Meant to Be

Chapter 1

Brandt parked her white convertible Porsche against the curb and stepped out, straightening her suit jacket as she headed up the sidewalk towards Roast Me, one of the hottest coffee shops in Los Angeles. She pulled the phone from her pocket, feeling the buzz of an incoming text message. Looking down at the screen, she shook her head. She was on her way to a production meeting at B2, pronounced B squared, the film company she owned with her best friend.

Damn it, she growled, quickly typing a reply.

Brandt didn’t realize she was near the door until someone rushed out of it, bumping into her and pouring a cold cup of iced coffee all over the front of her pantsuit and blouse.

Fuck! Brandt screeched.

Oh, my God, the woman gasped, holding the empty cup in her hand. I didn’t even see you.

Yeah, sure, Brandt sneered, looking from her stained clothing to the woman in front of her.

You were coming in the wrong door, the woman said. This is the exit.

Brandt ran her eyes over the athletic body of the woman. She was dressed in tight, black yoga pants and a black sports bra with a sleeveless, white t-shirt over it that was cut short. The muscles of her stomach were showing from her belly button to the top of the pants. Her light brown hair cascaded in loose waves and curls over her shoulders and down her back, and a pair of white sunglasses covered her eyes. Brandt swallowed the lump in her throat. It didn’t matter how good looking the young woman in front of her was—Brandt was still beyond pissed. She checked her watch, shaking her head as she turned to walk away.

Weren’t you going inside? the woman asked, looking up at the taller woman with short, messy, platinum-blonde hair and dark sunglasses.

I think I’ve had all the coffee I want today, thanks to you! Brandt spat as she stormed off.

The woman shook her head and watched the blonde walk away, before going back inside to replace the coffee she’d splashed all over the stranger.

~

The B2 office was down the street from the coffee shop and Brandt lived out in Santa Monica, a half-hour away, so she didn’t have time to go home and change before the meeting. She sneered a few obscenities as she parked in her usual space and walked inside.

What happened to you? the receptionist, Renee, asked with an odd expression.

Brandt ignored her. Do I have any messages? she questioned as she passed by her.

Nope.

Brandt set her briefcase on her desk and headed down the hall to the conference room, where her best friend and business partner, Bean Pratt, was waiting for her, along with the screenwriter for a new film prospect.

B2 was a lesbian-only film company where Brandt was a screenwriter and producer, and Bean was a director and producer. They made all of Brandt’s movies, along with a number of other screenwriters’ stories, and so far, they had been very successful.

I know I’m late. I ran into a situation, Brandt said, stepping into the room and taking a seat at the table.

Bean pushed her dark-framed glasses up on her nose and furrowed her brow at the disheveled woman next to her. What happened to you? she asked. You smell like Starbucks.

Brandt looked at her best friend. Bean was quirky with shoulder length brown hair and big brown eyes. She’d always reminded Brandt of Tina Fey with her nerdy looks and odd sense of humor.

Some girl spilled her coffee all over me, she sighed.

Bean laughed, Only you.

You must be Francesca, Brandt said, extending her hand to the woman across the table. I apologize. My morning hasn’t gotten off to a good start.

The dark-haired woman smiled. It’s no problem, and please, call me Fran. I’m happy to be here, and if it’s any consolation, I think you smell divine.

Brandt laughed.

I was going to have Renee bring some coffee in, but I think we can all catch an espresso buzz off Brandt, Bean laughed and continued. Fran, you’re here because we took a look at your script and think it has potential.

I was confused by Paola’s character at first, but by the end, it all comes together. Your story touches on the push and pull of a lesbian who is in a relationship with a bisexual woman. This has been done numerous times, but no one has ever written it from both sides with such emotional drama, Brandt said.

We’ve only made true lesbian movies, so this would be a first for us, Bean added. But we both feel like you have a great story…and… Bean looked at Brandt. We’d like to produce it, with a few adjustments of course.

Wow, Fran exclaimed. Yes. This is great! She smiled brightly. What are the changes?

The scene changes need to be stronger and there are a few blocking issues, but other than that, we should be good to go, Bean replied.

Wonderful. When can we get started? Fran asked.

Bean smiled. We have a lot of paperwork to take care of first, then we’ll go through the script to make sure we’ve corrected everything. After that, we’ll storyboard it, and once we’re ready to move forward, we’ll begin set building and costumes. At that time, we’ll also start casting.

Fran nodded. Where will you film it?

We have the rights to a studio lot in Vancouver. We film all of our movies on the lot and on location in the surrounding city, Brandt answered.

Sounds great. Fran smiled.

~

After the meeting, Bean went into their company attorney’s office to draw up the contract for the screenplay while Brandt went into the film room to work with the person who was editing and sound mixing her latest picture.

Viv, how’s it going? Brandt asked, sitting down next to the red-haired woman in front of the four large computer monitors.

You stink! Viv replied, wrinkling her nose.

Brandt growled, I know!

Check this out, Viv said, pointing towards the headphones lying on the desk. I merged the dream scene with the end of the first kiss like Bean wanted, and then I added the first track of the guitar solo.

Brandt nodded and put them on as she watched the middle screen and listened to what Viv had done. The scene lasted about three minutes, but it was powerful and a turning point in the story.

This is great! Brandt exclaimed, removing the headphones.

Sweet. I’m going to paste this in and move to the end. We have about fifteen more minutes to edit and then we’ll be finished with the rough cut.

Already? We just wrapped two weeks ago.

I know, but it’s coming together. What can I say? When you’re good, you’re good! Viv teased. I’ll have it ready to screen next week. She grinned.

Brandt smiled and shook her head before walking out of the room and heading to her own office. She really wanted to go home and take a shower, but she had too much to do. She looked at the framed picture sitting on the corner of her desk. Brandt was dressed in a dark pantsuit and holding a glass of champagne. Her arm was around the waist of a gorgeous woman standing next to her, who was wearing a purple cocktail dress with her ash-blonde hair falling over one shoulder.

Has it sunk in yet? Bean asked from a few feet away as she walked further in, taking the seat across from Brandt at the large desk.

What? Brandt said. She hadn’t heard Bean enter the room and was slightly startled by the sudden voice.

You’re getting married in two weeks!

Brandt smiled, looking at the picture of herself with her fiancé one more time. I’m not nervous, if that’s what you’re asking.

Are you sure you want to be off the market? Bean teased.

I’ve been off the market for the past three years, Brandt laughed.

How’s Jenna?

Fine. She’s in New York for her final dress fitting.

I still can’t believe she chose a wedding planner and dress maker in New York City. You live in California!

Brandt shrugged. She lived there for a number of years, so she knows a lot of people, especially in the fashion industry.

I guess being a model and an actress has its perks, Bean stated.

Who knows, Brandt replied. Viv showed me the dream scene. That came out nice.

Yeah, we worked over the weekend on a few more merges. It’s coming together.

She said the rough cut will be ready to screen soon.

Yep, and now we’re moving on with Francesca Diamante’s screenplay.

I think this story is well-written, and it should be a hit, but I don’t want to completely open up to the bisexual industry. It’s all over the damn place when it comes to movies and books.

Yeah, no doubt. I agree a hundred percent. If this story had a different ending, you can bet your ass we wouldn’t be making it, Bean replied. Besides, we’re getting ready to move forward with your next project anyway. As soon as you come back down to Earth from the wedded bliss orbit you’ve been stuck in.

Brandt shook her head and laughed. I feel like my head is spinning in so many directions. I think I’ve seen Jenna all of two weeks in the past three months. I’ll be glad when the wedding is over.

Oh, the life of two lesbian superstars, Bean teased.

Kiss my ass, Bean, Brandt chuckled.

So, what actually happened to you this morning?

Oh, my God. Brandt shook her head. I was replying to your text when this chick plowed into me. The lid popped off the cup of her iced coffee and I basically took a bath in it.

Wow! Bean laughed hysterically.

It wasn’t funny at the time and I’m sure my shirt’s ruined. I hope it comes out of this suit. I just bought it.

Did she apologize?

No! The bitch blamed me for going in the wrong door!