13: Too Close for Comfort (Along the Way, Chapter 5 - Surprise!)

Darren was reviewing the contract that the legal department had prepared in anticipation of his decision to sign Marissa Calhoun. Once again, her singing the night before had been velvety smooth and her original songs poignant, but her...stage presence could use some help. She was young and hadn't been performing for very long, but he was sure his team could polish the yet-to-be-mined gem that he was certain she was.

Inserting a paragraph about mentoring and styling sessions, he was startled by someone clearing their throat. Of course he assumed he was alone in his own office, so his head flew up as his eyes widened, "Ma...Marissa? God, you scared me! How did you get into my...?"

The zaftig singer gave a tiny wave and giggled girlishly. "I stopped by to drop off my bio, then I must have turned the wrong way when I came out of the rest room. Before I knew it, I was in one of the studios and ended up...here!" Another strangely high-pitched laugh came out of her mouth.

Darren's heart rate had slowed to somewhere closer to the normal range, but he was still confused. "Didn't you say you were going to email your bio, Marissa?"

As she approached his desk, the young singer replied, "I was in the neighborhood, and thought it was better to see you in person...DARREN." Her emphasis of his first name seemed odd, but the atmosphere became downright uneasy when Marissa stood immediately beside him. To re-establish his personal space, Darren rose and walked around to the front of his desk. Unfortunately, the girl followed him, once again inching entirely too close for comfort.

Trying to keep the edge he felt out of his voice, Darren explained calmly, "Marissa, I am happy for you to be a member of the CallaCriss family, but our...relationship will be strictly...professional." Her intentions couldn't be more obvious as she moved so close to him that he could feel her body heat.

"DARREN, we both know that's not true. I've seen your wife and I am exactly your type. You must be ready to trade her in for a newer model." In order to avoid the fingers she was walking up his chest, Darren leaned back on his hands as Marissa continued to ramble.

"It's just us now, DARREN, so there's no need to pretend that you're only interested in my music..."

"I AM only interested in your music!" he sputtered.

Pushing her advantage, the young singer surged forward, forcing Darren to literally lay on his desk so as not to let their chests touch. "I know how much time you spend working, avoiding going home to HER. I would be so much better for you than SHE is. I'm young, so you can mold me into ANYTHING you want."

Before he could dispute her claims, Marissa shoved him down completely and matched her lips to his. He felt paralyzed with shock. Afraid of doing anything she could interpret as encouragement, Darren remained stock still with his hands above his head.

His brain was on complete overload when he could have sworn he heard Rhi's voice.

"Surprise, honey! I brought your phone and I thought I could kidnap you for a long lun..."

THIS ISN'T HAPPENING! I HAVE TO BE DREAMING! he screamed silently inside his head.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

My entrance startled them both into turning toward me, the girl shooting me a look of satisfaction, while my husband was wearing an expression of...shock and...fear?

Advancing into the room, I said, using my best teacher-scolding-a-student-who-knew-better voice, "Get your hands - and your lips - off my husband."

The girl, who I then noticed looked strangely like a younger version of me - heavy, short brown hair, very light skin - stood up and replied, "Obviously you're not giving him what he needs, so why shouldn't I?"

"I don't know what asylum you escaped from, DEAR, but we give each other exactly what we need, so I'm only going to tell you one...more...time." I took a deep breath and shouted, "GET AWAY FROM MY HUSBAND, BITCH!"

Realizing that I wasn't buying her claim that Darren wanted what she had to offer, the girl glared at him, then at me, and stomped out of the building,