AN: Thank you everyone who's been reading this so far. You all rock!
Special ANs: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed. I won't mention names, because not everyone who reviewed showed up on my reviews page. Does anyone know what's up with that?
Chapter 3: Party at the Studio
We all piled in Chris's car, which didn't even compare to my Viper. It could seat 5, but was a convertible, which meant only one person could sit in front. So I let Monique get shotgun, so that I could be in back with Jude. I love being in the backseat. It brings back great memories. And with the love of my life? Chris just better get there before Jude and I have more than one.
Unfortunately, my time was split between Chris and Jude. I had to give directions to Chris on how to get there, while Monique was talking with Jude practically the whole time. They are so similar, it's freaky. But Jude, the beautiful woman I fell for, knew exactly what I was feeling, and interrupted Monique a few times so that I could talk to her.
Pretty soon, we got there, and as I got out and opened the door for Jude, Monique looked at the entrance, taking in everything around her.
"I can't believe you work here!" Monique squealed to me and Jude. "It must be so cool!"
"Yeah, it is," Jude laughed. "It's even better when you work here with someone you love."
"You guys are so cute together!" Monique went on. Jude and I laughed, as Chris said, "Don't you have a meeting to get to?" I hated how organized he was. But being the older brother, I guess that's one thing that comes naturally…having to be organized just so you can set an example for your younger siblings to follow.
"You're right," Jude said, knowing exactly how to mediate between us. "Tommy, we'd better get going. Chris, Monique, here's the lounge. Feel free to make yourself at home. Sadie?" Jude called her sister, who was sitting at the receptionist's desk.
"Yeah?" Sadie looked over at us. I noticed Chris checking her out.
"This is Chris and Monique. They're Tommy's brother and sister," Jude said, introducing them. "Guys, this is my sister, Sadie. She's the receptionist here."
"Cool," Chris said, never once taking his eyes off Sadie. Sadie blushed.
"She's also dating Kwest. My engineer and co-producer," I cut in, informing Chris and reminding Sadie.
"There's no reason I can't be friends with other guys. I'm sure Kwest wouldn't mind," Sadie said, even though she'd been living with Kwest for a while. I'd have to give him a heads-up that there was competition now.
"Yeah, but Sadie…" Jude trailed off, as Sadie shot her a look that told her to mind her own business.
"Jude, I know. I've handled multiple guys before. Don't worry, OK?" Sadie's expression softened as Chris spoke up. "Yeah, don't worry. Even though Sadie's dating someone doesn't mean that I can't be her friend." Chris smiled at Sadie, who smiled back politely.
"Chris, I know you. Lay off, OK?" I told him.
"All right, OK, I get it. She's out of bounds." Chris said. Then Jude sprang into action.
"Monique, can you do me a favor?" Jude pulled Monique aside. Monique looked confused. "Can you distract Sadie until our meeting's over? Just talk about shopping and clothes and anything except guys, OK?"
"OK," Monique said. "But it'll cost you."
"OK, I'll give you as many Pop-Tarts as you want," Jude smiled.
"Deal," Monique said happily. She turned to Sadie and said, "Sadie, did you see the latest line from…" Sadie and Monique started talking, and I pulled Jude into the boardroom to get it over with.
"OK, now that we're all here," Georgia pretended to look at me sternly, but couldn't. "We can start this meeting. I'd like to begin by…"
"Uh, Georgia?" Jude broke in.
"What is it?" Georgia asked, trying to keep her patience from snapping.
"Can we make this quick?" Jude asked. "Tom's brother and sister are here, and Tommy and I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable being in a new place and all, not knowing anyone but Tommy and me."
"They are?" E.J. said, jumping up from her chair. "Really, Tommy, you should have said something before. I didn't even know you had family, let alone that they're here. Meeting adjourned." She took Georgia's pen, using it as a gavel, and slammed it down on the table before running out to meet them.
"Sorry, Georgia," I said diplomatically. "I hope there wasn't anything really important."
"No, just everyone's schedules for the next week. Nothing major," Georgia rolled her eyes. "I guess we can schedule it another day. What'd you say your siblings' names were?" She got up, Kwest and everyone else followed us out.
"I didn't," I said as we walked over to E.J. and Sadie and Monique, who were busy babbling to each other. Chris slumped in a chair, looking bored.
"Chris, this is Georgia. She owns G Major. This is Kwest, the engineer, co-producer, and best friend I was telling you about…" I made all the introductions, and Georgia suggested, "You know what? Let's have a party. To welcome Chris and Monique. E.J.?"
Georgia looked at her assistant, who was deep in conversation with Monique and Sadie.
"Georgia, I've already set it up. The caterers are on the way. We just need to set up some tables and everything. Guys?" E.J. waved them over in the direction of a private conference room. The guys stood there, not moving, waiting to see Georgia's expression.
"You heard the expert. Let's set some tables up," Georgia said. With that, everyone swung into action. Pretty soon, everything was set up nicely, and everyone went back to their tasks until lunchtime.
"Party in Room 102!" E.J. ran through the building, yelling in every open room she passed.
"Is she always like that?" Chris asked Jude.
"Yeah, that's E.J. for you. She lives to plan parties. She loves clothes, and she's all about fashion. That's her, all right." Jude laughed.
Chris frowned. "At my company, there's a strict hierarchy. Everyone knows what they have to do and does it. Even corporate events, like catered parties, are overseen with the most careful attention. We don't have the boss' assistant running around screaming. Even if we did, the boss wouldn't allow it to happen. I guess that's just another difference between you and me, Tommy."
Sadie overheard what he said, and became angry. "Oh, so just because your company's like that, every other company has to be like that, Mr. I've-got-a-rod-stuck-up-so-far-up-my-a-that-it's-never-coming-out? Seriously, who do you think you are? Learn to have some fun in a while. God!"
Chris looked at her, not liking what he just heard. "Maybe if you learned to be serious, you'd be an executive by now instead of a secretary."
"Oh, really?" Sadie turned on him. "For your information, I was captain of my debate team in high school. All four years. And I was…" Sadie then proceeded to tell him all her accomplishments, which lasted for at least 10 minutes. Jude smiled, because she remembered how Sadie used to be the best at everything while she was in school. No one could beat her, and Sadie always brought home another award, another trophy in who knows what category.
"Food's here!" Speed, Kyle, and Wally came sprinting in from one of the studios they'd been practicing in. Then they froze in their tracks, staring at what was going on.
"Dude," Speed whispered to the guys, watching the exchange. They nodded, eyes wide.
"Uh, dude," Kyle called out to Chris, interrupting their argument.
"What?" Chris said angrily.
"I don't know you, but I do know not to mess with that dude, er, I mean, Sadie. She's seriously scary. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side. Just thought I'd let you know." Kyle held up his hands and backed away, almost knocking the caterers over. They were coming in right behind him.
"Dude!" Wally nudged Speed, who gaped at the amount of food that was being brought in.
"Dude, is this for us?" Speed asked Kwest, who was standing there and had laughed at everything that'd happened.
Kwest laughed at him. "Dude," he said, mimicking SME's speech. "When is it ever for you?"
"That was harsh, dude," Kyle said, as Speed looked sad.
"Georgia?" Kwest asked. Georgia looked at the boys, and said, "Only if you behave."
"YES!" The guys jumped up in excitement and started air-guitaring in response.
"Boys?" Georgia raised her eyebrows as she looked at them, and they fell silent, watching her warily.
"How do you do that?" Monique asked Georgia, incredulous at the power she had over them.
"It's all in the look," Georgia smiled at her.
"Yeah, but it's also in the paycheck," E.J. winked at her. "Talk about control…" E.J. murmured dreamily.
"E.J.!" Georgia snapped her back to reality.
"Yes, ma'am, I mean, Georgia?" E.J. said, standing at attention.
"Go have fun, OK?" Georgia laughed at E.J.'s antics. They balanced each other out well.
"Yes ma'am. I mean Georgia. Thank you!" E.J. rushed off to sit by Monique and Sadie. Apparently they'd clicked over their love of clothes and shopping. For them, it was the international language.
Chris sat by me, with Jude on the other side. Kwest sat next to Jude, so that he could talk to Sadie when she took a breath from going on about the latest fashion trend. Every now and then, Chris glanced at Sadie, giving her a longing look.
"Chris, man, don't even think about it," I warned. Kwest and Sadie were perfect together, and nothing could ruin their happiness. That is, nothing, except maybe Chris.
"It's Sadie, right?" Chris said, pouring on the Martin charm.
"What do you want?" Sadie glared at him, not forgetting their argument earlier.
Kwest cheered, although not as vocally as someone else would. "That's my girl!" He said to me quietly.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I said before. I just…you have all these people around you, and I have no one. I thought that maybe if I seemed to be this professional person, then maybe you'd like me more," Chris rambled.
Sadie paused, wondering whether she should give him a chance.
"I guess I blew it, huh?" Chris said. "I'll stop bothering you now." He got up and walked away, head hung low, and Sadie made her decision.
"Chris, wait," Sadie walked up to him and pulled on his sleeve. "It's OK. Just don't do it again, OK?" She smiled, and Chris grinned back.
"OK," Chris said. Sadie led him back to the table, and they spent the next few minutes talking and laughing.
"What does she see in him?" Kwest glared in Chris' direction. "He'd better not make a move. Sadie's mine!"
"Don't worry, Kwest," Jude grinned devilishly. "I've got a plan."
AN: So, what'd you all think? I hope you liked it. If you did, please review. If you didn't, please review anyway, and let me know what I could do better. Thanks for reading!