*Origins of the story at end.
Revenge
is a dish best served warm
To the
side of the door was a small plaque that read Melissa F. Ashist Productions
Pty. Ltd. Very non-descript. If he hadn’t done his research, he could have
easily walked by without a second thought. Definitely not the big flash company
that had wooed him and others with promises of fame and money that had led him
to apply for the show.
He tested the door. It was locked. He pushed the
buzzer.
‘Yes?’
‘Delivery for Miz Ashist.’
‘Okay. Come up to Reception. First floor. Second door
on the right.’
‘Right.’
There was a hum and a click and he pushed the door
open. He went up the stairs and to the second door. It was propped open and led
to a large open plan area with lots of light from the big glass windows. There
were a half dozen tables behind a reception desk. There were four people seated
at their computers, including the receptionist, a girl too gorgeous to be real.
‘Yes?’ she said, a look of near disdain upon her face.
He was distracted by her looks and shook himself free
of it. It was his lust beacon that had gotten him into trouble in the first
place. But then again, they knew that. And milked it for all it was worth.
‘I need to see Melissa.’
‘Where’s your package?’ she asked.
Damn. He had not thought of bringing anything. Only
the water bottle shoved into his rear pants pocket, out of sight.
‘My package?’ He grinned, trying to make light of it
but knew instantly that it had not gone down well.
‘Der. Like, what are you actually delivering?’
Her condescension suddenly made her look very ugly, like a perfumed piggie.
‘Um, it’s a verbal message. I have to tell it to Melissa. Personally.’ He
looked about and saw one office sealed off in the far-right corner. Inside was
Melissa, standing, with one arm crossed defensively and the other hand holding
her phone.
‘What do you mean verbal?’ the receptionist stammered.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Yes. Verbal. That’s right.’ He had to move fast.
Three
weeks earlier
They
were in the backyard. He was flirting with her again. He knew he shouldn’t be
but she was definitely flirting with him. Had been for days. Was she genuine?
Or was she doing it for the cameras? Had they told her to flirt with him? He
had to be careful. His girlfriend was sure to find out. Especially once the
show went to air. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. Not yet. Just talking. That
couldn’t hurt. Right?
Suddenly, a person he recognised as the line producer
came into their space. ‘Sorry to interrupt.’ He leant across to him and
whispered, ‘You need to get to the bedroom.’
‘What?’
‘Get to the bedroom. Quickly. Something’s waiting for
you.’
Rex smiled and walked back inside the house, a
cameraman following him. When he opened the loungeroom door, there were two
young camera people inside, a man and woman, tracking his every move. He knew
them by name but wasn’t allowed to look at the cameras while they were filming.
He had to pretend they weren’t there. It was all pretty fake but that was the
nature of reality TV. He and his girlfriend Asha were one of the three
celebrity couples. Well, they weren’t really celebrities, but they would be
after the show aired.
As he reached the bedroom door, he thought he heard a
noise. A familiar noise. A female moan. He threw the door open, knowing that
moan all too well. Asha was in bed with Graham! His bare arse! ‘What the fuck?’
The sheets went up. Asha went under and Graham rolled
off, a half grin on his too good looking, smarmy, chiselled face.
Rex launched himself at Graham, who couldn’t get out
of bed in time, before fists began flying. Asha screamed, more a series of
shrieks and rolled away until she fell on the floor, unprotected by any
covering.
The camera people jostled at the doorway, capturing it
all.
One
week later
Despite
the fact that Rex had stormed off the show, the producer’s lawyers had
assertively reminded him that he had signed a contract and unless he wanted to
face court and lose a shit load of money that he didn’t have, he would have to
‘obligate’ his commitment. Obligate being their word. Slavery being his.
Seven
weeks earlier
Melissa shook his hand, and then Asha’s.
‘Congratulations. You’ve made the cut.’
‘Yes!’ he yelled.
Asha clapped like
an excited child. ‘Oh my God. I can’t believe it!’
Now
‘Stop!’
The receptionist was following him but he was almost
there. He removed the water bottle from his rear pocket. It was two thirds full
of a pale-yellow liquid.
Others were virtually transfixed but the receptionist
yelled, ‘It’s that guy from The Hottest Switch!’
One person stood and headed towards Rex’s obvious
destination, Melissa’s office.
But Rex got there first. He unscrewed the lid.
Melissa at the door, confusion and anger on her face,
yet still on her call. ‘What the fuck are you doing here? This is an intrusion!
Somebody call the cops!’
Rex flicked his arm and the piss went spraying onto
Melissa. She jumped back instinctively without knowing what the liquid was. He
continued flicking, chasing after her as she tried to get away but the office
was too small. She knew what the liquid was now. She could smell it. She was by
the wall and he tipped the rest on her head.
She screamed and screamed.
‘We’re human beings! Not animals!’
He turned and left.
One
hour later
He was at home. Feet up on the coffee table, thinking.
And waiting. Reliving the events, over and over. He wished he had said
something like, ‘Should I take the piss out of you now?’ or ‘I didn’t mean to
rain on your parade, biatch.’
There was a knock on his door.
He sighed. Now he would be famous. Be careful what you
wish for. He half smiled. And went to accept his fate.
*****
© Anthony J. Langford 2019
