Chapter 5: What's A Memory Like You(Doing In A Love Like This)

Craig smiled at Manny "I'm sorry if I upset you," Craig replied.

"No, no, it's just I have to keep up appearances," Manny stated. "There are so many interns in this building who think first name basis with their boss is considered hip and sheik but it's not professional." Manny paused. "Oh look at me, I'm rambling on, I'm starting to sound like Fred."

"Who's Fred," Craig asked.

"Oh," Manny slowly moved her left hand further behind her back, on her ring finger she wore a canary yellow 4kt diamond engagement ring from Tiffany's. She was going to keep it behind her back until she remembered that Craig was also engaged and it seemed rather silly to hide her engagement ring she wasn't a naive school girl with a puppy love crush anymore. "He's my fiancé." Manny held out her left hand and wiggled her ring finger so the diamond would flicker in the sun light like it normally always did.

"Whoa," Craig exclaimed. He gazed at the enormous rock on Manny's finger. "That's really nice. I wish I would've bought Ash one like that but she really had a heart set on my mom's engagement ring. Craig looked at Manny. "You know sentimental value."

"Oh," Manny replied before she realized the name he had just said. "Ash as in Ashely Kerwin is you're fiancé." Manny looked surprised but it didn't come as much of a shock they had a on again off again relationship for years.

"Yeah." Craig blushed. "We met at J.T and Liberty wedding reception."

"I know Craig, I was there."

"Oh yeah well after the reception we decided to keep in touch, well, we lost touch." Craig explained to Manny. "But we did meet again last summer when I was in London celebrating my album being released and going gold the first few days it was put on the shelves in England. She was there filling in for a reporter who had caught the flu, anyways I asked her for a couple of drinks we hit it off and we've been together ever since."

"That's great," Manny exclaimed excitingly but deep down for unknown reasons she kinda felt disappointed. "Why, why," Manny stuttered. "Are you working here at."

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Craig interrupted. "But I guess it's no secret, I heard you're doing well with your fashion line with La Femme it's flying off the shelves."

"Yeah," Manny replied. "Not too bad for a first timer."

"Ash doesn't buy too many name brand clothes unless their business attire but Angie love's your line, she has a whole closet full of MS wear." Craig smiled. "Plus LoLa was in your first fashion show here in New York last spring, I was there too but I don't think you noticed me."

"No," Manny lied. She had noticed Craig but she didn't say hello not with the beautiful LoLa hanging around him like a cheap suit."So why are you here in New York?"

"Rolling Rock offered me a job. I did a shoot for them once when their photographer suffered from food poisoning."

"I remember that you were the only rock star in the history of RR to take a photo shoot of yourself for their magazine they're was a lot of controversy with that."

"Yeah almost got my man Ron fired until they saw the photographs they liked it so much they offered me a job here for a while. It's great that it worked out that way I need a change of pace from the music world. I'm hoping to set up freelance work with RR offices worldwide sometime this year that way I can travel more especially since Ashley lives in London. " Craig changed the subject. "So why are you here? Do you have a office here for you're line?"

"Sort of," Manny replied. "I'm working for La Femme they're still sponsoring and giving me money for my line and." Manny tapped on her identification tag all the employees had to use to enter the building,there was a picture of Manny with her name and title.

"Oh," Craig said after reading the name tag. "Wow, Manny I mean Manuella you're the new Executive Editor, the woman I heard who landed that job although she's the youngest to ever receive such a title she's also a real hard ass." Craig stared at Manny and smiled. "The Manny I know is much too sweet."

"Umm, well things change, no one has called me Manny since high school most people call me Manuella here.."

Ms. Santos to be more correct." A women with short blond hair cut interrupted. "Hey, Manny," The woman joked. "Aren't you going to introduce me" She nudged Manny.

Manny gave the woman an annoyed stare. "This is my co-worker and frined..."

"Gina," Gina interrupted Manny while holding out her hand waiting for Craig to shake it.

Craig shook her hand. "Hi, I'm.."

"Oh you don't need an introduction," Gina interrupted. "A famous rock star like you never does and just give me a little tidbit just between us." Gina leaned in and whispered. "When are you going to make another album and tell me the identity of the fiancé that you're planning to marry this summer and..."

"And Craig isn't here to be interviewed for your column." Manny interrupted. "Gina works for..."

"Cozmo Inc." Gina interrupted. " I write the gossip column but I like to think of myself as a star consultant writer, gossip columnist is such a nasty word." Gina smiled.

Craig glanced at his watch. "Whoa look at the time I need to get to work." Craig stared at Manny. "I'll catch you later maybe we can go out have lunch you know catch up on old times."

"I'll like that," Manny smiled as Craig walked away to the elevator.

"So Manny," Gina hit Manny on the arm. "Why didn't you tell me you knew the Craig Manning you know I've been trying to get an interview with him for months since his last split from LoLa."

"I only knew him in high school and briefly after that it was nothing major." Manny shrugged.

"Not from what I just observed." Gina glanced at Manny. "You could cut the tension I felt between you two with a ginsu knife. If he wasn't taken I would have advised you to take or more like forced you to take him up on his offer to catch up on old times."

"Did you forget, Gina, I'm also taken."

"Yes Fred, who could forget rich, mature, sophisticated, founder and CEO of La Femme, Cozmo Inc. and a slew of other magazines and also co-owner of this building and did I forget to mention while rather suave, debonair and handsome he can't hold a candle to Craig in the looks department.

"Looks aren't everything," Manny replied.

"And that's why Fred asked you out when you were an intern he was so intrigued with the beauty of your intelligence." Gina rolled her eyes.

"Maybe he was." Manny gave Gina an angry glare. "And don't call me Manny it's Manuella,OK."