Free Fantasy Inc by Lorraine Kennedy

Fantasy Inc
    By
    Lorraine Kennedy
     
    © copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, March 2011
    Cover Art by Jenny Dixon, March 2011
    New Concepts Publishing
    Lake Park, GA 31636
    www.newconceptspublishing.com
     
     
     
     
    This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
     
     

     
     
    The flickering candlelight bathed the darkened room in soft light, illuminating the group of people standing around the large table. The large birthday cake was designed to look like a woman, the candles places on various parts of the body.
    "Come on Alex! Make a wish and blow them out!" a petite blond urged.
    A smile spread across Alex's tan face. His light brown hair curled softly around his handsome face, giving him a look of boyish charm, though no one would mistake Alex for being a boy. His muscular body was that of a man that was no stranger to physical labor.
    "My birthday really isn't until tomorrow," he said to the crowd that was gathered around him.
    "No … it's today. It's after midnight now," his friend, Jonathan told him, with a playful slap on the back.
    Alex's eyes rested on the woman that stood in the corner of the room, apart from the rest of them. Jonathan's sister, Rena appeared uncomfortable. When she noticed Alex watching her, she retreated to the shadows even further. Her long brown hair was pulled back away from her face in a severe style, almost as if she were trying to appear unattractive.
    Taking a deep breath, Alex blew out the candles and the room filled with the sound of cheering and applause. Not one of the thirty candles remained lit.
    * * * *
    Rena looked at her watch as she made a mad dash from the subway station. There was no way around it, she was going to be late for work again. She'd already been warned once last week, so she was sure to be written up this time. Entering the tall glass building, she looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then slipped into her office.
    Unfortunately Kelly was sitting in Rena's office, busying herself by filing her nails, as usual.
    "You're late again Rena," Kelly said, without even looking up.
    "I'm sorry … the terminal was so crowded this morning. Rena didn't volunteer the fact that she'd overslept. She hadn't left Alex's birthday party until well after midnight.
    "Today's job is on your desk. I guess you're going to be someone's birthday present," Kelly told her with a self-satisfied smile painted on her face. "They want you to be the birthday boy's maid for an hour."
    "Well that doesn't sound like a big deal," Rena said with a shrug of her shoulders as she picked up the slip of paper with an address scrawled on it.
    "But … you have to do it in nothing but a G-String." Kelly gave Rena a wicked grin.
    Her boss always thought it was hilarious when her employees were sent out on outrageous jobs. Some people wanted foot massages, others wanted you to drive them around all day in a horse and buggy. She'd even had one client that wanted her to repair his car in a bikini. Some clients were really out there, but she'd drawn the line when she was asked to wrestle an alligator in the nude. The old man wanted pictures … for reasons that Rena didn't care to think about.
    When Rena had refused that job. Kelly had scolded her for not giving the client what he wanted. "That's why we are called Fantasy Inc," she'd reminded Rena.
    Rena looked at the address on the piece of paper and about choked. "I can't take this job," she blurted out.
    "Why not?" Kelly finally looked up from her nails.
    "This is Alex's address. He's a friend of my brother and I've known him forever. It just wouldn't feel right."
    "Well you have to take the job … you were asked for by name."
    Rena was startled. "Who made the request?" she asked.
    Kelly shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know … it came in anonymous, but they are paying big money so you'll have to