THE PITCH

CHARLOTTE’S POINT OF VIEW.

My world spins off its axis until it ends in absolute darkness. My worst enemy, Adonis Thornewood, is staring at me, using those eyes that once pinned me to a mattress a year ago at a house party. I swallowed, hoping no one heard the gunshot-like sound of my pants ripping…thankfully, my shirt would be long enough to cover the rip if I stood wisely enough.

For a moment, all we do is glare at each other, the fire and anger in my eyes matching the one in his. Then, “Oh my God! Charlotte, get up!” Maria yells, rushing to me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She reached for me, or tried to, but had to stand five steps away. “Get up.”

I wish I could, but my safety, sanity, and ability to face the world again relied on my leaving myself and my ass firmly planted on the floor.

Fuck, why the hell did I have to put on blazing red cotton panties with the words, ‘You could never get this cherry’ boldly written on them…

“Charlotte!” Maria hisses, but Adonis, probably thinking he’s some sort of king, lifts a hand and waves at someone. Then the voice that spoke earlier, the one beside him with a tablet in his hands, leans forward, and after clearing his throat; 

“Miss Venus, Mr. Thornewood would like it….” He pauses because Adonis has tapped his table three times. “I mean….the CEO orders you to stand up this instant.” Adonis’ gaze is still on me, and even though I want to cuss the man out, I know I dare not do it.

So I swallowed my pride and readied myself for the mortification I would feel while I shimmied my ass against the floor, pulling my shirt low enough to hide the rip. Then, I jammed my knees together, thankful for my ballet training, before finally rising and rushing to stand in the farthest spot in the room. 

Once I’m there, I keep my head down, my heart pounding with anger. However, just when I thought I could mope peacefully here, I heard yet another three taps on the table, then the personal assistant stepped forward again, his stoic expression digging into my mind. “Miss Venus…you did not clean the stain off as ordered.” 

“I…. I’m so sorry.” I rushed out through gritted teeth, grabbing a piece of the paper towels from the box on the table, before rushing to kneel before him. Then, discreetly staring at him, I gave the best stink eye while wiping as aggressively as possible.

He returns the glare, icy green eyes full of rage, contempt, and annoyance. Just then, I swear I feel him kick my hand sharply; maybe it’s my imagination, but it is enough to make me stop. “That’ll be enough now, Miss….you may return to your spot.” Mr. Richards orders, his tone polite.

I gave a curt nod and rushed to my spot again. What happens after that is a blur, papers flick, some agreements, and the opposite here and there, but what sticks out most to me is one truth;

The company is struggling…big time.

“So what can we actually do to bring the attention of the public back to us again?” One of the men in suits says, clearly frustrated by how hard he yanks on his tie. “Because we ned to think of something fast.”

I stared at Adonis, noticing his eyes were still on me, the same emotions from earlier still full in them, just very heightened….and for some reason, it made me shiver in want. I swallowed, willing myself to speak. Raising a shaky hand over my head, I cleared my throat;

“I…I might have an idea.” I said, and the second I uttered a word, everyone’s eyes turned to me. Especially Adonis. He glared even harder at me, as if he wished those evil, soulless eyes he possessed could turn into knives, or he could see the rip of my pants, and my cherry red panties.

“Charlotte….are you….” Maria hisses, grabbing me by the arm, her eyes wide with fear. “I told you not to speak, did I not?” She turned to face them, but most especially Adonis, “I apologize…she’s new. It is my mistake for not handing the coffee task to someone more experienced. Please, I’ll take her out now.” Just as she is about to drag me out, an elderly hand is raised, along with a very kind face of an old woman in glasses.

“There’s no harm in hearing what she has to say….I would like to hear it.” She says, her voice soft and sweet. Adonis turns to her, and his gaze turns even sharper, more like he cannot believe she’s decided to listen to me, and in no way as he had glared at me. He taps the table once; an angry tap, but she doesn't appear fazed.

She smacks away at his hand. “Oh, please, son. Let’s hear the poor girl out. What’s the worst that could happen?” she turns to me. “Please, go ahead, dear.”

“Thank you, ma’am…um..” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “I have studied this company for the past six weeks while applying for an internship opportunity here. And one thing I have noticed is the reason the public no longer cares for us is no offence, because of him.” I pointed at Adonis, and his lips pulled into a thin line.

“What?” The elderly woman asked, clearly confused.

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Thornewood’s lack of love, or romance in his life, makes him look like he’s on the shelf, or gay.” They gasped, turning to them with wide-eyed eyes, probably from fear because I dared speak the one thing on their minds. “I mean, you do know there’s a full social media page dedicated to fan edits of you and your personal assistant, Mr. Richards, right? Everyone swears you two are in a closeted relationship and are pleading with you to come out.”

“That’s absurd….” Mr. Richards coughed, cheeks red with a blush, looking around as if he stood naked in front of all of us. “I assure you there is no such thing.”

“Well, the public thinks otherwise. It is why a PR company, which also doubles as a matchmaking service, does not have the support of the company. Half the world believes Mr. Thornewood is a closeted gay man, while the other half thinks he’s a recluse. People want to trust you, and your love life…currently, you have neither.”

“So what do you suggest we do?”

“Well, we are in the month of love. I pitch that we do a campaign in that spirit….a kissing booth if you’d call it. We could bank on the fact that the CEO is the most eligible bachelor in all of Vegas right now by telling the world they have a chance to get a kiss from him. It’s a perfect choice because he already has so much female support. If this works, we could get public favor again!”

For a moment, everyone is silent, probably thinking about my idea. From the way they’re smiling, I think they’d go along with it, until the tyrant in his high chair taps once against the floor, and Mr. Richards, with a shocked look, steps forward with one word. “No.”

“Adonis!” The elderly woman turns abruptly to face him. “That’s the best idea we have so far. If this works, our stocks will go up, and the board will no longer have the audacity to demand that you step down from the CEO position. Do you want this company to be handed over to Lucas?”

Oh..that’s the infamous grandma Lucas is so scared of….

Adonis looks at her with a strange expression, pursing his lips. He still hasn’t uttered a word, and it confuses me. Is he so high on ego that he does not think anyone else is worthy of his voice? He grimaces, turns from his grandmother to glare at me, and with one hard glare, he taps three times.

“Mr Thornewood has agreed…but on one condition.” Mr. Richards says again, speaking for Adonis. 

“What is it?”

“He wants Miss Venus in the kissing booth with him.”