When Sparks Fly (30 page)

Ben, a personal friend, who also worked for a head hunter agency, told Blake the address of the business and time to show up, nothing more.

Blake had no clue who he was meeting or what the job entailed. It was a job opportunity, though, and the sooner he could work, the better. Even though it’d been less than twenty four hours since he was let go, he didn’t want to wait.

Blake had held the job he’d just been released from for fifteen years. Bankston Promotions had hired him straight out of college. He was one of the best PR people in the country. He’d brought some big name actors and musicians to the company. Potential clients were requesting him over the boss’ daughter. He assumed that was why he was let go or because he was the highest paid employee Bankston had on the payroll.

There was no time to keep going over what happened and why he was no longer working for Bankston. Grabbing the keys from the dish on his dresser, Blake stopped and looked in the mirror one more time, making sure that he looked just right. He shrugged his shoulders and headed out the door to the parking garage.

Now’s as good a time as any, ol’ boy. Be positive. You’ll find a job. Maybe this one’s it, if not, Ben can find me another.

Blake checked the rearview mirror before backing out of the parking space and leaving the garage. He turned right and continued to the stop sign before turning right again and merging his burgundy SUV into the flow of traffic.

Driving in rush hour traffic was not one of Blake’s favorite things. The amount of vehicles on the road any more was astounding, even with the availability of light rail and buses.

Blake drove for twenty minutes before he found the side street in his directions. The business was on his left. He pulled into the parking lot, locked his vehicle and made his way to the building entrance.

The building wasn’t architecturally appealing at all. It was just a normal office building with maybe ten floors. Blake observed most of the upper floors were all windows.

Once inside, Blake found the business directory. He was curious to see who he was meeting. He checked the paper with the instructions. Fifth floor, Suite 5B. His eyes followed the line of businesses until they came to rest on The Wellman Agency.

Blake had heard of The Wellman Agency. He’d not had any dealings with them personally, only knew that it was owned and run by an older couple. He’d heard good things about them.

Maybe this is the right one for me.

Blake made his way down the hall and opened the door to Suite 5B. An older woman with snow white hair sat at the reception desk. She looked up and smiled. The smile lit up her entire face and put a sparkle in her eyes. The crows’ feet around her eyes revealed that she smiled a lot.

“Good morning! How may I help you?”

Her jovial attitude and smile captured Blake immediately, making him want to engage in conversation with her. He smiled back.

“Good morning to you, too. I have an appointment and I’m sorry but I have no clue who I’m supposed to be meeting. The employment agency only gave me the address and told me to show up at this time.”

The older woman laughed and extended her hand.

“You must be Blake McIntyre. I’m Alice, and the person you’re meeting with is just behind those doors.” Alice nodded toward the office down the hall. “The Dragon Lady has had her coffee, so I’m sure you won’t be breakfast.”

Alice continued laughing and shaking her head. Blake wondered just what Ben had gotten him into. He sat down on one of the sofas with the never-wear-out-avocado-green fabric. Looking around was like looking into an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show. He was sure the décor was circa 1960.

Blake noticed Alice had picked up the phone and was telling the person, he assumed it was the “Dragon Lady,” that her appointment had arrived.

Within minutes, a lithe woman, in a black pencil skirt appeared. The only color on her was the gold brooch pinned to the lapel of her black jacket. It sparkled when she moved just right. Cruella DeVille came to mind, and Blake stifled a smile by pursing his lips.

“Mr. McIntyre? I’m Frankie Wellman. Welcome. Please come into my office.”

Frankie Wellman stopped at Alice’s desk long enough to request she bring coffee, tout suite, then led Blake into her office.

The décor of Frankie’s office was much the same as the waiting area. It wasn’t avocado, but ecru…same shapes, same feel, same stuck in the 1960’s appeal.

Blake sat down opposite Frankie. Alice brought a tray with coffee, creamer, sugar, and a few cookies on a silver plate. She sat it on the corner of Frankie’s desk and made her way out of the room.

“It’s nice to finally visit with you in person, Mr. McIntyre. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you and the work you’ve done.”

“Thank you. I’m glad it was the good things you heard.”

Blake flashed a smile in Frankie’s direction. His ability to put people at ease on first time meetings was phenomenal. He already knew his normal humor and wit would get a work out with Ms. Wellman.

“Let’s just say I weed through bullshit very well. Please, call me Frankie.”

“I can see you are a shoot from the hip kinda woman, Frankie. Would you please tell me what job I’m interviewing for?”

“In due time.”

Frankie set a mug of coffee and cookie down in front of Blake.

“After looking at your references and a phone call with Andrew, I knew you just may be who I was looking for.”

Blake sipped his coffee as his potential employer ruffled through a folder in front of her.

“You’ve worked with some pretty impressive clients, Blake. How long have you been in this business?”

“Fifteen years, ma’am.”

“Frankie, remember?” She lifted another sheet of paper and nodded her approval. “I’m ready to hire you on the spot based on what I see and what your former boss told me about you.”

Blake would love to know what Andrew Bankston said to her about him. He was sure the reason he was let go was because of the controversy with Bankston’s daughter wanting all of his clients.

“I don’t know what to say, Frankie. I don’t even know what the job is or if I feel I’m qualified.”

“You’re fully qualified and I’m prepared to pay you well. How does doubling your salary sound?”

Blake sat back in the chair. He felt as if someone had pushed him hard enough to knock the wind out of him.

Double my salary? Holy hell! That’s six figures. What the hell will I be doing, guarding a queen?

“Frankie, I don’t know what to say. You’re willing to hire me without me even knowing what the job is?”

The older woman smiled slyly and sipped her coffee with confidence.

“I figured if I offered you a salary you couldn’t refuse, you won’t care what the job is.”

Frankie’s laughter filled the room and soon Blake was chuckling right along with her.

“Well, you make a good case, Frankie. When do I begin doing what I have no clue I’m doing?”

“Today, if we can work it out. I’m not sure you’re aware that I represent many of the new, up and coming independent artists in the area. I have one client in particular that I just can’t seem to get out there. She’s a very talented singer/songwriter, a very beautiful woman inside and out, yet there’s something preventing venues from wanting her to perform. Her music is good. It’s climbing the charts…slowly. I want more for her. I want people to ask for her by name. She deserves success.”

Blake stood up and walked to the windows on the opposite side of the room. He put his hands in his pockets and randomly took note of what was outside as he pondered what he’d just heard.

Frankie’s suite overlooked a beautifully landscaped area with a walking path around a pond. There were picnic tables and benches placed around the pond. There were a lot of people walking.

Blake sighed and turned to face Frankie.

“Why me? What makes you think I can be any better than the ones that have come before me?”

“I’ve seen what you’ve done for Ron Tillman’s career. He’s won Emmy’s for his acting. I’ve seen what you’ve done for Honor Concord. She just picked up her third Grammy. I know you can do this. You’re the best, that’s why I requested you.”

“Wait a minute, you requested me? Care to tell me about that?”

Frankie smiled and leaned on the front of her desk. She crossed her arms.

“Well, Blake McIntyre, I get what I want. I want you to help me with this project. Money isn’t an issue. I called Andrew and told him what I needed and asked if he knew of anyone. He said that you were the best in the industry and that because of budget cuts he had to let you go. Truthfully, he said you were too expensive to keep around.”

Blake rolled his eyes and nodded.

Traitor!

“So you see, you help me, I help you. What do you think, Blake? Will you help me get the word out? It’s time for the world to experience all this girl has to offer.”

‡
Chapter Two

Renee glazed her lips with the wine colored lip gloss and touched up her eye makeup. She ran a brush through her freshly curled shoulder length chocolate brown hair. She raised an eyebrow and smiled at the reflection looking back at her.

Well, kid, this is as good as it gets.

Some would call Renee beautiful, but she couldn’t see it. She was always just a plain Jane in her own eyes. Nothing special.

Renee loved the talents and gifts that she was harvesting at this stage of her life. It hadn’t always been like that. She’d spent the majority of her adult life behind a desk at a typewriter as someone’s administrative assistant.

Renee had no interest in college so the nine to five, five day a week jobs had met her needs financially. She began working for a law firm as soon as she graduated high school.

Renee worked for one attorney for a couple years, then someone else in the firm recognized her talents and offered her more money. The work was the same, just the person she did the work for differed.

After working for most of the attorneys and interns in the firm, Daniel Peterson, senior partner of Peterson, Drake, and Allan, asked Renee to be his personal secretary. Daniel paid her very well.

Renee had everything she ever wanted: a beautifully furnished apartment in one of the most prestigious complexes in the city, friends who would gather nightly for dinner and drinks, and enough money to retire on. Her nest egg was enough for her to live on for at least ten years.

That’s when Renee decided it was time to go after her dreams. With finances not being an issue, it allowed her to pursue what she’d always wanted to do, write and perform music.

Renee wrestled with what to say to Daniel. He’d been so good to her. She decided to type her resignation and personally hand it to him after the next board meeting.

Little did Renee know that Daniel had a surprise of his own, he announced his retirement. Perfect timing!

That was two years ago. Two years of Renee living quietly on her own in her dream apartment, writing music, performing here and there in the area. Two years of everything going swimmingly well, until last night.

Blake McIntyre. Renee smiled, remembering how good he looked standing in her apartment in his plaid flannel pajama bottoms: his chest tanned and toned, not an ounce of fat on the man, his disheveled dark brown hair, the tiredness on his face, in his voice.

The day had been a typical day for Renee, until the phone rang mid-morning. It was Georgia, Allison’s mom, with news of her daughter’s death.

Heartbroken with the news, Renee’s day held little meaning. Her thoughts turned to the sweet little girl who’d affected her life. She was only ten years old, but her soul much wiser than even Renee’s.

Allison had been such a trouper. She’d been so ill from the last round of chemotherapy, but had pulled through. Everyone thought the brave little girl was on her way to kicking cancer, but the blood work showed advancement of the cells.

On the days Renee volunteered at the hospital, she made sure there was time for just her and Allison. Sometimes they took walks, others would be spent in the game room with Allison drawing butterflies while Renee softly sang to her.

Troubled by the day’s events, Renee couldn’t sleep. The only way to deal with the grief was to immerse herself in her music. Words flowed from her pen to the paper in front of her. It was a tribute song for Allison.