Page 28 of XX Love Affair
Delia offered her the notebook. Helena took it, glancing through the pages before holding it to her stomach. “You thought about what you’re offering me?”
She certainly had an idea now. “The way I see it, you’re an adventurous girl who doesn’t want to be tied down to one person, man or woman, when there is still so much to experience out there. I want something that’s for sure for a while. I think we can help each other out.” Delia grinned. “As long as we find it agreeable, we’ll knock something off your list every weekend. Will give me something to look forward to at the end of the work week. Hell, we could make some of that travel shit come true.”
Helena attempted to hide her hopeful countenance, but Delia saw right through the façade. “Really? You’d do that? Why?”
Because if you go out there by yourself to do half that shit, you’ll get in big trouble. Delia kept that assertion to herself. Helena’s ego was young and fragile enough that she would walk right out of here, and Delia wasn’t about to let the perfect piece of ass waltz out as easily as she had entered.
“Because it would be hot.”
That was the kind of thing to say to rope her in.
“Okay,” Helena said.
“I get to pick what we’re doing every weekend. Of course, I’ll take requests.” Delia drew a square in front of her, representing her room, her apartment, the whole apartment building. “Anything we talk about in here is judgment-free. I believe it’s healthy for a woman to have some sexual curiosity. I also know how much people like to give us shit for it. I bet there are things you want to do that aren’t even in there.”
“I’m not that depraved.”
“We have a deal, though?”
Helena shrugged, but the corners of her mouth twinged into a smile. She does have a nice smile, doesn’t she? The genuine one. Not the scheming one that had haunted Delia’s bed the night before.
“Yeah. We have a deal, as long as we’re into it.”
That was the most commitment Delia was getting from anyone right now!
Part 2
XX Love Bomb
Chapter 10
Helena had been in her share of opulent high-rise offices since embarking on her gap year, but the capitalistic quarters of Electric Star Entertainment’s CEO put a new perspective on what she wanted out of life.
This. All of this.
She was right at home on the large, off-white couch in the middle of the dark blue walls and deep brown wood trim. Across from her, in a plush chair the size of Helena’s body, was Elena Zelenko, the woman who created the adult film company Helena aspired to be a part of. If she wasn’t married… The nice diamond on Elena’s left hand and the portrait of her bride on the wall meant she wasn’t worth attempting to seduce. Not even when she had the money to spare a mistress.
Besides, Petra was here as well, mixing drinks for her boss out of the minibar in the corner of the office. With these women, Helena used her genuine ID, the one that touted her as a young and fit nineteen. Someone they could hire for pornographic films, but not dare serve a scotch to.
“It’s rare for me to speak with prospective hires,” Elena said after thanking Petra for the drink. “I don’t have all the time in the world, you know.” She sipped, eyebrows raising in appreciation for how well her employee mixed a drink. “But when Petra passed me your application, I was intrigued. Not to mention your portrait portfolio is quite flattering. You have a unique look, Helena. The kind that we can work with. You could even become a star with your hair and figure.”
She tried to not let it get to her, but someone in authority was gassing her up. How could Helena do anything but grin to hear that? “Thank you. This isn’t something I take lightly. Hell, part of the reason I thought of your company is because I’ve appreciated some of your work. Whatever happened to Carmen Coyote? I haven’t seen her in a film in a while.”
“Carmen moved out to Hollywood,” Elena said. “She’s striking it out on her own. Which means we have room on our roster for new talent.”
Petra offered Helena sparkling water. She accepted it. “Everyone has to start somewhere. I’m not as into the DIY aspect of adult work. I know FansOnly and going amateur on the streaming sites is big right now, but this is something I only want to do temporarily.”
“I saw on your personal statement that you have a full-ride athletic scholarship to a school back west. You’re taking a gap year, is that it?”
Helena nodded. “I’ve spent most of my youth going where other people told me to go. After being a military brat for so long… guess I wanted some freedom of my own. My scholarship and my spot on the soccer team are waiting for me this fall. So, you see, I don’t want to do anything long-term. I understood that the three-month contract was perfect for that.”
“Hmm.” Elena put her drink down on a slender table next to her chair and motioned for Petra to hand her a printout. Helena didn’t doubt that was her application and personal statement. To think, I had to write a personal statement for the porn industry. Things had changed since her parents’ day. “Even with a stage name, you will be very recognizable to your recruiters, your future classmates, and even your professors who like to watch our videos in the evening to blow off some steam. Tell me…” Elena leaned forward, her hands clasped around her knees. The stark contrast between her frosty eye makeup and her bold red lipstick enticed Helena to stare at Elena’s face more than the slender legs poking out of her yellow dress. “Why would you risk your full-ride scholarship to star in a few of our videos? Usually, the young women who make it this far in the audition process don’t have the prospects you do. They’re wannabe models, actresses, and hot young ladies looking to make a quick buck to pay their rent. Maybe that’s why I asked Petra to bring you in here.” She flopped back into her chair again, chuckling. “I can’t imagine a girl your age being willing to throw that all away to have sex on camera. Not unless there’s something else going on.”
Helena knew she should have been insulted, but Elena Zelenko didn’t make it this far as the kid of an immigrant without knowing how to talk to people. I admit that I have a lot to learn about that. Helena was seductive and flirtatious when she wanted to be, but ass-kissing and manipulating answers out of people were another story. That was what Elena did now, and it was effective even if Helena knew that was what happened to her.
“Not merely having sex, either.” Petra leaned against the back of Helena’s couch, her spicy perfume enough to draw the attention of a girl who usually liked that kind of thing. Aren’t they two sides of the same coin? The sophisticated femme businesswoman and the sly tomboy recruiter and people pleaser? Both Petra and Elena were gay, yet here they were, candidly talking about the various facets of the adult film industry as if they were more comfortable with it than Helena, and that was a feat. “Sex with people you’re not attracted to. Women who forgot to shower before the shoot and men who don’t see you as anything but the latest place they stick it. Take it from me. I was a sex worker before you were a teenager.”
So? That was Petra’s business. She wasn’t Helena, who didn’t have those hangups. “I think you’ll find there are few people I’m not attracted to. It’s never been about aesthetics to me. It’s about the vibe. What they bring to the table. I’ve already slept with some people others would consider ‘ugly.’ I know I’m not the cream of the crop myself, but I work with what I’ve got. Do you need to see more?”