Five: Meet Maxine Roberts

"Before we meet her ... I think there are a few things I need to tell you about Maxine," Tommy needed to clean his conscience before the introduction.

Charlie was smelling like a designer's perfume which she probably sprayed all over her body, she sat nicely in the white dress she wore on her 17th birthday. "What?" she asked unsuspectingly.

He tried to find the right words to explain as best he could, Maxine was a woman of power and she liked to trade it with whatever she wanted to fulfill her desires. "I guess that's how business is around here, anyone who has a bit of power had offered me things ... mostly for sex, which I declined," Tommy said while driving, he took Charlie's hand and kissed it.

"If it weren't for me, would you have accepted it?"

Tommy thought for a moment, "Probably not, I don't want to build a future based on sex trade, once you go into that hole, it's a one way down from there."

"So how did you get this job then? If you didn't agree to her terms."

"I told her I wanted to start from the bottom, I don't want any privileges or anything like that ... the pay is not even close to what I made at The Silver Tongue, she needed an extra hand in the studio, a very low-level job, and she was okay with it." He backed up the car to park the car as they arrived at Maxine's. "Although, I'm sure she was just stalling 'cause she will definitely make more offers as we go along ... that's why I'm not so sure about this, Charlie, this may not turn out the way I want it to."

Charlie took the information in silence. To be in a close network with Maxine Roberts was a huge advantage. If she had learned anything being Bill Ludlow's daughter, she'd learned that opportunities don't come very often, miss-opportunities are usually the reason for unsuccessfulness in achieving goals. She had a new goal that night, there's nothing she wanted more than to enter a film school, and Tommy was also close to what he wanted. It would be a waste to have been that close to what he wanted and not getting it. She knew they had to see this dinner as an opportunity.

It was a mansion, of course. A modern high-tech mansion up the Goldstone hill where everything was operated electrically. The moment the front door was opened, the chill breeze from the air conditioning inside made the hairs on her skin stand up. She covered her shoulders with her scarf.

Maxine Roberts descended the staircase to the right of the entrance hall. She looked small in the vastness of her home, the very high ceiling, and the large pieces of artwork she collected around her home. "My ... look at you ... what a gem ..." she gasped at the both of them. Her eyes sparkled as if she was seeing a new piece of art that she had fallen in love with. "I heard Tom was bringing his girlfriend, and what a good looking couple the two of you make, hi ... I'm Maxine Roberts," she shook Charlie's hand, gave her a peck on the cheek, the same with Tommy.

Maxine wore a dark blue-black pantsuit with black stilettos. Her silver hair fell right above her shoulders, tucked behind her ears where her blue emerald earrings sat nicely.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Roberts," Charlie greeted, star-struck as she was.

Maxine curved one side of her lips, hooked her arm around Charlie's and made a dismissive hand gesture, "Oh, call me Maxine, please, there's no need for formalities around here ... Charlie, right? I've heard a bit about you from Deeta whom I'm sure you've met," she said and led the way to the dining room.

The walk to the dining room was quite far, they had to pass a corridor with doors aligned on both sides and a row of artworks along the way. The house was quiet until they were close enough to the dining room where jazz music was playing.

They were greeted by Deeta and Benji at the dining room which was surprisingly very homey compared to the ambiance of the rest of the house, or at least the part that they passed by. Servers in uniforms with earpieces were preparing what would be their dinner. Everything was meticulously placed in order. Fresh flowers organized around the room that's surrounded by glass windows looking out to the lawn.

Tommy was getting familiar with the cheek to cheek greeting, although he wasn't comfortable with it. Small talk as wine poured into crystal glasses, each placed on the side of their plates. "Here's to new friends," Maxine proposed. Although Tommy and Charlie were just children compared to the rest of the group, they didn't really fit the 'friends' reference, but they raised their glasses to be polite.

Maxine's presence was clear, she was the hostess, the woman in charge. Her warmth and friendliness never gave out the fact that everyone was there because she wanted them to. It didn't take long for them to find out how different Charlie's background was from Tom's. When Maxine asked her about where she wanted to go for college, it was the perfect time for Charlie to ask about the institute.

"I've always been interested in filmmaking, you don't know how thrilled I was when Tommy said he was acquainted with you," she praised her.

Maxine looked surprised, she sipped on her wine, "Really? So you're planning to join a filmmaking major? Mind me asking where you have enrolled to?"

Tommy cleared his throat, he was nervous at what Charlie might say.

"Actually, I was thinking if I can enroll in your film institute, I heard that you just had an opening ceremony for it."

Tommy squeezed her hand, "Well, she's already accepted at the University of Gastonburry for the law major," he felt the need to remind her of it.

"UOG? That's a very good school, why the sudden change?" Maxine was curious.

"That's what my dad chose for me, my interest had always been the movies ... I was planning to take a tour on Monday and get the information I need for the admission process," Charlie sounded like she had made up her mind.

Tommy gave her a look which she didn't even realize.

"Well ... that can be arranged, I can have someone prepared all that for you, and you can take the tour whenever you like ... as a matter of fact, I can take you on the tour myself when my schedule is not so busy, would you like that?" Maxine's lips curved on one side, she admired her boldness.

Tommy glanced at Deeta and Benji who was quiet but very much listening to the whole conversation. There was something in their eyes that did not sit well with him. He couldn't really say anything, not without tarnishing the sparks in Charlie's face when she heard Maxine's offer.

"It would be an honor for me if you'd be so kind, I don't want to be a bother, I'm sure you have a very busy schedule," Charlie masked her excitement behind a polite phrase.

Maxine waved a dismissive hand, "Oh, no bother at all ... I'm there at least three times a week since it's just opened. We have a lot of students enrolling for the new academic year, I'm sure we can squeeze one more ... I guess you've come at the perfect time, wouldn't you say so Tom?"

Tommy almost choked on his food, he coughed nervously, "Yes ... good timing," he agreed.

"But, what about UOG? Tom said you've been accepted, it's not easy to get accepted in such a distinguished university?" Maxine continued with her food.

"The hardest part would be talking to my dad about it, I think he's paid the first year tuition already," she grimaced, "I may have to pay for my own tuition if I decide to enroll to Arch," she laughed, not sure about it herself.

"It sounds like you have a very big decision to make, but I think it's good for you because you're at the age of determining your own future, whatever you decide ... I'm sure Tom here would support you," Deeta finally shared her thoughts on the subject.

Maxine nodded in agreement, "It's important to make the right decision for your own future, I'm sure everything can be arranged, right, Tom?"

Tommy swallowed his food slowly, all eyes were on him. He let out a long exhale, and nod, "I will support whatever she decides."

"Thank you, well ... not that I have made any decisions yet, that's why I'll be taking the tour, I'd love to get more information about everything," Charlie said.

"Of course, you have the whole summer to decide, maybe sooner than that 'cause class starts in September ... but no rush, what I would love to discuss though, the screening next week ... I hope you're coming to the screening, won't you Charlie?" Maxine subtly shifted the topic. "I would love for you and Tom to come and get a full makeover with Benji here, ... not that you both need a lot of changing, but Benji here has the magic touch and you would love to have his artwork on you," she continued.

Charlie looked at Tommy with a wide smile on her face, "I would love to, nobody's offered me a makeover before, I sure want to try it, right Tommy?"

He didn't really have the chance to say anything for himself, he tilted his head slightly and shrugged, "Why not?" Charlie had basically decided for both of them.

"Perfect!" Maxine exclaimed. Everyone was looking forward to the event. Everything seemed to be going according to her plans.