Christine knew she was in trouble as soon as she rounded the corner. She hated walking around in cities she didn't know, but hated the thought of taking a cab a lousy six blocks even more. Now she was just three blocks from the hotel, but clearly not where she wanted to be. The gang of college-age looking boys spotted her immediately in the late evening sunlight. They saw her blonde hair, hourglass figure, tight slacks and sleeveless blouse. They saw that she was alone.
Christine considered turning around. However, she determined any sign of fear would be an invitation for the boys to come after her. Besides, she wouldn't be able to see them. Instead, she did a quick inventory of the buildings around her.
Only one-a four story structure that looked more like a converted warehouse-had enough lights on to seem open. She held her breath and pushed on the door when she got to it. It swung open and Christine rushed inside.
There wasn't a soul in sight as she headed toward the two elevators. Christine saw a door with a stairwell sign above it, but chose not to confine herself to stairs that may or may not have an unlocked exit. She pushed the 'Up' button for the elevators.
"C'mon, damn it. Open!"
As the doors to one elevator slowly inched apart, Christine took one look at the entrance and, as she jumped inside, saw the first of the boys rushing in.
She anxiously hit the button for floor three, assuming they'd expect her to go to the top, and punched at the 'Close' button. The doors slid shut and she took a relatively silent ride to the third floor, her pounding heart reminding her of the panic she felt.
When the doors opened, she faced the option of turning left or right down a narrow, dark hallway. A light far to her left made her choose that route. She was halfway down the hall before any potential exits came into view. But, the first unmarked door was locked, and she continued her flight.
Christine's footsteps echoed against the walls as she flew past men's and women's restrooms and finally approached the only light within sight. She saw another possible escape, and this one looked more promising. A door with a sign reading EroStar Productions was on her right. She hesitated only briefly before turning the knob and feeling the door glide open.
She stood in a small lobby or waiting area that was furnished with two uncomfortable looking chairs and a coffee table with nothing on it. An unoccupied receptionist's desk showed little signs of use and the lighting was hardly better than what Christine had in the hallway. She strained to hear if there were any voices or footsteps outside the closed door.
To her surprise, the first sound she heard seemed to be a woman's squeal and it came from farther inside the office she was in, not out in the hallway. Christine stood silently in an attempt to hear more. Now she was afraid to move in any direction and chose to stay where she was for the time being. A few seconds later, the next decision was made for her.
A man in his early thirties suddenly walked around a corner behind the receptionist's desk and stopped at the sight of Christine. It seemed to her that he was less than shocked to see her.
"Ahhh, there you are," he said with a faint grin.
"Excuse me," Christine said nervously. "Does this building have a security guard."
The man laughed. "Yeah, right. Like I can afford that."
His eyes shot up and down Christine's twenty eight year old body with an intensity that frightened her for some unidentified reason.
"I'm heading to the Fairmont and was, um, stopped by some men on the street and..."
"I know," the man said.
Christine paused. "You know?"
"They called me and said you were inside the building."
Her look of confusion was expected and the man grinned. He was beginning to see the possibilities of the situation and liked what he saw.
"But...," Christine stammered.
"They work for me," he explained calmly. "They're my talent scouts. The fact you chose our building to hide in is really just a coincidence. Funny, actually."
"Can you get me to Fairmont safely?" Christine said in as demanding a voice as she could muster.
Behind the walls, the unseen woman's shriek could be heard once more. Christine's eyes widened.
"Oh, you'll get to your hotel soon enough. But you might be delayed," the man said. "Or you can leave the way you came and give that a shot."
Christine never felt so trapped in her life. Somewhere inside this building, or just outside of it, was a gang of young men apparently waiting to assault her. Inside the office where she stood was an uncooperative stranger familiar with the gang and more than willing to feed her to them. Meanwhile, the echoes of a woman's screams rolled around her head.
"Where am I and who are you?" Christine demanded.
"My, aren't we the forceful one considering the circumstances," the man replied. "You are in the lovely confines of my little production company. And my name is Adam. You are...?"
Christine considered not answering, but realized the danger of angering the man in control of her immediate future.
"Christine."
"OK, Christine. Let's get a few things straight," Adam said. "First, you are free to leave any time you want. However, that doesn't prevent me from making a quick cell call to one of the guys on the street. Second, you will spend the night in your hotel room, barring any unforeseen trouble you cause me. Got it?"
Christine only nodded.
"See, it's not unusual for visitors to get 'lost', as it were, on the way to the Fairmont and surrounding hotels," Adam said. "My guys make a few bucks a week helping the loveliest of those visitors find their way to my office. You, Christine, just happened to save them the extra work."
"And then what?" she asked.
"And then we make you a star."
His wide smile didn't ease her apprehension.
"You've always wanted to be a movie star, right?" Adam asked.