DANAI
"Be sure to tune in tomorrow at nine, when I talk to Ivan Willis about love, family, and what makes him tick. I'm Danai Martel, and thank you for tuning into 'On the Nai Side.'"
"And, CUT!"
Danai sighed, slumping back into her seat as the crew started bustling. It was not comfortable maintaining perfect posture on live TV, especially when she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Which, thanks to her makeup artist, was unbeknownst to the viewers at home and elsewhere.
"Good job Dani," several cast and crew members told her as they walked across the set. She said thanks to each of them, sitting up slightly in the process.
Her assistant, Patrick, ran up to her with a hot green tea and her schedule in hand. "Here," he said, jutting the eco-friendly mug toward her. Danai smiled, then took the drink. He smoothed out his dark hair before taking a look at her itinerary.
It was a little strange for her to have someone following her for hours on end, whose main concern was to keep her happy and on time. She'd tried to shake Pat off a few times when the studio first assigned Patrick as her new assistant, a few months back when she got her own segment, by telling him to go relax and focus on himself. But, she'd turn the corner not long after and find him right there waiting for her.
He was tall, about 6", and younger than her, but not by much. With him being twenty-four, there was almost a two-year difference between them. He was an omega like herself, and she had noticed a bite mark on the back of his neck once. She was tempted to ask but figured they should become closer friends before she delved into his personal life.
"You have a meeting with production in thirty," Patrick told her as she took a few sips of her tea.
Danai nodded, "Right... Did you ever find out what that's about?"
He gave her a look, "well, I did ask. Theo said, 'if your boss wants to know something, she can come and find out for herself.' So..."
"I see... Well," Danai got up and made her way towards the elevator, "it looks like I have some time to take a nap."
Patrick followed after her, clutching at the papers in his hands, "I don't know if we can fit that in-"
"Pat, I'm exhausted. I stayed up way too late watching Scandal because I've been too busy with work recently to see any episodes," she said as she pressed the 'up' button for the elevator. "And I have a meeting soon, which neither of us has any idea why and how long it'll be. I owe it to myself to close my eyes for ten or so minutes. Better than me falling asleep during the meeting, don't you think?"
They both stepped onto the elevator, and Danai pressed '15'. Patrick looked down at her, then sighed, "okay. I'll set the alarm and come get you when it's time for the meeting."
As much as she wanted to argue with even that, she nodded in agreement. It was a compromise, and she would still get to take her much-needed power nap.
The elevator car came to a halt, and a few people got off, leaving just Patrick and Danai. As the doors were about to close, a hand slid through, hitting one side. The doors opened once again, and there he stood.
Everitt Riley, one of the most respected and well-known TV hosts, stood there in front of them. He had won three Nano Awards and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Big Screen movie awards in his debut film role. She had respect for his success but was not impressed by what she'd heard of his character. He was arrogant, self-centred, and entitled. Not to mention he worked for the network's top rival, Future Productions studio.
He smiled at Danai and Patrick as he stepped onto the elevator, "Good morning."
"Morning."
"Good morning."
Everitt glanced at the buttons, then chuckled, "I'm going to the fifteenth floor, too."
Danai smiled, "wow. Crazy coincidence."
Everitt turned back to look at her, his green eyes slightly narrower than they had been just a moment ago, "isn't it?"
She matched his cool gaze for a moment but then looked away. As annoying as she assumed he was, he was also handsome. Her heartbeat picked up slightly, and she felt the need to fan herself. Danai was suddenly very aware of the way Everitt's dark dress shirt hugged his large, chiselled frame perfectly.
He looked down at her, and she felt short in an elevator with two tall men, as Everitt was a bit taller than her assistant. She could feel his eyes on her as he stepped toward her and was eager to get off the elevator when he asked, "sorry, but are you wearing perfume?"
Danai glanced up at him, "interested in buying some for a friend?"
Everitt shrugged, "just curious is all."
She looked away from him, then said, "it's peach body spray. You could also be smelling the scent of my cherry blossom hand cream."
Patrick looked between the two of them, observing the interaction between the two strangers.
"Must be it," Everitt said, although he didn't seem convinced himself.
The doors opened, and Everitt got off first, Danai and her assistant closed behind him. Danai and Patrick walked to the right toward her office as Everitt made his way toward the conference rooms in the other direction.
"You'll have about fifteen minutes to take your nap once we get to your office," Patrick told her, but when he looked at his boss, she didn't seem to be hearing a word that he said. "Danai?"
She stopped in front of her office door, then looked up at him, "fifteen minutes, I got it. I'll see you at the meeting." Danai opened her door, stepping inside as Pat called after her, "actually, I'll pick you up-."
His voice was quieted by the door closing, and she went over to her enormous, beige sofa. As she switched from her heels to her flats and grabbed her blue blanket, the last thing on her mind was sleep. She was glad to see that Patrick had gone somewhere else as she laid back onto her couch.
Her thoughts went to Everitt in the elevator and how he smelled when he leaned into her. "Seriously," she groaned, feeling the heat between her thighs. Her base's feeling grew, and she immediately went for her suppressants, throwing one in her mouth and swallowing hard.
Danai finally relaxed and fell asleep for the little time she had left.
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