Flash Fiction Phrase – One Man Doesn’t Make A Company.

Hi,

Hope all had a good week. Mine’s been slow and I didn’t get nothing accomplished. This week has to be more productive. Not sure where this phrase or scene came from, but I hope you all enjoy it.

Remember let your imagination soar when you read.

Julia

* * * Note This is an unedited scene with M/M content mentioned. * * *

Jonas flopped onto the black leather sofa behind his desk and groaned. What was he supposed to do without Donnie? He had been the company for ten years. The man knew a wonderful looking woman with one look. It’s why he’d been the best man for the Talent Scout for Luscious Ladies Modeling.

 “Jonas,” Robert threw his door open and stormed in like a twister sucking up every house and car in its path. “Do not go where your mind is at.”

At first, Jonas had no idea what Robert was going on about. Then Robert slammed a white sheet of paper down in front of him.

 “I say good f-ing bye to him.”

Jonas glance down, spotting Donnie’s disjointed, doctor style signature. Donnie sent the resignation letter to Robert, before he told him. Made sense, company’s policy stated that if the HR department wasn’t notified before the supervisor that no owed holiday or vacation time would be paid.

 “You’ve always thought he made this company,” Robert sat on top of the light colored coffee table he’d made him as a grand opening gift. “You were wrong then and Donnie Cart-dick-wright proved it by quitting like he did.”

“Cart-dick-wright?” Jonas chuckled at his life-long best friend. “You know he did. If it hadn’t been for him joining the company, I wouldn’t had known what females to bring aboard.”

“Ture. Your opinion of women has always been unusual, but . . .” Robert tossed his hands into the air. “What can you say, you prefer a nice hard body over a thin bimbo.”

Jonas sure did. He’d always taken nice broad bulging shoulder men home. Mainly, because they reminded him of Robert, a man who’d been off limits since he ran across his lover of twenty-two years.

“What do you expect me to do when the women Donnie brought in follows him to his own company?”

Robert leaned back on his hands and gave him the million-dollar smile that he gave right before giving a perfect escape from trouble. Trouble found the two of them loads of times throughout their childhood, and it had always been Robert who saved their asses. Far as Jonas could tell there was no way to save Luscious Ladies Modeling. Appeared he’d be proving his dad right.

“Give Ladies Luscious Modeling a makeover.”

“Another one?”

He’d done so fifteen years ago when Donnie brought him the Wing-It Company. Jonas had been skeptical about finding twenty female underwear and bathing suit models. He’d told Donnie that there was no way for a small town, mainly male oriented modeling company to succeed in doing so. Donnie told him to leave the details to him. That had been the start of a fifteen year, three shows a year, contract with Wing-It. Since the company required at least ten different model each show the majority of his clients became women, so ten years ago he’d changed the company from a Luscious Modeling, a male/female oriented company to Luscious Ladies Modeling.

 “Yes. Go back to Luscious Modeling. You still have the Wing-It contract, right?”

“Yes, we just resigned for five more years.”

“Did you put in the same clause as last time?”

Jonas sat forward and hugged Robert. “Thank you. I forgot about that.”

“How could you?” Robert huffed.

He’d been so distracted about Donnie quitting that he’d forgotten that the contract with Wing-It had been signed two days early.

“Good. Then Donnie can’t steal them for another five years without costing Wing-It quite a bit of money. All that needs doing is to find someone to replace Donnie and I’ll call Jack.”

“Jack? Why would you call him?”

Jack and him hadn’t become close friends like Robert had hoped. How could Jonas get close to the man who stole his true love from him. Petty on his part, but Jonas hadn’t been able to find anyone that measured up to Robert and Jack and Robert had been inseparable. Not that he’d tried much to break them apart. Jonas wouldn’t do anything to upset Robert, not even to make himself happy.

 “Jack has wanted you to take over his calendar gig for ten years. He just signed a new contract with Howling Night Club and needs all new models for their calendars.”

“Big gig.” Howling Night Club owned at least two night clubs in each state and put out a different calendar for each one of them.

“Well, what do you say. Discard your idea that one man makes a business and go back to what you wanted for the company to start with?”

“I say make it happen.”

Jonas stood up and gave his best friend a hug and ordered him to get to work. Robert left the room chuckling.

***

Phrase Flash Fictions Scene ‘Braver Than You Look’

Hi,

Hope all are ready to start a new week. If not then maybe this little flash fiction scene will soothe your way into it.

Hope you enjoy and remember:

Let your imagination soar when you read.

Julia

* * *

Gavin’s foot bounced faster with each passing second. He had no idea what was going on behind those thick, dark oak doors. They’d always scared the shit out of him. Not doors, but was behind them.

His dad. The biggest. The baddest. Highest ranking Alpha among every wolf shifter in the world. He held the fate of everyone under him, including the future leader, his always screwing up son. A year ago Gavin could’ve put his latest stunt down as being a senior in high school. Not any longer. He might be in college, but that wouldn’t matter to his dad. Not one bit, because as of three months ago he’d begun training to take over for his dad, who longed to pass the throne to him so he could spend the rest of his life with his mate.

The door didn’t groan or creek, it flew wide open in one swift solid move and the doorway was filled with his father’s broad shoulders.

“Son, come in.”

The even-tempered, calm tone didn’t bode well for Gavin. Or it hadn’t in the past. He stood up tall and walked with an air of confidence that he lacked.

“Take a seat.”

Gavin wasn’t about to do something as stupid as sit first. Protocols among the wolves were the highest ranking sat before the peons. And he was still a peon, so he stood in front of the tall back chair in front of his father’s seat.

“You do know how to behave.”

Gavin didn’t rise to his father’s bait. He might have fucked up, by sleeping with Rave Carter last night, but he wasn’t stupid enough to breach protocol when if front of his Alpha.

“Do you know why you are here?” Ice clinked as his father dropped two pieced into a tumbler.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Tell me?” The light pop sound of the stopped being removed filled the eerie quiet room.

“Rave Cater and I was caught in a compromising position by his father, Second Alpha to the Haven Ridge Pack.”

Gavin wasn’t fearful of his dad’s reaction about his son sleeping with a male. His father had known his sexual preference since he turned fifteen. What he would mind is having the second highest-ranking Alpha calling him at four o’clock in the morning to tell him what his son had been up to.

“What were you thinking?”

“Giving Rave a night to remember.”

 Shit. Had he really just smarted off? Gavin’s tensed and started to take a deep breath, but caught himself before he showed that slightest sign of nervousness. His father would catch any sign of weakness and there was nothing his father despised worse than weakness.

“Did you succeed in your goal?”

The question stunned Gavin. Any other time such a smartass remark would’ve earned him a stout lecture about how important image was for him.

“Answer me.”

“Uh . . . Yes . . . I did until his father busted into the room.”

“Hm. And why did his father barge into his room?”

Not a question Gavin wanted to answer. There was no way to do so without sounding rude or brass.

“Answer.”

“Rave can be a bit noisy.”

Laughter flowed around the room like a sucker punch out of nowhere. Before Gavin thought about it he spun around and faced his father. The huge grin and his father holding his mid-section as deep, shoulder racking chuckled left his mouth was a strange site. Gavin was sure his mouth dropped to the floor.

“Son, shut your mouth and take a seat.”

Protocol left his mind the moment his dad called him son and he flopped into the chair. He wasn’t there in an official mode if his father addressed him so informally.

“You’re not pissed?”

“No, but watch your mouth.”

“Sorry.” Gavin ran a hand over his face. “Then why did you call me to your office.”

“I might not be angry, but I still have to look into the complaint the Haven Ridge Alpha filed over the situation. He was a bit ticked. I think it more like unsettled about his son’s sex life.”

Gavin bet he was. Rave was deep in the closet. They usually didn’t meet at Rave’s house, but his parents were out of town.

“Son, did you not know Rave’s father’s stance on same sex?”

“Yes, which is why we normally don’t meet at Rave’s house.”

“Then why did you guys?”

“His parents left for vacation last night.”

“I see. Rave wasn’t alerted to the incident among three of the Haven Ridge pace?”

“Not that I’m aware of. But why would he be.”

“He’s next in line.”

“No he’s not. His father chose to Skip Heir clause.” A rarely used loophole where an Alpha can chose to skip his eldest son to take his place, because he fears his son isn’t strong enough.

“I see.”

The small frown lines marring his father’s face spoke louder than words could have. His father hadn’t known this and most likely didn’t like that his son did.

“Explains a few things.”

“What?”

“How close are you and Rave?”

“Extremely.”

“What’s that mean?” His father took the seat behind his desk, propping his elbows on the desk.

“He’s mine.” Gavin regretted the little growl that left him before his father’s eyebrow rose to his forehead. “Sorry, Alpha.”

“Then why has it not been announced?”

“Rave was working up the courage to tell his father. He feared his father’s reaction.” With good reason. “I kept telling him he was braver than he looked, but . . .”

“Guess he got the courage to go a step further.”

Gavin didn’t like the sound of that. Rave could go a bit wild if he was pushed to far. And he’d been embarrassed last night after his father cursed him and spouted off about how he’d be contacting the main Alpha to take care of the lousy SOB that defiled his son. The man had been so worked up he didn’t even pay attention to who his son was with.

“What is going on, dad?”

“Rave challenged his father.”

Oh fuck! “NO! He can’t. I won’t allow my man to fight that bastard.”

“Son,” his father was on his feet and around the desk, “calm down. You know I can’t stop the fight. Neither can you, since you’ve not openly claimed him as yours.”

“Fuck! Fuck! What’s Rave’s chances?”

Gavin knew they were slim. Rave was a small man, who despised fighting. Hell, the man hated to kill during the wolf hunt.

“Believe it or not, pretty good.”

“Huh?” Gavin’s head shot up. “What’s that mean?”

“You’ve never seen your man fight have you?”

“No. He hates violence.”

“True, but he’s stronger than his father.”

That’s why his father had been shocked Rave had been skipped. “You sure about this?”

“Positive. I watched the heir challenges three years and he was the winner.”

“When’s the fight?”

“Two hours. Want to watch with me?”

Boy did he. For more than one reason.

* * *

Image Flash Fiction Scene

Hi,

I know I’ve been promising a blog story, but it looks like the story is going to end up being a bit longer than I’d like for a blog story, so I’m going to edit it up and eventually release it as a short story for you guys. It’ll be at a steal of a price when I release it. So, keep tabs on my blog, website, and Facebook page to see when it’s set to release. So, for the blogs I’m going to continue to do the flash fiction scenes. I’m enjoying them and they’re boosting my creativity.

This weeks’ scene will come from this picture:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334096/Bengal-tigers-fight-underwater-chase-chunks-meat.html

(Side Note: These are unedited and unrevised scenes.)

* * *

Cat shifters of any kind shouldn’t fight, because the feline shifter race is rare, but the Bengal section is even rarer. There are only two dozen of us left in the entire world, which is exactly why Scott and I are fighting. He truly thought I would simply step aside and let him take my she-cat from me. Raquel’s been mine since we were six years old. My parents arranged for us to be married when we turned nineteen. It’s why our Bengal Queen kept her parents in our clan after Raquel’s father strayed from his mate.

“RayRay, stop this.”

There was no way I was stepping back from Scott. It was his challenge, which meant I fought until he gave up, because there was no way in Bengal afterlife I would give him my woman.

“Please, RayRay, don’t do this.”

I had no idea why Raquel was wishing me to stop fighting for her. If I did then she would be Scott and we’d never have the life we dreamed of.

“Scott, stop this, he won’t give up. I told you this. Stop, before you’re hurt.”

Why would Raquel warn Scott I wouldn’t give up? Had Scott gone to my woman and warned her about his challenge, if so when and why hadn’t she warned me?”

“What is going on here?”

The Queen’s shout must have spooked Scott, because he lost control of his massive paw. Instead of it making contact with my head, it splashed water into the air.

“Queen, make them stop this, please.”

Raquel’s soft timber voice was more of a whine.

“Queen,” Thomas, the second highest ranking male among our clan, said, “Scott Masters issued a ownership challenge to RayRay James.”

“He did what?”

I threw my front paw, making contact with Scott’s temple and kicked out with my back legs as he slumped further into the water. He didn’t remain there long, because my kick sent him flying back to land. I leapt after him, landing over him and clamping my jaw around his throat. I didn’t break his skin, letting him know he was beat. Ending his life was in the far corner of my mind, but I would not kill Scott for a stupid action.

“RayRay, back away and shift, you’ve won.”

I did as my Queen said and knelt in front of her, not bothering to wipe the small trail of blood trickling from my right eye away.

The Queen came to my side and ran her thumb across the ragged claw mark and shook her head. “Do you need the doctor?”

“No, my Queen.”

“Good. Can you tell me what triggered this?”

“He wants my woman and he can’t have her.”

“Raquel, come here.” The Queen motioned for her.

“Why would Scott disobey my orders?”

The quietness had me glancing at her and I knew I would not like the answer Raquel was refusing to give. Not only tears rushing down her cheeks told me, but so did the way she twisted her right hand around the left one. It was a move she only did when she was about to disappoint someone.

The Queen shook her head and went to Scott’s side. “You answer me then.”

“Raquel does not wish to be tied to RayRay.”

* * *

Phrase/Image Flash Fiction Scene

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the phrase, Rest In Peace? If you are like most your mind jumps to death. But is that all the phrase means? I’m not sure, let’s see what my mind conjures up when I use this phrase as my Weekly Phrase Flash Fiction Scene.

Hope you enjoy. Have a great week and remember,

Let your imagination soar when you read or write.

Julia

* * *

The day after my dad’s funeral and my best friend had just told me to go and rest in peace. How morbid is that. Good thing I knew my best friend as well as I did. Lacy was the type of person who spoke without a filter. Half of the time it caused her to say stupid shit instead of what she truly meant. Like right then, Lacy had been meaning to tell me to go get some rest, but what came out was ‘Rest in peace’.

“Oh, shit!” Lacy’s hands flew over her face. “I’m so sorry. That’s not what I meant.

And there was her famous backtracking, raised eyebrow, red tinted cheeks, and huge bulging baby blue eyes that contrasted with her half purple dyed hair. Okay, Lacy was more than a bit eccentric, but she was better than a loyal cockaspaniel. She’d pulled me through the last year of my dad’s battle with cancer and through every minute since he lost the fight.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean . . .”

“Lacy, it’s cool. I knew what you meant.”

The entire incident was kind of comical. I mean it had to be right. My best friend, who fouled up almost everything she said in tension filled situation, had really just made my day a bit lighter and didn’t even know it.

“Why are you smiling?”

“You.”

“Uh . . . I’m lost. I know I’m kind of a spasz most of the time, but . . .”

“Lacy, you are perfect when someone needs their spirit lifted.”

“There you go again,” Lacy tilted her head and gave her famous dubious smile.

“You don’t even know that you are the best medicine anyone can have.”

“Hmm . . . Does that mean I’ll be rich?” Lacy tugged me into a hug. “Not sure what I said or did, but I’ll do more if you’ll tell me.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’ve missed your vibracious and full of life smile.”

“Guess it’s been missing for the last year or so.”

“Yeah, but with some much due and well deserved rest in . . . I mean peaceful rest you’ll back to yourself soon as the morning sun hits your wonderful face.”

“Good, then I’ll just be going to get my Rest In Peace.” I laughed and headed towards my car.

“You do that, and I’ll go hook up with a hottie that has a friend for you tomorrow night.”

Wasn’t so sure about hitting clubs with hot men, but one thing was sure, a more peaceful life was headed my way.

* * *

Writer’s Journey Part 4

Hi all,

Over the last three weeks you’ve read the start of how I develop a story idea. Now, I’m reached the part where I sit down and organize all the ramblings from the brainstorming, and the character interviews. From here I’ll pull open my blank outline form in my Scrivener Program and transfer the information I gained into it. (I know this seems like an excessive amount of overkills, but for me creating the rambles in Word and then organizing it and transferring it cements the idea in my head, while allowing me to see if I’ve got major holes that need filling before I start my free write. In the past when I’ve been in the middle of this an amazing starting point for the story reveals itself.)

Once I have the information transferred I go in and study the blank parts of my predefined outline. (The outlines I use to hold notes are a combination of lots of questions about a building story. From World Building, Character, Settings, and Plot.) Fill in other areas that I can see as useful later on. Once I have these all filled in, or all that I see as useful to the story I’m building, I’m done with my developmental stage. Which means, time to enter the free write stage.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this insight into how I develop a story.

Remember let your imagination soar when your read or write.

Have a Great Week,

Julia