Can't Help Falling in Love by David W. Menefee, Carol Dunitz Page B

woman. She comes charging in here uninvited, plows over Karen and me like
a steamroller, and then expects me to bow to her like a buttercup in the
breeze!     
         Sharon dropped her cigarette in the cup, where
it laid smoldering and befouling the air. She gathered up her purse and began
walking to the door while talking over her shoulder and out of the side of her
mouth. “I’ll let you know. Let’s stay in touch. Help me keep Phil happy. We’ll
be planning to announce the fall lineup of new releases at a huge media
gathering at the Peabody Hotel. We’ve reserved the entire indoor pool as a
setting for a formal, glittering VIP party. I’ll be wearing a new
diamond-studded gown by Coco Chanel ! We’ll send you
an invitation.”
        
She turned the knob and was about to leave, but stopped and looked back. “By
the way, don’t be seen in public with our Wonder Boy anymore. I don’t want his
reputation sullied.”
        
With that cryptic slur on Allison’s character, she flipped off the overhead
lights at the switch by the front door, and left. Since the photo flood lights
were already doused, Allison and Karen were plunged into near darkness. Tobacco
stench lingered like a pall over the entire studio, and a heavy cloud of smoke
hung in the air like a shroud. Allison began fanning the air, stomped out the
glowing ash embers piled on the floor, and ranted, “Oh! That woman! I wouldn’t
be surprised to find out that she was Mussolini’s personal assistant ten years
ago! I don’t know if I can stand to be around her another moment!”
        
“Well,” Karen began, “look at it this way . . . Mussolini was shot and hung
upside down for the entire world to see. As for Sharon Eaton, we can only hope!
At the very least, maybe she’ll fall into the Peabody swimming pool while she’s posing in her
diamond-studded Chanel gown!”
        
Allison pictured that for a moment and then burst out laughing, and Karen
joined her. They were doubled over chuckling, when Karen asked, “Do you think
‘Wonder Boy’ overheard any of that?”
        
At that moment, the back door opened and he emerged wearing his striking stage
attire. He took one look at the two of them huddled together in the dark
beneath a cloud of smoke and said, “I’ve heard of mood lighting and smoke pot
effects, but isn’t this going a little too far?”

Chapter Fourteen
        
        
Allison and Karen’s photo shoot with “Wonder Boy,” as Sharon Eaton brazenly
referred to him, went off without a hitch after Sharon had slithered from the studio. When she was
gone, Allison was glad. She had thought she would enjoy working on her new
account. Now, she questioned that assumption. It all depends on
how often I have to interact with Sharon Eaton! she decided.
        
The show must go on, and “Wonder Boy” departed to get ready for another outdoor
concert. Karen stayed behind to develop her pictures of him, and Allison
retreated to the comparative sanctity of her private office.
       
The next day, Allison found herself virtually alone in her office building
where Saturdays were always quiet. The peace and solitude gave her time to
concentrate on specific details in her proposals. She worked diligently, but
found her thoughts wandering. How could Karen have managed to be
so fortunate to have known him before me? That was an incredible bit of
coincidence. Thankfully, their passion cooled during the time they were apart,
but still, I’d be a lot more comfortable with him if I had him all to myself!
        
The morning passed quickly. Allison did not mind studying the list of magazines Sharon had unceremoniously dumped upon her to
review, and she was professionally curious to gauge whether they would do the
band any good. She took time to uncover their strengths and find a way to
integrate them into the overall creative plan, more to help him than to appease Sharon . 
        
Outside, a rumble of thunder caught