analogy

'Hello?'

'It's Alice here,' Alice McNott says. The infamous Miss Alice McNott.'

'A chill runs down my spine as I hear the sound of your voice,' replies Carlos.

'I've got some bad news for you, sir.'

'Leave sir to the nerds andcall me Carlos.'

'At your service.'

'So you say you got bad news for me.'

'Yes, but, not so bad for a woman in control of the situation like me.'

'Please get to the bottom of that.'

'Carlos?'

'Alice?'

'Are you listening?'

'Yes.'

'You sound somewhat uninterested in what I'm about to tell you. Is there something that you're trying to hide from me?'

'No, Alice.'

'Good. Now listen to what I'm about to tell you.'

'I'm listening.'

'There's this journo who works under me. He just sent an article slaying a dozen of inner city actors and didn't spare you his whip. Just by going through it, tears trickled down my face, messing my make up. There's a shot of you outside Tanya's home stone drunk.Then of Charmaine kissing Desiree's ex. What's his name again?'

'Mark.'

'Yes, Mark. And you and Desiree have got something going on right now, hey?'

'Yes.'

'Right. Bill's with Tanya for now, hey?'

'Yes.'

'That makes Mark a thief or Tanya a nymphomaniac in some way or another. Maybe that's according to my analogy. I may be wrong. I'm sorry if that hurts but, I had to let you know about the love angles including you, which may be detrimental to your career at large. At large; means not only your but, your friends included.'


Desiree hands him a glass of bubbly.


'Thank you!'

'Dont' cut me off, Carlos. This isn't the end of the story just yet.'

'Not yet, Alice. I was receiving a glass of bubbly from my beloved, soon to be wedded, angel of mine, Desiree. She deserves a crown because she sticks with me through thick and thin.'

'The thought of firing Bower had crossed my mind until I gave his way of doing things a thought. He has never disappointed me for some time. He is only human and will surely get over the thinking of pursuing people I haven't asked him to. He having had wasted his own resources I believe, is punishment enough.'

'We know him that way.'

'His crap creeped in an hour after our end of the year office party. I'm way too tired for his **s. I read the article in patches but, it surely reads like a movie script to those not in the know. Had I not been here, maybe one of my cleaners could've had a fun day of her life reading it.'

'You're an editor Alice. You decide what's wright or wrong for your press. If  I'm to be a front page canditate so be it. For now all I need to hear are seductive whispers of my sidekick.And not forgetting the sweet taste of her lips.She too seems worn out by too much limelight that she somewhat feel safe under my wing.'

'Don't worry yourself to death. Remember; you're now part of us. Those haters who are used to seeing you front page for all the wrong reason will see more of you for all wright reasons. Be sure that this year will be the best ever for you.'

'Before you go, kindly send me a copy of Bower's mad article.

He bursts into a fete of laughter.

Desiree laughs too.

So does Alice.

unprofessional

Here we go again, Sunday Press editor, Miss Alice McNott thoughtfully says.

Irritated by an article she has just received through an e-mail, she angrily punches numbers on her office phone.

'Just what I was hoping for,' Bower says by the other end of the line. How may I help you Miss McNott?'

'Call me Alice,' she replies. Everybody has gone home to their respective families, relatives and friend. There you're in a suburb alone. What's it that you would like me to do with this article?'

'I would like you to publish that earnestly.'

'Bower?'

'Ma'am?'

'How could you bring your stature as a good reporter down to this effect?'

'I don't understand ma'am. Kindly elaborate.'

'Your article is in very bad taste. Don't you know that those people are going to work for us in due course?'

'I know but the truth shall set each and everyone of us at Sunday Press free. You always taught us the truth.'

'Not controversy!'

'I sent that copy for you to publish in next Sunday's edition. Maybe City Times could benefit from it too.'

'I've asked my assistants not to touch it. I didn't hand any of you a task or project since we're on holidays. You're single and could do with some girl. We've made peace with actors for this year at least. Only those
who disrespects will get to feel my wrath. It's not wise to further destroy a person who is trying his best to change his life. That, I mean Tanya, got kicked out of two soapies in one season. Think about what tailing her may do to her career.'

'I know but, a little bit of exposure wont do any of them harm. It would however, raise their soapies' rates.'

'I hear your line of argument but, don't you think that's a bit unprofessional?'

'Unprofessional, me unprofessional?'

'I'm talking to you. Do you know what does unprofessional mean?'

'Yes. The opposite of professional.'

'Don't answer me like you would a girl from the bundus. I'm your boss dammit!'

'Unprofessional is doing things out of anger instead of logical reasoning.'

'Good!'

'Is that a signal or the end of my research efforts?'

'Are you short of festive conquests?'

'No.'

'We're all popping champagnes all over the place. There you're by yourself thinking about ways to make a quick buck. You've made no research. You were present during that meeting with the actors. Why then should you turn around and try that you'd get the go ahead to tarnish their good names?'

'I can feel your anger within these wires. I'm getting sunburnt in this corner that I'm sitting in. The truth is, I don't trust city girls for now. I'm alone at this uptown eatery. My work has been done through wi-fi. I paid a fortune to them to get the article off the ground. I know that you'll give me more projects to do. To answer your earlier question; I'm indeed in need of some cash injection.'

'Enjoy your holidays. If something comes up besides actors misbehaving, call me.'

'I will ma'am.'

open relationship

'This whole love scenes rhetoric is somewhat twisted,' Bill tells Charmaine. You lie next to a fellow actor, feel her warmth but, you're sure as hell itself that all you'll get out of it is a kiss and a hug.'

'You're a prime-time actor,' she replies.Not some adult film gigolo. Families musn't supposed to be subjected to the things you hold dear because besides children being around, not all of us are addicted to your shit.'

'I know but, there was a time in life when I considered being a male prostitute. I flung the moral book straight out of my bedroom window. I thought to myself, here I'm being good to anybody else I get to cross my path with but, no one really cares how I'm doing. Nobody!'

'Yho!'

'Yes. I had an apartment in town and was running out of money to pay the rent but, nothing I told my landlord made sense to him. I fought with him till one freakish evening when a married woman tripped and fell face down on my hands. She was heading to our table. I was too drunk but, I just was able to catch her.
I was with two hookers drinking the night away. She gave me her car keys and one thing turned into another. I couldn't believe how lucky I was as we entered her house. Unluckily, her husband found out through people who are supposed to be minding their own business and we had to end it. But she supported me like I was her kid, paid my rent for six months 'til I came accross Tanya. I wanted any job in the world and became her chauffeur then her boyfriend.'

'I wont fool around with you anytime soon. I can't understand how one person can have such luck.'

'If I wanted to have you, I could've a long time ago. I just want us to have fun. As they always say; no strings attached.'

'That was just a kiss. Don't mistaken it for love. I want to tell Tanya about the open relationship plan I have in mind. Most couples do it. Spending the rest of one's life with one woman wont do it for me.'