"Roger, I appreciate you picking me up."
"It's the least I could do, after you agreed to come straight here from the tour. Besides we need to talk over some things in private and this is about as private as we are going to get."
"Gotcha."
"I know you think you have no allusions about this gig, but I don't think anyone truly understands what we are up against."
"Tell me."
"Nick's a good kid deep down; he's just been tugged in so many directions. Add an unstable upbringing and well you have the rebel Nick. His interpersonal skills�what word am I looking for�suck," finished he with a laugh. "Common sense isn't high on his list."
"I can handle this job."
"I know you can. What I also know is Nick is going to fight you every step of the way. Like I said when we met, none of the PA's we've hired have made it."
"We will be fine as long as Nick can't fire me."
"He can't."
"Then it's settled."
"I promised Stephen I would take care of you. There is one more thing I want to let you know."
"What?"
"When the tour is over and if you are still around you will get a $15,000 bonus."
"What," asked Abe trying to keep her expression neutral.
"Trust me, if you last, you will have earned every penny."
"It's not necessary, but thank you."
"I've got all your paperwork in my room. After we get you checked in, we'll get everything signed."
They pulled up in front of the Chateau Marmont Hotel. A bellhop immediately lifted Abe's bag from her shoulder. She followed Roger into the luxury hotel, where he handled getting her checked in. The bellhop was instructed to take the bags to her room, while she followed Roger to his suite.
Abe looked around the lobby as they waited for the elevator. She felt like there was a flashing light floating over her head saying, "Warning! Interloper!" She started to take off her baseball cap, then remembered her hair was awful. She settled for straightening her T-shirt and pulling up her tear-aways. She was so happy when the elevator doors opened. Her relief was short lived. The doors opened again on the second floor. Two women, dripping with that money look, stepped on. They gave her a sideways glance. Abe tried to make herself as small as possible. Thankfully, the women got off before them.
"Have a seat and go over this paperwork, while I check my messages," directed Roger.
Abe sat down at the table and began methodically working her way through the folder full of paperwork. Afterwards, Roger gave her a portfolio filled with everything pertinent to her new job.
"Come to me anytime you have questions."
"I will. Anything else you need to tell me?"
"No. Well�" he trailed off, uncomfortable with having to broach this subject with her.
"Yes?"
"Did you get a chance to have some non-crew clothes sent to you?"
"Excuse me?"
"What you're wearing now is cool for when we are traveling, but you are going to be around lots of new people like the press, label people, and others."
"Oh," replied Abe, just above a whisper, her face crimson. "Actually I don't really have much else. I've been on the road for most of the last two years."
Appearing not to notice her blushing, Roger suggested, "Why don't you go shopping this afternoon. You don't actually start working until tomorrow. Business casual is fine."
"Sure."
"Get settled in your room, then check with the concierge. I'm sure he can recommend some stores."
"OK. I will see you later," replied Abe, wanting the conversation over.
"I will see you at 7 in the morning. Welcome aboard AB."
"Thank you sir."
Abe found her room and did a double take at the room number once she looked inside. It wasn't a suite like Roger's, but it was still nicer than anything she had ever been in. She looked for her bags and finally located them in the closet. She was mortified to find the staff had actually unpacked for her. It would have been bad enough if her clothes were clean, but they weren't. If five-star treatment meant having strangers touch your clothes, Abe could do without it.
She quickly set about pulling her clothes out of drawers and dumping them in the tub. She spent the next half-hour washing everything. She used all the hangers, doorknobs, and handles to hang her clothes up to dry then headed for to shop. As she left the room, she hung the "Do Not Disturb" sign. Maybe that would keep them out.
"May I help you," asked the concierge.
"Is there a Lane Bryant around here?"
"A what?"
"Lane Bryant," she answered her tone going flat and the blush coming back.
"I'm not sure. Let me look."
Abe kept her head down and her shoulders slumped. Everyone in the lobby was again looking at her. One thing for sure, she would blend in more with new clothes. The concierge finally located a mall with a Lane Bryant. She took him up on the offer for someone to drive her. Once there, the driver agreed to stay and she promised to be back in an hour.
Inside the mall, Abe relaxed. She blended in here. Locating the Lane Bryant, she set about buying clothes. In just under an hour, Abe took advantage of the sale the store was having and spent $700.00 in the process. She was trying not to hyperventilate at the thought of spending so much at one time on clothes. She wasn't use to shopping. She only replaced clothes as they wore out. The other reason for her nerves was the thought of walking back into the lobby of the Chateau Marmont carrying the bags. Again, it would feel like the flashing warning light was above her head. She bought a scarf at Macy's and asked if she could have on of the big handled bags to carry everything in. Macy's would be acceptable in the hotel lobby.
"Wow you were quick," noted the driver.
"Doesn't take long."
"Did you try all that on," he asked, glancing in the rear-view mirror as he pulled onto the freeway and saw her put everything into the Macy's bag.
Mortified, she quickly said, "I know what size I wear. No need to try them on."
"I wish my girlfriend was like you. She has to try on everything."
"Never been much of a shopper."
"I thought all girls had the shopping gene."
"Not me," chuckled Abe, then settled into the backseat and watched Los Angeles pass.
Back in her room, she called her best friend, Michele Taborson.
"Hello."
"Hey Chely."
"Abe! I take it you're in La La land."
"Yep. How are things there?"
"The same. So what's he like? Did he remember you?"
"I haven't seen Nick yet. We're meeting tomorrow."
"What have you been doing?"
"Got my paperwork done. Did laundry. Get this Chely. They actually unpack you're clothes for you in the fancy hotels."
"Ew!"
"I know! I put the "Do No Disturb" sign on the door when I went out shopping. It seemed to keep them away."
"Shopping?"
"Yeah," replied Abe in a tone her friend recognized.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothin'."
"Anna."
Sighing, Abe explained, "I had to get more appropriate clothes. Dress clothes."
"Dresses?"
"No! Well, one dress. I got dress pants and stuff."
"I see. That's not so bad."
"No. I just wish I didn't look like this. Ya know?"
"You know I do. We both need to work harder in that department."
"Yeah. Maybe I made a big mistake taking this job. I'm in this big fancy hotel on Sunset Blvd. I'm going to be working for a guy I pissed off. I don't belong here."
"Anna, stop it! I know this is scary, but you can do it. I know you can. So tell me more about your room."
"Well it has this huge king-size bed in it. Chely I can lay across and I fit! My toes don't hang off. Talk about feeling short. And the tub is amazing!"
"Oh did they give you bubble bath?"
"I don't know. Let me see."
"I'll hang on."
"Huh? Oh. No you don' t have to. They have cordless phones in the room."
"Abe let me call you back. This is gonna cost you a fortune!"
"No. Roger is picking up my tab for tonight. He told me to call anyone I needed. I get a cell phone tomorrow."
"They're getting you a cell phone?"
"Yep. Free long distance! I do believe I've found a tiny bottle of bubble bath. Wonder if there is enough to cover this big ole body of mine."
"Stop it Abe! You go take a bubble bath for me. Relax tonight."
"I guess I better, because tomorrow the war begins."
"You never know�it might not be that bad."
"Yeah and I may wake up tomorrow a Victoria Secrets model."
"I'm not listening to you put yourself down anymore. Call me with your new number."
"I will. Hey Chely."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for being my bestest friend in da whole wide world!" Abe used the phrase they had been saying for years.
"Thank you for the same. Bye."
"Bye."
Abe went to the shopping bag and pulled out her new pajamas. She figured she could use them. Some how sleeping in one of her old T-shirts and shorts didn't seem elegant enough for this room.
She started filling the tub and added the bubble bath. She spied a hotel robe and slipped it on. It barely closed around her. The sad thing was she knew even without her clothes on it still wouldn't look right. She wished she could look like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman", when she came out that first morning. She was wearing a robe like the one Abe had on, but it looked huge on her. Sighing, Abe slipped the robe off and hung it back up. Before taking her clothes off, she flipped off the light in the bathroom. There was enough light from the other room for her to see her way to the tub. Finally, her exhaustion caught up with her and she dozed off in the tub.
She woke up an hour later, shivering in the cold water. She dried off and dressed quickly, leaving a wake up call for 5 a.m. then called room service. She ordered a club sandwich. She wanted more, but knew Roger would see the bill.
After eating, she settled into bed. She tried to sleep, but it was no use. She was worried about what would happen with Nick when he saw her. Every scene she played out in her head ended badly. No way around it, Nick would be unhappy to see her. She began to channel surf and finally found a movie to occupy her mind until exhaustion won again.
