Washed Up and Laid Bare

4.

Lana headed for drinks with Phoebe that evening, telling all about her meeting. Eddie joined them, buying a round of drinks and introducing his new obsession, a bartender called Felix. As he swooned over the blue eyed beauty, pouring cocktails and winking at Eddie, Lana asked Phoebe about Robert. She was an encyclopaedia of all things Hollywood, and as soon as she mentioned Robert Swanson, Phoebe spat her drink everywhere. Eddie jumped away from the bar, arm dripping with Phoebe's s*x on the beach.

'Let me dry you off.' Felix offered, and looking like the cat who got the cream, Eddie disappeared with a coy smile.

'Did you say Robert Swanson? As in legendary lothario, Robert Swanson?'

Another facet to Phoebe's personality was that she could be dramatic sometimes. In fact right now, she would be perfect for the stage, her shocked face and dramatic pauses.

'Yes, I said Robert Swanson. I haven't seen him in anything. Should I be worried?'

Phoebe raised her eyebrows coquettishly. 'Is he still gorgeous? Tanned, muscly and charismatic?'

Lana wondered whether Phoebe had had too much to drink. Birthday or no birthday, maybe it was time to take her home.

'No, he's a complete slimeball, but I can't wait to start working for him.'

Her friend motioned to another bar tender. She'd downed yet another drink.

'Let me tell you everything you need to know about Mr Swanson.' She began. 'He was like completely drugs dependant, he's been involved in loads of bar brawls over the years and his ex assistant is sueing him for s****l harassment.'

Lana laughed shortly. She wasn't surprised. He probably hoped that one of the Playboy bimbos got the position so he could get himself a little treat at work. He was in for a big shock if he tried anything with her. Money or no money, fame or no fame she found him repellent. She didn't think he'd come onto her, thus far she got the impression he was not taken with Frank's choice of employee.

She concentrated on having a night of karaoke, cocktails and gossip with her friends before heading home. She was to start at eight am the following day, and she would be prompt, punctual and by the end of the week, even a low life like Swanson would be kissing her feet.

She didn't sleep well, but sleep was for the weak, wasn't it? The underachievers who existed on excuses and missed opportunities? She spent most of the night making a plan of action that would garner the best results in the shortest amount of time. Frank had asked her to drive to his house, where she would brief Swanson on their next move. She pulled into a parking space outside a modest two storey house, in a suburban sliver of town that she knew was alien to the likes of Swanson. Dressed in a dark grey trouser suit, and black ballet flats, she felt invincible. With no skin on show there was nothing to distract her boss should he suddenly become amorous.

Frank greeted her at the door, and she followed him into the kitchen, where a sleepy Robert sat propped on a breakfast stool drinking coffee from a chipped mug. Frank made her a cup, and then excused himself while he got ready for work. Leaving her alone with Swanson was like being alone with a coiled snake. As she lowered her bag onto the counter he shot her a wary glance. She would not be intimidated. Sure he was tall, his muscles less defined than perhaps they once were but he still cut an oppressive figure.

She cleared her throat, if he heard it, he pretended to be more interested in his coffee.

'Mr Swanson, our first order of business will be to get you out and about and looking healthy. Looking like the....' She broke off, wondering how to word what she wanted to say without getting his back up.

'Like a junkie' he supplied, with a wink.

She nodded curtly, smoothing the front of her jacket. 'We want people to see that you are rehabilitated, we want people to welcome you back into their lives. Now this morning I have secured you a membership at a gym downtown, after which we will be attending a luncheon for a children's hospital where I volunteer weekly. The rest of the day will be yours to do as you please.'

She finished her speech, waiting for his response, but all she got was a grunt. He slid off the stool and strode past her, his towelled robe falling open. She tried to avoid looking, but he was an expanse of a man, and the robe fell open to reveal hard, tanned, muscular flesh. She couldn't look away if she wanted to. He didn't notice her awe, and instead disappeared to dress himself, muttering to himself.

'Damn you for being so ripped!' he whispered, slapping the kitchen counter. The last thing she needed was a distraction. It was a very good thing that he was such a despicable person, otherwise she might be tempted to catch him here in a state of undress, more often.

Her car was cramped and the hanging pine scented freshener did nothing to rid the car of the lingering scent of wet dog. He pushed the seat back as far as it would go, and then pushed some more.

'If you break the seat you'll pay for it.' She warned, in a school mistress tone, starting up the car. He made a mental note to buy her something more befitting of him. If she lasted the week, and if he ever made enough to buy the car in the first place. Frank had taken control of his account following the sale of the estate, and although he wasn't eager to squander what he had left on his old friend, cocaine, he wouldn't say no to a weekend in Vegas. He could himself some female company and down a crate of champagne. He didn't let his thoughts wander any further, however. He's spent enough solitary time whilst in Thailand, to know he didn't want to venture down the same path again. His demons seemed much more alluring here however, and with this dowdy creature by his side, maybe he would stay on the straight and narrow.

The first surprise of the day, came as they arrived at the gym. It wasn't the kind of place he'd expected her to bring him to. It actually looked clean and modern, and way beyond what he could realistically afford right now. Even he knew that. As he stepped inside, the cool air welcomed him, and as he caught a glimpse of the equipment he remembered a time when going to the gym was part of his every day schedule. Akin to eating dinner, or taking a shower. He watched with interest as she approached the counter, the women smiled warmly at her, and they went over some paperwork. As Lena led him to the locker rooms, she turned to face him, her poker face firmly on.

'This membership is a favour from the hospital. This place is a unit for rehabilitating patients from the Sacred Heart, and most staff members use it too. That means no flirting with anyone, just keep your head down and enjoy the endorphins. You're gonna come back here everyday for a month, after that we'll think about moving you somewhere else. Kapiche?'

He raised his eyebrows at that last word of hers. She was the oddest woman he had ever known, and the sternest. If he wanted to sneak out of here for a cigarette he would bet his life that she'd find him. She was the ballbusting kinda woman that didn't take s**t. He'd commend her if she wasn't such a pain in the ass.

'You're gonna watch me?' he asked.

'I'm working on something'. She tapped her tablet with one short, unpainted, no nonsense nail. 'But' she said, with emphasis, 'I will be in the same room. I'm not to leave your side. Frank's orders.'

Once he was back in the limelight he was going to get Frank back.

She tried to concentrate on the speech she was writing, ahead of the luncheon, but he'd removed his shirt and she found it hard not to drool. Even with his lank, unkempt locks, she could see what the appeal had been in his heyday. His dark eyes were brooding, they were alluring and rich, inviting you to gaze into them, so he could lull a woman into his affections. His bone structure was strong and defined, with a jawline that a Calvin Klein model would be envious of.

'It's alright to stare.' He piped up, an amused smirk on his face. 'I doubt you've seen a specimen like me before.'

She caught his gaze, glaring at him. 'Don't flatter yourself Mr Swanson. I'm merely lost in thought. I was just staring ahead.'

She went back to the speech, but could feel his eyes on her, boring into her. There was a perfectly good TV on the wall showing music videos featuring scantily clad barely legal pop stars. Surely he should be more interested in that. She managed to keep her cool and concentrate enough to finish, just in time for her to watch him stroll through to the showers. She took a deep breath, hoping he would behave for the luncheon, but knowing full well, from the youtube videos she swatted up on, that that would be an achievement for him.