This is more of a spin off than a sequel to the original Everyone's a Winner, so there is no requirement to read the first story in order to understand this one. (Could still be fun for you to do so though.)
Thanks also go to G-Man for editing services given for this story. Thanks.
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Candice couldn't help but feel insecure as she sat in the reception of Venus Studios, the media branch of Venus Industries. All around her sat women that looked like they had just finished filming a rap video and the walls were plastered with posters of pin ups and porn stars, even the receptionist looked like she had been kidnapped from the Playboy Mansion. Candice knew she was far from ugly, the number of guys who asked her out on a weekly basis told her that. However there was a large gulf between 'cute and pretty' and 'what all women would look like if God had been a sixteen year old boy during his Genesis days'.
Venus Studios was the only media corporation that had been willing to even consider Candice for an internship due to the current financial climate and if she was to succeed in her goal of becoming a major Hollywood producer then she needed to take any Media related experience she could get, regardless of the field. Regardless of any discomfort she may have been feeling, she knew she had to take this interview. Besides, she told herself, these girls were obviously here in relation to other roles in the company.
"Can Candice Johnson make her way to Interview Room B please." came an exceedingly chirpy voice over the loudspeaker.
Candice knew that was her cue so she took one final deep breath, mumbled a few words of encouragement to herself and then made her way to the interview room. Upon opening the door she was met by a man who couldn't have been much older than she was, yet judging by the suit and the office had certainly progressed much further along in his career.
"Candice, hi," said the man, flashing her a smile as white as the arctic snow. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Michael Williams but please, call me Mike, and I am the new head of Venus Studios. Would you like a glass of water?"
"Oh yes please, thank you Mr. Williams." replied Candice,
"Please, call me Mike," Reiterated Mike as he handed her a glass of Venus brand Mineral water, "I like us all to be friends here."
"Oh I'm Sorry," stuttered Candice "I'm just a little nervous I guess."
"Don't be." smiled back Mike, "I'm sure you're gonna have a great future with us at Venus Studios."
"Thank you Mike," replied Candice, her nerves starting to disappear.
"Don't mention it. Now as I said before I have only recently transferred to Venus Studios and I'm afraid I didn't have the chance to see your resume yet. Could you please just give me a quick rundown of what experience you have in the Media industry."
Candice swallowed a lump in her throat as she looked over at Mike who she imagined waiting for her to give a storied history of skills and experience collected over countless jobs with media and film firms. The truth was that the closest Candice had ever got to the media industry was working on the popcorn counter at her local cinema. She knew she couldn't just stay silent though, so she gritted her teeth and prepared to embarrass herself.
"Err, I was kind of hoping to get my first experiences of the media industry here at Venus Studios." she mumbled feebly.
"Oh... I see," came the surprised response from across the desk. "I'm really genuinely sorry to tell you this Candice but there must have been some kind of mix up in our recruitment centre. The internship position here requires a number of specific skills and it would be irresponsible of me to throw you in at the deep end like that."
Candice could feel her eyes welling up as the reality of job hunting dawned on her. She was going to remain a member of the Catch 22 Club of people who can't get a job without experience and can't get experience without a job. The wells quickly turned into tears and Candice knew full well she was crying and also knew that begging would only lead to embarrassment as well as rejection. However, she also knew that she had nothing more to lose by trying.
"Please Mike, I want to be thrown in at the deep end. I need this position more than anything in the world. Look at my portfolio, talk to my references, they will tell you how good of a learner I am. I may be new to this all now, but I know you will never find another intern that would be as dedicated to success as me. Just give me a chance."
"I really wish I could, honest I do. But I only have one position to fill and I just can't give it to a novice, regardless of how promising. I really am sorry."
"Please Mike!" pleaded Candice, her eyes now ringed with mascara, "I need this. You were my last chance to really get somewhere in this industry. Just give me a chance to prove myself."
"I'm really sorry but I can't j..."
Mike's explanation was cut off when the office phone began ringing. He gave Candice an apologetic glance and answered."
"Mike Williams' Office."
"She's what?"
"But we start filming in half an hour!"
"Is there nobody else that can fill in?"
"Tomorrow! I'm sorry tomorrow isn't good enough! If we don't film the show today we miss the deadline. Don't you realise how much that contract is worth?"
"I don't care how impossible it is, find a replacement and find it now. We are filming at two o clock and that is final. Good bye."
When Mike put the phone down he looked a different man to the relaxed smiling carefree guy who had answered. There was frustration in his eyes and it was clear his mind was working at a mile a minute as he returned his attention to Candice.
"I'm sorry Candice but we've got an emergency in the studio. One of our girls hasn't turned up and we have to start shooting by two o clock or we stand to lose a multi-million dollar contract. I wish I could justify giving you the pos..."