Electra G




I was washing Cher’s makeup chair. I had removed all the upholstery in order to wipe the metal frame with alcohol pads from a nearby pharmacy, and I had cleaning materials for the pads next.

And I was going to Scotch Guard the whole thing. Cher sat on the desk in our room, watching me like a hawk. He would tell me if I missed, or could possibly have missed, any spots.

Ghirardelli lounged beside him, naked as usual. He was okay with her sitting in his chair in the altogether, but sex was where he drew the line.

She had finished collecting all the loaned clothes and washing everything, and arranging all the suits for Electra’s interviews, so she was treating herself with a grape. She sliced bites off and sucked them slowly.

Electra had concentrated so fully on the sorting and the selecting of guests, she’d managed to submerge all thoughts of actually doing her show.

So now, of course, she was flipping out. And I don’t mean on her gym.

“So, do I TELL Carrie that my middle name is Leia and it’s because of her and my owner being besotted with her or would that be an insult?” She paced the space between Cher and their carrier. “Or, what if she knows? What if someone told her and she’s sitting there, waiting for me to bring it up, and she’s got a line rehearsed in her head but I never mention it and she gets angry? Or thinks I think that there’s something wrong about Princess Leia?

“Or! Or what if-“

“What if you just shut up and wait for tomorrow to disaster all by itself?” I asked. She turned to stare at me. Cher stared at me.

Ghirardelli smiled at me.

“You don’t need to plan disasters,” I said. “If fate is going to screw you over tomorrow, there’s nothing to worry about, it’s already in the hands of the divine.

“If, on the other hand, you’re as prepared as you ever have been, and you’re as coordinated as you can possibly get thanks to Cher and Ghirardelli’s work, and everyone you see tomorrow is someone who WANTS to talk to you, there’s also nothing to worry about.”

I put the chair down for inspection and picked up one of the cushions. “Do you remember how freaked you were with Kerri? And how did that turn out?”

“But…”

I picked her up and held her in my fist, kissing the top of her hair. She relaxed a little, kissing my lips. Her nose brushed my cheek. I loosened my grip and stroked her back, my fingertip slipping under her skirt to touch her thighs.

“Do you think they know we’re still here?” Cher asked.

“Duh! NOW they do,” Ghirardelli snorted.

“We could go sit in the set,” Cher offered. “It gets cable in there, right?”

“Or,” I said, “you guys can go wander the sylph hot spots and entertain yourself for three hours.”

“Five,” Electra cooed, licking a knuckle.

The staff jumped to their feet. “You… You NEVER let us go out in the sylph halls.”

“Ever!”

I lowered Electra to the desk. “Well, when I was a young and scared assistant producer, charged with the safety of two very important assets that belonged to the network, I was leery about letting them out, yes. And I’m sorry.

“As the full producer, though, I trust my staff.”

“We both do,” Electra said. Cher hugged her. I thought Ghirardelli was going to cry.

“Do you guys need money or something?” I asked.

“We charge stuff to our owner,” Cher explained.

“That sounds demeaning,” Electra said. “How about, charge it to our room?”

“Perfect. Do I need to authorize anything?”

“No, sir, mister master, sir,” Ghirardelli said. “You just, uh, you tell us what our spending limit is.”

“I have absolutely no idea what your interests are, or what the prices are like,” I said slowly. “So, uh, how about you don’t go crazy tonight, we’ll see how it looks on the bill tomorrow?” Electra, standing just behind the two, shook her head slightly.

“Or, maybe tonight won’t count. It’ll be more of a scouting trip, anyway. You guys tell me what you think your allowance should be when we finally check out?” She nodded her head.

Ghirardelli walked over to kneel at my wrist, pressing her forehead against it. “Are you taking my pulse?” I asked.

“Sir. You are… I mean… No one’s trusted me since… Since…” She hugged me tightly.

“Ghirardelli is speechless?” I goggled. “Write that down on the calendar.”

“Sir,” Cher said, “If Electra has ever told you I was critical of you, I take it all back.”

“Electra’s never told me a fucking thing about your opinion, Cher,” I said. “So if you take back the suggestion that she’s a gossip, we’ll be done.”

He gulped and apologized to both of us. Then he grabbed Ghirardelli by the wrist and ran for the ladder down to the floor and the sylph-door.

I turned to my first sylph. “C’mere, so I can relax you.”

“I don’t feeeeeeeeeeeel relaxed,” she pouted.

“Then c’mere so I can feel you.”





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Index

117. Kerri F

119. Kerri G