Page 64 of Professional Consult
I hit ANSWER:
Lexi:Hello?
Unknown:Lexi Dash?
A familiar voicestreams from the receiver.
Alicia Davies.
Lexi:I didn’t expect you to call so soon.
Alicia:I didn’t expect to call at all.
Lexi:I was hoping we could talk about—
Alicia:I don’t want to play your games. We’re not kids anymore, and I’ve grown up.
Lexi:I can respect that.
Alicia:Can you? You don’t seem familiar with the word.
Lexi:I realize we have a history. One that me and my people perpetuated.
Alicia:I’m glad you ‘realize’that.
Lexi:I’d like to make it up to you.
Alicia:Let me guess—it’s for your own benefit.
Alicia is way toosmart to fall for anything less than the truth. So I give it to her straight.
Lexi:I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t, but it’s for your benefit too.
Alicia:No thanks.
Lexi:Please, hear me out.
Alicia:I’ll give you a hot minute.
Words pour out of me.My childhood. My climb towards fame. My dominance. Tears fall, and the whole time I don’t know what she’s thinking. She’s quiet.
I tell her my dreams and how I’ve fallen in love, with not just a man, but a small town. How I hate acting. How I hate my golden life.
I clarify that it was my team that decides to engage in the underhanded tactics against her, but I take full responsibility and acknowledge that by not speaking out against it, I was complicit. I promise to help make it right.
I say so many things, hoping that even if she won’t help me, she’ll forgive me. That she’ll move on without the burden of our past.
Alicia:I must admit, when Clint contacted me, I thought it was a trick. Now, I’m not so sure.
Lexi:It’s not a trick.
Alicia:And you want to put out gossip that I have your role? You know that could backfire, right?
Lexi:The truth is, I don’t care. If my reputation suffers, I’ll deal with it. I just can’t let a chance at happiness pass me by, and if I can right the wrong that’s been done to you, then that’s a double win.
Alicia:You have no idea the pain our rivalry has caused me. I couldn’t get auditions. No one would return my calls. I’ve been stuck doing commercials for ten years.
Lexi:I know, and I’m so sorry. Like I said, even if you say no, I’ll try to fix it. I’ll do anything.
