I went back to my office, opened up the folder and smiled as I sat in my small little corner of this huge building. Actually, no one will admit to it but I think it was a broom closet before I came here. I'm going to be working for the Backstreet Boys, at least it's the big time. No starting off slow with some little model turned actress or something. I look at the tour schedule and see Japan, you've got to be kidding me, Japan, I can't wait. I read over the lastest press releases we did for the group as I logged into my computer. I looked up all the cities and the average weather for the time we would be there. I've never had to pack for such an extensive time away from home. Months of living out of a suitcase, checking in and out of hotels at all times of the day and night. Wait, am I going to have to travel on a bus?
I shake off the thoughts of dread as I began to search around every website, official and unofficial, for news about the Backstreet Boys. So many websites, after about a couple of hours of research I come to the conclusion that someday Brian will be nominated for sainthood and his wife wears the pants in the family, or at least that's what the girls say, they don't seem to like her all that much. AJ was the recovering alcoholic, I remember that from a couple of years ago, the jokes were bad, I even laughed at a few. He is a total insecure wreck and apparently still drinks every now and then. Howie is a sweet guy, Kevin is the big brother who makes sure all the business is taken care of. Now I can confirm that one, he was the only one here. Nick was defintitely the one with all the dirt. The psycho ex-girlfriend who beat him and stole his belongings, used him to get a record deal. This is was all so wild, I've never heard of any of this and I barely knew who this ex-girlfriend was. I vaguely remember hearing that song, in fact I hear it more on MTV specials and shows than I did on the radio or the video on TV. He stopped talking to his family because of this girl. How could you choose a girl over your family? Definitely not my type of guy, I need someone with a backbone. A weak man, is definitely not attractive, no bleeding heart here. He was definitely the ladies' man though. Guess he could only be a man for one night. Wow, so many stories of using them and leaving them, what a prick. Why they feel the need to be so disgustingly dishonest I will never know.
I look up from my paperwork when there is a slight knock on the door but of course Leonard sticks his head in before I can ever say anything,
"Hey, come on in." He smiled as he sat down,
"You look over that packet I gave you?" I nod,
"Yes, very helpful." He nodded,
"Yeah, Kevin just happened to stop by so I figured it would be good for you to at least meet one of the guys before the tour maybe it wouldn't be so intimidating." I nodded,
"So you think I'm ready for such a big client?" He looked at me,
"You having doubts?" I smiled and shook my head,
"No, I'm just glad you don't." He smiled,
"No, no doubts here. So are you a fan of their's." I smiled,
"Well, they are our clients." He laughed,
"So, that's a no." I shrugged,
"I know the group, know most of the songs. I wouldn't say I'm not a fan but I don't go to concerts and buy albums. But that doesn't matter I just need to speak well on their behalf and make sure they say all the right things." He nodded,
"That's what I wanted to hear." He stood up,
"Think you're going to be ready by next week?" I nodded as I looked over the itenirary once more,
"Yeah, shouldn't be too hard." He nodded as he walked towards the door,
"It's going to be hard work but try to enjoy it. There's nothing like being on tour with popstars. If nothing else the hotels and accomodations are to die for." I laugh as my phone begins to ring,
"I'll remember that when I'm screening out 'Do you have a girlfriend' questions." He points at the phone before walking out the door and closing it behind him,
"Hello?" Who else would it be besides Patricia,
"Hey, what are you doing?" I shake my head,
"What I'm always doing when you call me at the office...working." She sighs,
"Why would you do something like that?" I befriened Patricia, who prefers to be called Tish, in college. We were roommates our freshman year and remained friends through different roommates, different dorms and moving off campus,
"So, what's up? Oh, I'm going on my first assignment out of the office. I'm going on tour with one of our music acts." She loved music as much as I did but she wasn't a pop fan at all, she was a self-described music critic, and she would rather listen to elevator musak than Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys,
"Please tell me it's Dave Matthews Band or Creed." I laugh,
"Nope, but would you settle for the Backstreet Boys?" She groaned,
"Did you screw up at work? Is this the punishment? Damn, that's gotta suck, tell me you're pissed." I turn my attention back to my computer and look at their latest official photo,
"No it's not punishment and I'm ok with it. I met one of them today. Kevin was in my boss' office." I know Tish didn't know Kevin from Barry Manilow, at least by name anyway,
"Which one is that? The one with the tattoos?" It's funny, even non-fans know a little something about the group. Even if they don't want to,
"Nope, the eyebrows." She laughed,
"Ah ok gotcha. So are you coming down to see me tonight?" Tish lived in San Diego,
"Can't...got a lot of stuff to do. I leave out Wednesday, it's already Friday. Why don't you come up and see me? You can help me pack and stuff." We always tried to see each other twice a month. We alternated on who drove the two hour distance, it was my turn but I knew she would understand,
"Well, since you are about to go on tour with the devil I guess I can sacrifice." I roll my eyes,
"I'm grateful. Look, I gotta make some phone calls and get some stuff taken care of, call me and let me know before you get on the road." She sighed,
"Yes mom." I hung up and started making a list of everything I needed. I love making lists, I make lists of the things I need to make a list to do.
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Total Control
Chapter 3