excolocrack | This month's star title: Set-Up For Scandal!

In the last installment...

June 1961 - Val flirts with James in front of Ted, but James manages to make it seem like he's after Val's job so Val shows him the door. James compounds his error by badmouthing Ted and Val to Beryl and Kate, and then seeming to hit on Genny. Bad day for James! Ted decides to ask out Genny to annoy James, and Genny, Val, Ted and Beryl all go out for dinner to discuss plans for a detective romance series. Meanwhile, Syl and Al go out for drinks and end up in bed together. And Kate and Tess go out dancing, where Tess is confronted by her ex-girlfriend - but Kate doesn't seem worried by what this tells her about Tess.

Friday, July 7th, 1961, the office

So Monday started with hearing that Ernest Hemingway had died on Sunday, and that's set the tone for the week. I've had a headache for two solid days that's only just starting to fade, mostly due to a printing crisis with one of our runs. Let's just say that in three places the word "duck" didn't start with a d... The censors are getting pretty strict about obscenities these days, so that started my headache, and then I had the usual author-induced stresses.

At least this detective romance we're putting together seems like it's got legs. I'm looking at the cover Genny's drawn. The streetlamp's got a good glow to it, and she's managed to make the lady sexy and wholesome at the same time - not easy. The guy's just your average lantern-jawed gumshoe, but that's fine. And Beryl's put together a good story, though I've got a few suggestions for amendments. She's a cooperative sort, though, so I don't mind meeting with her, unlike some of our writers. And I have to admit she's easy on the eye, which is a good distraction from my other emotional woes...

I loosen my collar, because it's a hot day. I'm dreading August. Hope I'll get away for a couple of weeks because the city will be unbearable. It's not the best night for black tie, but I'll be sweating in a tuxedo anyway because this evening there's the Popular Fiction Publishing Awards, which everyone in the pulp game in NYC goes to - less for the prizes and more for the canapes and the gossip. There's always gossip. Me, I'm just going to enjoy the free champagne.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh," I say, nodding as I look her up and down. "Yes. I like it." The shape's perfect for her, showing off her lean shape rather than making it look like there are parts of the dress she isn't filling out. "Sexy." I grin.

"We can send the bill to your office, Mr Sherman," says Winnie, who looks keen to be gone, and she trundles the rack out of here. I do hope someone drove her over...

I walk around Syl.

"I like it from the back particularly," I say. "The glimpse of shoulder blade." I touch my fingertips lightly to it. "You do have a nice back."

One glance't Alex tells me oh yeah, this's th'one. "Oh. Yes. I like it." A minute, then'e grins. "Sexy."

'd think'e wuz gonna shock th'girl, but she looks a li'l b'yond shocked attis point. She mutters somethin' 'bout sendin' th'bill t'Alex an' rushes right out. Th'dresses practic'lly get caught'n th'door azzit slams.

Alex, meanwhile, 's circlin' me. "I like it from the back particularly. The glimpse of shoulder blade." Feel'is fingers brush m'skin. "You do have a nice back."

I look over m'shoulder attim an' grin. "You oughta know, y'had a good 'nough look attit." Wonder if'n mebbe 'e won't be seein't again t'night, an' lightly push back 'gainst's hand. Jes' ferra minute. An'en I turn, still smilin'. "So! What time's'is do start?"

"You oughta know, y'had a good 'nough look attit."

She leans back into my hand, and I feel my smile sharpen. Maybe the evening will have a more interesting finish than these things usually do.

"So! What time's'is do start?"

"7 for 7.30," I say, "which means there'll be some champagne and circulating before dinner. Shall I pick you up, or meet you there?"

Alex grins back't me. Oh yeah, mebbe'is might be fun after all. "7 for 7.30, which means there'll be some champagne and circulating before dinner. Shall I pick you up, or meet you there?"

"Better pick me up." I smirk, gesturin' down't m'self. "Can't see m'self innis on th'bloody subway." Gesture't th'zipper, an' Alex helps me outta th'dress. I hang't on th'back'a th'door an' start pullin' m'clothes on. "Ev'ryone else from th'office gonna be'ere too, I guess?"

"Most of the editorial side of things, certainly, and Art and Marketing too," I say. "Not so much the secretaries unless they've been asked to accompany someone here." I unzip her dress. "I'll be in a cab, so come down at..." I work out where her building is in relation to the party, "6.40? Maybe if you're lucky I'll bring you a corsage," I tease as she gets dressed.

"Most of the editorial side of things, certainly, and Art and Marketing too. Not so much the secretaries unless they've been asked to accompany someone here." Big s'prise, 'at. Wonder if'n any'a th'other authors'll be there...likely not, less'ey's real moneymakers. Or'ey's somebody's date. "I'll be in a cab, so come down at...6.40? Maybe if you're lucky I'll bring you a corsage," Alex grins.

I grin right back, yankin' m'shirt over m'head. "Mebbe I'll get you one too. An' don't forget, y'still owe me a shirt." I laugh, drapin' th'dress over m'arm 'n headin' out. Plenty t'do b'fore t'night. Christ, guess'd better buy some makeup.

cont here (http://excolocrack.livejournal.com/19979.html?thread=3440907#t3440907)

This month's star title: Set-Up For Scandal!

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