Working Title

As Max's parties went, this was pretty much the usual. He calls them "Meet and Greets". I call them "Novocains". Of course, I would never tell Max that. It's just that they have this irritating tendency to deaden all my senses. My current lover has his own Los Angeles-based public relations firm with an A-list cast of corporate and entertainment industry clients. As Max's 'hostess', I rub elbows with some of the heaviest hitters in both genres and listen intently to stories about this deal or that project. Mind you, I am not entirely disinterested in what they have to say. Every once in a while, I pick up a tidbit that will do my own career in the entertainment industry some good. All of Max's guests are familiar with my work, of course - even if the mainstream does not embrace my particular 'niche'. I bet there are more of my DVDs in bedrooms across America than any of the A-listers.

I had been through good times and bad. Once, I had been a successful P.R. consultant myself, a partner in a smaller, but thriving agency. My participation in that business had evaporated even as my marriage had. In fact, it was because of the events that occurred towards the end of that union that both my career and the marriage itself had foundered. I lost everything, including my pride. I had to scramble then, do things I wouldn't have dreamt of doing before, just to keep a roof over my head and food in my mouth.

Max had come into my life about that time. At first, he was a 'date' like the others - but there the resemblance ended. I never revealed my history to him and haven't to this day. I don't know why, really. He would probably find it amusing. True, he isn't exactly an All-American stud. That's all right with me; I get more than enough in my line of work. Still, he is an attractive man, generous of spirit, an understanding and compassionate lover and all-around nice guy - not to mention being filthy rich. And, he wanted me on more than just a random basis. He was exactly the person I needed at the time. I snatched him up before one of the other girls could sink her claws into him and have never looked back. He was and continues to be good to me and I reciprocate in full measure.