We checked into the hotel and it became work right away. Before we could even finish reading the mission statement we were faxed the information for the first charity we would be working with. It was visiting the burn victims ward and hopefully putting smiles on little kids� faces. I can hear what seems to be a lively hallway party but I�m too busy for any of that. Not only do we have to coordinate everything but we have to figure out what we type of visit and activity will occur, with the help of the hospital of course. All this extra work while JIVE and the group gets so much great publicity. I bust my ass while the group simply shows up and smiles and the record label does even less. I can�t seem to get in touch with this Paula lady who is our point of contact for the hospital and the only time the guys can possibly go to the hospital is a three and a half hours time frame. I hate this, I hate deadlines they drive me crazy. Until something it over and done with I absolutely freak out and come close to the verge of having a nervous breakdown. My mom always said I�ll put myself in an early grave but only after I hate life since I don�t enjoy today because of stressing about tomorrow. Even though I didn�t agree with her I didn�t argue the fact because I knew she was right. I am about as anal as you can get. I make lists about the different lists I need to make in order to get through my day. I need order, I need structure. In school, the worst thing that a teacher could do to me was telling me to write about anything. I would rather be told what exactly the paper needed to be on. It�s somewhat weird that my job consists of a lot of reacting instead of planning. However, the one thing that saves me in this is that I do think well off the cuff. I�m definitely not one to self-destruct and become a puddle of mess when confronted with an issue. If only I didn�t stress about things up until the moment they occurred. My moments of self-analyzing were cut short when my cell phone began to play Flight of the Bumblebee. It�s about time, I called that lady seven times and she was never in her office. She wasn�t a doctor, it wasn�t like she was saving lives,
�Hello?� I shuffled the papers in front of me looking for the guys� schedule,
�Hi Mona.� Damn! This can not be happening. Not only is it not the hospital representative but it was the last person I wanted to talk to on this planet.
�Mitch, I don�t have time.� When it rains it pours as my door is being pounded on,
�Some one is at my door. I have to go.� I hung up and threw the phone on the bed quickly deducing that I would rather talk to Mitch than be faced with my new situation,
�Come in.� Standing before me was Pete and he didn�t look happy. He walked in and turned to face me,
�Have a seat?� He shook his head and offered a piece of paper to me, which might as well have been a snake. I didn�t want to have anything to do with it and he looked as if he was just as put off by it,
�What�s this?� I took it from his hand, a photocopy of an article with a picture that I couldn�t make out,
�It�s the first black eye of the tour. Nick�s sister was arrested.� He sighed and shook his head,
�Again.� Again? I�ve never talked to a police officer in my life, not even a speeding ticket. He stood quietly as I read over the article quickly. Apparently she was arrested for fighting in a bar,
�Wow. So what are we supposed to do? How does it affect the tour?� I could tell by the look on his face I was about to hear something stupid or something that would shock me; maybe both.
�Whatever happens in one of their lives affects the entire group.� I was ready to argue that point but stopped short. He had been doing this longer than me he obviously knew what he was talking about.
�Usually, whatever personal problems arise is due to the Carter clan. They are the biggest joke of a family I have ever seen. It�s pathetic really. This is BJ�s fourth arrest. Drunk driving, drugs, fighting, high speed police chases. She�s her own episode of Cops and America�s Dumbest Criminals.� I had no words as I waited for him to allow me time to let some of this register in my head,
�So, Nick will, undoubtedly, get asked about this so we need to come up with a statement on his behalf. Think up a few things and get them to me tonight. I�ve already talked to him and he won�t be making any statements or answering any questions.� It has to be hard to be told you can�t defend your sibling,
�How does he feel about that?� He chuckled, but it wasn�t out of amusement,
�He feels great about it. The first thing he said was that he didn�t have in comments. Nick isn�t very big on discussing private matters with the public. He feels it�s no one�s business and the only thing people need to know is what time the concert starts.� That�s one way of looking at public relations and a rather na�ve one if I say so myself. PR is like a good lawyer, even the good guy needs one. My shrill of my phone was loud and clear.
�Get that, I�ve got some things to take care of with the group. I�ll tell you about it later, you have enough on your plate tonight.� I picked up the phone and didn�t bother to look at who it was or ask them if they wanted to hold,
�Hold please.� I looked over at Pete,
�Anything I need to know?� He shrugged,
�Rumor about the guys not happy with the record label. It�s always an issue with them.� He waved me off,
�Take your phone call but stop by my room in about an hour so we can discuss the plans for the hospital thing tomorrow.� I nodded, please let this be the lady. I can�t take this anymore. He closed the door and I took a breath, asking God to please let this be her so I can cross this off my list only to replace it with the new family scandal that has infused itself into my life,
�I�m sorry. This is Priscilla Maisonave.� There was a man�s laughter and I knew my prayers hadn�t been answered,
�You sound so professional. I taught you well.� I want so much to change my phone number but now that I�ve given it to so many reporters and contacts it�s impossible,
�Look, this phone is not for personal use. I don�t need you calling and tying up my time.� Yes, I gave the number to my family and Tish but that was it.
�Mona, I miss you.� He was unbelievable; to act as if he actually cared about me,
�Please. What�s your new intern�s name?� It was about that time again. For the fresh new crop of prospects to make their appearances into the world of corporate America as success hungry and ladder climbers willing to do anything.
�Mona, there is no one else. You were a special circumstance.� Did he expect me to believe that? To believe that I was the first college student who didn�t want to mess up her chance of a great recommendation and fell victim to the aphrodisiac of the powerful, rich man?
�Wow, I didn�t think you thought so little of my intelligence.� He laughed a little and I knew his ego wouldn�t allow him to remain silent on his latest conquest.
�Her name is Vanessa. She�s this success driven little Puerto Rican girl. She grew up poor and is very bitter about it. Will do anything to make it to the top.� I can�t believe he takes pride in taking advantage of someone�s strong desire to rise and make themselves better.
�You�re a piece of work Mitch.� He laughed,
�I take that as a compliment.� I expected nothing less,
�Of course you do.� Those were the last words he heard before I hung up the phone and concentrated on somehow squashing a public relations problem before it started. However, I can�t figure it would get that bad. Most people don�t care about the Backstreet Boys. This BJ girl had been arrested numerous times and I�ve never heard of it until now.
Chapter 20 ~To be continued...~
Total Control
Stories