Turn Me Bad

For the rest of the week, life taunted him by returning to normal. Not that he had ever considered what normal was before, but all the cameras sets all felt very drab now. He was on autopilot and the only part of his life before Violet he had actually managed to change was that he no longer sought out a social life outside of work. In the evenings, he sat in front of a film, or listened to some music and let his mind wander, wondering if there would ever be a way to find himself and who he wanted to be without the help of his love, who he respected and regarded so highly. A shining light in his world had been placed beyond his reach.

When Saturday morning came, Benjamin had no intention of doing anything else with his time, other than grabbing some food to keep his lonesome act in business.

He knew, therefore, that he should really not be answering the phone to Max. Just before the call was due to go to voicemail, he pressed the receiver, however, deciding he had been ignoring the man’s calls too much recently. Instead, he would just tell him he was a bit under the weather.

”Benjamin, get your butt down here,” came Max’s voice, not even blessing him with a context to such a summoning.

”What’s that? What are you…?”

”I need you to discuss a job, but you gotta be here. Come on now, get your ass in gear.”

”Max, I’m sorry to do this but today is not so good. Besides, it’s the weekend.”

”Now, Benjamin,“ Max replied, adopting a persuasive tone that was unusual. ”I could reply by saying that we have never even mentioned the existence of something called a “weekend” considering the money I make you. Let’s face it, it’s not like you’re storing crates for a living is it?”

”Max–“

”However, all I’ll say instead, my pretty thing is that your dear agent here – who has had to be a little patient with you these last few weeks after all – has never actually asked you to turn up in his office at a moment’s notice. Has he?”

”But I…“ Benjamin began, but he was strangely cornered and out of arguments. It was true he had been giving Max the run around and this was also the first time his agent had ever brought up a single issue with him in spite of that.

”Please take my word for what it is on this occasion, Benjamin. I wouldn’t asked if it wasn’t in your interests. This one’s a little… different, you could say.”

”Oh, alright!“ Benjamin replied, giving in. ”I’ll be there in an hour.”

Maybe some fresh air would be a good distraction after all and he could head straight back afterwards. Benjamin gave in to Max’s request and headed outside to catch a cab.

Max’s office was not exactly the finest establishment in town. Most of his work was completed over the phone and all he needed to survive was his voice and a telephone. He was old school in that sense and still filled the tiny office, located above a barber’s, full of smoke as he worked.

On arriving, Benjamin didn’t bother announcing himself at the door, knowing that the code was always a tennis score – on this occasion 40-15. Being Saturday, his agent would have to excuse him if he walked in on a meeting with someone else, seeing as both of them should have really been pursuing a life.

Max was on his own, however. Surrounded by dozens of newspapers that were always open on the racing pages, giving way what Benjamin knew must surely have been a gambling addiction.

”Ah! Benjamin, here you are,“ his agent responded, with a strange glint in his eyes. There was something strange about all of this. Usually it was just straight to business, but Max stood up and walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder like he was about to promote him.

”What is all this, Max?“ he asked. ”I got the impression someone else would be here to see me.”

”Patience, my boy,“ Max begged, ”and forgive me for giving you the impression that I have summoned you here on work matters.”

”This isn’t about work? What possible reason…?”

”Calm, calm, calm yourself, my boy. All will become clear, but first let me tell you a little story.”

”A story?”

”Yes, it all relates to a little phone call I had yesterday. Someone was inquiring about you.”

”Not a modeling agency then?”

”Well, such is the nature of the world these day, Benjamin, that when we put our pretty little faces online and have a profile, it isn’t just employers that see us anymore.”

”No.”

”Erm, no! And, far-fetched as it can sound, there is also an all-powerful force out there in the universe that we don’t recognize until it comes calling. Do you know what all-powerful force that is, Benjamin?”

”No,“ he replied, dryly.

”Coincidence,“ Max announced.

“Coincidence?’

”Yes,“ Max went on, stepping over to a side door, behind which Max had never seen and announcing. ”Benjamin, let me introduce to you… your long lost sister.”

Thankfully, Benjamin didn’t have to wait long and be confused over words that made no sense, because Max opened the door and there was indeed a young woman standing there. It wasn’t a long lost sister though; it was Violet.

”Violet, what…? What are you doing here?“ he asked, astounded while, at the same time, utterly thrilled to see her.

”Wait a minute,“ Max said. ”How do you know her name?”

”You turned up at my workplace unannounced,“ Violet reminded him, ignoring Max and with her eyes fixed on Benjamin, a naughty smile on her face that really wasn’t like her. ”I thought I’d return the prank.”

”Prank, what prank?“ Max cried. ”Hey, what the hell’s going on here?”

”It’s alright, Max,“ Benjamin told him, raising a hand to try and keep him quiet and desperate to hear what Violet had to say. ”This is a fellow professional.”

As the room went quiet then Violet stepped close to him, regarding him with that intense stare he loved seeing break into a smile so much.

”Do you still mean what you said the other evening, Ben?” she asked.

”With all my heart and soul, Vio,“ he replied, not even blinking.

”In that case,“ she said, ”I accept.”

Both at the same time then, they leaned forward and kissed. Caring not that they had chosen the most unromantic location L.A. had to offer, because all that mattered was each other.

”Hey! You two love birds, will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?“ asked Max, finding his voice again.

”This is my fiancé, Max,“ Benjamin told his agent. ”Her name’s Violet, and she’s from Palmdale.”

”Fiancé?“ said Max, scratching his head in confusion. “Wait a minute. Palmdale? Are you telling me this here girl is the reason I couldn’t get hold of you for two weeks?”

”I’m afraid so.”

“And now here she is making up stories to infiltrate my office. I tell you Ben – and listen up good – this girl’s trouble.”

The end.