Author's Note: This story is completely fictional and did not happen. All characters and names are fictional and were made up. I do not make money from these stories. Please do not copy and plagiarize my work.
This story was written for and dedicated to Noj. The idea was his, along with the characters and the title. It is a prequel to his 'Paying with Pussy' stories.
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Los Angeles, California
July 2006
The flickering flame cast a glow of light beyond the end of a cigarette that began to burn. Red polish covered the fingernails of a woman clutching a metal lighter. Raising her cigarette to her lips. Aging dark eyes glanced down as she took a drag, shoving the lighter back into her black leather purse. It's color matched that of her dress and heels heard clicking and clacking along the concrete pavement below. The night was young in the passing evening hours as Catherine Russell took a short walk through the driveway of her office building. Sitting next to her parked slick, black Mercedes Benz was a white car belonging to her security team. Directly behind it was a vehicle she did not recognize at all, figuring that it was driven by the guest who awaited her inside the building.
As an award winning producer working in L.A. for over a decade now, Catherine could afford the luxury of refurbishing an old building outside the Beverly Hills neighborhoods into a posh office. The building itself dated back to the 1960s and was previously a small apartment block. When she had first purchased the building, the downstairs was used as an office and the upstairs contained studio booths for recording sessions. Catherine had long since expanded her business, using her own connections alongside her husband to become a traveling producer that moved from label to label. Her services were top of the line for R&B artists, such a genre of music that brought her to the attention of a Pop singer know for her soulful roots.
Christina Aguilera first sought out Catherine's services as a producer when she began work on her 'Back to Basics' album. Having not put out an album in four years now, the singer was willing to spend a great deal of money with hiring whom she believed to be the best producers who could blend her style of music into a pop record. Catherine Russell had been recommended to Christina by word of mouth from another producer she had hired; Linda Perry. Many producers had been hired for the Back to Basics recording, many of them with demands to have their names added in the song writing credits as they were supplying the singer with potential hit singers. Catherine Russell on the other hand, had something else in mind when it came to negotiations.
A contract was quickly drawn up, one with a different series of demands compared to the other producers in house. Christina's agent immediately had issues with the contract as it cited personal demands and requests at hand, but Catherine wasn't negotiating with the middle man. She cut him out the picture, insisting on a proper meeting with the singer woman to woman. Christina's body was quite different from Catherine, as the older woman had reached her forties. Christina's blonde hair was a far cry from Catherine's dark black locks. The producer had reached her forties in age last year, keeping a slim waist and often wearing dark colored dresses that hid her curves well. With one look back to the singer's blue eyes, Catherine had already considered her husband's taste in women.
Several times the contract she had drawn up mentioned a man by the name of Mr. Russell. Christina didn't question whom this person was, as she agreed to allow the man's name into the song writing credits. Catherine explained it was her husband and such deals with family involved in song credits was not something unknown to Christina. Beyond those demands were other such things, involving possible sexual favors. Catherine had to make it clear to the woman just who her husband was and the connections he had. To ensure that the album would become a major success and possible Grammy winner, risks had to be taken beyond a level of talent. Christina gladly signed the contract after a lengthy discussion between the two regarding the influence of one Mr. Russell within the press of music reviews.
All of that had happened months ago as recording was long finished and the release of Back To Basics was now on the horizon. Catherine kept it to herself, the plans she had in store for Christina at this pre-release party. Her heels clicked and clacked down the wooden floor as she had entered her office building and began to climb the staircase. Like any other day, the woman had arrived dressed in black. She took once glance around her surroundings while smoke burned from the end of her cigarette. Her office awaited beyond a large black door, matching the color of the walls upstairs. Catherine slipped off her shades, throwing them into her purse as she stopped at the door and gripped the brass knob. As the door came open, Catherine set her eyes on the waiting guest sitting across from her desk.
"Hello again Mrs. Russell."
Offering a fake smile, Catherine stepped in as Christina began to rise up from the chair after her subtle greeting. The door shut behind them and now they were all alone in the small room. Behind Catherine's desk sat a row of three framed platinum albums she was credited as a producer for. Christina wore a short black skirt, her cleavage heavily exposed in a black matching top and the hint of fishnet stockings down below with her feet tucked into a pair of high heel pumps. Catherine didn't utter her thoughts aloud, as the style of outfit the girl had chosen had only reaffirmed previous beliefs that she was in the company of a whore.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long, Christina. I know girls like you don't enjoy waiting around offices."
"No, I'm fine. I got here early expecting a party."
Catherine chuckled as they shook hands. This was the formal approach for a business-like relationship. Sitting on the producer's desk was a large bottle of wine dated the year of 1955. Christina playfully ran her left hand through her long platinum blonde hair. Catherine blew a bit of smoke, pulling the cigarette from her mouth as she carried on speaking.
"The party is between us only. I've spoken to my husband about the reviews prepared for the album."
Her fingers dipped the cigarette down into an ash tray on her desk as she continued to talk.
"As you know, the critics will hear the album before release date. I hope you haven't forgotten what I told you about my husband and his word among the press."
Christina looked back at the older woman with a bewildered expression. Catherine kept a stone cold face as she grabbed the bottle of wine from the table.
"I want you to meet him tonight. You're his type of woman after all and I've been looking forward to him finally getting the chance to meet you."
"Wait, what? I'm his... type? Is that what you said?"
Unimpressed by that answer, Catherine stared back at the singer and nodded.
"Indeed. I must say he has been looking forward to this as much as I have."
