step into the elevator and Jason reaches over and presses the button marked P.
"Ah, isn't that of the penthouse?" asks Abbie.
"Yeah, I have an apartment up there," says Jason. "That's what this key is for."
"Maybe I should just get off the elevator now," says Abbie reaching for the control panel.
"Relax," says Jason. "You can come up, take a shower, get ready for your interview and head out." "No strings, no hassles, nothing."
"Why are you helping me?" asks Abbie.
"Oh, she resembles a drowned rat?"
Jason looks at her for a second and the two burst out laughing. The elevator doors slide open, and the two step out, Abbie hanging back a bit. Jason looks at the man standing by the elevator and greets him. "Hi
Johnny, is he in?"
"Yes Mr. Morgan, he is."
"Let him know I'm in, and I'll be over later, I have a few things to take care of."
"Sure thing Mr. Morgan."
"Johnny, this is Abbie Morgan, she's going to be staying with me for a while." "Abbie, if you need anything, and I'm not around, just ask Johnny, and he'll see that you get it."
Johnny looks at the girl questioningly after hearing the last name, but says nothing other than "Ms. Morgan," as he nods his head to her.
Abbie flashes a nervous smile to him and says, "Well, what I need right now, besides a hot shower is a phone."
Jason reaches into the pocket of his leather jacket and pulls out a cell phone and hands it to her. She wastes no time in taking it and dialing a number.
"Hello, Mr. Ashton, this is Abbie Morgan, we have an appointment this evening." "I just wanted to touch base with you to let you know, I am running a bit behind." "I had car trouble on my way into town, but I should be over there in about 45 minutes." "I look forward to meeting with you." She disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Jason. "Voice mail," she said. "Now, I'd really like to get changed and call a cab."
"No problem, come on."
Jason leads Abbie down the hall and inserts a key into a door marked P3. He pushes open the door and steps over the threshold and turns on the lights. Abbie follows him in and stops dead in her tracks. The room is totally devoid of furniture except for a couch and coffee table.
"Not one for decorating, are you?" she asks
"I'm going for the," he pauses for a second searching for a word, "the minimalist approach." The two burst into laughter again. "Take your stuff upstairs," says Jason. "There should be towels in the bathroom."
"Thanks," says Abbie as she starts up the stairs. Part way up, she stops and turns around. "Jason," she says. "I really mean it, thanks a lot." "This job is important to me." "Your sister is lucky to have a brother like you."
Abbie turns and continues up the stairs as Jason watches her
.
She makes me laugh, he thought to himself. I haven't laughed like that since Robin was here.
Pushing Abbie out of his mind, he picks up some files that Sonny left for him on the coffee table. 20 minutes later, he turns as he hears Abbie coming down the stairs. He starts to say something and stops. Gone is the wet ragtag girl he offered a ride, and in her place is a glamorous young woman. Her long brown hair cascades in curls around her shoulders, and she is dressed in an elegant suit of cranberry red and shoes with a heel so high, he couldn't fathom how she walked in them.
"Jason, may I borrow your phone again to call for a cab please," asks Abbie as she enters the room.
"I have a car waiting downstairs for you already," he said. "It will wait until you are done and bring you back here."
"Jason, I can't let you do all that," she says.
"Look, it's no big deal, you can come back here and figure out what you are going to do."
"That would be great," she admits. "I was kind of concerned about what I was going to do after the interview."
"Actually," says Jason, "I have to do a couple of things downtown, so let me gram by coat, and I'll ride with you."
Jason grabs his leather jacket and escorts Abbie out the door to the waiting elevator and then out into a limousine.
"Don't, say anything," he says, "It belongs to a friend of mine."
"I wont' say a thing," she says. "I've never ridden in a limo before, so I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride!"
All too soon, the ride was over, and the car pulled up in
front of L&B Records.
"The car will be waiting for you when you are done." "If for some reason, it isn't here, just wait."
"Thanks Jason," says Abbie as she prepares to exit the car. "I'll wait if the car isn't here, but I should warn you, I am usually not this acquiescent." "I usually don't let anybody tell me what to do." "Right now I'm to nervous about this interview to do anything but agree with you."
"I'll remember that," he says as he opens the door to allow her to step out. "Good luck and knock them dead in there."
With that, Abbie steps out of the car and watches as it drives off. She grabs her briefcase more firmly in her hand and walks briskly towards the door of L&B
Inside the main reception area of L&B, the phones were ringing off the hook, but there was nobody in sight. Abbie looks around for a minute, shrugs and walks over to the reception desk and starts answering the incoming calls.
"Hello, L&B records, may I help you?" "I'm sorry, Mr. Ashton isn't available, may I take a message please.
Abbie jots down the message, ends the call and moves onto the next ringing line. "Hello, L&B records, may I help you?" "The contracts for the concert in Buffalo?" "One moment please." Abbie looks around for anything resembling contracts and spies some official looking documents sticking out of an opened Fed Ex envelope. "Yes, thank you for holding, Mr. Ashton has received the information and is in the process of looking it over." "He'll get back to you with any changes he wants made."
Abbie hangs up the phone and turns to go back to the sofa where she left her briefcase. Standing next to the sofa is a tall dark haired gentleman.
"I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that you are Ned Ashton," she says.
"Yes, I am, and who are you and where in the hell do you get off interfering with my business."
"I'm Abbie Morgan, we have an appointment, and as far as interfering with your business, all I did was answer the phone." "It seems to me that if you don't do at least that, you're not going to have a business for me to interfere in!"
Ned opens his mouth to respond and stops. "You're right," he admits grudgingly. "L&B is growing, and it's growing fast." "I need someone here who can work hard, and work independently." "Someone who takes the initiative and isn't afraid of learning and doing just about anything."
Abbie proceeds to relay his messages, and gathers her belongings to leave. "Well, short of performing, I'm willing to do just about anything." "What time tomorrow should I start, Mr. Ashton?
Ned stares, both admiring and shocked by her audacity, but he also knew a good thing when he saw it, and Abbie was a very good thing indeed. "9:00 a.m., and it's Ned, and dress casual." "We can discuss money and benefits tomorrow." "Welcome to L&B," he says holding out his hand.
Abbie reaches out and shakes his hand and says "Great, I'll see you tomorrow," and she walks out in the rain. Ned watches as she walks up to the limo the pulls up to the curb. He is shocked to see one of Sonny's men get out and open the door for his newest employee.