Chapter 1
Donna was at home on the phone, talking to her agent yet again about getting a scene with Ben 'The Persuader' Bangher.
"What do you mean he still says no? You did remind him of who I am right?"
"Yes Donna, but he says he won't do a romance movie, only those gonzo flicks he's known for. He says he isn't an actor and doesn't want to insult the audience by pretending to be one. He did offer once more to have you appear in one of his films though."
"I will not do that gonzo trash! Get him in my movie!"
She slammed down the phone in frustration, picked it back up and hit the end call button with her neatly manicured, but short, nails before swearing at it.
She'd been trying to get a scene with Ben for over two years. She had sent him dozens of scripts and the answer was always no. She was at the top of the porn business and had her own studio, either of which should have been enough to get Ben to do a scene with her. After almost 10 years in the business her natural good looks coupled with rigorous exercise meant she looked better than most of the fake bimbo trash Ben used in his videos.
Ben on the other hand didn't look like he had ever seen a gym. He was overweight and balding, no one seemed to know his real age but the rumor was that he was in his early fourties. In fact Donna couldn't understand why he was so poplar as a male porn star as he didn't have a particularly large penis either.
The only thing he seemed to have going for him was that he could get any woman he wanted to do a scene with him. He always had them agree to do things that they had never done before or even had sworn they would never do.
She needed to let off some steam and so she headed to her home gym, mounted the stationary bike and started to ride. Her strong and thin legs pumped the pedals hard even after 45 minutes of riding and the sweat clinging to her body. Her white t-shirt was plastered to her chest and while her modest b cups didn't need any support, she still wore a sports bra for comfort.
Taking a towel to her forehead and brushing aside a few strands of her shoulder length brunette hair she took a drink from her water bottle and started to wind down her workout.
Stepping off her bike she walked towards the shower and caught her reflection in the mirror. Most porn stars were pretty much considered over the hill at her age but she still was one of the biggest stars there was. And she had done it her way, no plastic surgery, no fake hair or anything else. She hated all those fake starlets in the business that as they headed towards thirty had went straight to the plastic surgeons to get new breasts, lips and asses.
She had even started an advocacy group against plastic surgery in the porn business. There was no need to present an unrealistic physical image of women in porn. While she hadn't been very successful in convincing anyone else of that, she could at least make sure the films she produced at her studio used all natural beauties like herself.
'If you can't keep up ladies, just get out of the game!' she thought to herself. The other thing she was thinking about quite a bit lately was retirement. She had cut down the number of movies she was staring in to just a few in the last year. There was really just one thing standing between her and full retirement now and that was Ben. Once she had a scene with Ben complete she could retire and knowing she was the best bar none.
Perhaps a more direct approach was needed. The annual Adult Industry Charity Dinner was coming up in a few weeks and Ben would sure to be there. She'd attend this year as well and see if talking to Ben directly could persuade him.
Chapter 2
Ben had been avoiding her all night, oh nothing overt but he seemed to always have somewhere else to be when Donna joined the group he was in. He had just moved on for the fifth time and decided she would have to follow him this time or they would never get a chance to talk tonight.
"Hey Ben, can I talk to you for a minute?" Donna said as they walked away from the group which had been discussing the latest gossip in the industry.
"Ah, sure Donna, what's up?"
"I was just wondering what it was going to take for me to convince you to join one of my movies?" she said matter of factly.
"Gee Donna, I'm a big fan of your movies and all but they just aren't the kinds of movies I perform in."
"What do you mean, you're a porn star and I make pornos, what's the big deal?" as they walked Donna had been steering them towards a back corner of the ballroom where they could have a small amount of privacy.
"Oh, that's not what I meant at all. It's just that there is acting in your films and I'm just not an actor. I'd be horrible. I prefer to do what I do best, just simple little gonzo flicks."
She almost winced, there it was again, the same line he always used when turning her down. He wasn't going to get off that easy in person.
"Oh don't sell yourself short Ben, I'm sure you'd do well. That can't be the only reason."
They had arrived at the back of the hall and no one else was around.
"It's just you and I, you can tell me the truth."
Ben looked at her and seemed to look in to her soul for a moment before giving a slight sigh.
"Look, I know you're not going to leave this alone, but you won't like the answer either. So I'll tell you the truth... I really just don't like you. I don't like what you stand for and I don't like what you've tried to do to the industry with your foundation."
She was shocked and didn't know what to say or how to respond, still looking for a comeback Ben continued before she had a chance to respond.
"Don't bother contacting me again, I won't be doing one of your movies." and with that he turned away and walked back to the party.
***
Donna couldn't leave it alone. Ben had landed a blow right to her core and she was not going to let that stand. She had called in dozens of favours to get the rumor started, but once it had taken hold it had spread like wildfire.
Ben Bangher was gay.
Oh it was a lie to be certain but in the industry even the hint that a straight male porn star was gay would end a career. Regular guys didn't want to watch porn with a gay guy as the lead. It led to uncomfortable questions in their minds and so they just didn't buy it.
The rumor hadn't gotten out of the industry yet, but it was only a matter of time and then he'd be done.
She was quite comfortable with what she had done, it was revenge for attacking her foundation and beliefs. What she wasn't quite so comfortable with was the fact Ben had asked for a business meeting and was due to arrive at any moment.
Had he found out somehow she was behind the rumor? She didn't think that was possible, she had used only people she could trust and they wouldn't rat her out.
So what could he want?
Chapter 3
Donna watched as Ben walked in to her office, he looked calm and confident as usual.
"Hi Ben, how have you been?" she said with her best fake smile on. Standing from behind her desk she extended her hand.
"Quite well Donna, thanks for asking. You?" Ben said as he shook her hand and sat in a chair. Donna sat down as well, very few people noticed the fact that her chair was slightly higher than those in front of her desk, giving her a slightly elevated position.
"Oh, busy running the company these days. So what can I do for you Ben?"
"Well I'm sure you've heard the rumor running around about me being gay?"
"Terrible, just terrible. But I guess the industry just can't help but gossip." Donna had to hold back a smirk.
"Yes, I know that all too well. You see I've been trying to track down who started it and that's why I'm here today."
Donna's uncomfortable feeling grew as Ben spoke, had something gone wrong? Had someone talked and pointed the finger at her?
"You see Donna, I know it was you who started the rumor so I've come today to see what you're going to do about it."
'Impossible!' Donna thought to herself, he couldn't know it was her! She decided to try denial and see what he would do.
"Ben, I'm shocked you would make such an accusation! I think you should leave right now!"
"Oh Donna, I know you want to admit to it, just let it out and this will be easier."
He was right of course, she wanted so much to gloat over him and have him beg her to undo it! She just couldn't hold it in.
"You bet I started it, insulting my foundation and me like you did! Now you'll be ruined!" she sat back in her chain, smugly enjoying the moment.
Ben just smiled and sat calmly in the chair across from her.
"You see that wasn't so hard. Now simply pick up the phone and have your friends' undo the damage and I'll be on my way."
"I'm not going to do that Ben, get the hell out of here before I call security!"
He remained seated, still smiling.
"Have it your way then..." she said as she picked up the phone to call for security. Strangely though she only got the receiver a few inches away from the phone before placing it back down.
"So I guess there's something I should tell you Donna. You see I'm a bit more than just a porn star, did you ever wonder why I'm so popular or how I get women to do all those things in my scenes? I can control other people's minds. Porn is just a fun, and profitable, distraction."
The words struck her like a gale force wind, a thousand little things all fell in to place all at once. The look he had given her at the dinner, all those women who had done things in scenes with him. His fame even though he wasn't a typical porn star.
"It only took a short conversation with some of your friends to find out who had started the rumor. Then just a quick adjustment sent them on their way to undo the damage. So I didn't really need you to fix it anyway, I just wanted to see if you would.
But I really already knew the answer to that as soon as I walked in to the room. Normally I'd just adjust you to be a little nicer and be on my way, but I have to admit you surprised me. When I read your mind at the dinner I knew you were committed to getting a scene with me but I thought telling you the truth would put you off. I didn't foresee such a vengeful reaction to it."
Donna was sitting still and couldn't move a muscle, she wanted to run screaming from the room. Ben's power held her firmly in place and she didn't like the sounds of where he was heading.
"So let me lay it out for you Donna, over the next couple of weeks you're going to get completely out of the business. Both as an actress and as a studio head. Go to your lawyer this afternoon and give him power of attorney, instruct him to liquidate all of your business holdings as quickly as possible. Also have him shut down the foundation. I'm sure you have a manager here that can run the studio for you, promote them when you get back to the office.