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A Real Ball Buster
That morning on Mom's On Park Avenue with the girls was somber. Well, Lisa Marie seemed her normal, chipper self as she chatted on about her newest prospect. She was going to try to get a gig representing a big real estate firm that catered to celebrities and the rich in general.
"I got an appointment for this afternoon, right after lunch! I can't wait." She glanced around the table, and her smile vanished. "What's eating the three of you?"
I shrugged. I was no longer sleeping with Edge, but my conscience wouldn't leave me alone about my affair with him. I felt so horribly guilty and had been very close to telling Jeff earlier that morning.
Trish sighed and leaned forward to explain her sorrow.
"I got my period last night." She shook her head. "Randy and I have been trying for months, and I'm still not pregnant."
I gave her hand a soft squeeze.
"It'll happen eventually, sweetie."
"I don't know," she said with a shake of her head. "I think there's something... wrong with me."
"Why would you think that?" Lisa asked.
"Because Randy checked out fine," Trish moaned. "It's me... I know it is." She buried her head onto her arms on the table.
"Hey," I said as I turned toward Candice, "you've been awfully quiet all this time."
The brunette gave me a look.
"Yeah... AJ and I broke up."
That got Trish back in an upright position.
"Oh, no... I'm sorry, Candice."
"Me too," Lisa Marie said. "Aww, Candi, I liked him."
"I'm sorry, sweetie," I told her.
"Oh, it's fine," the lawyer said with a quick wave of her hand. "We want different things. It's better this way." Her gaze lowered as the words came out. She truly believed them, but at the same time, it still hurt because she did love AJ.
"Breakfast is on me today, ladies."
I looked over at Lisa Marie.
"You don't have to do that."
"Oh, nonsense," the sultry brunette said. "I want to... You three are my best friends, and I insist. I know it's not much, but I want to cheer you gloomy Glorias up in any way I can."
"Thank you, Lisa," Trish said, managing a weak smile.
"Yeah," Candice agreed.
"Thanks, sweetie," I said, reaching for her hand.
*
Later, Lisa Marie was enjoying her interview with Mr. David Batista of Batista Enterprises, Inc. At the moment, the real estate mogul was perusing her portfolio.
"Very impressive indeed," he said with a nod of approval in her direction.
Lisa Marie flashed him a winning white smile. She relished the reaction she was getting out of him. The man was handsome, very rugged and had an extremely muscular physique. At the moment, she was all business, but she would have been undressing him with her eyes under different circumstances.
"So, do we have a deal?" she asked, still smiling.
Batista handed her back her portfolio and sat back in his massive leather office chair. He leaned back, folding his large hands in a very definite manner as he faced her.
"I don't think so... Sorry."
"What?" Lisa's smile vanished.
"Your list of clientele and accomplishments are impeccable," the man stated, "but the truth is, you're not what I'm looking for."
"Then just what are you looking for?" she practically snapped.
Batista fixed his dark brown eyes on hers.
"A man," he said. "Good day, Miss Varon."
Lisa Marie's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing! Of all the nerve!
"This is bullshit and you know it," she spat as she stood up to go. "Believe me, this isn't the last you've seen of me!"
*
And Lisa Marie was right. True to her word, she was back in Dave Batista's office two days later. She had amazingly gotten herself a second appointment.
"And I really know how to organize a party," she practically purred. "Here is an even broader list of my clients." Lisa handed Batista a brown leather binder, which he quickly scanned over.
The mogul tilted his head as he perused.
"Uh huh... Again, you are impressive." He looked up, eyeing the brunette for a beat before setting the binder down. "If I wanted to do business with you, how quickly could you organize an event?"
"Well," Lisa Marie began with a smile, "I would get started the moment you say 'You're hired.' My personal best is forty-three minutes."
Batista's brows quirked upward.
"Forty-three minutes to organize an event? What about details? How many people attended?"
"Black tie event, two-hundred and four attended." She beamed, full of pride. As well she should be - that event had been a shining success!
"Wow." Batista let out a long whistle. He was obviously genuinely impressed.
"So," the brunette began, squaring her shoulders with immense confidence, "do we finally have a deal?"
Dave Batista was silent for a beat at he studied the woman. She was efficient, savvy and sexy as hell... It would definitely benefit him and his company to do business with Lisa Marie Varon. Taking all that into consideration, he made up his mind.
"No, I'm sorry."
Lisa's jaw dropped in utmost shock.
"You're kidding me!"
Batista shook his head.
"No... I'm sorry, but I have to go with a man."
Lisa Marie was outraged as she glared daggers into him. What the hell was his problem? She voiced her true feelings as she snatched up her binder, her portfolio already under her left arm.
"This is a load of pure crap... I'm the best person for this job and you know it! Screw you, Mr. Batista!" With that, she fled heavy-footed from the office.
"Ms. Varon! Wait a minute!"
Lisa Marie ignored Batista's calls, racing toward the elevators in a mad frenzy to escape. And she had to do that, because, shockingly, the tears were already coming. She was not a woman who cried, and she would be damned if she allowed this prick to see her in such a sorry state.
The elevator arrived just in enough time for Lisa to duck inside and away from the man. Once the doors closed, she wept, allowing the tears their full
freedom. And when she arrived home, she found a message on her answering machine - from Dave Batista, telling her she was hired.