delicate controversy

It had been a fairly busy day for Melanie and she was glad when she’d finally made it back into the office. She was focused on her phone, typing out a text message when she felt someone bump into her. It wasn’t hard or malicious but an eyebrow arched when she saw some papers fall to the floor beside her. 

The other person started to speak and Melanie realised she recognised the voice, lips settling on a small grin. “That’s fine, really,” Melanie replied, squatting down to help the other woman pick up her fallen papers. She chuckled a little at her words. “Besides, this is probably better then spilling liquid over them. Even a folder couldn’t completely save them from that,” Melanie continued, smirking over at the woman. 

“Let’s just be glad it was only the floor they fell onto.”

There was a sigh,though not directed at the other woman, more so at general frustration Nandini felt in the heat, but if she knew hoe to do anything it was how to force a smile and fake the face so no one ever know how actually irritated she was. “ I shudder to think what other things they could have fallen into.” The older woman joked as with papers once again in hand,she rose and let out a breath. “I didn’t even see you, which I imagine is hard for anyone, lovely as you are.I think it’s the weather making me delusional; I was on my way to the water cooler and I must have imagined it to be an oasis in the middle of a desert and stopped paying attention.” 

With a few more gentle laughs and pleasantries out of the way, Nandini brushed her hair over her shoulder and began to put her pages back in a neat stack. “ You know the saying’ I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached’?I’ve never felt more represented.” She laughed again. It wasn’t that she was unorganized or absentminded usually, but with all the new work in her lap, Nandini was still learning how to balance being a mother and a businesswoman at the wheel of such a large ship all the while managing to at least take some time for herself. “I do apologize for not looking where I was going though ;I hope it didn’t injure you too badly.” She playfully teased.”Were you coming or going?”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re not that bad,” Melanie mused, smiling softly at her, shaking her head. An eyebrow rose then and she had to laugh. A hand came up to wave off the other woman’s words and worries. “You didn’t injure me at all, don’t worry. It takes more then a little bump to throw me off. Besides, I think your files took the brunt of injuries,” Melanie told her with a grin, a hand gesturing to the file and papers that had been scattered only moments before. 

“I was coming, thankfully. You still need that water?” She asked, head tilting slightly as she peered over at the water cooler. “What brings you to Katalyst, by the way? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I. Hi! We’re happy to have you with us. First thing’s first, can you slate for us please?

“I’m Melanie Sterling. I’m forty-three years old and a publicist for Katalyst PR firm. I use feminine pronouns and I’ve been told by many I quite resemble Kate Beckinsale.”

II. It’s great to meet you. So you have to know that everyone’s been curious about you, why don’t we start with where you’re from? Tell us where you grew up and what your childhood and family were like.

“I was born in London, England and grew up there for most of my life. When I wasn’t at boarding school, at least. My father was a politician and my mum a lawyer. I know they loved me but they weren’t the sort of parents to actually say that. They very much believed children should be seen and not heard. Not to mention I can count on one hand how many times I saw them between the ages of 10 and 20. Let’s just say, I did what I wanted from a fairly young age. Still, when it was just me and my parents, I always loved it and enjoyed myself.”

III. Well, they say our upbringing molds who we become. I’m sure that you got your reputation for being (3 +/- traits) from that.

“I would say I’m determined, intelligent and a bit of a romantic, though let’s just keep that between us. Although, I know some would say I’m manipulative, condescending and hot-tempered but really, what do they know?”

IV. And what about that lead you to your current career? How did that impact you enough to want to do what you do now?

“Well, deciding to attend university here in the States was a partially defining moment. I graduated from Columbia. I knew I didn’t want to be a politician like my father. I’d thought about law but it certainly didn’t seem like the right path either. Communications seemed the way to go if only because it seemed like an easy degree while I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Eventually I found I enjoyed it and then I did an internship with a PR firm and I haven’t looked back since.”

V. That’s awesome. I’m sure our readers will love to hear that. So you knew you had a calling, what came next? How did you get yourself to Hollywood? What was your first job?

“I’m afraid it’s not nearly as interesting as it would seem. From the internships I did, I started working as an assistant at a firm in New York. I didn’t plan on staying an assistant for long though and sooner rather than later, thankfully, I became a publicist. I’m very good at my job and I stayed with my original firm until I was 30 before I finally joined Katalyst. As for how I came to Hollywood, that wasn’t so much a professional decision as a personal one. I’d been handling A list celebrities for years before moving here but my partner worked and lived predominantly here in Hollywood and so, I moved here for him. I’m just grateful there’s an LA office for Katalyst.”

VI. Of course, but we all know there’s a sea of faces out here trying to get famous as well, right? It must have been hard, the first few rejections or being told something wasn’t good enough. What was the most difficult thing you faced on your journey?

“The most difficult time? I suppose it was a mix of professional and personal. My father died 7 years ago and I was towards the end of a bad marriage with my first husband. It was a very bad time for me, emotionally and mentally and mentally, because of that my work was suffering. Suffice it to say I lost a few clients that year, unfortunately. I’ve always regretted not getting help sooner at that time.”

VII. So then what was the moment that you realized you made it? Or are you still waiting for that moment?

“Oh, that came when my boss gave me my first big client. I’d been with his company for just over a year when he decided to let me handle one of his bigger clients, an A list celebrity. Who, I’m pleased to say, is still a client of mine now. I’m quite happy being behind the scenes as a B lister. I’ve never wanted fame.”

VIII. It’s amazing when you make it far enough in this town when so many people end up giving up and going home, isn’t it? So now that you’re here, what’s next for you?

“What’s next? I suppose most would expect me to say starting my own firm but really I’m rather happy where I am for the moment. Though, I suppose you never know. My main focus at the moment is raising my daughters and making sure they have a comfortable life.”

IX.  Now we know it’s personal but we have to ask,  do you have any comment about the rumors going around about you?

“I’m sure there are many rumours around about me. I suppose the biggest was that I wasn’t exactly…unattached when my partner and I first got together. However, I’ve always been completely faithful to him. Anyone that says otherwise is just trying to cause trouble.”

X. Thank you so much for talking to us today. Lastly, is there anything you want our readers to know about you?

The other person started to speak and Melanie realised she recognised the voice, lips settling on a small grin. “That’s fine, really,” Melanie replied, squatting down to help the other woman pick up her fallen papers. She chuckled a little at her words. “Besides, this is probably better then spilling liquid over them. Even a folder couldn’t completely save them from that,” Melanie continued, smirking over at the woman. 

“Let’s just be glad it was only the floor they fell onto.”

Melanie was at a bar, once again. It was starting to become a habit but it was one she was set on ignoring. She was sitting there, enjoying her drink when she noticed a presence beside her, brows furrowing for a moment at the words as she turned. The frown left and a small smirk graced her features when she realised who had approached her. Dr. Nate Astor. She’d met him not long ago and though it had been brief he’d made an impression before he’d been paged back to work. She chuckled at his words, smiling widening as she relaxed back in her chair. “I think you do. It’s a shame it was a false alarm…” Melanie agreed with a nod. “So I might actually get a conversation for more then 10 minutes tonight?” She joked, finishing the drink already in her hand. “And if you’re offering to buy… A scotch neat.”

“A damn shame. I didn’t get to drink whisky or cut into someone that night. No fun at all” he chuckled as he leaned back in the chair, arm resting on the bar. “I’m not sure I have that much conversation in me though, I’m a surgeon we spend hours with only the unconscious and each other for company. So I could probably fill you in on the gory details of my latest aortic valve replacement or, if you prefer, the even gorier details of Dr. Thomas’ affair with Nurse Hunter. Both were very dramatic and bloody but my surgery had the happier ending” he teased, lips curving into a smirk before he nodded at her drink request. “A scotch? Finally someone who doesn’t make me order one of those pink cocktails with an umbrella in it” he chuckled gesturing the bartender over and ordering their drinks. “So what brings you here tonight? Because I have to be honest, finding you in the bar across from the hospital does make me a little concerned that you’re stalking me” he joked with a grin. 

“Yes, it is,” she nods, smiling wider. “Ah. I recognise the name. It’s a pleasure to see you again Theodora,” Melanie trilled, sipping her drink as she eyed the younger woman. “So what brings you to this event?” She asked curiously, head tilting as she watched the other woman. 

The cafe was packed and Melanie glanced around, trying to find a free table. Unfortunately, there was none and she couldn’t help but sigh in annoyance. She spotted then, a table with a free seat and made her way over, not caring if it was taken already. She was determined to sit down.

A young woman was already sitting there alone. Hopefully she wouldn’t mind and even if she did…well, Melanie didn’t care. As she approached the young woman’s words were sharp, an eyebrow raising on Melanie’s behalf as she let out a little chuckle. “That’s rather rude,” she mused, voice full of amusement. 

She wasn’t going to relent though, a hand resting on the back of the chair as she pulled it out. “If this seat is taken by the spirit of Jesus Christ though. Wouldn’t he himself give it up for someone else? After all, he is Jesus, isn’t he?” Melanie continued, lips tilted up in a smirk as she sat down. 

The young woman’s attitude didn’t faze her in the least. “Besides, it’s not like the chair is actually yours. I won’t bother you. Don’t worry,” Melanie drawled, placing her handbag down and lifting her coffee to her lips for a sip. 

Claudine was with her grandparents; Jason’s mother insistent on having time with the teenager one on one. Melanie never really understood the need, she’d never spent that much time weekly with her grandparents as a teenager. But, the Sterlings were a close bunch and she was sure her former mother-in-law was just trying to make sure Claudine wasn’t being brainwashed against the family. As if Melanie would do that; it was Jason she couldn’t stand, not the rest of them. Even so, she’d much rather her daughter spent time with friends than grandparents at her age. 

A night without her daughter meant that Melanie had ended up in a bar on a Monday night, already two drinks in. It was becoming almost a worrying habit. She grimaced as she noticed the throngs of people and the audio screeching wildly. She may have been better off staying at home and drinking. A grimace settled on her features as she realised it was some kind of trivia night and she’d never been more sure that she wouldn’t be coming back to this bar ever again. 

Settling further into her seat at the bar, she ordered another drink, focused on ignoring the trivia quiz that was happening rather loudly behind her. Nails tapped against the bar top as she waited for her drink, a voice from beside her startling her; she’d been lost in her own world. Turning her head, Melanie’s eyebrow rose, taking in the man talking to her. 

“Uh, no,” she replied with a shake of her head, registering his question. “Quizzes aren’t exactly my thing,” she continued, a dry laugh escaping her. “I take it by the fact you’re here by the bar, you’re not taking part either?” Melanie mused. Though it was a question, it sounded more like a statement. 

Nick was glad the woman didn’t turn her back or ignore him. Sometimes people just came for the alcohol, not for the environment or the people. An isolated social life of sorts. Nick himself would rather take a case of beer home on nights like that. Turn on a movie or see if there was a game on, stretch out on the couch with his dog and order pizza from the local shop. Nothing like greasy food, beer, and anything but work clothes. At home an old top and sweats were his go to, or gym shorts in summer. Tonight he wore a grey henley shirt, jeans aged with hard work. If he knew the bar would have been so busy maybe he would have pulled a friend along with him, joined in on the nights event, but that wasn’t the case and he was pleased the woman returned conversation.

An eyebrow rose, surprised. Most people tended to talk up their skills, even if something like trivia weren’t their thing. “Really? I guess it’s lucky then that you’re not on someone’s team,” Melanie replied with a chuckle, shaking her head. A grin spread across her features then, at his words about winning and fun. “I guess we couldn’t be on a team then. If I’m going to play something like this? I’m doing it to win,” Melanie told him frankly. She liked winning, gaining the upper hand; a part of her competitive nature. 

“Pardon me,” Nick muttered as he passed a group of twenty somethings blocking the entry to the pub. It was oddly busy for a Monday night, making Nick wonder what event could be on in the area. Maybe it was just the end of tourist season crowd, or perhaps a concert playing in a nearby venue. Either way he weaved through bodies to find a seat by the bars counter, waving down a woman behind for a pint of beer. Just something to wet his tongue after a long day at work.

The sound of audio feedback screeching pulled a protest not just from the crowd itself but from Nick’s ears, making him twinge until it stopped. A man suddenly called for the crowd to get into their teams, drawing Nick’s attention to the room as it seemed to shuffle from a collection of individuals to bundles of fours and fives, gathering around tables with paper and pens. Of course, it was trivia night.

With only a few stranglers left at the bar, including Nick himself, the event seemed to begin. Taking a sip from his beer Nick looked to his side finding a rather unpleasant looking man who glared down at his glass. To his other a rather beautiful woman, seemingly on her own. Left to his own devices Nick couldn’t help himself from being social, it was a pub after all. “Not taking part of the quiz?” He asked the woman.

A night without her daughter meant that Melanie had ended up in a bar on a Monday night, already two drinks in. It was becoming almost a worrying habit. She grimaced as she noticed the throngs of people and the audio screeching wildly. She may have been better off staying at home and drinking. A grimace settled on her features as she realised it was some kind of trivia night and she’d never been more sure that she wouldn’t be coming back to this bar ever again. 

Settling further into her seat at the bar, she ordered another drink, focused on ignoring the trivia quiz that was happening rather loudly behind her. Nails tapped against the bar top as she waited for her drink, a voice from beside her startling her; she’d been lost in her own world. Turning her head, Melanie’s eyebrow rose, taking in the man talking to her. 

A young woman was already sitting there alone. Hopefully she wouldn’t mind and even if she did...well, Melanie didn’t care. As she approached the young woman’s words were sharp, an eyebrow raising on Melanie’s behalf as she let out a little chuckle. “That’s rather rude,” she mused, voice full of amusement. 

She wasn’t going to relent though, a hand resting on the back of the chair as she pulled it out. “If this seat is taken by the spirit of Jesus Christ though. Wouldn’t he himself give it up for someone else? After all, he is Jesus, isn’t he?” Melanie continued, lips tilted up in a smirk as she sat down.