Issue #10 - Greta Gets Her Guy!

"Greta! You look... beautiful!" Guy quickly got up from his seat in the outdoor garden of Le Café Madeleine and took her hand, then looked away as if he didn't mean to be so effusive.

"I mean, you look so cool, Greta, considering this heat wave."

Greta couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Guy!" she said, letting her hand slip away. The garden was a lovely meeting spot, with its brick walls and flowering plants. You would think they were somewhere in Southern France, instead of midtown Manhattan on a hot July evening.

"Champagne?" Guy asked. Greta nodded, but couldn't help but wonder--why was Guy being so sweet to her? What happened to her task master boss, the all-business editor-in-chief of Face Magazine, the man who set her up to follow around and interview Zane Craven and then to appear so angry with her when Zane began pursuing her? Greta was through with Guy! Why should she care whether he felt anything for her or not? And yet...

Guy poured the Moet into two flutes and held up his glass. "Here's to you, Greta... and here's to your nomination."

Greta couldn't focus. Nomination? Greta sat up and straightened her new Donna Karan skirt. She was glad she dressed up for this meeting and she was glad she had treated herself and bought some new GreatSkin products, specifically formulated to stop aging skin. In fact, she felt ten years younger. After the Martha's Vineyard debacle, she had started using GreatSkin's Super Firming Crème before bed each night. With its high Vitamin E content and smoothing finish, she could already see that her superficial facial lines had diminished. And just that morning she had begun her day with GreatSkin's Oxygen Revitalizing Cleanser. It felt like silk, invisible and yet so invigorating. She'd followed this by applying GreatSkin's Vital Hydrant Toner, inhaling the delicious fragrance of ginseng, rosemary, chamomile and aloe. The subtle notes of lavender calmed her. Next, Greta smoothed on her secret weapon against fine lines-- GreatSkin's Peptide Lotion. She looked in the mirror and smiled, knowing the peptides would work to promote collagen renewal and give her younger looking skin. Finally, she moisturized with GreatSkin's Herbal Silk Moisturizer. The cream immediately hydrated Greta's complexion and left a light protective barrier that made her skin texture so smooth, she only needed to apply a touch of makeup for her meeting with Guy.

But, never in her wildest dreams, did she imagine he would have such delightful news. "Yes, Greta. I've nominated your article on whatshisname for the National Magazine Writing Award."

"Whathisname?" Greta wanted to stand up and say, "enough!" Guy always seemed to have the power to infuriate her.

"His name is Zane Craven. And when will you stop this!? He doesn't mean anything to me, Guy!" Greta was through with this nonsense. "I'm glad I got a nomination, Guy, but I'm going."

Guy grabbed her hand and stopped her. "Greta," he said, blocking her from leaving.

"What?!" Their eyes met and neither said anything. Greta could feel tears welling up. I won't give him the pleasure of seeing me cry, she thought. But then suddenly, Guy reached out and took her by the arm and kissed her.

Right there, under the moonlight, in a midtown Manhattan restaurant garden, Le Café Madeleine, but for all the power of that kiss, Greta felt, truly, she had been transported to Southern France.