Life and Breath Part 21
Title: Life and Breath
Author: Pink Rabbit Productions
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia/Natalia
Part: 21
Date: 28 September, 2009
Rating: Personally, I'd call it an R, but some might consider it NC-17 at some point.
Disclaimer: The characters and situations belong to other folks far wealthier, more important (or at least with better lawyers), and hopefully more charitable and kinder than I. They include, but are not necessarily limited to CBS, Proctor and Gamble, and Telenext. The actual arrangement of words, however, remains my own as do any original characters. Meanwhile, there is likely to be all female romantic and sexual activity ahead, so if this is likely to get you, me, or anybody else arrested should you take a gander, please move along. Also, if you find that sort of thing offensive, you really probably shouldn't hang around anyplace I'm posting. Just sayin'....
Archiving: The Pink Rabbit Consortium
Spoilers: Some early scenes definitely, plus anything through the spa trip is fair game.
Timeline: Unlike some folks, I don't have an exact scene where this one takes off. However, it's definitely set after the spa trip, but before Rafe's release from the halfway house. Oh, and it's after Natalia admits she's in love with Olivia to Father Ray.
Earlier Parts: | Part 1 (Prologue) | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 |
Author's Note: Many apologies for how long it's taken me to get this posted. Real life's just been a little...challenging lately. However, the good news is the next part is within a paragraph or so of finished (well, hopefully it's good news), and it's a good bit longer and more fun. It should go up in the next couple of days.
Life and Breath
by Pink Rabbit Productions
Part 21
"The limo is five minutes out," Greg informed Olivia as he ducked his head into her office.
"Thanks," she called back even as he disappeared again, already hurried on his way to check on something else. With a convention opening the next day, he had plenty of other matters to worry about. "Well, time to get this show on the road," she muttered to herself as she pushed to her feet. She was just about to call out when Natalia came hurrying in, a folio-style clipboard tucked under one arm.
One eyebrow rose into an appreciative arch as Olivia noted that the other woman had followed her advice to get something nice at the hotel boutique. Very nice. Sharply tailored, professional, and yet profoundly feminine, the suit she'd found fit as though designed just for her, with enough added breadth at the shoulders to enhance the narrow tuck at her waist and an A-line skirt that emphasized the sleek curve of slim hips and accentuated the length of well-toned thighs and calves. Even the fabric was ideal. A faintly textured silk colored in a shade of blue so dark it was nearly black until it caught the light and glittered with violet highlights, it set off smooth, light olive skin to perfection.
"I just finished with housekeeping," Natalia said before Olivia could get a compliment in, "and arranged for fresh flowers and VIP baskets in the rooms for the pilot and copilot as well as the Huntington rep," she said quickly, barreling ahead when she saw Olivia draw breath to comment. "According to the manifest, they're both scheduled to stay in town during the meeting...and they're both long-term company employees. They're likely to be asked for their opinions on the Beacon," she explained her reasoning a little defensively. Having been on the bottom of the company totem pole, she knew how quickly lower level people were forgotten, but also just how much influence they often wielded, albeit sometimes in subtle ways.
"Actually, that's a good idea," Olivia quickly agreed to forestall any further defenses. She smiled to emphasize the praise. "And just in case you were wondering, you look stunning." Pushing to her feet, she tapped her watch. "However, the limo is probably pulling up right about now, and if I think too much about just how good you look, we're likely to wind up...delayed." She grinned as Natalia blushed right on cue, then gestured toward the door. "Time to beard the lion," she said with a wink as she crossed to Natalia's side, took the clipboard from her and tossed it onto her desktop.
"But-" the younger woman started to argue since her notes were in the folio.
"Let's keep things informal tonight," Olivia advised, knowing there would be plenty of time for negotiations later. "Besides, it's easy to get distracted and miss things if you're concentrating more on yourself than the other guy."
"But-" Natalia repeated. Never having done anything like this before, she wasn't sure she was up to it without the comfort of her notes.
"No argument," Olivia said with an encouraging smile and settled a hand at the small of Natalia's back to gently urge her along. "You can handle it," she added in the face of the younger woman's trepidation. "You're smart, you know the hotel, and you can do anything."
Natalia swallowed hard as she peered up into bold, green eyes and felt some of the nervousness melt away under the warmth of the faith directed her way. Never before in her life had anyone been so intent on making her feel like she was capable of anything.
"You'll be okay," Olivia reassured her as they exited the hotel offices and stepped into the lobby. Straightening her shoulders, the hotelier let her gaze slide over the broad room, taking in efficiently working staff and expensively appointed wood paneling and crystal chandeliers. Her gaze met Jack's and he nodded ever so slightly in acknowledgment. Good. He'd keep an eye on things.
"The limo's pulling in," the girl at the desk called out.
Thick carpeting muffled the footsteps that went with long, confident strides and Natalia could only admire the game-face the other woman showed the world as she worked to keep pace, feeling hopelessly out of place at Olivia's side.
"You'll be okay," Olivia repeated as she flashed a proud smile at the younger woman.
They stepped out into the late afternoon air, the light dimming as it fell toward dusk, just as the limo came to a halt in front of the doors. The driver was out almost instantly and holding the door for his charge.
The woman who climbed out was tall and willowy, her dark auburn hair falling loose to her shoulders. An easy smile curved her lips upward as she stood gracefully beside the limo.
Natalia felt Olivia stiffen next to her and glanced over as the taller woman cocked her head to one side, her confidence melting into a look of confusion.
"Holly?" Olivia whispered, then glanced back and forth, suddenly wondering if perhaps there was another limo she should be looking for. No, no other limos, and the driver was definitely the regular Beacon guy. "What are you...doing...here?" she asked haltingly as she stared at her old friend.
The newcomer laughed softly, hurrying forward to pull Olivia into a hard hug. "It's a long story," she admitted as she pulled away. "But suffice it to say that I now work for Huntington Resorts...and I'll be spearheading any deal that gets worked out in Springfield...particularly with the Beacon."
"Really?" Olivia repeated, her tone doubtful. Holly Reade had left Springfield several years before and barely even been back to visit her daughter, Blake Marler. It had always seemed as though the town just held too many painful memories for the older woman to allow her a peaceful return.
She got a shrug and a wicked smile in reply. "Really," Holly confirmed. "More explanations later...over dinner...or preferably drinks, but before we get to the serious business, you really should introduce this lovely young woman." She turned a bright smile Natalia's direction.
Olivia abruptly threw off the flustered air, her manner smoothing out as she gestured to the newcomer. "Natalia, this is Holly Reade...an old friend."
The woman in question nodded her head in acknowledgment and offered another beaming smile. "I used to live here in Springfield," she added cheerfully.
"Holly," Olivia continued, gesturing to the woman next to her this time, "this is Natalia Rivera...my assistant and very dear...friend."
For the briefest second, green eyes met brown and Natalia could almost hear the words Olivia had barely repressed that would have marked them as a couple. Her breath caught and she briefly lost track of her surroundings as she was trapped by that crystalline gaze.
"Well," Holly murmured somewhere in the background, nearly forgotten in the moment, "I look forward to getting to know you, Ms. Rivera." Dark eyes danced with curiosity and good humor as she looked back and forth between the two women, sensing, but not understanding the undercurrent of deep emotion. "Any friend of Olivia's is bound to be...interesting." Which was possibly the understatement of the year.
Shaking herself free of her momentary daze, Natalia turned an appreciative smile toward the newcomer. "Likewise, I'm sure," she said, utterly charmed and more than a little curious to hear what she might have to say about the woman she loved.
Already back in professional mode, Olivia peered inside the limo to find it empty. "Weren't the pilot and copilot supposed to be with you?"
"Still at the airport...paperwork or somesuch...they'll need a lift," Holly said serenely.
"Ah," Olivia exhaled, then added, "Let me just arrange for your luggage to be transferred and for the driver to go back and pick them up."
"You do that," her old friend agreed cheerfully as she tucked an arm in Natalia's. "Meanwhile, this lovely young lady can show me the bar, where I can get sat down, have something cool, and we can gossip about you until you join us."
"I...uh...okay," Natalia exhaled and flashed a bemused expression Holly's way, then another questioning look at Olivia, who shrugged.
"Should I be worried?" Olivia pointedly asked her old friend as she found herself wondering if Holly had perhaps already had a few courtesy of the wetbars in the Lear and the limo. And she knew secrets. So many secrets. Some Natalia already knew or at least had to have guessed at, but a few...
Oh, that didn't bear thinking about.
"Depends on how long you take," Holly teased cheerfully as she tugged Natalia inside.
The younger woman flashed a vaguely panicked look Olivia's way. This so wasn't what she'd signed on for. She was supposed to be the assistant, not handling the rep on her own, particularly a cheerfully chatty, and perhaps slightly sloshed old friend of Olivia's who just happened to be in control of a very lucrative financial deal.
"I'll be as quick as I can," Olivia mouthed, then turned to face the bellman standing off to one side with a luggage rack, his expression questioning. Waving the driver over, she put on her most in-charge voice as she said, "okay, guys, let's get moving ASAP."
* * * * * *
TBC
Author: Pink Rabbit Productions
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia/Natalia
Part: 21
Date: 28 September, 2009
Rating: Personally, I'd call it an R, but some might consider it NC-17 at some point.
Disclaimer: The characters and situations belong to other folks far wealthier, more important (or at least with better lawyers), and hopefully more charitable and kinder than I. They include, but are not necessarily limited to CBS, Proctor and Gamble, and Telenext. The actual arrangement of words, however, remains my own as do any original characters. Meanwhile, there is likely to be all female romantic and sexual activity ahead, so if this is likely to get you, me, or anybody else arrested should you take a gander, please move along. Also, if you find that sort of thing offensive, you really probably shouldn't hang around anyplace I'm posting. Just sayin'....
Archiving: The Pink Rabbit Consortium
Spoilers: Some early scenes definitely, plus anything through the spa trip is fair game.
Timeline: Unlike some folks, I don't have an exact scene where this one takes off. However, it's definitely set after the spa trip, but before Rafe's release from the halfway house. Oh, and it's after Natalia admits she's in love with Olivia to Father Ray.
Earlier Parts: | Part 1 (Prologue) | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 |
Author's Note: Many apologies for how long it's taken me to get this posted. Real life's just been a little...challenging lately. However, the good news is the next part is within a paragraph or so of finished (well, hopefully it's good news), and it's a good bit longer and more fun. It should go up in the next couple of days.
Life and Breath
by Pink Rabbit Productions
Part 21
"The limo is five minutes out," Greg informed Olivia as he ducked his head into her office.
"Thanks," she called back even as he disappeared again, already hurried on his way to check on something else. With a convention opening the next day, he had plenty of other matters to worry about. "Well, time to get this show on the road," she muttered to herself as she pushed to her feet. She was just about to call out when Natalia came hurrying in, a folio-style clipboard tucked under one arm.
One eyebrow rose into an appreciative arch as Olivia noted that the other woman had followed her advice to get something nice at the hotel boutique. Very nice. Sharply tailored, professional, and yet profoundly feminine, the suit she'd found fit as though designed just for her, with enough added breadth at the shoulders to enhance the narrow tuck at her waist and an A-line skirt that emphasized the sleek curve of slim hips and accentuated the length of well-toned thighs and calves. Even the fabric was ideal. A faintly textured silk colored in a shade of blue so dark it was nearly black until it caught the light and glittered with violet highlights, it set off smooth, light olive skin to perfection.
"I just finished with housekeeping," Natalia said before Olivia could get a compliment in, "and arranged for fresh flowers and VIP baskets in the rooms for the pilot and copilot as well as the Huntington rep," she said quickly, barreling ahead when she saw Olivia draw breath to comment. "According to the manifest, they're both scheduled to stay in town during the meeting...and they're both long-term company employees. They're likely to be asked for their opinions on the Beacon," she explained her reasoning a little defensively. Having been on the bottom of the company totem pole, she knew how quickly lower level people were forgotten, but also just how much influence they often wielded, albeit sometimes in subtle ways.
"Actually, that's a good idea," Olivia quickly agreed to forestall any further defenses. She smiled to emphasize the praise. "And just in case you were wondering, you look stunning." Pushing to her feet, she tapped her watch. "However, the limo is probably pulling up right about now, and if I think too much about just how good you look, we're likely to wind up...delayed." She grinned as Natalia blushed right on cue, then gestured toward the door. "Time to beard the lion," she said with a wink as she crossed to Natalia's side, took the clipboard from her and tossed it onto her desktop.
"But-" the younger woman started to argue since her notes were in the folio.
"Let's keep things informal tonight," Olivia advised, knowing there would be plenty of time for negotiations later. "Besides, it's easy to get distracted and miss things if you're concentrating more on yourself than the other guy."
"But-" Natalia repeated. Never having done anything like this before, she wasn't sure she was up to it without the comfort of her notes.
"No argument," Olivia said with an encouraging smile and settled a hand at the small of Natalia's back to gently urge her along. "You can handle it," she added in the face of the younger woman's trepidation. "You're smart, you know the hotel, and you can do anything."
Natalia swallowed hard as she peered up into bold, green eyes and felt some of the nervousness melt away under the warmth of the faith directed her way. Never before in her life had anyone been so intent on making her feel like she was capable of anything.
"You'll be okay," Olivia reassured her as they exited the hotel offices and stepped into the lobby. Straightening her shoulders, the hotelier let her gaze slide over the broad room, taking in efficiently working staff and expensively appointed wood paneling and crystal chandeliers. Her gaze met Jack's and he nodded ever so slightly in acknowledgment. Good. He'd keep an eye on things.
"The limo's pulling in," the girl at the desk called out.
Thick carpeting muffled the footsteps that went with long, confident strides and Natalia could only admire the game-face the other woman showed the world as she worked to keep pace, feeling hopelessly out of place at Olivia's side.
"You'll be okay," Olivia repeated as she flashed a proud smile at the younger woman.
They stepped out into the late afternoon air, the light dimming as it fell toward dusk, just as the limo came to a halt in front of the doors. The driver was out almost instantly and holding the door for his charge.
The woman who climbed out was tall and willowy, her dark auburn hair falling loose to her shoulders. An easy smile curved her lips upward as she stood gracefully beside the limo.
Natalia felt Olivia stiffen next to her and glanced over as the taller woman cocked her head to one side, her confidence melting into a look of confusion.
"Holly?" Olivia whispered, then glanced back and forth, suddenly wondering if perhaps there was another limo she should be looking for. No, no other limos, and the driver was definitely the regular Beacon guy. "What are you...doing...here?" she asked haltingly as she stared at her old friend.
The newcomer laughed softly, hurrying forward to pull Olivia into a hard hug. "It's a long story," she admitted as she pulled away. "But suffice it to say that I now work for Huntington Resorts...and I'll be spearheading any deal that gets worked out in Springfield...particularly with the Beacon."
"Really?" Olivia repeated, her tone doubtful. Holly Reade had left Springfield several years before and barely even been back to visit her daughter, Blake Marler. It had always seemed as though the town just held too many painful memories for the older woman to allow her a peaceful return.
She got a shrug and a wicked smile in reply. "Really," Holly confirmed. "More explanations later...over dinner...or preferably drinks, but before we get to the serious business, you really should introduce this lovely young woman." She turned a bright smile Natalia's direction.
Olivia abruptly threw off the flustered air, her manner smoothing out as she gestured to the newcomer. "Natalia, this is Holly Reade...an old friend."
The woman in question nodded her head in acknowledgment and offered another beaming smile. "I used to live here in Springfield," she added cheerfully.
"Holly," Olivia continued, gesturing to the woman next to her this time, "this is Natalia Rivera...my assistant and very dear...friend."
For the briefest second, green eyes met brown and Natalia could almost hear the words Olivia had barely repressed that would have marked them as a couple. Her breath caught and she briefly lost track of her surroundings as she was trapped by that crystalline gaze.
"Well," Holly murmured somewhere in the background, nearly forgotten in the moment, "I look forward to getting to know you, Ms. Rivera." Dark eyes danced with curiosity and good humor as she looked back and forth between the two women, sensing, but not understanding the undercurrent of deep emotion. "Any friend of Olivia's is bound to be...interesting." Which was possibly the understatement of the year.
Shaking herself free of her momentary daze, Natalia turned an appreciative smile toward the newcomer. "Likewise, I'm sure," she said, utterly charmed and more than a little curious to hear what she might have to say about the woman she loved.
Already back in professional mode, Olivia peered inside the limo to find it empty. "Weren't the pilot and copilot supposed to be with you?"
"Still at the airport...paperwork or somesuch...they'll need a lift," Holly said serenely.
"Ah," Olivia exhaled, then added, "Let me just arrange for your luggage to be transferred and for the driver to go back and pick them up."
"You do that," her old friend agreed cheerfully as she tucked an arm in Natalia's. "Meanwhile, this lovely young lady can show me the bar, where I can get sat down, have something cool, and we can gossip about you until you join us."
"I...uh...okay," Natalia exhaled and flashed a bemused expression Holly's way, then another questioning look at Olivia, who shrugged.
"Should I be worried?" Olivia pointedly asked her old friend as she found herself wondering if Holly had perhaps already had a few courtesy of the wetbars in the Lear and the limo. And she knew secrets. So many secrets. Some Natalia already knew or at least had to have guessed at, but a few...
Oh, that didn't bear thinking about.
"Depends on how long you take," Holly teased cheerfully as she tugged Natalia inside.
The younger woman flashed a vaguely panicked look Olivia's way. This so wasn't what she'd signed on for. She was supposed to be the assistant, not handling the rep on her own, particularly a cheerfully chatty, and perhaps slightly sloshed old friend of Olivia's who just happened to be in control of a very lucrative financial deal.
"I'll be as quick as I can," Olivia mouthed, then turned to face the bellman standing off to one side with a luggage rack, his expression questioning. Waving the driver over, she put on her most in-charge voice as she said, "okay, guys, let's get moving ASAP."
* * * * * *
TBC