Chapter 8: I'm An Adult Now

"Oh Manuella, give me a kiss." Laura the executive editor and co owner of La Femme magazine gave Manuella an air kiss backstage after the show. "You are brilliant. I've never been to a fashion extravaganza this fantastic since fifteen years ago at a Versace fashion show. That was way before your time dear but tonight I feel like I'm reliving my past only just a tad bit better, I'm richer now." Laura and Manuella chuckled.

"You really think I did OK?" Manuella asked. "It was really Fred's idea."

"Manuella you're being too modest. I know Fred and most of this stuff he wouldn't dream of doing, that's why it's was better. I'm really glad he isn't here tonight."

"Why?"

"Because he already has a big head since he sold you're whole line to a very expensive store's in Milan and Rome where talking a La Femme store with you're line at the famous Via Condotti. Just think if he would've saw this show and the grin on every celebrity, rich tycoon and socialite in this place, his head would have grown as large as a Macy's Day Parade float." Laura giggled.

"Wait, Laura, Fred called you?"

"Yes dear,didn't he inform you that he sealed the deal," Laura asked. Manuella shook her head. "Oh,damn, I forgot he was going to surprise you. We'll honey, try to look surprised when he does." An older lady dripping in diamonds waved at Laura. "Oh, I have to go." Laura air kissed Manuella again. "Duty calls, looks like Bebe wants to talk business. Congratulations again." Laura ran off.

"Ms. Santos." A shy and pretty intern Manuella only knew as Judy was staring at her.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Umm," Judy glanced at her itinerary on a clipboard "Ginger is ready for their interview now and they need your assistance with the special outfits. Do you need any help?"

"No, Judy, that will be all. I'll get the outfits myself." Judy ran off quickly while Manuella maneuvered her way through the crowd of models changing to the room where Ginger and the clothes would be.

"Oh man, oh man, these models are gorgeous." Ron ogled at the models packing up to go home or changing into dresses so they could go to the party outside the dressing room.

"Ron, remember we have to set up it's almost time." Craig replied.

"I know, I'm already ready." Ron pulled out a small tape recorder from his pants pocket. "I'm a reporter we don't need to set up, you're the one who has to set up and I'll just stay here while you do justthat."

"OK." Craig walked off."Hey, isn't that Barb over there?"

"What! Where?" Ron looked around the room. Craig laughed. "Ha, ha, very funny, OK, I get the point no more checking out the models they're too skinny anyways. I like a woman with a little meat on her bones. Like that." Ron pointed to a woman with shoulder length raven hair chatting with an older middle age woman. From the distance the guys could only see the back of her but that was all they needed to know that she was beautiful.

"Yeah," Craig replied. "But even if you weren't married I doubt you would be her type, she wouldn't even give you the time of day."

"Maybe so, especially with that rock on her finger but hey, a guy can dream."

Craig didn't notice the woman was wearing a ring until Ron mentioned it and the only girl he knew with a ring Ron would refer to as a rock he hadn't seen since she gave her little speech to the crowd thirty minutes ago. "I wonder," Craig thought. He tried to get a better look at the woman but she had vanished into thin air."It probably wasn't her anyway," Craig mumbled.

"What!" Ron exclaimed.

"Hey, Ron, how about we go outside to the party and get a drink."

"Sounds good to me."

"Mr. Manning and..." A bashful young woman with red hair replied. She glanced at the clipboard she was holding in order to finish her sentence. "And Mr. Heart."

"Yeah," Ron answered.

"I..uh..hi I'm Judy. I'm an assistant for La Femme and I'm here to escort you to the back where Ginger will be."

"Oh, OK thank you Judy," Craig said. "Lead the way."

"Ok." Judy walked a couple of steps before turning around. "Umm...Mr Manning."

"You can call me, Craig." Craig smiled.

"Oh OK Cra..Crai..." Judy giggled. "Craig, before we leave can I...well I was wondering.. if I could have you're autograph." She pulled out his latest cd which was hidden underneath her clipboard. "I'm a really big fan and I've been trying to get one all night but, well, you know, my boss was around."

"Sure," Craig signed her cd.

Judy stared at the cd with wide eyed excitement before remembering her reason for being there."This way please."

"All done," Manuella buttoned up a sleeve on one of the girl in Ginger she only knew as Yougo.

"Oh, Ms Santos this is ripe," Yougo exclaimed.

"What?"

"Oh it means it's good, beautiful." Yougo smiled. "It's teenage lingo."

"Oh" Manuella said. She couldn't believe she didn't know what that meant. It hadn't been that long since she had been a teen herself and she was completely surprised she hadn't heard that term. She felt so old, almost like her mom, maybe it was because she surrounded herself with people old enough to be her mom not to mention Fred was only two years younger then her dad. "We'll I'm glad you like it." Manuella smooth the blouse out.

"I love it." Yougo exclaimed. She ran to the mirror and examined herself in it with the other members of the group checking out, comparing and contrasting their outfits.

"We'll, maybe I'm not that old if I can still keep up with the latest teen fashion." Manuella thought.

"OK, girls". Ginger's manager slash foster parent replied. "The reporter is here from Rolling Rock and he promises it will be short and sweet so you guys can take your picture for the magazine after that it's back on the road.

"OK," The girls sighed as Manuella left out of the room quietly she needed some fresh air.

"Try not to sound so enthusiastic," The manager replied.

"We'll at least we get to see Cr.." The girls squealed as Manuella slowly closed the door.

Manuella walked around the tiny back room where the girls would take their photos in a minute. "Those girls are really talented but it's a shame they have to spend so much time on the road." Manuella thought. She walked back towards the dressing room and peeked inside. The girls were speaking to an interviewer who was wearing the most ridiculous purple suit she had ever seen. Manuella closed the door and giggled.

"Whats so funny?" Craig asked.

"Oh. Craig." Manuella exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Craig pulled out his camera and snapped a picture of Manuella. "Just doing my job."

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Versace or Macy's Day Parade and in no way is it endorsed by me it's just a minor part of the story.

Note: I know I promised to come out with this chapter on Saturday/Sunday but I completely forgot it was a holiday and lost track of time. I will try to come out with the chapters on the release days but most of time it might be a tad bit late. Bear with me I'm trying as hard as I can to release them on time. : )