Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 10:55:22 EDT
From: Gryffindor6698@aol.com
Subject: Center Stage - Chaper One

Center Stage

The following is a complete work of fiction.

Any resemblance between the characters and any real life person is
completely coincidental.  Please do not copy or distribute the story
without the author's permission.

Disclaimer:

The following story may contain erotic situations between consenting
adults.  If it is illegal for you to read this please leave now.

If you enjoyed this story please check out my first story, City Of Dreams,
listed under the Adult Friends Section.

Chapter One

Have you ever had one of those days when everything that could go wrong
does?  I was having one of those days.  I swear that the world has to be
against me today.  I wanted to just bang my head against the desk until I
knocked myself out, but then who would answer this phone that doesn't seem
to stop ringing?  God forbid mister high and mighty has to answer his own
fucking phone.  That would probably explain why I haven't had a day off
since I took this job almost six months ago.

That would also explain why there were five other people that filled this
position the three months before I was hired.  How could a company go
through so many employees like that?  I have two words for you.  Zachary
Grey.  He is quite possibly the devil incarnate.  I don't think the sun
even rises in the morning with out his expressed written permission, in
triplicate of course.  I have to grudgingly admit that the man is a genius,
as much as that makes my stomach clench.  He created Center Stage
Productions a little over five years ago.  The company helps produce and
finance Broadway shows.  The company even has a team of writers and
composers to work on new plays and musicals.  His genius comes with a price
though.  He's a self centered, arrogant, obnoxious, control freak
perfectionist.  That explains why he has had about forty personal
assistants since he opened the company.  It also explains why fifteen of
them are in therapy to this day.

It was barely after 10 a.m. and my day has already gone straight to hell.
I hate Mondays.  I've been stuck on the phone for the past twenty minutes
with a very rude, pissed off gentleman that was trying to get his new
musical produced.

"Mr. Gellar I've tried to explain to you that you need to talk to our
development department about your script.  I am sure that Thelma and
Louise: The Musical is a wonderful script, but I don't have the authority
to give you financing for it.  I can transfer you if you like."

It was very difficult for me to not roll my eyes.  This is the fourth phone
call I've received from him in the last two weeks.  He was one of those
special people that didn't understand the meaning of the word no.  Now
don't get me wrong, Thelma and Louise was an awesome movie, but as a
musical?  It sounded like a sure disaster to me, but as I told Mr. Gellar
that is not my call to make.  I tried one more unsuccessful attempt to calm
him down, but he started cussing me out.

"Mr. Gellar..." I interrupted him. "I've provided you with the number for
development please give them a call once you have calmed down.  Thank you
for calling Center Stage Productions.  Enjoy your day."

I hung up the phone.  I reached into my desk drawer and got out the extra
strength Tylenol.  The worse part is I can't even hold the phone away from
my ear when people start going off like that.  CSP used only the newest
technology.  Instead of a normal phone receiver I had a small headset that
fit right over my ear.  Everything here was all up to date and high tech.
This day couldn't get any fucking worse I thought as I popped three five
hundred milligram Tylenol.  The intercom on my desk buzzed.  It took
everything I had in me not to smack my forehead.  Once again I've spoken
too soon.

"Yes Mr. Grey?"  I asked as I pushed the answer button.

"I need to go over my schedule for the week Cameron."

"Right away sir."

I unplugged the headset from the phone as I stood up.  Of course I would
answer calls as well during our meetings.  God forbid if a call should go
to the state of the art voicemail system we have set up.  I stretched my
6'2 frame for a moment and tried to work out some of the stiffness in my
back all this stress was causing.  I reached into my desk and pulled out my
copy of Satan's day calendar and a notepad.  I can certainly relate to why
all my predecessors quit the PA position.  I just recently got my degree in
business administration and this job had just become available, for the
fortieth time.  The company was very successful though and working for the
anti-christ paid almost six figures.  There is no way in hell I was going
to make that much money starting out anywhere else.  My job was so much
easier to deal with on paydays.  I gave myself a quick once over to make
sure everything was in place.  God forbid my tie wasn't perfectly straight,
or my shirt wasn't tucked in evenly all the way around.  I walked down the
lavish hall away from my workstation and walked through one of the double
oak doors that represented the gates of hell.

I silently closed the door and made my way across the expansive office.  It
was a beautiful office.  One entire wall was floor to ceiling glass and
provided an amazing view of the NYC skyline.  Lush carpeting covered the
floors and accented the comfortable leather furniture.  Another wall was
tastefully covered in posters from every show CSP worked on.  It was truly
impressive.  I sat down opposite my boss and turned his phone towards me.
I plugged in the headset and opened the day calendar.

I got everything ready for our regular Monday morning meeting and looked up
at him.  Mr. Grey was sitting back in his chair and staring at me.  His
head was tilted to the side and he was tapping his lips with a finger from
his right hand.  He didn't say a word.

"Sir?"

His head tilted to the other side and his deep voice echoed in the wood
paneled room.

"I was just wondering what took you so long to get back here?  You don't
want to end up like my last assistant. Do you Mr. Prince?"

It took every ounce of strength I had in my body to keep my face smooth.

"No sir.  I don't think I could afford the lithium prescription she gets
weekly."

His eyes locked with mine and I swear his gaze could turn someone to stone.

"Remind me Cameron why I shouldn't fire you like the all the previous
people to hold your position."

I took a slow calming breath.  This was something that happened from time
to time with him.  He would ask you a loaded question and your position
with the company could change based on your answer.  Just last week two
people in our props department were let go.

"I should keep my position because not only do I have a degree in business
administration, which none of your other assistants had, but I've lasted
longer than any other applicant you've hired.  I am a hard worker and I am
not afraid to stand up for myself.  You don't need a push over assistant
that will kneel at your feet.  You need one that knows when to stand up to
you and challenge your ideas, but also knows that when you say jump
they don't need to ask how high."

A thoughtful expression passed over his face so quickly that an untrained
eye wouldn't have caught it, but in dealing with this man for the last six
months I was getting to be a pro at reading his facial expressions.

"And why would I need you to stand up to me or challenge my ideas?"  He
asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I am your assistant not your secretary.  If you wanted someone to just
answer the phones and take dictation you would have hired a secretary.  An
assistant is responsible for more than that.  My responsibility is to help
you do your job to the best of your ability, and sometimes that will
require me to voice my opinion.  Besides I present a challenge to you that
none of the other assistants did.  I have a mind and I am not afraid of
you."

His mouth turned up a bit.  This was his idea of a smile.

"Cameron if you are done with your monologue can we finally review my
schedule for the week?"

"Of course, sir."

I started reading off his appointments and meetings for the week.  I
quietly let out a sigh of relief.  I had obviously given a good enough
answer.  I knew that if I showed any sign of weakness to him then he would
rip me to shreds.  Even if I didn't stay long with the company I knew that
after working with Zachary Grey any other boss will be a walk in the park.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

I sat down at a table in the company's cafeteria with a sigh.  The meeting
with Mr. Grey lasted almost an hour, and I had to deal with Mr. Gellar two
more times this morning.  The cafeteria served wonderful food and it was
free for the employees.  Thank God lunch is an hour.  Just as I started to
eat I saw Ariel Bennett coming towards my table.  She worked in the casting
department and her and I hit it off right away.  She was a tall woman with
gorgeous blonde hair that just brushed her shoulders.  She was a real
beauty.  She was the perfect image of a casting agent.

"So how is it going in the pits of hell today Cam?"

"I got the third degree from his evil high-ass today."  I said with a
laugh.

"Well it's about time.  All of the department heads got their questions two
weeks ago."

Ariel was in charge of casting and for good reason.  She was extremely
talented.  In the six months I've worked at CSP she has never failed to
find the perfect person for a part.  One of my responsibilities was to
check up on all the departments a few times a week.

"I guess he had to think of something really good for me.  I mean I am his
right hand slave."

We both laughed at the joke.

"You have to admit though Cameron that he is gorgeous.  He's only thirty
and has the most successful production company in the city.  He's only five
years older than we are and he is already running and operating his own
company."

I had to admit that he was good looking.  When I heard about him I prayed
that he would be at least average looking, but of course he wasn't.  He
stood about 6'3 and had midnight black hair.  He had a firm, muscular body
that genetics played a major role in.  His eyes were a very clear crystal
blue.  His face seemed to have a perpetual five o'clock shadow.  People
would be flirting with him on a constant basis if he weren't such a son of
a bitch.

"I do agree with you that he is hot Ariel, but he such a demanding prick.
I am really starting to love my job with the company, but it would be so
much better if he was easier to deal with."

Ariel gave me a sympathetic grin.

"I know buddy, but you are doing a wonderful job.  I've talked with people
from other departments and they are really hoping that you stick this out.
They enjoy interacting with you, and would definitely rather deal with you
than Zachary."

"Thanks Hun.  That really means a lot to me."  I said with a smile.  "I
don't even think of him on a first name basis.  We are certainly not going
to be friends so it's better that I think of him as Mr. Grey."

"Good point Cameron, but I think if anyone can break through that suit of
armor he wears it would be you.  I mean you've already lasted like 4 months
longer than anyone else has with him."

"Keep your fingers crossed sweetie.  Keep your fingers crossed."

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

I returned from my lunch and was just putting my things away when I saw the
note on my desk.

'See me immediately as soon as you get back from lunch.'

I couldn't help the sigh that escaped from my lips.  This certainly can't
be good.  He's never left notes for me before.  Once again I quickly gave
myself the once over and made my way back into the lion's den.

"You wanted to see me sir?"  I asked as I stood in front of his desk.

"I need you to attend a function with me this weekend Mr. Prince.  I will
have a car pick up you around seven p.m.  The function starts at 8 sharp.
No suits at this function.  Jeans will be fine."

I tried to keep my face as calm as possible.  Here is another day off I am
going to lose.  That fact that I could wear jeans made me curious.  I have
never attended a company function that didn't require at the very least a
suit.

"Jeans sir?"

Mr. Grey looked up at me with a very serious expression.

"How dedicated are you to the company Cameron?"

I couldn't help the confused expression that appeared on my face.

"I am very dedicated sir."

"Good.  An old friend of mine is having a house warming party and I have
been invited.  There is only one problem with this situation.  A person
that I can not stand will be there and I would prefer to have someone with
me that I know I can count on.  And since you work for me I know that I
have your loyalty."

"Yes sir.  I will do everything I can to help out.  I haven't been to a
party in a long time."

He raised an eyebrow and locked eyes with me.

"There is only one thing you are going to be responsible for the whole
evening and I expect you to perform there as if you were in the office.
You will be on the clock and will be getting paid. I do not expect you to
have too much fun."

"What will my responsibility be for the evening sir?"

Another one of his so-called smiles appeared on his face.

"You will be my boyfriend for the evening."

Now I have been able to keep a smooth, calm face almost the whole time I
have worked at CSP, but this threw me for a fucking loop.  I didn't even
realize I had sat down until I felt the softness of the leather chair
engulf me.

"Your what?"

I managed to get out.

"Don't play stupid with me Cameron.  You heard what I said.  For all looks
and appearances this Saturday you will be my loving boyfriend."

Why did I have the feeling that I've sold my soul to get this job?

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Ok everyone this is chapter one of a possible new story!  I wanted to get
the group's opinion before I post it on Nifty or anywhere else.  So please
send me your feedback and let me know what you think!