Getting a Grip

When Melissa woke, she wasn't quite sure what to do. For one thing, she was sore, and walking funny; Brenda was going to figure it out if she went home. But she had to get out of there before her lovers woke, or she'd never have a chance to heal. Where to go, though?

Out on the main street, she saw the lights of Amanda's welcoming her again. "So, okay," she said to herself, "I can't start right away, but maybe I can get a job there!" Rushing over as fast as she could, considering her soreness, she knocked on the door and waited for Amanda to open it.

"Why honey," was the reply, "you've got the wrong place. We only serve . . . gentlemen clients here."

"No, I . . . I want a job."

"EXCUSE ME?" Amanda looked around to see if anyone had heard her visitor's request. "Come with me, darlin'," she said, but instead of taking her into her office, or some other private part of the bordello, she pushed Mel out of the house and into the street. Amanda followed. Taking the young girl's hand, she dragged her down the street to Fee's.

The young girl was confused. "But I . . ."

"Hesh," said the older woman. When Fee came to the door, she pushed her way in and then, standing back with a flourish, she announced, "Look who wants to work at MY place?"

"Oh shite," said Fee. "Honey, you do know what that Medallion around your neck *means* don't you?"

"I can bring guys?"

"A little more'n that. Put it this way, I got one, but Amanda didn't, which is a bone of contention between us. When Kronos wanted to misuse me, Rayden intervened on my behalf. He wouldn't be able to do that with Amanda. You're protected."

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"Yes but . . . he wouldn't exactly be thrilled with that choice of profession!"

"But what else can I do?" Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. "I was hiding it from Brenda, but the way I'm walking right now, she's going to know that I'm not a virgin any more."

"Well," Amanda said, "yeah. She does have a point."

Fee nodded. "Then don't go home. Stay here. There's plenty of room, until you can get your own place, that is. There's one right next door I think you can have. I'll charm Simon into it. Unless you want to?"

"But if I don't have a job . . ."

"We'll work something out. Meanwhile," Fee lifted the phone, "I think we need a healing ring." She winced, looking from Melissa to Amanda. "That looks like it hurts."

"A little. But it was sure fun getting this way," she grinned.

Fee waved her into a chair. "Ben?" she asked the phone. "Can you make a house call? No, darling, not that kind of house call! There is a need of your services. I'll tell you when you get here." Getting off, she sighed, "He'll be okay with it. Some of the other doctors may be inclined to preach."

"Or make me stop," Melissa said.

"Exactly," Fee agreed.

Amanda eyed them both. "So, you're okay with her new lifestyle?"

"Who'm I, her mother? If she wants to play, the only thing we can do is make sure she doesn't hurt herself. I assume they didn't hurt her intentionally, because there are no smoldering carcasses lying on the pavement outside."

"No, I told them not to hurt me. It just . . . went on too long, is all."

"There you go," Fee pronounced. "Overuse. That's all."

There was a knock at the door. Ben Adams was let in, and he slowly looked about the room, taking the women in before saying, "Ah." Clearly, neither Fee nor Amanda needed his services! Coming over, he bent down in front of Melissa and, laying his hand on her, he pulled back with a jolt. "Oh," he said.

Melissa had the good sense to blush.

Doc looked at Fee, who explained that no one had meant to hurt her. They'd just gotten a little . . . exuberant. "Well, I suppose we can fix that," he decided. "The question is, will I be needed again?"

Mel's response was another blush.

"You complaining, Ben?" Fee asked. "Come on. She's just found sex. And she's afraid Brenda will know. We can't send her back there like this."

"I suppose she's old enough to decide for herself." He turned to Melissa. "Now, I will help you feel better, but you should take it easy next time." One touch and she was suddenly pain free.

"You mean you won't help if it happens again," Amanda frowned.

"I didn't say that. I just would rather it not happen too many times." He looked at the young girl and sighed. "All worked up, are we? Well, I sowed some wild oats myself, thought I don't remember the pre - Immortal oats much. I suppose we all have to go through it." He looked at Fee. "Can I take it you'll keep an eye on her?"

"Well, we were thinking of getting her the place next door. But remember, it's in a friend to friend way, not a mother to kid way. I'm not very maternal."

"Amen to that," snickered Amanda. Fee gave her a look.

"I don't want a mother!" Melissa complained. "I want a little freedom!"

Doc warned, "But with the limitations of your mortal body. Understood?"

She nodded. "But what can I do for a job, if they won't let me work in the bordello? The only thing I can do is . . ."

His eyebrows rose on the word, "bordello". "I'm sure there's something else you can do. What were you studying in school?"

"Liberal Arts. I was just there to get out of the house."

"Ah." Doc looked her over. "Well, you are very attractive. Does that designer woman - what was her name? Does she need models?"

Fee snapped her fingers. "That would be great! You could stand there in your undies while they fitted the dress around you! Very sexy job."

"Voice of experience?" Melissa asked, looking over Fee's tall form.

"Oh yes. The guys love it. You'll love it. We just need to call Cari and arrange it. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to get the help. But meanwhile, why don't you get some rest? You look like you could use it, Doc's happy healing ring or not." Melissa rose from the sofa. She was looking over Doc like a thirsty woman looks at a glass of water. "Umn, uh, the bedrooms are upstairs," Fee added and, deciding she'd keep the good doctor from having to do another healing before the night was over, she looped her arm with his. It was clearly a "This one's mine" sort of gesture. "You can find it, can't you, love?"

"I'll find it."

It wasn't till she was out of earshot that Fee remembered Max was upstairs, asleep.

Getting a Job

Cari moved amongst the finished gowns. She inspected the sewing and the embroidery on the wedding gown. Fred had taken pains to hire the best seamstresses in the realm, but Cari always gave the garments a final inspection before they were delivered to the owners. The ladies who would be wearing these gowns would be in this week for a final fitting. She wanted everything to be perfect, so she was going over them with a fine-toothed comb.

Just then the bell on the shop door brought her attention away from the bridal gown's seams. Looking up, she saw Phoenix Aphaia and Melissa Valentine come in and look around. Melissa seemed nervous, while the older woman just stood, gazing about with an air of confidence.

Cari smiled at the two women. "Good morning. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, I think you can," Fee said. Melissa was turning a slow shade of pink. "I was wondering, when you show off your gowns, do you show them on fashion dummies, or on live models?"

Cari took in the blushing girl and had a good idea what was going on. "Live models. We have a small runway, actually. We do private viewings as well as planning for one open to the public."

"It must be difficult to find help," Fee sympathized. "Such a small area in which to find help. I know; the tellers I'm forced to hire . . ." She clucked her teeth as if to say, "Tsk, tsk."

Cari nodded. "We've hired some local girls. None have experience in modeling though. I guess since I was a model on Earth, I do expect certain things from my girls."

"Fortunately you have that experience to teach your girls! Though I must say that the prettiest of the local girls have wound up," she paused, as if trying to decide the right way to put it, "working for Amanda?"

Cari sat on the high stool behind the counter. Her dark eyes glanced at Melissa before returning to Fee. "You have an idea for someone who could model my dresses?"

"Alas, she has no more experience than the locals." Her eyes went to Melissa as well. "But you must admit she makes up for it in beauty. And she is a Medallion Lady. The men will be attracted more to a Medallion Lady than a local."

Cari uncrossed her legs and walked around the counter. She was going to hire her, of course. The girl was indeed beautiful. She walked around Melissa, looking her up and down. The girl was bright pink. Cari smiled at Fee and said, "You're right, she does have beauty. I'm sure she can be taught the rest. Medallion Ladies aren't chosen lightly. If she wants the job, we'll hire her."

Melissa acted like she was a balloon and someone had just stuck a pin in her side. "Oh thank you!" she gushed, collapsing. "I'll work really hard!"

Fee giggled. "Yes, you will. It's a glamorous job, but a hard one. Still," she added with a sparkle in her eye, "It's usually worth it."

Cari agreed wholeheartedly. "It was the toughest work I ever had to do, but it was the most fulfilling. The glamour is a nice bi-product. We'll be starting from the beginning. Believe it or not, we'll have to teach you how to stand, how to walk, and even how to breathe. It's easy to faint when on stage. I saw a model do it once. When can you start?"

"Right now," Fee said. "She's staying with me so we don't have to worry about housing just off, and I think I might go soften up Simon Pemberton to get that townhouse next to mine for her - when she starts getting an income, that is." Then, as if thinking about it, she added, "Actually, I guess I need to harden him up, not soften him."

Cari laughed at that. Putting a hand on Melissa's shoulder, she said, "Well, you go take care of Mr. Pemberton, and I'll show Melissa around the shop. We'll start training tomorrow. Today, we'll get to know one another. How's that?"

"That would be wonderful!" Melissa said. And Fee, looking a little like a cat, ready to catch a big fat mouse, licked her lips and echoed her words.

Cari patted her shoulder. "Perfect," she said. She said a farewell to Fee before escorting her newest employee and brightest prospect around the shop and introduced her to what would be her new career.

Getting Away

When Brenda went to wake Melissa for breakfast that morning, it was obvious that her bed had not been slept in all night, and she was nowhere to be found! Getting a bit worried, she proceeded to call several people that they both knew, and got more anxious when each person said they hadn't seen her either. Where could she have gone? What could have happened to her, even in a place as safe as Emerald Realm!

When she asked the men of the Manor, they all looked a little guilty, because they knew Mel was drawn to Maidenhead like a moth to a flame. But no one could say anything; for one thing, it would give the secret away, and for another, it meant admitting they weren't enough to keep her playing in their garden!

Vronsky, not liking the idea of his lady being so upset, told her that he would go and search on horseback; he was just about to leave when the phone rang. Brenda answered it quickly, to find Fee on the other end. There was no disguising the fact that something was wrong, even as she said hello to the Immortal.

"You're wondering where Mel is, aren't you?" Fee asked carelessly, hoping to put the other woman at ease.

Brenda's face lit up like the sun, and she motioned her love to wait, as she said into the phone, "Yes! Have you seen her, or heard anything from her? Please, I've been so worried . . . Alexei was about to go out searching for her!" She prayed Fee's news was good.

"She's here. Came into town yesterday saying she needed to get a job and stop soaping off you. I'm afraid we were up all night wondering what she could do, but I'm just back from Cari's with the most wonderful news! She's going to model for her! Though, it really would be better if she stayed in town, in case she was needed for a private showing." Fee's voice was confident and light-hearted.

And because she had no reason to doubt the other woman, Brenda smiled, "Oh, thank God!" She could be heard telling Vronsky what Fee had said, and asking him to tell the others what had happened. Footsteps were heard walking away, and then Brenda again. "Oh, I'm so glad for her! Though she didn't have to go to those lengths, because I certainly did not consider her staying here a burden. I'm happy she was able to find work doing something she wanted to do. She's certainly lovely enough, so I know she'll be a success at it. Is she there, can I say hello? Or is she too busy getting settled in?"

"Actually," Fee said honestly, "she's at Cari's. Wanted to show her all around. I'm sure she'll be back later to get her things and say goodbye. I just didn't want you to worry. We were so caught up in it - it was all rather exciting."

Max, at her feet, grinned as he remembered the night he'd spent with the little spitfire. "You can say that again! OUCH!" he added, as Fee's heel hit its mark.

Luckily, Brenda had not heard any of it, and told the other woman, "Oh! Yes, of course, she would be a little busy right now, new career and all. I understand completely! If you speak to her during the day, would you tell her to call when she can? Everyone here was concerned for her welfare, and I know they'll want to see for themselves that she is all right."

"I shall indeed!" Fee said, then muffled a little grunt of surprise - and pleasure - as Max, grabbing her leg, ducked under her tight little skirt. "I - I need to get back to work now," she added, trying desperately to keep the squeal from her voice as his all too talented tongue wormed its way around her tiny silk panties.

"All right, Fee, I'll let you go then. I feel much better now, knowing that Melissa is in good hands and that she has you to watch out for her, among other people. I just know you'll keep an eye on her! Tell Cari I said thank you also, and I'll talk to you later!"

Hanging up, Fee giggled as she thought of that poor young girl being under *her* tutelage! Oh, would she teach her a thing or two!