Impetuous Designs (3 page)

“Hey Sam, I’m assuming business is good for you in this market?”

“For me, yeah, it’s very good. Not so good for others though.”

“Well, I need your help.”

“You got it, Bro. Just tell me what you need.”

After Nate gave him the abridged version and what his next play would be, there was silence on the other end of the phone. “What’s the matter Sam, you’re not up for it?”

“Oh, I’m up for it. I was just making a mental note.”

“What’s that?”

“Never get on your bad side. You know how to hit a man where it hurts.”

They both laughed. Then Nate spotted a red late model Mustang pulling up alongside his motorcycle in the driveway followed by a UTN van that parked along the curb. Nate closed the cell as Jimmy turned off the ignition.

“Nice to see you can laugh after what just happened. I was afraid you wouldn’t be here when I arrived.” Jimmy stepped out of the red sports car with caution.

“You should know me better than that, Jimmy.”

“I do, and that’s what worries me.”

***

“What the hell was that? If he’s going to be acting like that on set, I don’t know if I want to work with him.”

“Relax Mia, he was caught a little off guard is all. He’ll come around. ”

“Stop telling me to relax, Sandy. Did you see the look on that man’s face? That wasn’t the look of someone who will be coming around. That was the look of someone that wanted my head on a stick.” Mia hugged the curves of the road with precision. After that encounter she offered to drive Sandy to the site. Driving soothed her and after what she just witnessed, her stomach tightened at the thought of what the rest of the day had in store. “Who is he exactly?”

“Nate Long owns a very successful interior design firm here in town.”

Noticing that no further elaboration was coming, Mia pressed further. “I take it he was under the impression the show was his?”

“We’re not responsible for his impressions, Mia. I have no idea what deal he and Jimmy arranged.” Sandy kept her eyes forward.

Mia hated being lied to, but it was easier to go along with that than to think that she was just being hired for her pretty brown face and her ‘love to hate’ persona—a persona she was determined to shake.

***

The next day, Mia picked up Sandy on her way to the studio. Yesterday started out difficult and became almost unbearable as every take seemed to make Nate more and more hostile. Mia couldn't help that she kept stumbling over her words. Nate’s demeanor was extremely off-putting.

Now, Mia had been driving for miles and was pulling into the entrance of the city’s parking garage near the studio before anyone ventured to speak.

“Mia, I know your first meeting and yesterday’s taping with Nate was a little hostile…” Sandy began.

“Hostile?” Mia interrupted.

“OK, it was bordering on violent. But I bet after taking some time last night to reflect on his behavior, Nate will agree to make this working relationship functional.”

“I don’t know. Nate doesn’t strike me as the reflective type.

“He’s under contract. So, he has no choice but to make this work. We’re meeting back here at the studio to review the rough takes from yesterday’s shoot.”

Mia and Sandy made it to the studio’s small conference room. A few moments later, Jimmy entered the room and began to download the video from the server using the computer at the back of the conference table. “We’re just waiting for Nate to arrive.”

“So Jimmy, are there any other surprises you have for us? I’d hate for a repeat performance of yesterday's meeting with Nate.”

“Don’t you worry, Mia. I am sure that Nate will be more cooperative this time around.”

“I don’t think it’s wise to speak for me, Jimmy” Nate remarked as he entered the conference room.

Mia watched as Nate pulled out an overstuffed executive chair. She wasn’t sure if she’d spent too much time avoiding his sharp looks during the shoot, but now looking at his broad shoulders and the tight curvature of his thighs even through his green khaki pants, she hoped he really could be more cooperative. Until Michael, she never gave much thought to white men. She occasionally found them attractive, but she was far too hung up on the natural sexy swagger of black men. Then Michael came along, dark-haired, with light eyes and the persistence of a puppy looking for a new home. But, Nate seemed different—so sure of himself. As she stared at him, she thought she found a soft intensity behind those steel eyes.
He probably doesn’t date black women.

Jimmy launched the first of several clips and the four of them watched the first scenes of
Eye Design
. Once it was over Jimmy and Sandy waited in silence. Mia looked over at Nate and his eyes suggested that an instant replay of their initial meeting was brewing. “I think it’s informative, yet entertaining. What do you think, Nate?”

“Of course you would, Mia. From the looks of it, you’ll be doing all the informing based off of my hard work and I’ll be handling all the monkey business.”

“There’s just no pleasing you, is there Nate?” Sandy leaned forward across the conference table.

Leaning forward to meet her position, Nate replied. “I can think of something that would be very pleasing to me.”

“Well, I’d love to hear it.” Jimmy replied.

“For the next episode, I suggest we remodel the residence of our star, Mia Simpson.” Nate leaned back in his chair.

“Nice try Nate, but I think it is a little cliché and self-serving to make the home of the show’s co-host a focus for the show.” Mia’s heart was running the New York marathon in her chest.

“‘Cliché and self-self-serving’ those sound like the keywords on your resume that landed you the lead spot on this show, Mia.” Nate smirked as he glanced at Mia.

“Cliché or not, viewers love this kind of stuff. It’s the quickest way to build rapport.” Sandy remarked as she leaned back in her chair.

Mia thought her heart would explode as she watched the gleam of acceptance in Sandy’s eye.

“I don’t have to tell you, I love the idea,” Jimmy clasped his hands together.

“What’s the matter Mia? Is your home not suited fit for a sky-rocketing television interior designer, like yourself?” Though Nate was smiling at her, Mia still felt the chill of his stare tap every vertebra in her spine.

“Since I’m out-numbered, it looks like we’re about to change that, aren’t we?”

“Good, but I wasn’t finished. I think we should make it a collaborative effort,” Nate casually leaned forward, this time directing his attention solely on Mia.

“Wasn’t that understood?” Mia’s chest hurt in anticipation of where this negotiation was leading. Mia began to play the potential scenarios to regain control, even if only in her own mind.
Maybe I could play up the angle of not having time to decorate my own home, it wouldn’t seem so odd that the home of a stylista like me would be so bland after months on the reality show circuit and a break-up.
She knew she couldn’t avoid her past forever if she wanted to genuinely win the hearts of the viewers.

“Oh, I don’t mean between you and me. I mean between us and our viewers.”

“That would take a little bit longer, but I think we can pull that off. Audience-participation is huge right now. It’s the quickest way to get them invested in the show. We’ll quickly add an announcement to this episode and begin accepting idea entries.” Jimmy began making notes on a scratch pad that was on the conference table when they arrived.

“Uhm, one final note you should be making,” Nate continued. “I’ll select the winning entry.”

“That’s unreasonable. I’ll have to live with whatever you and this mystery viewer come up with. I’ll never agree to it.” Mia tried to regain control by delivering her stance of disapproval after rising to her feet and eyeballing Nate.

“Mia, you really don’t have a choice. You’re under contract, remember?” Sandy reached up and squeezed Mia’s arm.

“The reality show diva is never too far from the surface.” Nate said as he crossed his arms.

Mia caught the tone of satisfaction in his voice. “It must feel good to hear those words directed at someone else for a change.” Mia snapped as she reclaimed her seat.

“As a matter of fact, it does. It feels real good,” Nate smiled.

***

Over the next several weeks, Mia was living the life of an interior designer. Her television persona had a real purpose. This was the life she intended. A life she could get use to. Thanks to Nate’s superb decorating skill, hate mail quickly turned into letters of adoration. She even had a blog where she gave advice on fashion and how to apply those concepts to the home just as Sandy had suggested. The tabloids had become bored with her and the reputable mags were begging her to grace their covers. Even Nate seemed to embrace his role as her knowledgeable sidekick. He pleasantly coaxed her suggestions in the right direction all the while allowing her viewers to believe all the great ideas were hers. It was almost too good to be true. Mia sat on the floor of her naked living room checking the email account associated with her blog—
Mia’s Fashion Designs.

Ms. Mia,

Your suggestion of reviving my favorite ripped jeans with lacy ribbon and velvet swatches was on point. I loved it so much I used the famous Mia fashion transference technique to change the look of my bedroom drapes. By the way, I entered an idea for your loft remodel. When I saw the before pics of your home, I couldn’t believe it. It takes guts to let your viewers help but I have a feeling you’re in good hands with Nate.

Of course, you have such great ideas. Don’t you find Nate a distraction?

Sincerely,

Patches

Nate was definitely a distraction. Mia's stomach felt queasy every time she stopped long enough to think about what Nate would do next. When he first hollered at her in the parking garage some months ago, she had found him to be overbearing. A man who liked to throw tantrums and make threats to get his way—she knew just how to handle men like that. The laser-precise over-handed throw of her apple had proven that. But truthfully, considering the way he stomped off the set that first day and then offered up her loft for a remodel with the help of their viewers, it’s a wonder he was going along with the program so easily. Although she found the work environment had become more agreeable, she was still being kept on the outside looking in when it came to the details of her loft remodel. The teasing way she squeezed his biceps and bumped hips with him as they hung wallpaper, curtains or any other home adornments that brought them in close proximity, was becoming more than a ploy to soften him up on the show. She also hoped the banter would compel him to go easy on her during the loft remodel.
Hoping might not be enough; I'm going to have to find out what he's planning.

***

The address to the next home site was a week overdue and Nate was just waiting for the next stage of his plan to begin. While he detested playing protégé to the dark brown sugar that had hijacked his camera time and he abhorred how Jimmy took credit for every home project his firm secured. The only peace he relished was in knowing the matchstick house that Jimmy was building would soon be set aflame and he’d be carrying the flamethrower.
Too bad, if Mia wasn’t selfish enough to go along with it, knowing that Jimmy had double-crossed me, I might have spared her—maybe.

“Having a wet daydream about your Nubian co-star?” Mitch perched those size 13s on the desk. With his back to the door, it wasn’t until Mitch slammed his heels down and spoke that Nate had realized his brother had entered.

“I know you’re pretty proud of your hotel redesign in Egyptian art last year, but not every stunning black woman is a Nubian princess. Besides, I don’t know what show you’re watching but there’s nothing cooperative about our work arrangement.” Nate hated that Mitch sensed his attraction to the
Eye Design
superstar.

“Just calling it as I see it. If you two getting any cozier while hanging wallpaper and drapes, the station might have to move your timeslot to after 10 PM.”

“Whatever, I imagine you know a lot about the after 10 timeslot.” Nate smiled as his phone began to ring interrupting the brotherly banter.

“Hello, Long Designs, Nate speaking.”

“Why hello, Nate, I didn't expect you to answer.”

“All in day’s work. What brings you to the other end of my phone line, Mia?”

“Right to business, I like that. Anyway, Nate, I'm sure you know that the show is getting great reviews. I say, we go out and celebrate.”

“I don't know, Mia. That sounds like a ploy at grabbing more publicity. I'm not interested in stirring the vultures’ nest at the tabloids.”

“Come on, Nate. We’ve been having so much fun. I would like to keep it going.”

“Then why risk it by getting together away from the show?”

“Risk? The only risk I see is the loss of authenticity if our audience thinks we don’t enjoy each another’s company.”

“Authenticity? I think Sandy and Jimmy have gotten to you. But look, I don’t profess to understand how showbiz works for you reality star types, but I run a legitimate business, Mia.”

“You’re not as green as you pretend, Nate Long, but I won’t let you insult me and I won’t take no for an answer. I promise just you and me ‒ no reporters, no photographers, just the two of us. In fact, you can even select the restaurant and it’s my treat. Now, how can you refuse an offer like that?”

“I don't know, give me a moment I'm sure I’ll think of something.” Nate replied as he waved off the gestures of his brother who was thrusting the pointer finger of his left hand into the circle created by the pointer and thumb of his right. “You know what, Mia. You’re right. How about tonight?”

“Great. Text me with the address for where we’re meeting and I’ll meet you there. Goodbye, Nate.” Mia, pleased with her gift of persuasion, hung up before Nate could reconsider.

Nate hung up the phone and his eyes were met with the all too familiar smirk on Mitch’s face. “I know what you're thinking. It's just dinner and she’s paying.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? I know you kid brother, you won’t let her pay.”