Loe raamatut: «Perfect Match»

One

The morning had barely begun and the Star office, the leading artists' agency in the entire country, was already in full speed. With a headset on her ear and a stack of the main gossip magazines and printed notes from Internet websites in her hand, Melissa walked through the corridors of the agency towards Bruno's office, while talking to him on the phone.

- Mauro is furious - she said, referring to the agency's owner. - You need to think of some urgent crisis management action, Bruno. I just saw Bel Dias on TV, talking about the case of the famous actor who was seen leaving the motel with the wife of a TV soap opera director.

Bruno let out a deep sigh on the other end of the line, but his voice didn't lose its usual cheerfulness. Melissa found it incredible how her boss always had a solution for the problems Jonas got involved in, yet without losing his composure.

- Did he mention Jonas' name? - She asked.

- No, since we sued his column for talking about the peculiar tastes of you-know-who, he started saying that "since the column is a righteous one" he doesn't mention the individual's name - she said, citing the case of a famous country singer. - But who else is called a prince in the artistic world besides Jonas? - She asked in a lower tone of voice, as she went to the coffee room to fill a cup, not wanting her co-workers to hear her.

- Did Mauro say something? - Bruno asked, his voice sounding a little muffled, indicating that he had entered the building's elevator. The young redhead headed towards the entrance of the agency, knowing that when she got to the reception she would find him leaving the elevator.

- He asked me to set up a time for you to talk to him. - She started, but interrupted herself as she passed by two directors. - Hello, good morning - she greeted the two men in suits and got back on the phone. - I tried to explain that you had a busy day, but I don't know if we can get away from it for long.

In moments of crisis like these, all Bruno preferred to avoid was a confrontation with Mauro Reis, the Star's president.

- Okay, let's set up a meeting with Jonas - he said.

Ping! The sound indicating the arrival of the elevator sounded just as Melissa arrived at the reception desk. The doors opened and when Bruno Duarte came out, he turned off his cell phone, stuffing it in his jacket pocket, while taking the huge coffee mug from his assistant's hands.

- Thank you, Mel - he said, with a smile that could melt the glaciers of Alaska.

The man was gorgeous, Melissa couldn't deny it, but all she saw when she looked at him was her boss and friend. Unlike Jonas, whom she often referred to as cute but slutty. The guy was the most inconsiderate prick she had ever met and who, due to her job, she was forced to put up with.

- Not at all - she continued, talking without losing the rhythm of their conversation as they walked down the corridors. - I left everything that came out on the topic on your desk and...

Ah, damn it! - She muttered as she saw Mauro leaving the president's office.

Before Bruno could do anything, she pushed him into a room and walked ahead, causing the man in his fifties, who clearly had his hair dyed black to look younger and his skin orange from tanning booths, to stop in front of her. He opened his mouth, but she didn't let him speak.

- Hi, Mauro! I just came from the reception desk and Michelle was waiting to talk to you. - The man's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened in surprise when he heard about the adult film actress who had decided that she wanted to be represented by Star, even though he had told her numerous times that they didn't work in this field. - Do you want me to send her in? - She asked, looking innocent.

- Shh! - He grumbled, motioning with his hands for her to lower her voice. - You haven't seen me. I'm not here! - He turned and ran back into the room as if a thousand demons were chasing him.

When the door slammed, Bruno came out of the small room where he had hidden himself and they walked back through the corridors until they reached the office where they worked.

Taking a generous sip of fresh coffee, the young executive sat down in the leather chair and began to rummage through the pile of news clippings carried by Melissa, feeling his stomach clench as he thought about how much work he would have to do to fix this mess. On days like these, Bruno seemed to feel twice as old as his twenty-five years.

While turning on the computer, he heard Mel answer the phone, as she signaled to him with her hand. Grabbing the headset that was on the table, he put it on his ear just as his assistant was speaking:

- Sure, Raquel, Bruno will take your call now - she transferred the call to him, who answered the stylist with the soft voice that makes women sigh.

- Hi, Raquel! How's my favorite stylist? - He knew it sounded a bit of a suck up, but it was necessary, since the young woman's brand was responsible for the style production at the events Jonas attended.

- Well done. - The voice on the other end of the line sounded sarcastic. - Mostly because I'm not going to put up with your womanizing client anymore. Four couples have cancelled their participation in today's event here at the boutique. The husbands are scared to death to have their wives seduced right under their noses. Besides, he broke the heart of my best assistant, who resigned and decided to go back to her parents' home in the countryside, because Jonas promised her the world to get her into bed.

Ah, damn, Bruno thought to himself. Hurricane Jonas Lopes was leaving a trail of destruction wherever he went. He sighed as he listened to the stylist complain, ran his hands through his short hair, and spoke when the woman took a breath.

- Raquel, we have been partners for years...

She interrupted him:

- And Jonas has been doing these things for years!

- You know he doesn't mean it... he's a very... caring guy. - Bruno softened his tone of voice and Melissa let out a loud laughter, while she answered the other incoming call.

- Caring guy? - Rachel's voice sounded a little high-pitched. - He is a dirty, shameless dog, Bruno. The only reason I didn't cancel the deal with him before was because of you! You know I love you, but if you don't do something about Jonas...

Bruno took advantage of the gap.

- I promise I'll fix him, Raquel. You won't abandon me, will you? - He asked, charmingly over the phone, and was a little more relieved to hear the stylist sigh.

- If he doesn't change in the next few weeks, our deal is off. And there's no point in you coming to me in your needy-boy voice! - She laughed. They talked some more, until Bruno said goodbye, promising that he would fix everything.

During the next hour, Bruno and Mel answered a countless number of calls reflecting the news from the last days, and despite managing to revert the dissatisfaction of some contractors, such as the marketing director of the beverage company where Jonas was the advertising guy, the outcome of the final results of the calls was terrible, to say the least.

- Two cancelled sponsorship contracts, five cancelled invitations to events, eight declined advertising proposals, and the loss of the leading role in the next soap opera - Mel listed cautiously, while Bruno ran his hands through his dark brown hair in frustration. The girl smiled as she saw the mess he had made of his wavy hair, finding it amazing how he could look even more handsome with that hopeless look.

Bruno was the kind of man who could have any woman he wanted. With an above-average intelligence, a persuasive speech that could convince anyone and a surprisingly sweet look, the man was like honey in a beehive. He was on the radar of most women, who competed for his attention... well, that was when Jonas didn't steal the girls he was interested in. It was the onus of being best friends with the prince of the soap operas, the businessman said resignedly.

- Damn it - he muttered, as the door to the room opened.

Mauro appeared in the doorway, his expression rather displeased.

- You. In my office. Now.

The man turned away without giving him a chance to answer, slamming the door hard behind him.

Bruno stood up, removed the headset from his ear, straightened his tie, and pointed to his assistant.

- Mel, call Jonas. Ask him to meet me at that Italian restaurant we like.

- Noon? - She asked. He nodded and left the room, feeling his headache getting worse as he made his way to his boss's office.

Mauro's secretary smiled broadly when she saw him, as she always did. He approached Lurdinha, a lady in her sixties, who took care of the president's agenda with an iron fist. Leaning over, he kissed the chubby cheek of the lady, who giggled and rubbed his cheek affectionately.

- Take it easy, my son. He is very nervous.

- Tell me about it... - he murmured, heading for the door that was half-open.

- You have to tell that boy to calm down. Find himself a nice girl... - she said, and he laughed.

- Let's see what I can do. - He winked his blue eyes at her, who smiled even more.

Bruno walked across the room to the chair across from Mauro's desk. As he walked, his eyes glided over the panel covering the sidewall, with photos of artists, musicians, personalities, and sportspeople. The man was a living legend in the artistic world, representing the main names in the market. Bruno barely had time to sit down when Mauro spoke up:

- I have been in this market for many years, Bruno, and I have represented every type of artist. Temperamental, demanding, annoying... but one who does everything possible to throw his career in the trashcan is the first. Jonas is gone.

- He's just a kid, Mauro. - Bruno tried to appease him.

- A kid? Twenty-four years old?

- The man stood up and began to walk from one side to the other, impatiently.

- He's a rascal. A womanizer! I have been warning you for a long time that he needs to do something about his posture, that he is not the only star in the country. Every day, a new name comes up, a better-looking face appears, and a new talent explodes on TV.

He rested his hands on the table, leaning his body forward.

- We have taken care of Jonas' career since he was nineteen. I hired you because you came in the package and allowed you to devote yourself exclusively to him. However, even though you have become an excellent manager, one of the best on the team, you know that with Jonas leaving, I have no alternative but to shut you down.

Bruno stood up. His heart was racing, and so was his head. This moment was decisive and he needed to use all his power of persuasion with Mauro, not only to save his best friend's skin, but also to guarantee his job. Even though he knew that Jonas would follow him wherever he went, it would not be of much use if his career were ended by the scandal he had gotten himself into. In addition, since he had no other clients, he could hardly pull off Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise's role in the movie of the same name, and convince other actors to follow him. He could only kiss his boss's ass a little and try to reverse the situation.

- Jonas is a great guy, Mauro. He is a great actor, with a talent that is rare nowadays. But he is weak-minded when it comes to women. Don't terminate the contract yet. I'm sure I can turn this whole thing around. - He raised his eyebrow. - You know I've never let you down, or promised you something I couldn't keep.

The man sighed, closing the button of his jacket.

- You have three months to work this out. Three. Months. Not a day more, understand, Bruno?

He nodded his heart racing.

- No problem - the young man answered and quickly left the room before Mauro changed his mind.

He didn't know what kind of miracle would be necessary to contain Jonas, but he would have to manage. Otherwise, both of them would join the statistics of the thousands of unemployed in the country.