The New McBride

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Off Camera

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The lovely Melanie McBride is primping and preening in front of a full length mirror, readying herself for a date tonight, a business date to be more precise.  Being a woman in the cutthroat corporate world, she knows she has to be ready for anything, and sometimes that means impressing her potential clients.  She is wearing an elegant, shimmery black dress with a v-neckline.    She chose this number because she knows just how good she looks in black.  This particular number also shows off all of her luxurious curves, which is another plus.  Melanie has also opted for traditional opera length gloves that extends past her elbows.  Melanie is balanced on black patent leather peep toe pumps with a three inch heel.  The sound of heels clicking across wood floor alerts the self-proclaimed “evolved” woman to the fact that someone is approaching.  She turns just as the door to her room opens and she watches as her sister Karen McBride enters the room.  Along with the smug look she wears on her face, she also wears a black long sleeve sweater, a black knee length skirt, black stockings, and a pair of simple black pumps.

“That dress looks good on you.” Karen remarks as she approaches Melanie. “Do you have a date?”

“Somewhat.” Melanie nods her head. “It’s more of a business meeting.  I’m meeting with a potential investor in McBride Incorporated.”

“Ah yes, I remember when Blair and I had to handle those.  We hated each other then but we were always able to put our differences aside for the sake of the company.”

“I’m not overdoing my outfit tonight, am I?”

“No, not at all.” She shakes her head. “Blair and I would always dress to kill.  If your client is a man, dressing nice to give him something nice to look at is all part and parcel of the job.  They’re more apt to give you what you want if they’re happy and dressing to kill will make them happy.”

Melanie smirks. “Thus if I ever deal with a female corporate owner then I don’t need to worry about that.”

“Precisely, unless they are lesbian.”

The two women share a laugh.  After they jovial mood ends Melanie’s gaze returns to a serious gaze.

“Kare-Bear…um…Karen…I want to apologize.”

“For what?” Karen arches a brow out of curiosity.

“You know what.  I treated you like garbage.  Despite everything you did for me, despite the fact that we were closer than sisters, I still turned on you and acted as if you were a stranger.” She embraces Karen in a tight hug. “Thank you for never giving up on me, Kare-Bear.”

After breaking the embrace Melanie shakes her head. “Karen, I mean.  Sorry.”

“Ok, wait, why are you apologizing for that?” Karen grins. “You know I don’t mind you calling me Kare-Bear.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I do mind.” Melanie sighs and shakes her head. “I don’t know, Karen, but I think all of this goes back to Nero.”

“I’d rather forget about that.”

“But it all goes back to him; I was influenced by the Nero Organization and that influence is what led me to betray you.”

“But you found your way back, Mel.”

“I did,” she nods her head “but it left me permanently changed.  I have truly evolved, Karen, and I mean that, it isn’t just something cute I say for the cameras.  I always looked on our family business as a negative, as something that hurt society more than helped.  I thought I could be a positive influence on the world by turning my back on my family business and doing something completely different.  What I learned from my time with Nero is that I could not ignore the realities of the world.  If I tried to ignore it, it would still catch up with me eventually and destroy me.  The best I can hope for is surviving the world or to conquer it.”

Tears form in her eyes. “It’s the same lesson that Blair tried to teach me growing up.  When she mocked me, ridiculed me, and bullied me I thought she was just being mean but I realize now that she was just trying to show me how the world works.  And I see now that she was right.  I’ve become Blair.  Actually no, I think I’m worse than Blair…and yet, I don’t care…”

Karen embraces Melanie again. “It’s ok, Mel.  What happened with you and Nero is over and done with, and if that situation turned you into a woman like your sister, then who cares?  What’s the problem?  Blair is not a bad person to be like.”

“No, she isn’t, but what it means is the bright-eyed, optimistic girl who was your best friend ever is now dead.”