Playing a Little Read online

  “How old of a child must I play? Pippi was nine,” Camille asked with doubt in her tone.

  “I will leave that up to you and your leading man. He has experience in this style of coaching as well as the actual lifestyle. We will adjust the script accordingly. All right, honey… You look skeptical. Maybe this will help you see how serious I am.” He wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to her. Camille nearly choked as she looked at the number of zeros splattered on the piece of paper.

  “Is this how much it is going to take to produce this movie?” she coughed out. “This is seven figures!”

  “No, darling.” Arthur lifted a cup of tea as a toast. “That is your salary for both the time to train and then to make it. Well?”

  “Stan would kill me if I refused. I need some time to think about this, though. And more information. I just get the feeling that you aren’t telling me everything, Arthur.”

  “I am wounded to the depth of my heart! At my age…”

  “Arthur,” Camille said patiently, “my mother is the drama queen of all drama queens. Guilt does not work on me. You need to give me some time to think this out and discuss it with my agent. We are not just dealing with numbers; we are looking at my reputation. Granted, having a good reputation doesn’t put food on the table, but it makes for a good night’s sleep. Can you give me at least until tomorrow night to consider this offer and maybe get some more information?”

  “I suppose,” Arthur sighed. “Just so you know that you are as stubborn as that boy of mine. Having the two of you in one house would certainly provide some dynamic entertainment. I can see the sparks flying already.”

  “Then get a bucket of water and put them out. I hate fighting.”

  “Just one more thing, Miss LeCroix. The figure I wrote on that paper is a genuine offer. Accept it and you will never have to worry about auditioning for any more ugly roles or tolerating comments from any nasty costars. This movie is your ticket to freedom.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate you giving me time to consider.”

  “If you can wait a moment, I will call Kyle to take you to the cottage. We are getting up early tomorrow to head toward the lake house.” Camille just nodded, saying not a word.

  Chapter Two

  Erik Renault paced impatiently in his hotel room, running his fingers through his thick, light brown hair as he glanced at the clock. He was waiting for the phone call from the producer about the new film he was making, one that promised not only a nice chunk of money, but the fame associated with working through Crenshaw Corporations. He had known Arthur for over twenty years and owed the old man big time. Not just for his career, but because Arthur had become the only family he had.

  As a foster child, Erik had never known his natural parents, and had lost track of the number of foster homes he had been shipped off to before he landed on Arthur’s doorstep. He had just turned ten when he was sent to live with a new foster family near Universal Studios. They had their hands full with younger children, so Erik took frequent advantage of the opportunity of not being noticed to sneak onto a sound stage and nose about. He was fascinated by the lights, noise, and activity. The giant cameras, magnificent sets, hordes of people in costumes and yelling orders beckoned to him, urging him closer. Finally, the growing child discovered tables laden with food and he hungrily helped himself when he thought no one was watching. One week after he began to sneak upon the sound stage to watch the shoots, he crashed into a largely built, brick building of a man. Being mistaken as an extra, Erik found himself being shoved into the set, his Danish still in his mouth. The man sat in his chair, snapped his fingers, and ordered him to swallow his food and to stop holding up the shoot. In an effort not to be caught trespassing, Erik scurried to obey, joining five other boys around his same age, listening carefully to the directions given. Action was called, and Erik released his inner thespian.

  His reaction to the scene caught Arthur’s attention through the camera lens. After an inquiry to the casting director about the child’s identity, Erik was promptly exposed as an imposter. Instead of cowering when Arthur cornered and confronted him about the danger of a movie set and the sins of trespassing, Erik did his best to meet the man in the eye and express his desire to be there. Impressed with his tenacity, Arthur softened his reprimand by sharing that young Erik had the makings of a true performer and that he was not too young to be involved in the business. When asked to speak with his parents, Erik reluctantly admitted that he had ‘temporarily departed the residence’ of his foster family and that they were too busy with the young children to miss him. He also informed Arthur that, if he made him leave, he would find a way to come back.

  Arthur had hit the ceiling, throwing words such as pugnacious, obstinate, foolish, and intransigent in his direction. Erik simply stood with his arms crossed, staring boldly at the dramatic unfolding of the irate director. Arthur’s voice rocked the set as he exploded with phrases unfit for the ears of children and ladies. When he had finished his raging, Erik asked simply if he was done, and then found himself being dragged out to the car by the scruff of his neck.

  It was the one and only time he had ever been afraid of Arthur Crenshaw. The boy stood defiantly on the porch of his foster home as Arthur pounded on the door. Arthur introduced himself to the foster parents, his powerful voice rocking the house as he spoke of the unfortunate situation that had occurred. Erik watched in amazement as angry expressions turned star struck, clinging to every word that exited the big man’s mouth. Awe turned to respect as Arthur plotted and manipulated compliance with the frustrated couple, offering to take responsibility for the boy’s education and activities if they allowed him to put the child to work as a gopher and teach him the ‘ropes’ of the business. Thrilled to be spared the extra energy required to watch over a precocious ten-year-old, the couple rapidly agreed. Within six months, Arthur became Erik’s legal guardian and had the boy permanently placed in his home.

  He owed everything he was to Arthur, who saw to giving the boy an education in both books and in life. He also ensured that Erik was kept out of trouble and occupied with endless photo shoots, commercials, small parts in sitcoms, and several Broadway productions. Work had meaning to the young man, giving him a purpose and teaching him responsibility. Every penny Erik earned went into a trust fund for his future and Arthur asked nothing in return. Except now. In Erik’s opinion, the old man was being completely unreasonable as of late, insisting that Erik submit to the challenge of a reaction role. Erik sighed, knowing Arthur was making certain that the time to pay him back had come.

  He grabbed the phone as it rang loudly. “Hey, Arty. I just got in and am waiting for my car to be dropped off. When are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”

  “I found your leading lady. She is perfect for this part and I really believe the two of you are going to hit it off.”

  “What are you talking about? I remind you that I agreed to do this movie for you in return for your help in my success all these years. I’m not into improv and you know it.”

  “Son, remember when you were younger and said you wanted to be a life coach if acting wasn’t working out for you? Even after you finished school, you were not satisfied in the technique you had learned, believing there was a more effective way to help people. I remember you openly sharing with me about how you would succeed in this type of career if given the chance. You said the one and only way to undo the habits learned in childhood was to relive childhood and learn all over. Remember? Your words intrigued me and have held me captive for years. The time is right for this, and this young lady needs some serious coaching, your very special type of coaching, to gain a better self-image and belief in herself.”

  “You are insane. The public won’t go for this and you know it. They are too ignorant about the subculture of age-play and will rally against you. The genre is not a game to me. It is a lifestyle. My lifestyle.”

  “The public needs to be educated by people they admire and respe
ct. Erik, this film will allow you to do your thing and help this girl at the same time. You love age-play… you thrive in what it brings to the table. This is also the opportunity to help an ugly duckling discover that she’s really a swan. We will film directly during the process and then submit the storyline so that nothing is forced or contrived.”

  “You are unbelievable. Where the hell do you come up with these hare-brained schemes? And how exactly am I going to function in my role in the manner I need to without violating this woman’s space? Has she ever been exposed to the AP lifestyle? Has she ever even heard of it? Seriously, we have no script, no direction…”

  “Since when does the Great and Powerful Renault need the dictation of a measly plot? You always change the lines anyway…” Arthur commented. Erik was well known to alter scripts and reinvent the scene. Scriptwriters were not crazy about his reputation, but the producers and directors loved the magic he could do with a story.

  “Are you actually suggesting we do a documentary on age-play in real time?”

  “Of course. Now, if you aren’t up for the challenge…”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You know I can do the job if I have to. Is this girl even remotely aware of the true nature of the outline?” Erik snapped angrily.

  “No. This is part of her taking this part. I don’t want her to plan how to respond, just to be natural. I informed her that you two would have time to train prior to the actual filming, and that the final script will depend on you. Damn, Erik, after all these years, don’t you trust my instincts?” Arthur made his voice sound wounded, knowing that Erik would cave in to him. “Of course, why would I bother to care about this little girl? I’m just an old friend who saw you to be more than you saw yourself, and I thought it would be a nice way to pay it forward. Never mind, it’s no big deal…”

  “All right, enough. I’m not a kid anymore. I’m 31 years old and am not going to keep falling victim to your guilt trips. I really have free rein in this part?”

  “Absolutely. I want you to do whatever it takes to help this girl discover her inner swan. This is your dream role, son. I already mentioned to her in passing that it will be an experiment in age-play. She’s a total innocent, though… and there will be surveillance cameras filming every minute. Filming will be discreet, I promise, and only the necessary scenes will be used. I’m planning on the bulk of the transformation to take about three or four months.”

  “That’s outrageous! How bad off can this woman be to need three straight months of coaching? That is asinine.”

  “Pretty bad, my boy. That’s why she is the perfect candidate. She’s comfortable in front of the lens, is well-spoken, and truly believes herself to be the proverbial ugly duckling. If you just allow your instinct to take control, I honestly believe that you can be the one to draw out her softness and confidence. She needs you. And so do I. For all we know, this could be my last production…”

  “You do know that you are manipulating me, right?”

  “Oh, I am counting on it!” Arthur laughed. “I will be giving you the lake house during the initial filming. It will provide enough privacy and isolation for you to experiment and discover what makes her tick. I’ve stocked it with various items and oddities for you to use to your heart’s content and, of course, if you need anything in particular, just ask. I only request that you remember that she’s an innocent…”

  “I’m not a rapist, for God’s sake! You know damn well that the form of AP I practice does not incorporate a little as a sex object. I would never do anything without her permission, okay? Despite what the tabloids say, I can keep my dick in my pants.” Erik did his best to sound disgusted, already regretting his promise to see this film through. “Tell me about my poor victim.”

  “She’s nineteen, a child star and has become quite the little looker. Camille LeCroix.”

  Erik held his breath. He remembered working with little Camille on the Pippi set. She was quite the firecracker in her role, her sassiness making his task of spanking her very easy. She had annoyed him enough that his ‘pretend’ swats brought real yelping. The fact that she had avoided him for the rest of the day had pleased him to no end. She was a bit of a brat as a child, so Lord only knew what she had become as an adult. One thing for certain—she had grown out of her awkward, ugly stage and was blossoming into an exotic beauty with the most scrumptious little body that was ripe and rounded in all the right places. Erik smiled to himself. His crafty old friend was setting him up for more than being a leading man… he was playing matchmaker.

  “I am meeting her agent at seven for dinner. I would like you to join us,” Arthur was saying.

  “I am really not interested in your wining and dining…”

  “Not even for escargots at Chateau L’Fleure?”

  “You know damn well that you can’t throw that card at me and expect me to refuse. Fine. I’ll be there. If my rental is delivered on time.”

  Erik grumbled to himself as he slid into the front seat of the sedan that arrived several minutes after he ended his conversation with Arthur. He was annoyed with the man’s assumptions that Camille LeCroix would just cooperate and submit herself to him in such an awkward environment. It had been years since he had seen her face to face, and she had seemed very eager for him to leave her set at that time. Not that he could blame her…

  He handed the valet the keys after pulling into the restaurant, ignoring the looks being given him as he paraded up the steps and stood before the maître d'. He readied himself for a fight.

  “Pardon, sir, but dress code requires…”

  “I am not in the mood to play this game tonight, Henri. I am not wearing a fucking tie,” Erik snapped. “Crenshaw table. Erik Renault.”

  The man’s eyes widened in recognition. “Please forgive me, Mr. Renault. Follow me, sir.”

  Arthur waved as he saw Erik enter, chuckling at the disapproving stares of those around him.

  “Hello, my boy. Guess a quick shave and a tie were not in your plans tonight.”

  “Lay off, Arty. Erik Renault,” he introduced himself to Stan, shaking the burly man’s hand. “I just flew in from New York and was bribed by the escargots to come here. Two orders, please,” he said to the waiter. Before Stan had a chance to respond, Erik turned to Arthur. “I was thinking about your idea and I don’t like it. I don’t need a spoiled, whining girl on my hands. Either she is with the program or find someone else.”

  “Now, see here…” Stan interrupted.

  “No. This is non-negotiable. I will not subject the kid to this type of lifestyle unless she know what she is getting into and willingly agrees to follow through on it. Thank you,” he said as the waiter filled his wineglass. “Did Arthur bother to explain to you what this training program consists of?”

  “Well, not exactly.”

  “Well, then, let me enlighten you,” Erik said. He spelled out the course of the training, in detail, watching as Stan’s eyes widened in disbelief. The older man was shaking his head by time Erik had finished.

  “No way am I going to allow her to pursue such a twisted train of thought. Not for a ridiculous movie. I am sorry, Arthur, but diapers? Spanking? Bedtimes? She is a grown adult and has no business in these silly games.”

  Erik studied Stan for a moment before taking in a deep breath. “All of those involved in AP are grown, consenting adults, Stan. And many of us happily follow, and thrive, in this lifestyle. It is not a game to the hard-core APers and something most of us, myself included, hope to practice one day in a permanent relationship. It is neither twisted nor perverted, and before you say anything that might piss me off, you need to understand that it has absolutely nothing to do with pedophilia or pedo-tendencies. You have heard of role-playing, right? Well, many of those involved in AP have adopted their roles seriously, and what you call a silly game has become a way of life. My own personal desire is to one day find a partner who is as needful of this lifestyle as I am, and that we can nurture it together.”

 
“I don’t mean to be insulting, but this is way too much for me to be involved with. I have spent the last seventeen years protecting that girl as best as I can from people who would lead her down a dangerous path. And I do not want to ever see her being taken advantage of sexually. No.”

  “Danger is the very thing we try to protect our littles from. Little, by the way, is the term many of us use to describe the role of submission in this relationship. If there is sexual interaction during the course of the relationship, the little assumes her place as an adult with adult responsibilities and input. None of the real APers I know ever involve their partner in a sexual relationship while in their little mode. Try to understand that this training will allow Camille to go back and renew herself as a little girl, without having the grownup needs of keeping a schedule, showing up for shoots, or dealing with an overprotective agent…” Erik offered a charming grin.

  Stan was not convinced. “What do you get out of it? A pretty little puppet with the mentality of an infant?”

  “Not if I have anything to do with it. Proper conditioning has nothing to do with eliminating intelligence, or turning the little into a pet. As I told you, it merely gives opportunity for them to explore their inner child in a safe, protected environment with rules, boundaries, rewards, and consequences. From the side of a big, it allows us to nurture, guide, protect, and build. It is very gratifying when I see a submissive begin to let go of her stress, destroy the old lies and beliefs that were causing her harm, and permit herself to play. It helps me because it gives me the chance to let go of everyday stress and play as well. It is truly a mutually rewarding relationship.”

  “Normal people have a drink and then watch TV or work out to get rid of stress. Why can’t you just do that?”

  “Because I chose a different way to alleviate my life’s pressures. It might not be considered a social norm, but it works well for me. Stan, let me ask you this question… Would you be as judgmental if I were gay? Or into hard-core BDSM? Or had a foot fetish? You might not be comfortable with different lifestyle choices, but you accept them, right?”