Perfectly Too Far (4 page)

Biting
her lower lip, she inhaled deeply, typing out his number. Pressing
her phone to her ear, the red-head listened to the metallic ringing,
preparing herself for what she might say. She wasn't ready when, on
the second ring, the line 'clicked' and someone began speaking.

“
Benedict
Vance, who's calling please?”

The
voice wasn't the familiar, rich baritone of the man she'd met so
briefly. This was someone else, calm and almost flat. Confused,
Judith cleared her throat. “Uh, hello, I'm looking for
Benedict.”

“
Of
course, but may I ask who's calling?”

She
wondered if she'd imagined the tart edge to that reply. “Sorry,
this is Judith Flight, he left me a message to—”

“
Oh!”
That tone became suddenly very pleasant. “Yes, of course, one
moment, I'll transfer you to his main line.”

Judith
felt a spark of indignation that she couldn't explain, a part of her
feeling far less important than she had assumed. With the effort
Benedict had made, buying everything and leaving his card, she
thought he would have given her his
actual
phone number.

Lorraine
said he was pretty important. I guess he doesn't really know me,
so...

The
line was silent, to the point that Judith wondered if she had been
disconnected. Her hand moved, ready to hang up and give in to
frustrated defeat. Then, he spoke, making her feel the familiar
thrill of intrigue travel down her spine.

“
Hello,
Ms. Flight?”

“
Yes,”
she breathed, tugging her hair nervously. “I mean, yes, it's
me.”

“
So
you got my message, I take it.”

“
Ah,
yeah, Lorraine gave it to me after the show.”

“
It
was a lovely gallery, your work was beautiful.” He made a
sound, she couldn't tell if it was him breathing out or chuckling.
“But, on topic, she told you my offer then?”

Judith
shifted the phone to her other ear, reaching out to pick up his
business card. Even with the crinkles in it from Lorraine's pocket,
the printed ink was crisp, immaculate. “She sort of did.
According to her, you want a commission, but...”

“
But?”

“
But,
you... did you really buy all of my art, for just yourself?”
she asked, the words rushing free in a whirl as the shock finally
caught up to her. “All of it? I have the check from Lorraine.
If this isn't a joke, I just... why do you want, or need, any more
from me?”

There
was a heavy silence. Judith opened her mouth, ready to apologize for
her abrupt questions. Benedict halted her with a low, throaty laugh
that couldn't be confused for anything else. “Ms. Flight, slow
down. Yes, I bought everything you had. Is it so wrong if I would
enjoy
more
from you?”

His
emphasis on the word 'more' made her mouth very dry, she realized
she'd started crushing the business card in her hand. Dropping it,
she wiped her palm on her leg, wondering what to even say.
What
does he really want from me, why does he like my work so much?

“
Ms.
Flight,” he said.

“
Y-yes?”

“
I
can tell you're a little nervous. Please, just hear me out. I'm only
offering you some work, after all, nothing more.”

“
Nothing
more?”

“
What
else could I offer?” he asked, and she swore she could hear the
smirk over the phone.

Swallowing,
she steeled her nerves. “There is something else you could
offer.”

His
silence was uncomfortable, it set her arm hairs into goosebumps. “Ah.
What would you like from me, Ms. Flight?”

“
There—,”
licking her lips, she started again. “There's a college I'm
trying to get into. You're apparently pretty important to them. I was
hoping... maybe... that you could help get me in.”

His
sigh was languid, steamy. “I see. So you don't care about the
money, so much as the prestige.”

Judith
had no answer to that.

“
Let's
go with that desire of yours, then. You want something, something it
seems only I can give you... and I would love to have a personal art
piece created by your hands.”

Flooding
with elation, Judith noticed she was nodding, even though he couldn't
see it. “Oh, yes, that—”

“
But,”
he cut her off, “there is a slight... twist, really.”

Oh
god, what could that be?
With
her heart throbbing, the young woman mumbled the shakiest words ever.
“What... what twist is that?”

“
I
don't want you to paint on canvas. I actually have a wall in my home,
I would like you to use it for your base.”

Crinkling
the bridge of her nose, Judith parsed this information carefully.
“You want me to paint inside your house?”

“
Exactly.
I have a section that is utterly too bland, I think your work would
look amazing there.”

“
So...
I'd come to your place, and do this.” Swallowing, her pulse
racing, she pressed on with her real question, “and when...”

“
When
would I help you into Sun Arts?” Benedict hummed briefly.
“Let's say, I'll buy you the materials, pay for your meals
while you're here, send transportation, and when everything is
complete I'll write a personal letter to the dean himself. Does that
sound fair?”

Judith
dropped her phone, her jaw falling open as well. That was more than
she imagined, it would get her into the college without a doubt.
A
personal letter!

She
heard a noise, and looking down, noticed her phone blinking. The
distant sound was clearly Benedict. Scrambling, she picked it up and
heard the tail end of his sentence, “—alright, Ms.
Flight?”

“
Sorry,
sorry, I uh, what was that?”

“
I
asked if that was alright? If so, I can send someone to pick you up
tomorrow, and we can go over the contract?”

Judith
glanced up, looking around her small apartment, eyeing the crumpled
rejection letter in the corner.

This
is it, this is the break I've needed so badly.

“
Yeah,”
she said with a stunned smile, “yeah, that sounds just
perfect.”

****

Judith
had been far too excited to sleep well.

When
the sun started rising, she gave up and rolled out of her bed,
landing gently on the hard floor. She had no idea what to expect, and
ended up wandering around her small apartment debating what to bring,
how to dress, and even what shoes to wear.

He
said he'd provide the supplies, I guess I don't need to bring much.

Tugging
on a pair of tight jeans, as well as a comfortable purple top that
walked the line between casual and fancy, she stood by her window.
Benedict had told her, before she had hung up, that he'd send a car
over around nine in the morning.

Glancing
at the clock on her stove, Judith shifted uneasily and leaned on the
wall.
Any
minute now, but how will I know what car is for me?

As
if on cue, a vehicle that was far too fancy for the area rolled
slowly around the corner. It was black, and reminded her of a killer
whale. She didn't know much about cars, but she was wise enough to
understand that this thing, whatever it was, had to cost a fortune.

Oh
my gosh, it might as well be a limo.

When
the driver stepped out, she noted his expensive outfit matched the
car perfectly. He turned his shiny sunglasses up towards her window,
so she ducked out of sight, wincing.

This
was too much. She felt out of her element, and she hadn't even gotten
in
the car yet.

Her
phone buzzed, a text from a number she didn't recognize. It read
'your car has arrived, please go outside.'

Frowning,
Judith tucked her cell into her purse, hoisting it uneasily.
Wandering down her steps, she caught one of her neighbors staring at
her from their window. Blushing wildly, she quickened her pace.
Wonderful,
I'll be the talk of the town.

Stepping
into the early sunlight, she covered her eyes as the car glinted,
blinding her. The driver waved, opening the back door as she
approached. “Ms. Flight, after you,” the well dressed man
said. She recognized his voice, he had answered the phone last night
when she first tried to call Benedict.

“
Uh,
thanks,” she mumbled, slipping into the backseat, settling on
the expensive plush.
This
car is nicer inside than my whole apartment.
“So
you work for Benedict, I assume?”
What
a ridiculous question.

“
Indeed,”
he nodded, turning the wheel and inching the vehicle silently down
the street. It was smooth, a well oiled machine in every sense. “I'm
Mr. Vance's personal chauffeur, he usually sends me for his important
clients.”

So
I'm an important client, am I?
Turning
slightly, Judith watched the city move past out the window, taking
note of where they were going. It was obvious, quickly, that they
were heading out of the dregs of LA and into the nicer upper areas of
Hollywood.
I
guess I shouldn't be too surprised that he'd have a house up here.

The
colors turned from brown and gold, to fresh green and white. The road
was winding, curling along so she had a lovely view of the city
below. It was a landscape she didn't get to enjoy much, she found
herself like a wide-eyed child in glee.
It's
easy to forget how beautiful this city is when you're down on your
luck.

It
wasn't a long drive, the car turned around a sharp bend then slowed
before a pair of wrought iron gates. Judith almost giggled, the sheer
cliché nature of it all filling her with giddiness. They
rolled through the barrier as it parted, the path turning into paved
brick.