DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

Eighteen

Robin pulled up her car to the valet and they started to unload their bags. Brenda tipped him before he even had a chance to move the car and Robin shook her head.

"Stop throwing around money," she whispered.

"This trip I get to do whatever I want. I'm running the show," she said with a smile. Behind her sunglasses Robin knew her eyes were glowing.

"They warned me about this," Carly said before Brenda could get two steps into the foyer.

"Keri, go take care of the rooms," Brenda said handing her a credit card. She only nodded and rushed off. This was her chance to show Brenda she could be of real assistance to her.

"It's been all over the newspaper that L&B Records was bringing back their famous singer for a reunion tour. Of course, he was nameless to me. But it all made send when I talked to Jax and he said that you were the B."

"Well, they don't call you smart for nothing," Brenda commented. She was in a very vulnerable position and Carly didn't need to know. While her shirt was loose and flowy, she was still self conscious about the way her body was starting to look.

"I'm only letting you use my hotel for all this stuff because Jax asked so nicely, why I have no idea. But in four days you better be long gone."

"Usually when we bring artists to hotels, the owners and/or hostesses will get complementary tickets to all events and interviews. Two bad I'm fresh out for this one," Brenda said with a smile as Keri came back.

"The hospitality suite will be ready later tonight, fully stocked. The key to your suite, plus the other rooms," Keri said handing her a stack of small envelopes with individual numbers and keys.

"Thanks. Why don't you go get settled? Run through the checklist. I'll be up in a little bit," Brenda said with a forced smile. Once she left Brenda turned back to Carly. "Seeing that we have extensive creative differences, I would like to have a different host for the week. Who can I talk to?" Brenda asked.

"That's too bad. We're fresh out," Carly said.

"I'll take care of it," Jax said walking up.

Brenda didn't know what was worse, Jax or Carly.

"Fine. We have some specific requests," Brenda said.

"Of course you do," Carly seethed.

"Maybe we should clear something up? Do you know how much money we are dropping here in four days? More than Sonny gives you in alimony and child support. More than your hotel makes in an average week. The band drinks like fish. Miguel has very expensive tastes. I just booked ten of your best rooms. You are getting excellent coverage from around the world because you have an international superstar staying here. I would expect that someone who was trying to be taken seriously as a business woman instead of a tramp who sleeps her way to the top to take rich men's money and con them, that you might embrace the fact that you have to be nice to me for four days or all the travel magazines, newspapers, and ugly celebrity gossip shows will know that the Metro Court has the worst service and is more overpriced for the small town it's located in." Brenda stared at Carly and saw out of the corner of her eye the slightly shocked look in Robin's eye at her friend's bold statements.

"She's all yours," Carly said before turning and walking off in the opposite direction.

Brenda sighed. "I'm going up to my room. For the remainder of our stay my assistant will be the only person you or Carly deals with," Brenda told Jax before walking off with Robin.

"What in the world just happened?" Robin asked with a smile. "Did you see the look on Carly's face?"

"It's the hormones. I swear," Brenda said laying a protective hand on her stomach.