Victoria's Secret Angel

One

I watched silently as my father went around his desk to the small bar and poured two glasses of scotch. He turned with a mocking smile on his face, his wrinkles standing out more than usually from stress, as he handed me one of the glasses. We never lost eye contact as we both sipped the cool liquid, not even blinking as it burned our throats.

I finished mine off and then cleared my throat, "I do not understand what you expect me to say. Ten years without any contact and now that your company's about to go under, you call me to save your sorry ass? That just doesn't seem legitimate enough for me to take your offer."

His bushy eyebrows raised, his apologetic expression artificial, "I understand this is very last minute and extremely inconvenient for you-" he sighs, "Look, Tony, I'm getting old and, frankly, no young lady wants anything to do with me. All I'm asking is that you become the new face of my company and then take it over when I retire, which won't be too long from now. It won't be that much work since it's already up and running. We've just had a few bumps in the road but what company doesn't?"

I can practically see selfishness radiating off his prestinely ironed suit. Who does he think he is, expecting me to obey his wishes after he abandoned my mother and I?

My index finger and thumb came up to rub the bridge of my nose, "Dad, do you really think a 21-year-old running a multi-billion dollar company is really such a good idea? Especially when he's never worked for any other company before? Because I don't." I stood up and turned towards the door and dad hastily grabbed my arm.

"Please, I believe you can do this! You are my son after all, the heir to my company. It'll be best for everyone if you take the company off my hands! And you did just graduate from Yale with a business degree, I couldn't be prouder at the man you've become."

I scoff, "Don't say that. I couldn't care less about what you think of me."

"Come on, son, I'm begging now. I need someone, new, fresh! Your perfect for the part!" he leg his grip go, trusting me to keep still as he sat back in he chair again, assuming the business-man-position, "I'll even start you off with something easy."

"Okay, what?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"In five months the year with be over, right?" I nod. "And that means we need a new Angel. A young vibrant girl, a new face and then bring her to the base in California. Can you handle that?" I nod again, this time a little more reluctant.

He smiles and spins his head around, admiring the Victoria's Secret magazine covers framed on the wall, " And of course, she has to have the perfect body." His smile turns menacing, and a chill goes up my spine.

Maybe it is best for everyone if I take over...

So, I give in and accept my father's request, quickly making my way out of his fancy office. I pass the young secretary with the fake, well, everything and she shoots me a flirty smile, giving me more of a reason to get the hell out of there.

Stepping out of the building, I loosen my baby blue tie and wipe the sweat from the back of my neck. When I first got his call, I couldn't believe it was actually him. My father. but of course my excitement turned to anger and I quickly refused coming down to talk with him. As soon as my mom found out, she admonished at 'how rude I was being to the poor man,' which I find ironic because he left her for a leggy blond when I was 11.

Secretly, I believe she's still in love with the bastard, never having any other reason for not getting re-married.

The sun was shining through the scattered buildings, and the breeze picked up, tossing the yellow and red leaves down the sidewalks. People fastened their coats tighter around them as the breeze swept by, and then I did the same.