Melanie's Worth: Part Eight

Melanie couldn't sleep that night and when she woke up in the morning, she was knackered. Thankfully it was Saturday morning, she could stay in bed and feel sorry for herself or she could do a few errands like stocking up the fridge and going shopping. She slowly got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen where she drank what was left of the juice in the carton and plumped herself on the sofa and put on the TV. She should really hit the gym or something, she thought, she hated feeling like an absolute slob. She started comparing herself to Gloria. Gloria was tall, leggy and blonde and she was, well she was Melanie. She was a petite five foot five and she held a good job and she was above the average earning bracket, but was it enough? She had been questioning her position for a while now, was she getting the job satisfaction that she was owed and deep down, she knew she wasn't. Fighting people's battles for them with the media circus was a thrill to begin with but now it was tiresome... boring and she wanted something else to do, something more exciting, something that would benefit the community... she sounded like bloody Mother Teresa, but she wanted more out of life.

She got up from the sofa and had a quick shower and decided to go for a jog to combat the blues that seemed to be attached to the hip, grabbing her Ipod and slipping into her trainers, she made her way out only to stumble into flashing light bulbs and a crowd of milling journalists left right and centre. She held her hand before her and retreated back inside. Securing the door and leaning against it. Shit! She was used to dealing with this junket for other people, the attention away from her but they were on her doorstep, what the fuck was going on. She ran into the living room and grabbed the phone, only to have it ring in her hands. She picked it up and spoke into the voice piece, "It's Mel,"

"You fucking bitch... you fucking liar, how could you do this to me... how could you screw with me..." Gloria said angry and frantic.

"What are you talking about?" Melanie said, hoping the lie would hold.

"Don't continue lying to me, I have proof you slept with Sam... I have pictures... you don't think I'm smart do you, some peroxide blonde, only after getting a leg over but no... no... I had you followed and I had Sam followed and you know what... kill two birds with one stone and you know where they end up? At your apartment..." Gloria poison tongue hissed down the phone.

"Gloria, we really mustn't be speaking on the phone... we really ought to talk in person." Melanie said.

"Do you think I want to be near dirt..." Gloria began and Melanie intervened.

"Now hang on a minute... that is no way to talk to me..."

"Nooo but you are the dirty bitch who slept with my husband..." Gloria said.

"Ex-husband!" Melanie hissed back.

"Don't get sarcastic with me bitch, I know people who can make your life a living hell," Gloria threatened.

"And I have a media circus outside who are happy to lap up a story about the whore I'm speaking to," Melanie bit back, "So before you start threatening me, maybe someone needs to take a look in the mirror and make a change... na na na nanan na na na."

"You humorous cow, you think this is funny, well you wait and see," and with that comment, she hung up.

Melanie put the phone down, her hands shaking ever so slightly and she took a breathe and the shrill of the land line shook her. She picked it up, only to hear Charice's voice on the other end, she was coming over. Melanie hung up and decided to put on something more appropriate and wait on Charice.

When Charice came over, she had security to separate the hordes of paparazzi to get into Melanie's flat. As she entered the room, Charice wiped a hair that had gotten out of place from her face and set her bag on the side.

"I had a very threatening call from Gloria Worthington this morning accusing us and you of malpractice, she is planning to sue us," Charice said and sat down opposite Melanie, "Perhaps you can enlighten me with what's going on hmm?"

It took Melanie three quarters of an hour to explain to Charice everything and with that new information, Charice exhaled and took a breath. "This is not the first time, something like this has happened. It happens all the time, but sometimes we turn a blind eye on love, of the perfect man..." Charice began.

"I'm not in love with Sam," Melanie interrupted and shut up with the expression on Charice's face.

"Love doesn't come around very often and when it does, we ought to grab it with both hands and not let it go... don't make the same mistake I did," Charice exhaled, "When I started this company, I had two choices, a career or the love of my life... and I chose a career because what could love possibly bring without money and now, in my fifties, I realise I've missed out so much... I come home to an empty house, all my mess and my own problems and no one to talk to..."

"What are you trying to say Charice? I thought we were trying to work out how to deal with this?" Melanie said a little nerved.

Charice walked to her bag and withdrew an envelope and handed it to Mel, "I would like you to take a break, you have been working far too much for far too long and I think you deserve a break."

Melanie opened the white envelope and there were two tickets to Italy, "Two tickets?"

Charice closed her bag and stood up, "Yes. The other one is for Sam, but of course he doesn't know that just yet, it's up to you, whether you choose to ask him or not. Leave Gloria to me."

"Is this reasonable? Asking Sam to come with me?" Melanie asked unsure, "I mean, I hardly know him."

Melanie's Worth: Part Seven

Melanie was introduced to Alex Donovan the well renown night spot genius, there were whispers that he was the Bill Gates of night clubs and bars and had names to many outrageously, ridiculously prices clubs and bars around the globe and Melanie had an inkling that he had a thing for Gloria. She watched the way he looked at her and the way his hand settled on the small of her back and the way, he would always look at other guys to warn them off and Melanie could definitely see a man who was a possessive lover, or perhaps a man who was in love with a woman who didn't know it. Melanie excused herself, tired of being the third wheel in the party and went in search of the ladies toilets, once inside, she gasped at the grandeur of it. Large ornate gold plated mirrors and crystal sinks, fit for a queen and what looked like a king too as the toilets were adjoined. Unisex toilets, always keen to be modern, the guy didn't miss a thing. She washed her hands and fixed her hair and make-up and walked slowly out of the toilets.

"Look here, I've broken the ice,"came the line and Melanie spun around to the voice and laughed, seeing the lanky man's hands turn white with ice cubes in his hand.

She laughed so hard, the man didn't know what to say next, "Not heard that one before... that's hilarious, where did you pick that up?"

"I thought of it," the man said, edging slowly away.

"Yeah, original!" Melanie said laughing continuously until the man was running away to pounce on another woman.

"That's a fine trick you just performed there, perhaps you should go into acting," came the voice and Melanie instantly stood upright. It was Sam, Sam in the flesh standing in front of her.

"Yeah, I think I most likely will... Give you a run for your money," Melanie replied, "If you'll excuse me, I can't talk to you."

"And why not?" Sam said a little perturbed, as he tugged her arm and made her look up at him.

"That's none of your business," Melanie said, shrugging her grip from his. She stormed off into the VIP section.

"You look flustered," Gloria said when Melanie appeared.

Melanie grabbed her pashmina and her purse, "Unfortunately, I am feeling a little unwell. Thank you for the invite, I think I might just go home," Melanie lied, as she touched her head.

Alex stood up, "Let me get one of my driver's to drive you." He nodded to the man at the door and as if from no where, another man appeared and was steering Melanie into a secret doorway.

The cold air hit Melanie as soon as she stepped outside, she was ushered into a black limo, not conspicuous at all and was comforted by the smell and the interiors. It didn't take very long to get home and with relief into her apartment, she took off her shoes and into comfy Alexander Smith pajamas and went to the phone and ordered some Chinese take away. She set herself down on the sofa with a bottle of beer and switched on the TV. Twenty minutes later, the doorbell went and she happily answered the door and before her was the Chinese delivery man with a bag of her food, she paid the man and kicked the door closed and walked to the living room surveyed the contents inside the bag. Her stomach grumbled and she set the food down and put her feet up on the table and as she opened her spicy chili beef to take a bite, her jaw hit the floor, at the doorway, Sam Worthington was standing and his expression was fierce. She set the food down and stood up slowly saying nothing.

He was the first to break the silence, "So you're representing my wife then?"

"I think you should leave, this is a conversation I am not willing to have right now." Melanie said, moving towards the door.

"I'm not leaving until you explain to me what the hell is going on here!" he pushed.

"And the fact you neglected to tell me that you had a wife when you slept with me!" Melanie said back.

Sam paused, "I did not sleep with you."

"Then what were you doing in my flat then, if not to sleep with me?" Melanie's voice started to increase.

"It was my intention at first because we were so out of it, but then you threw up and then you slept and I spent the entire night with you, watching you and... look, that's not the point, why are you representing my wife? You don't know the sort of person you're representing, she is a spineless bitch, she's not to be trusted."

"And this is coming from an angry pissed off husband? Yeah, right... like you really care. You hate her as much as the next person and I'm sure you're just here to demoralise her. She has told me everything about the man that you are..." Melanie spat back.

"Marriages aren't perfect, they need work, I admit that... but you know nothing about me nor about my marriage and if you had any common sense you would stay well away from it. She's not to be messed with Mel, trust me I had four years of it," said Sam, his fingers going through his hair.

"Thanks for the heads up Sam, but this is my job," Melanie said, "And if you'd excuse..."

Sam interrupted her, "What is it worth Melanie, you're representing a narcissistic bitch, she will do absolutely everything to get back at me because I'm not bending over backwards for her anymore, I'm not allowing her to get away with it... this time."

"Answer this one question then? What did she ever do to you that was so bad?" Melanie asked.

Sam paused and Melanie watched as she saw sadness on his face, "She had an affair, one after an another and with each affair a new pack of lies, it's as if the world knew one person and I knew another, it was a juggle between Jekyll and Hyde but the penultimate thing was I loved her despite all that but it was always me giving and giving and her taking and not giving a damn and there's just so much you can do, so much you can take... I don't know what to say to you, how do I know that you're not her..."

"What are you talking about?" Melanie's voice softened.

"How do I know you're not another Gloria? That's you're not made from the same mold?" Sam questioned.

"I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself Sam, I think you need to sort yourself out..." Melanie said, "Take some time out and sort your marriage out, if not with Gloria but with some guidance from the law or something..."

"You don't see the point, I have sorted out my marriage, I want a divorce but I'm just warning you off Gloria... she has a very jealous streak about her, if she ever finds out..."

"That's not going to happen because, I won't let her!" Melanie confirmed, "Now, would you please just leave."

Sam was about to say something but he paused and closed the front door quietly on his way out.

Melanie's Worth: Part Six

Melanie got home from what could only be summed up as the strangest day. She collapsed on her cream sofa and grabbed the remote control for the TV only to see Sam Worthington's face across it.

"Of all the bloody bastards," she screeched as she flicked the channel, only to see him on every channel. She got up and switched the screen off and headed to the bedroom, but before she could get to the bedroom, her mobile phone rung. She picked the call up, not knowing the number and answered it in her professional tone, "Melanie speaking," and she heard the purr on the other end.

"Mel, darling it's Gloria here. I was wondering what you were doing this Friday night? I was hoping you would join me at an opening my friend Alex Donovan is organising... well it's one of his new clubs... and I'd love you to be there."

Melanie never mixed business with pleasure but maybe a bit of networking she could make a whole new business for herself, she was tired of having to follow orders and be told to do this and that and her salary, she could be earning more. She had been with Charice for eleven years and she knew every PR stunt, press release and what to say to the demanding interrogative press. She could really do better branching out by herself and so she accepted. Now, all she needed was a stunning dress.

The black cab arrived pronto to Melanie slipping into a pair of gorgeous Louboutin shoes. She grabbed her matching gold clutch purse and a pashmina and headed outside. Once in the cab her mobile started ringing.

" Melanie speaking!"

"Darling, it's Gloria here... I've spoken to the bouncers on the door, to let you straight in. There is a massive queue outside of commoners wanting to get in, just say you're name and they'll let you in, see you there darling."

Melanie hung up, she didn't like Gloria's turn of phrase. She expected this from people, as she'd come across a lot of them all the time but somehow Gloria's phrase really bothered her, was it due to fact that she was Sam's wife and what did that spell for Sam that he wouldn't go for such commoners, did he even think like that? Was he like that? Was she just a test, an experiment? It was one night, a night she couldn't remember and she had been racking her brains out trying to figure it out but nothing came through.

After paying the cab driver, she got out and slammed the door. The street was packed with street revellers and party goers and barely there dresses. She could see the new club a few metres away and walked towards it and realised that the queue wrapped around two blocks, she walked towards the bouncers and gave her name and they unhooked the red carpet rope and let her in. She walked into a massive ballroom and realised she had the entire view of the club, she was told to take the stairs to go down.

He looked up from a conversation he was having with the fellas, a shot of Jack Daniels in his hand and followed the gaze of his two close friends. They were staring at something in the distance and as he looked up himself, his heart shot out of his chest, well it felt like it did. She was wearing a red dress and a rather large gold belt, but that belt made her womanly curves more pronounced and he was thinking about that night he had spent with her. He had watched her sleep, after she had thrown up on her pillow and he'd wanted to clean it up but she had fallen asleep on it. He smiled to himself and his smile became broader when they had fallen to the floor laughing. His gaze never left hers as he watched her descend the stairs and into the arms of... Gloria.

Something within him, burst. What the hell did Mel have to do with his soon to be ex-wife? He wasn't going to wait, he was going to demand an answer. He was about to stomp forward when he felt a hand slam his shoulder.

"Where'd you think you're going mate?" Sam looked behind him to a furrowed Christian, whose hand was on his shoulder, "Don't you think it's best to leave it." It wasn't a question, but it was a command. Sam had worked with Christian on his last film, Terminator Salvation and Christian was a friend and a big brother and somewhere deep down inside, Sam knew he was right but he couldn't shake off the feeling that Melanie was floating in the same circles as Gloria. He was gonna find out, without Gloria's knowledge.

Melanie's Worth: Part Five

"So, you don't know if you slept with him but that he definitely was there at your flat all night, how out where you?" Thara pointed out.

"Well, I woke up in my own sick... I think it's my own sick," pondered Melanie.

"Well, if you threw up surely then you would have remembered if you had more then a tussle... so what does he look like with no clothes on?" Thara asked.

"Well, all I can remember is him coming out of the shower in just my towel but it's like every woman for herself because he is absolutely gorgeous, I just wanted to run my fingers down his chest..."

"I'm sure you want to do more then that Mel... I still can't believe you don't remember, how can you forget hotness like that!" Thara said giggling.

"I know... it was awkward saying goodbye, I doubt I'd see him again... errrrr... I'm so annoyed." Melanie said.

"Maybe you didn't have sex with him because you're a grumpy cow," Thara giggled again.

"Gee thanks Thara, I knew I could count on your support," Melanie said sarcastically and took a sip of her warm Cappacino.

THREE WEEKS LATER

Melanie strolled into the office, it was a sunny Wednesday morning and she decided to wear a floral dress for the occasion. She had nicked it from Thara because she loved the flower design and it clung to her every curve and went out at the bottom which gave her a sexy yet serene image. She had put on a canvas jacket over it and matched it with simple flat sandals. As she approached her desk and dumped her bag down, she noticed that Gemma was not at her desk where she should usually be. Melanie looked out and noticed for the first time that the office was too quiet and that something was definitely wrong. She decided to go for a walk and that at the far side of the floor, noticed a crowd of women and a few men were congregating outside a boardroom. She approached closer and saw Gemma stealing a look inside.

"What is going on?" Mel asked.

"It's Gloria Worthington, she's come here looking for a representative..." Gemma volunteered.

"Why?" Melanie dumbfounded.

"Because her husband is tarnishing her reputation, they're going through a divorce and she wants the best PR agent to do some damage control," Gemma said biting her lower lip, "I wonder who it'll be."

"Well, it better not be me... I have too much going on at the moment to be dealing with yet another feuding couple. Anyway Gemma, I'm sure we'll get a memo about this, can you get back to work... I need you to do a few things for me."

A few minutes later as Melanie got settled into work and was writing up an email, the red intercom button flashed on her phone console. It was the big Boss. She finished her call and hung up and pressed the red button.

"Hi Clarice, yes, of course, I will be there." She hung up and straightened up her dress and made her way towards Clarice's office, she sort of knew first hand what this was about and she wasn't looking forward to it.

She sat down at the offered seat and came face to face with Gloria Worthington.

"Ms Worthington, would like you to represent her," Clarice said, "She is been portrayed in the media in an unsightly way and she asked for the best when she came here and I'm giving her the best, you, naturally."

"Okay. What exactly is going wrong?" Melanie asked, a little perplexed.

Gloria didn't even wait for Clarice's explanation, she dived right in, "My ex-husband to be is being a right bastard, I hate him but I love him but at the same time, I want to give him nothing... I'm just angry, I need someone to salvage my reputation because that's all I've got!"

Melanie kept a straight face but she didn't feel any sympathy for her at all, she recognised a drama queen when she saw one and this one could join the long list.

"And whom is your ex husband?" Melanie asked.

"Sam Worthington!" Gloria said bitterly.

Melanie's eyes shot up and she stared at Gloria and realised now, why she hadn't latched on. This just couldn't get any worse, could it?

"Do you know him?" Gloria asked.

"Only in magazines," Melanie replied.

Melanie's Worth: Part Four

She blew her nose into a tissue and flung it over her shoulder, it fell inches away from another table having dinner.

"I can't believe he would just throw me out, I'm his wife for gods sake. I said I was sorry," Gloria said sulking into another tissue. She was seated at a table in The Dorchester Hotel talking to her long time friend and confidant Alex Donovan. Alex Donovan owned all the hottest night spots in London, you could say he was loaded. He was tall and debonair, his black hair was slicked back far from his face and he always wore tailor fitted Saville Row suits and he had been pining for Gloria for as long as he could remember. He had sated himself with a bevy of beauties but they had just been a substitute for her. Gloria was beautiful, she was tall and she was successful but the only bad point about her, that she was married to Sam Worthington the commoner. She deserved to be with someone who knew how to treat a woman and Sam did not. So what if he was an up and coming movie star, he was still common as muck. Alex paused and leaned forward,

"You had meaningless sex, with whom?" he asked, suddenly alert.

"Just this guy I met in a club, it's no big deal... I don't even know his name... he said he was some entrepreneur, he was investing in shipping... as if that line works anymore..." Gloria wiped at her eyes, they were now seriously swollen and bloodshot.

Alex eyebrows narrowed in, "Is this man balding and has a faint scar just below his right eye?"

He saw her eyes widen and knew he had been correct.

"Yeah, do you know him?" she queried.

Alex didn't hesitate to tell her that he was not what he says he is, but that he owns several pawnshops in some of the roughest neighbour hoods in London and to stay well away from him. He saw her feign terror and said he would take care of it.

"Gloria, have you anywhere to stay?"

She nodded sideways, "No, but I'll check in here."

"Don't be silly Gloria, you can stay with me..."

"But... but I..." she stammered, "That would... would be great, thanks Alex." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

A few metres from where they were sitting, sat a journalist, she was writing everything that she could hear of them and took a picture as Gloria's lips fell upon Alex's cheek.

Melanie was sitting in a quiet cafe on the Kings Road in Chelsea, her nose was stuck in a good book and she was sipping a Cappuccino. Thara her friend would be meeting her in a couple of minutes for lunch and she was looking forward to a major chinwag, she couldn't wait to see her and tell her that Sam Worthington happened to be at her apartment at all hours of the early morning. She wondered what her friend would think of her, she didn't make a habit of inviting guys home but then can she tell her friend, she didn't know whether she slept with him or not. She had been so out of it, that she can hardly remember the act. She felt so ashamed and now she was contemplating whether to speak about it or not.

Thara came bounding down the road in a new outfit and handbag to go, she leaned forward and gave Melanie a hug and sat down on the chair beside her.

"What you reading darl?" Thara said, moving to see the cover, "What's this romance malarkey, got any good sex bits in it?"

Maybe Melanie, should say something... "I think I slept with Sam Worthington!"

"Shut up! What? When? And what do you mean, you think?" Thara never ran out of questions to ask, "Let me order a drink and you have to tell me everything... EVERYTHING!"