Making it Work
Sequel to "Well Worth the Wait"
S&B are living together. Brenda is attending PCU where she's discovered
by a talent scout
looking to cast dancers for a music video. Brenda is excited, but the video
is being shot in LA,
and she would have to leave Sonny for several months. Sonny is livid, and
assumes she just wants to leave...period.
And their time apart could result in more damage than just broken hearts.
Chapter 1
"Say again?" Sonny scowled and waited for Brenda to repeat herself. Brenda noted his obvious displeasure, but kept talking. "I said this talent scout approached me on campus. He wants me to go to LA to audition for a music video. Isn't that great?" "What are you doing talking to strange men Brenda?" Sonny asked through clenched teeth. Brenda rolled her eyes, "I don't talk to strange men Sonny! He just came up to me and gave me his business card." "Let me see it," Sonny demanded. Brenda walked over to her handbag, and rummaged through it. Sonny watched her from behind, his blood pressure threatening to make his head explode. His mind was racing with all sorts of scenarios, none of them pleasant: That this man was really scouting for porn films; that he wasn't a talent scout at all, and just wanted to fuck his woman's brains out; or, the worst thought of all, that Brenda was ready to jump at anything that would get her away from him.
It's not that things had been bad between them, but they had been somewhat distant from each other. Brenda was busy with college; she was studying for a degree in International Business. And Sonny was extremely busy with work. Since his takeover of both Frank Smith and Joe Scully's territories, he was the most powerful mobster in the country. And that meant there was always something needing to be dealt with. Brenda turned back and handed him the card. Sonny looked it over; it seemed legit enough, but he was going to have this guy checked out so thoroughly, he'd think someone was reaching up his ass. And while that was going on, he'd try to convince Brenda not to go. "I know you'll have him checked out," Brenda stated. Sonny nodded his head, "that's right." He paused, and then continued, "so why do you want to do this?" "It's a great opportunity Sonny," Brenda replied. "You know I love music, and well…everybody wants to be discovered!" "Not everybody," Sonny commented. Brenda smiled, "I didn't mean you." Then her smile faded, "why don't you want me to do it?" Sonny shrugged and tried to act like he didn't care one way or the other. "It's your life sweetheart. I just want to make sure this guy isn't trying to take advantage of you." "You don't care if I go?" Brenda asked incredulously. She was sure Sonny would put up one hell of a fight. Sonny stared into her eyes, "yeah, I care, but like I said, it's your life." "Well I want to do it," Brenda stated. Sonny shrugged again, "fine. Whatever." He put the card in his pocket, turned, and walked out the penthouse door. Joseph, one of his guards, scrambled after the boss as he headed for the elevator. Pete, another guard, stayed behind to keep an eye on the penthouse. With Sonny's new position came more security concerns, and the penthouse was never left unguarded. Sonny also wanted to keep a full-time guard on Brenda, but she wouldn't hear of it. So instead, he had people watching her from a distance whenever she went out.
Brenda stared at the closed door after Sonny left. She could tell he was upset, but wondered why he wasn't exhibiting it more openly to her. One thing Sonny never had trouble with was showing people how angry he was. His rage was always simmering close to the surface, and was easily released. Sonny tried to curb it around Brenda, but around his men…well, that was whole different ballgame. He was very good to them, and they all respected him greatly. But they also feared him and his temper. Joseph didn't speak to Sonny except to ask "where to boss?" when they reached the garage level. "The gym," Sonny grunted in reply. He'd been working out a local boxing ring for a few months. He knew he needed a constructive outlet for all the pressure that being the big boss carried. Sonny'd long held interests in several local boxers, and they recommended Patty's Gym and Patty Maguire as a trainer. Patty was less than thrilled to have a major organized crime figure join his gym, but knew better than to object. But as he worked with Sonny, he came to realize that Mr. Corinthos was a fair and honorable man. Joseph drove Sonny there, grateful the boss was going to take his frustrations out on a punching bag.