KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE...

By.....Jade


I don’t know when it all started. Yes, I do. It started when I bought the lottery ticket. I never buy lottery tickets. Never. Don’t believe in them. Never think I’ll win a thing. And I never do. But for some reason, I felt a tremendous urge tobuy a lottery ticket. For the drawing on Wednesday. I thought, oh well, it’sprobably a waste of two dollars, but what the heck...it’s only two dollars, right?

Then Wednesday rolled around with all the energy of a mother trying tokeep up with two hyperactive toddlers. Yep, it was that bad. But when the phonerang, I didn’t even think about the lottery.

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s North. Did you check your lottery ticket, Jade?”

I smiled at that. North is always so enthusiastic. I like that about her. “No, why?”

“Well, check it, check it, check it! You never know, you gotta be in it to win it, and all that other crap! So go get it, girl! I’ll wait!”

I sighed. It’s physically impossible to refuse North in one of those moods. Really. So I got the ticket out, and she made me compare numbers. Slowly. Bit by bit, I realized that the numbers were actually matching. “Wait a minute, North! Are you sure this is right?”

“Yes! I just heard them on TV! I wrote them down myself. Aly was trying to grab the pencil out of my hand, but I made her give it back so I could write.”

“So this means what?” I almost dropped the phone when I realized that it meant I had just won over ten million dollars. For real.“Um, I have to sit down now. I feel a little...um...faint. I think.”

North shrieked delightedly in my ear. “No kidding!”

“I gotta call Velvet. Get off the phone!” I almost screamed. Politely, of course. North obliged, she is very kind, even when I am in one of those moods.

When I phoned Velvet, she answered right away. “Yes,Jade?”

“You’re not going to believe it, but I’m a freaking millionaire!” I unconsciously started to jump up and down, and Velvet must have joined me, for I suddenly heard the crash as furniture somehow got rearranged.

“Oh, my God!” she yelled. “What are you going to do, Jade? What are you going to do? All that money!”

“Well, isn’t that the ten million dollar question, Vel?” I started to laugh, as I realized it really was.

“I’m going to Disneyland!” I said facetiously. Then I thought....wait a minute, maybe I am... “Velvet, better sit down, I just had the most amazing idea!”

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

Part Two

I gathered the CovertLovers and announced what I was about to do with all that money. “First off, I am never going to work again! How’s that?”

“Ooh, good one!” shouted Nikita507. I smiled. My excitement was evidently contagious.

“Second, I am going to pay off my house, my car, and all my charge cards!”

Velvet nodded. “Jade is so practical sometimes. I thought she would blow it all on something dumb, like, I dunno, buying the production company thatowns La Femme Nikita.”

Suddenly Velvet’s eyes narrowed as she noted the strange glitter in my grey-brown eyes. I flung back my head, and my long, goldenbrown hair went flying over my shoulders. “I am! I am going to do just that!”

North looked askance. “You can’t do that!”

“Wanna bet?” I winked at the others, and they stared quite blankly in disbelief. Not unlike one of my favorite LFN characters, Michael.

“Truth IS stranger than fiction. And it’s about to meet its match! In me!” I chortled playfully as I made my plans to take over LFN Productions.

“Everyone here gets to go to Toronto with me. Airplane tickets are on me!” CovertLovers exploded in applause. “No way!”

“Yes, way! And we go today!!!”

By the time we got to the airport, we were all quitegiddy. I took my glasses out of my pocketbook for what I hoped would be thelast time. I was going blind reading the signs for the gates. We had noluggage to speak of, so we boarded the plane right away. Nikita507 almost shriekedin my ear. “We’re in First Class! Oh, my God!”

It was a short trip to Toronto. About an hour and a half.We cleared Customs rapidly, and our giggling group made its way intothe taxi en masse.

“Wait, we need another taxi, we can’t leave Vel behind! Come here, Vel!”

Everyone piled into the two taxis, and we made our way downtown to the harbourside, where our hotel was. I had stayed at the Radisson on the waterfront some years back, and I was delighted it was still there, so pleasant as well as centrally located. It was like a pajama party in progress, once we went toour rooms. Or maybe more like a college dorm at night. Whatever. I felt years younger than my age. Whatever that was. Along with all that money, I had suddenly developed amnesia.

The following morning, bright and early, we dressed as businesslike as we possibly could, and we set out for the LFN offices in Mississauga. When I entered the conference room, you could have heard a pin drop. In fact, one did, and there was a resounding crash. I know, I was there.

“Hello, everyone. Allow me to introduce myself. I am your new boss, Jade.”

There was an initial flurry of activity, and then the blank looks set in. There were several people in the room I recognized. The executive producer, Joel Surnow, and his assistant, Chris Heyn, had flown in from L.A. just to be here for my arrival, I surmised. They knew a takeover whenthey saw one. “I don’t understand,” Joel began.

“Easy, Mr. Surnow. I don’t intend to replace anyone here. So everybody take a deep breath and relax, people. I’m just taking over the reins of the show, that’s all.”

“Um, that’s all?” Joel asked with a frown.

“Uh huh, I have no agenda. Well, actually, I do, but it shouldn’t concern you, Mr. Surnow.”

I indicated the creative staff. “You guys just keep writing good episodes. Oh, and I’ll be happy to point out which ones are good, too. And can we get a little more romance into the storyline, please? I don’t think that’s asking too much, do you?”

Just then, the actors rejoined the production crew. I turned my head to see Peta Wilson staring at me, her eyes raking me over in obvious appraisal.

“Who are you?”

I smiled sweetly. “Your new boss, sweetie. Park it over there, please. Thanks.”

She glanced at Roy Dupuis, who was studying me from behind a distinctly Michael-like blank stare. His eyes were shining with mischief, though, and I thought he was trying to suppress the urge to laugh. Perhaps he had always wanted to tell Peta where to park it himself.

“No, no, no, Roy, you don’t get off that easy. When I get through with Peta, I definitely need to have a heart to heart with you.”

I grinned wickedly, and Roy’s mouth did light up in a smile at that. “That could be...interesting,” he drawled, his eyes changing mysteriously from light green to grey and back again.

“And by the way, what the hell color are your eyes anyway?” I said crossly, feeling at a loss in the presence of someone I had spent the past two years dreaming about.

He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Last time I looked, they were still green. Are you people still analyzing that kind of thing?”

“No,” I whispered back, “we’ve moved onto to much better things, like whether or not you plan to sign a contract extension after Season 5.”

He laughed heartily, his face looking at once boyish and mature. “You look tired, are they working you too hard?”

“Toujours, cherie. Mais ca ne fait rien.” He leaned over to whisper again, “That means, Always, but it doesn’t matter.” I leaned closer, till I could feel his breath on my cheek and almost sighed at the delicious scent of him.

“I know, I studied French for almost ten years.”

He looked surprised, then pleased. “Such ambition in one so young. I’m impressed.”

Peta grew tired of waiting for her turn. “Look, I have to meet Damien in about an hour. Is this going to take very long?”

“Well, funny you should mention that. I’ll get back to you, Roy. Doucement et lentement, n’est-ce pas?” His entire face creased with merriment, and he looked as thought he would appreciate teaching me a few things they had missed in French class. Whew!

I sat down, crossing my legs, and Roy’s eyes followed the lines of my body carefully. The Covert Lovers studied Roy’s reaction, and gleefully dissected it, frame by frame, whispering to each other at the back of the room. I leaned forward, looking directly at Peta. “Peta, honey, you don’t seem to have any pizzazz lately. Is something wrong?”

She sighed. “I’m just tired of trying to do this same old, same old. I want a new boyfriend,” she whined. I blinked. “Have you spoken to Damien about this?”

“Not him,” she moaned. “Him!” she repeated, pointing at Roy. “I want him replaced.”

Roy looked amused. I frowned. “Peta, do you know themeaning of, If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Well, this show is doing stupendously well. It’s payingyour rent and for your Dolce Gabana wardrobe, hon. You understand that,right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But ever since the arc, they don’tgive me and Roy any scenes together. I mean, he gets to ask me if I’m okay, and I get to answer, “I’m fine,” and that’s it, till next week. Talk to the writers, not me.”

“Then your obvious lack of enthusiasm, which by the way, is starting to show on the air, is because you’re depressed over not having enough scenes with Roy? Then why do you want a new boyfriend?” I tried to be patient, but honestly, Peta wasn’t forthcoming.

“Well, that would solve everything, wouldn’t it?” shehinted. “I don’t really see how. Please explain.” I said in my best Madeline voice.

“Well, if they get a new actor in, the writers won’t have to worry about things like continuity. I mean, Michael’s turning into Nikita, and Nikita’s turning into Michael, and I don’t see how they’re ever going to get together the way they are now.”

“You’re right. You’ve been giving him the cold shoulder way too long, sweetie. That has to stop. Make a note, Velvet.” I had decided to promote Velvet to my assistant. In charge of Changes To Be Made.

Peta grinned. “You see it my way, then?”

I smiled dutifully, shaking my head. “Noooo...but I’m sure it makes sense to you, whatever you’re thinking. Why not just put the old fire back in the original relationship?”

“Oh!” she gasped in surprise. “I guess that would work just as well, wouldn’t it?”

“Righhhhht,” I drawled, amazed once more that people in high profile jobs seem curiously bereft of common sense sometimes.

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

Part Three

Alberta Watson smiled in a most un-Madeline-like way atme. “Do you have any words of wisdom for me, Jade?”

“Well, I actually like your hair, Alberta, and the wardrobe has definitely gotten better. I wish they would give you some better material to work with, though.”

“You and me both. From your mouth to God’s ear, Jade.”

“Well, I’m not exactly in the same category, but a little money does go a long way. So, I am now placing all the good writers on a handsome retainer, and the freelancers can go hang out in the bar down the street for all the good they’re doing.”

“As for Gene,” I said, indicating the trim older man with stark white hair at the conference table. “How do you see Ops evolving, Gene?”

“You mean, besides going completely bonkers and having to be shot full of Haldol and Ativan? It’s a tour de force for me, truly, but how do I follow madness? How can I top that? Develop a terminal illness?” He snorted derisively.

“You’re right, Gene. You’re your own worst enemy. Just so good, you can’t even follow yourself.” I nodded, pondering the obvious problem.

“Don, you’re unusually quiet, what’s up?”

Don suddenly shifted in his seat and looked uneasy. “Is something wrong, Don?”

“I, uh, fell asleep,” he replied with a heated flush to his face. “Well, I am 67, people, no matter how good I look,” he finished in a reasonable facsimile of Walter’s voice, complete with mannerisms.

Roy smiled not unkindly at the older man, then addressed me. “Cherie, can I take you to dinner? Perhaps we could talk better there?”

“In a moment, Roy. I just need to talk to Matthew for a second first.”

Matthew, his hair starting to grow out, looked quite different from his character, Birkoff, the computer whiz. He played with his fingers, tapping on the table in front of him repeatedly. “You have such soulful eyes, Matt.”

“Thanks,” he said with a casual grin. “Now if I could only get a date. Or rather if Birkoff could only hold onto a woman long enough to lose his virginity.”He rolled his eyes. “I mean, the one and only time he has sex, and it turns out tobe with Nikita’s evil twin? Come on....what’s wrong with this picture?”

I coughed politely. “I’m sure the writers will solve that problem, too.” Not atall convinced of that, I turned to Roy. “Roy, you mentioned something about dinner? Dinner sounds fab, where are we going?”

“To my farmhouse back in Montreal, cherie. You’ll love it! Did I mention that I cook?”

I rolled my own eyes. “Why am I always the last to know these things?” He lit a cigarette, took a drag and puffed a huge cloud of smoke in my face. I coughed for real this time, waving my hands in front of me. “One thing, Roy, I’m allergic to smoke.” His mouth tightened imperceptibly. “You mean, I have to give up smoking?”

The CovertLovers leaned forward as a group, hanging on Roy’s every word. I nodded. “Afraid so. If you don’t, you’ll be inviolation.”

“Of my contract?”

I shook my head. “Of me.”

Roy looked me over once more, then evidently came to a decision of some sort. “Well, hell, that changes everything.” He grinned. “You’d better be worth it, cherie.”

“Oh, I am, Roy. I’m a Vamp Vixen. Trust me, I have hidden depths.”

He looked intrigued despite himself. He tossed thecigarette into an ashtray and stubbed it out. Looking at Chris Heyn, he said, “Please see that I get a nicotine patch, first thing in the morning.”

Chris nodded at Roy almost absently, seemingly struck dumb by the fact that a mere woman had taken over the entire production of LFN.

“What is it, Chris? Never saw a woman who learned not to get her panties in a twist?”

Roy leaned over me and fondled the side of my face, looking directly into my eyes. “Now that sounds like something worth exploring, cherie.”

“I’m sure it does. Down, Roy.” I laughed. He licked the side of my face, and my eyes grew positively round. “Um...you’re destroying my entire train of thought.”

“Good,” he said, playing with my hair. “If you donate a million dollars to Mira, I’ll make the ultimate sacrifice...” his voice trailed off.

“You’ll make love to me,” I whispered hoarsely, not really caring who heard at this point. I was in love. And okay, in lust.

I nodded slowly at Roy. “Boy, for a million, you’d better be damned good.”

He smiled carefully, his eyes bright green now. “Oh, I am, cherie. I am. You can take that to the bank.”

I grinned. “I intend to.”

I waved goodbye to the rest of the Covert Lovers, who sighed mournfully as I passed, hanging off Roy’s arm. “Laters,” I said, unable to keep a certain satisfied smile off my face.

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

Part Four/End

After leaving the building, Roy steered me into a limousine, obviously waiting at the curb. Now I was starting to feel a bit nervous. I mean, it’s one thing to have a fantasy, and quite another to actually get the chance to act out that fantasy. I didn’t mind about the million dollars, honestly, it was only money, andit was going to a good charity, so I felt quite virtuous about the entire thing.Really. But my fantasy was about to come true. I wasn’t worried about Roy not measuring up, but myself.

We flew to Montreal, and Roy had another car waiting to take us to his antique farmhouse, which he had been carefully restoring over the past few years. “It’s magnificent!” I breathed, stunned that it really was. Roy smiled. “You couldn’t have said anything more guaranteed to win me over, doucette.”

I looked startled. I know I did. Having a man speak French endearments to me has that effect on me. “I wasn’t just saying that, you know.”

He shrugged. “It’d be okay if you were, though. You seem to have a kind heart. I am grateful for your donation to Mira, doucette. Iwill show you how grateful soon.” He brushed my hair back with his fingers, and I felt my pulse race. “Um...”

“You can go through to the living room and relax, cherie. I just need a few moments to get the meal ready.”

“Y-you’re actually going to cook for me?” I stammered, suddenly unsure of anything in the real world.

“Mais certainement.” He leaned over painfully slowly and kissed my cheek. Then he stared deep into my eyes, until I could see his pupils dilating with some kind of excitement. I swallowed hard. He continued to stroke the side of my face, and I swear I purred like a contented kitten.

“Roy...after dinner?”

He nodded gently, continuing to maintain a very direct but very sensual form of eye contact with me. “Can--I mean, would you teachme...the Hand Dance?”

His eyes crinkled softly at the corners as he smiled. “Bien sur, doucette. Comme tu voudrais.”

He left me then, in a state of arousal and shock, I must say. I could hear him working in the kitchen. God, I had no appetite. How could I possibly eat anything? I would be afraid I would choke, or stop breathing. That would be a significant drawback if we wanted to have a romantic evening.

I felt hot and cold all at once. I was no longer wondering what I wanted todo with the money I had won. I was no longer particularly interested in running LFN. Maybe Velvet and the rest of the Covert Lovers could take over that part of the business. For right now, all I wanted was to keep my eye on the prize, and the prize wasn’t all that money. It was Roy.

Dinner was wonderful. I am sure it was. I just don’t remember it. Any of it. Somehow we got through eating, and washing dishes, and then...it was time. We walked into his bedroom, and my nerves left me. It was a beautiful room, all done in earth colors, like rust and nutmeg brown. It was a defiantly masculine room, though, that showed no woman’s influence.

“I have never brought anyone here before,” he said, as if reading my mind.

“Vraiment? I mean, really?” I said, not sure why I had suddenly started to lapse into French. But Roy seemed to enjoy my discomfiture.He thought me charming and strangely inexperienced. He liked that.

He started to undo my shirt, and I grasped his wrist for amoment, forcing him to look at me. “I don’t normally do this kind of thing.”

“Neither do I, doucette.” He lifted my hair off my neck and kissed the side of my neck gently. “I don’t want to scare you away, cherie, but I would have wanted you, with or without the money.”

I smiled. “I’m sure you’re just saying that to be kind.”

He grinned. “Unlike Michael, I rarely talk indirectly, I never lie, and I am always in touch with my feelings, doucette.”

“Oh...” I said, unable to focus beyond Roy’s mouth, which was getting closer to my face.

He kissed me, slowly and sweetly, keeping his eyes open, which at first shocked me, then tantalized me. He nudged my mouth open, and his tongue tentatively licked my bottom lip. My eyes closed. I could no longer think. Onlyreact. His kisses came closer together, though still slowly and gently, as if teasing us both with what was to come.

His hands wrapped themselves around my face, and he broke that sweet contact for one moment to speak. “I will teach you the Hand Dance tomorrow, cherie. This is going to be too intense for mere hands right now...” he said, his voice low and sensual in my ear.

“There’s going to be a tomorrow?” I said, hopefully.

“Oh, yes, cherie. I think there are going to be a lot of tomorrows for us.”

I wanted to pinch myself, but I was afraid, it this was a dream, I had no intention of waking up yet. Oh, yes, I had my eye on the prize, all right. And the prize was definitely Roy. My last conscious thought was, they’ll never believe this back at Covert Lovers. They’ll think I made this all up. Oh, hell, I did. But sometimes, all we have is our dreams...and it wasn’t all a lie.

THE END

This story copyright© 1999, Jade
Used with permission

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