Runway
Chapter 25: -
by Arecee

Brenda dragged into work, the effects of her flight clearly evident by her constant yawning.

“Brenda, how’s your father?” Melissa asked when she arrived.

“He seems to be a little more alert, thanks for asking.”

“Are you busy tomorrow night, there’s a party that I’d like you to attend with me?”

“Sure, I’ll go. Have you heard from Tiffany?”

“God that girl, she’s so busy I would like to have two more of her. She won’t be in for the rest of the week, she’s at a shoot up at Niagara Falls for a car company and the weather isn’t cooperating. I really need her for some other work, but this is paying so well I couldn’t take her off it. She even has a speaking part in it. This girl is going to be the most sought after model in the business after the advertisement airs on television.”

“I’m so happy for her. Are you bringing a date tomorrow night?”

“I’m not sure yet. I might bring my police escort,” Melissa giggled.

“Are you two a couple now?”

“Not really a couple, we just like to sleep together. A woman does have her needs now and then,” Melissa laughed.

“Isn’t it awkward with him being married and all?”

“That keeps it safe, I take him home and bed him. After I’m done with him I send him on his way, that way there are no strings or attachments and I’ve used him for my own purposes.”

“Couldn’t you sleep with anyone, you’re certainly pretty enough?”

“This is just between you and me Brenda, he knows how to please a woman and he has information I need. He gives it to me or I’ll tell his wife what he has been doing. It’s as simple as that my dear, the lovemaking is just an added bonus.”

Melissa chuckled as she went into her office.

Mario came in an hour later with his delivery. He kissed Brenda softly on the lips.

“I missed you,” he said.

“That felt nice, I missed you too.”

“How was California? Is your dad okay?”

“California was nice, it was nice to be back there. My dad’s a little better. He showed signs of waking up soon.”

“Do you have time for lunch?” he asked.

“I’ll see how the day is going. Check back at eleven-thirty, I’ll know by then,”

Connie came in next.

“Is Melissa in?” she groused.

“Well good morning to you too Connie. Yes, she’s in,” replied Brenda.

“I have to see her,” she said as she barged in to Melissa’s office and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Normal conversations were impossible to hear from Melissa’s office, but this wasn’t going to be a normal conversation, at least from Connie’s end.

“You bitch. How could you set me up with a sick bastard like that?” Connie screamed.

Brenda could hear a mumbling of words coming from Melissa, but she was speaking too softly to hear what she was saying.

“Because I owe you? That’s bullshit Melissa, why can’t I just work it off modeling?” Connie yelled.

More mumbling.

“How dare you say that, I’m the top model here not Tiffany. I want jobs.”

More sounds from Melissa.

“Those aren’t the jobs I want. I don’t want to be a whore; I want to be on the runway.”

Melissa’s voice was becoming louder, but still couldn’t be understood.

“You’re the one that gave me the drugs in the first place Melissa, you owe me,” Connie screamed.

“Get out of my office you junky whore and do as I say, if you don’t, you know what can happen,” Melissa screamed back at Connie.

Connie fled Melissa’s office in tears, slamming the door behind her as she left.

“Connie, what’s wrong?” Brenda asked with sincere concern in her voice.

“It’s Melissa, you wouldn’t believe what she’s doing to me,” she replied, as the tears streamed down her face.

“Would you like to talk about it, Connie? I can be a good friend?”

Connie had never seen this side of Brenda before. Actually, she was so into herself that she hadn’t really noticed the girl behind the desk.

“Can we have lunch together?” Connie asked.

“Of course we can, let me know what time and we’ll go,” Brenda said.

Brenda couldn’t believe her good luck. She was going to be able to talk to Connie about what was happening around Universal. Tiffany had tried to get her to talk, but Connie hated Tiffany and because of her jealousy wouldn’t say anything to her. Because of her anger at Melissa, Connie might say more than if they were at a party, Brenda had to make her move today.

Mario called back and Brenda told him that she couldn’t go with him, but she would call him after work.

Brenda brought Connie to a quiet restaurant nearby and found a booth to sit in.

“Connie, what happened this morning? I’ve never seen you so upset,” Brenda asked.

“Brenda, it’s terrible what Melissa’s doing to me. I was her favorite model and now she just wants me to prostitute myself.”

“How can she do that? Can’t you say no?” Brenda asked.

Connie reached across the table and took Brenda’s hands in hers, her eyes filled with tears. Connie looked lost as she looked at Brenda hoping she would become the support she needed as her life unraveled.

“Brenda, I’ve never told anyone what Melissa has done to me and please don’t tell anyone what I’m going to tell you. Promise?” Connie whimpered.

“I promise Connie,” Brenda replied.

Brenda wondered, what would have turned Connie from first class bitch to a pathetic sad girl in just days. Brenda had to learn more.

“When I first came here three years ago Melissa took me under her wing and taught me everything I needed to know about modeling. She was just finishing her career as a model and had already been running the agency for several years. She seemed to really like me. I was very young, only eighteen and very naíve. I thought she truly liked me, but that wasn’t the case, I was nothing more than income to her. She told me I was the prettiest and most desirable girl she had working for her and of course I believed her, I was such a fool. Natalia Breshnakov was the number one model and I fooled myself into thinking I would replace her. She was beautiful and smart, but loved her men. Melissa thought she could do to Natalia what she has done to me but she couldn’t and Natalia threatened to go to the police. I think Melissa had Natalia killed, but there is no proof of that and if there were her boyfriend would see to it that nothing would happen to her.”

“I don’t understand Connie, what did Melissa do to you?”

“After Natalia was killed I became the number one model here and I got all the best assignments and with that came the parties. I was tired all the time and Melissa gave me something to make me feel better. Soon I needed the drugs to make it through the day. It was quick, only a few months and I had to have them several times a day. Tiffany came and suddenly she was the number one girl and I could be cast aside, except I needed the drugs. Melissa was more than happy to give them to me, but I had to pay for them. They were free at first, but as my need grew so did the cost of them, first money and then sexual favors to her clients. Finally, she made me go with a man every night to pay for my needs. Oh God Brenda, it was terrible, last night she made me go with this man and he abused me. I didn’t know a person could be so sick,” Connie said as she dissolved in tears.

This was a side of Connie that Brenda didn’t know existed. She had feelings and they had become very exposed to Brenda at the moment. Brenda wanted to comfort the girl right now, but thought she might be able to discover information about Melissa if Connie didn’t think first before speaking.

“Melissa has been giving you drugs, Connie?”

“Yes, everyday and now I can’t stop without getting sick.”

“When does she give them to you?”

“At work.”

“Where does she get them, and where does she keep them? I’ve never seen them in her office?”

“She has a small safe hidden behind that disgusting picture of herself on the wall behind her desk and keeps them there.”

Ah, now we’re making some progress, Brenda thought.

“Where does she get them?”

“I don’t know. I have some ideas, but I’m not sure.”

“You must have some idea as to who the supplier is?” Brenda asked.

“The only ones I can think off are Ron and Susan Marques.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Ron’s brother is in jail for selling drugs and Susan was his girlfriend. It makes sense to me, but I really can’t say for sure, it’s just a hunch,” Connie said.

“Are you the only girl that Melissa is doing this too?”

“Heavens no, there are at least ten others, maybe more,” Connie replied.

“Do I know who they are?” Brenda asked.

“Just me and Jillian, the others don’t even come in anymore, Melissa just calls them and they go on their dates, they don’t even model anymore, they just have sex.”

“What does Melissa get from this?”

“Half of what we make. She gets a thousand and we get the same and she gives us the drugs.”

“That’s disgusting, Connie. Why don’t you quit and work somewhere else?”

“I can’t, I need the stuff she gives me. I’m sorry Brenda, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Okay, if you ever need a friend Connie, you can call me anytime you want.”

“Thank you Brenda, it’s nice to have a friend.”

“I have to get back to work, I’ll see you later Connie.”

“Bye Brenda.”

Mario came by and asked Brenda to dinner, which she naturally accepted. She called Susan Marques to cancel their weekly dinner date. It was important to talk to Susan again, but she missed Mario and wanted to be held by him again. Love will do that to a woman.

Brenda rushed home and changed into something more seductive. She wanted Mario to see the results of Dr. Branson’s work.

She changed into her Victoria’s secret lacy bra and a blouse that barely covered that bra. She looked hot. She applied her makeup for evening and brushed out her hair. The short skirt and four-inch heels finished the look. She knew she would impress her man.

Mario arrived, and he was impressed by the new Brenda and the breasts she had never really shown before. He had trouble looking her in the eye when they spoke.

Brenda knew the effect she was having on poor Mario. After all, she had been there once herself, but now she was on the receiving end and as much as she liked having this effect on Mario her attitude had changed. She wanted to be looked at in the eye and not at the breasts. God, had she changed.

“So Mario, is it my imagination or did my eyes move to my chest?” Brenda asked.

Mario turned red with embarrassment. He couldn’t help himself, Brenda’s breasts were so perfect looking, the flesh rising from her chest and curving seductively into her blouse. Her cleavage whispering look at me, I want to be seen and touched.

“I’m sorry Brenda, you look so different tonight.”

“Don’t you like the way I look?”

“Are you kidding? You look fabulous, but do me a favor, don’t wear this to my mother’s.”

“Why not?” she giggled.

Brenda knew she would be a boy’s mother’s worse nightmare looking the way she did tonight. When it came to mothers, it was long skirts and high necklines.

“You would shatter my mom’s opinion of you. She thinks you walk on water.”

“And you don’t think so?”

“Of course I do, but I love you.”

“Then give me a kiss so we can get going,” she responded.

Mario took Brenda in his arms and she put her arms around his neck and they kissed deeply. The sexual tension Brenda had started was building and Brenda felt Mario becoming aroused against her. She wanted so badly to take his thing in her hand and just the thought was making her nipples hard. God they’re sensitive, she thought as she moved against her man, which caused her to become even more inflamed.

“We’d better go,” she whispered when she broke the kiss.

Brenda knew if she were to continue she would lose all control of herself. She couldn’t let that happen or her secret would be discovered, but oh how she wanted this man right at that moment.

The couple was seated at dinner and they were talking about Brenda’s trip to California.

“You watched your brothers surfing?” Mario asked.

“Yes, I wanted to surf too, but the waves were really big and I haven’t been on a board for a while, so I decided against it.”

“How did your brothers do?”

“Mel made it out, but wiped out. Mark decided not to try because Mel’s a better surfer. I bought a bikini to wear while I was there. I’ll show it to you when we go for some sun.”

“Did you wear it to the beach?”

“Of course, the sun felt good and besides my brothers were there to protect me.”

“That’s good. My mom missed you last Sunday, she was worried that we broke up or something.”

“How could we break up, were not engaged or anything.”

“My mom thinks we’re a couple since you’re the first girl I’ve ever brought to Sunday dinner. My mom’s old fashion that way.”

“I think it’s sweet of her.”

“You do?”

“Yes I do. What’s wrong if I like being part of a family?”

“But she thinks it’s more than that. She practically has us married.”

“I see your point. I don’t think I’m ready for marriage, are you?”

Mario took Brenda’s hand in his and said, “To the right girl I am.”

Brenda was at a loss for words. Had Mario just asked her to marry him, or did he mean something else, she had to diffuse this situation.

“And have you found the right girl?” she asked nervously.

“I think so, but I don’t want to rush her into anything she isn’t comfortable with. She’ll know when the time is right.”

Brenda breathed a sigh of relief. She was flattered that Mario felt this way about her, but there was no way she would marry just yet. God what was she thinking? She couldn’t marry Mario while she was undercover it would blow her disguise, it would have to wait. Brenda had forgotten the most important thing; she was still a man even though she now thought of herself as being a woman.

Brenda had to change the subject. Things were getting much too intense for her.

“I have to go to another party with Melissa tomorrow night. I don’t think it’s fair that I have to go to those things,” Brenda complained.

“Didn’t Melissa tell you that it was part of the job when she hired you?” Mario asked.

“She did, but I didn’t know they would be so often. I think I’m just complaining more tonight because I’m still tired from yesterdays flight home.”

“I know how I feel when I’m tired. Let’s finish up and I’ll take you home, you need some rest,” Mario said.

“That’s why I love you, you always think of me before yourself,” Brenda said.

The couple finished dinner and Mario brought his girlfriend home. They embraced and soon fell into the familiar goodnight kiss. Brenda was having a hard time dealing with the intense feelings coming from her breasts. It felt so wonderful not to have the forms holding her apart from her lover, but it was also causing a great distraction for her. She wanted to bed this man.

She pushed Mario back and said, “Goodnight, I love you.”

She unlocked her door and entered her apartment. She had to remove herself from the reason for her lust.

“I love you too,” he replied as he watched her close the door.