Something Better

Why Did You Roll Your Dice?

"Are you Martha Love?" An elegant woman, dressed in black stood before her as Martha watched The Killers at their sound check in Italy.

"Yes," Martha smiled cautiously, wondering how this woman got past security.

"I was hoping to speak with you if you have a moment?" The woman continued, glancing up at the stage, where Brandon was discussing something important with the sound guy.

"Can I ask who you are?" Martha said trying to be friendly, although she was wary, especially now it was common knowledge that her and Brandon were a couple.

"Of course!" She laughed, "I am Davina Tori and I work at Gucci and I was hoping to talk to you about your designs."

Martha felt suddenly excited and smiled broadly at Davina as she led her to the slightly less loud area back stage, where Brandon's jackets and clothes were stored.

"So you designed and made most of these?" Davina said in her musical accent,

Martha nodded, feeling strange about Davina's tone and how she confidently pulled out Brandon's feather jacket from its plastic wrapper.

"This has become an important design," Davina said holding the jacket up, ruffling the feathers with long black fingernails, "An icon of rock costume and yet you have not really had any proper recognition." Davina raised a penciled eyebrow at Martha, almost challenging her.

"It was designed specifically for Brandon Flowers along with his input," Martha said defensively, "I designed it for him, not recognition," Martha smiled.

"I see," Davina said slowly, "Well you have been noticed and I am here to ask if you would work with Gucci as a visiting designer to create a small collection of menswear,"

Martha gaped at Davina. She felt numb.

"I'll leave you my card, but you have to let me know by 7 tonight as I have other designers in mind if you decline, but it is you that I want, Miss Love," Davina took a business card from a beautiful golden case and handed it to a still dumbfounded Martha and dropped it back into her classic black Gucci handbag.

"Hi," Brandon said a little coldly as he stood beside Martha, wrapping his hand around her waist protectively.

"Hi," Martha said croakily finding her voice, "Brandon this is Davina Tori, she works with Gucci," Martha looked up at Brandon, still unable to process any of her feelings.

"Please to meet you," Brandon said softening a little.

"And you Mr Flowers, just to let you know I am after your girlfriend," Davina said with a smirk, "Please let me know by 7 tonight," She finished with a nod towards Martha and walked away on her sky scraping heels.

"Who the fuck was that?" Brandon said with an accusatory tone, "Who let her in and why were you giving her a tour backstage?" He glared at her, "She could have been anyone,"

Martha stared at Brandon, he never spoke to her like this and her heart was thumping hard, although not in the way it usually was around him.

"I know, she kind of took me over," Martha confessed, "Gucci want me to design for them," Martha whispered more to herself than to Brandon.

"Design for them?" Brandon said quietly, "Is that what she meant when she said she was after my girlfriend?"

"No, she's asked me to be her lesbian sex slave," Martha smirked, trying to bring Brandon out of his foul mood.

"Really?" He smiled, "Can I watch?"

"Brandon Flowers!" Martha said in a pretend shocked voice.