(A/N: This is yet again another short chapter. In this Chapter it points out that Manny was born on December 2nd which is my birthdate as well as Cassie Steele's. Just wanted to point out that random fact. And now I did, and now I feel I have a purpose in this world!)
"Perfect Manny!" the photographer, Jhordan grinned, "You look like the Covergirl that you are. Bright eyes, bright smile. Perfect! Okay, let's wrap this up". Jhordan walked toward Manny, holding up a robe, she smiled at him and wrapped herself up in the white terry cloth, she had been posing in a pool and it was nineteen degrees outside. It was the second day of December, her twenty-eighth birthday. Six months ago she'd left Keith, and she'd waited for six months to have Craig call her. It never happened. Jhordan smiled at Manny warmly as they walked out of the photo shoot and into the clothing room.
"So", Jhordan grinned, his blue eyes sparkling, "It's your big two-eight. Calvin Klein is having a party, plenty of single men for you and me".
Manny slipped on some jeans over her bikini, "I told you before Jhordan, I..."
"The whole Craig deal", Jhordan rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through his platinum blonde hair, "Manny, you're the face of Covergirl, do you know how many men would love to have you?"
"Look", Manny buttoned up a white shirt, "I've made a lot of mistakes before. I've had seven husbands, I just – Craig and I had something, and I don't want to ruin my life any more than I have", Manny sighed and but on some silver boots and a brown fur jacket, "Besides it's my Birthday, Liberty and James are making me some huge dinner to celebrate".
Jhordan put his cold, smooth hands on Manny's cheeks, "Do you want to be single forever waiting for some guy that will never come to you?"
"I don't have to listen to this again, especially on my Birthday", Manny looked up Jhordan, "Let's just drop it".
"Fine, but the Calvin Klein party is at Twenty-ninth and eighth. They'll let you in because you're a model", Jhordan handed Manny an envelope from out of his pocket, "Don't open it until after dinner okay? Happy Birthday", he kissed Manny on the cheek and walked out of the clothing room. Manny grinned, stuffed her present in her pocket and walked out as well, as she exited, people waved at her, wishing her Happy Birthday and handing her freebies for their companies. Manny walked out the front door into the cold, hectic New York streets and thumbed for a cab, immediately one pulled up for her and she climbed in.
"Where to ma'm?" the driver asked, turning to meet eyes with Manny, "You're – the Covergirl… Manny Santos! That's you!"
Manny smiled, "That's me". She was used to people recognizing her now, and she took it as a regular day-to-day event, "Oh can you please drive me to the Subway station?"
"Of course, for that I'd do it for free", the driver said, "May I have an autograph?"
He handed Manny a stained Chinese take-out menu, "Can you write to Rico, my biggest fan?"
"Yeah", Manny smiled and slipped on some of her leather gloves, scribbling on the paper as 'Rico' drove out of the plaza.
As the car drove off, Manny put on her Gucci aviator sunglasses and her Triple 5 Soul beanie. She buttoned up her jacket as Rico pulled up near the Subway station. "How much -" Manny asked, reaching into her purse.
"No charge ma'm", Rico grinned.
"Thank you", Manny breathed and walked down the stairs to the Subway station, she walked through the crowd, vying not to be recognized, with her glasses and beanie the chances were slim. She inserted her pass and walked on the Subway going to Manhattan.
---
Craig Manning twirled his cell phone antenna around his fingers as he sat on his butter leather couch, the TV was on and he was just relaxing, he hadn't relaxed in a while. Suddenly, a commercial came on the TV and Craig's eyes widened. Manny was walking out of taxi cab and grinning brightly.
"Whenever I'm in a hurry I just use this", Manny held up a tube of lipstick, "Covergirl outlast with diamond shine. If it's for a photo shoot, or a night on a town, I always use this. Isn't every girl a Covergirl?" and then the commercial ended leaving Craig staring after the TV, as if he was expecting Manny to walk out of her commercial.
"Craig", Genesis walked into Craig's apartment without knocking, "Get ready, we're going out to eat".
Craig rolled his eyes, "What business meeting are we having this time?"
"None", she grinned, "It's Manny's birthday. Liberty invited us, dinner starts at eight so get up!"
"Manny", he whispered, "Are you sure she wants us there?" He asked Genesis.
"Positive", Genesis replied.
---
Manny walked into the upscale New York Restaurant with James and Liberty beside her. She wore a slimming black BCBG dress and black strappy heels by Dior. Her hair was curled and cascaded beneath her shoulders. James and Liberty led her to a table where she saw a crowd of her friends, they all grinned at her shouting happy birthday and showering her with gifts. Off in a far corner she saw Craig Manning, starting to work his way towards her. She walked up to him as well, only to be intercepted by no one other than Toby Isaacs.
"Manny", he breathed.
Manny smiled, "Toby".
"I heard about what happened to you and Keith and I'm terribly sorry", Toby looked down, "And I'm sorry about what happened to us".
"It's okay, really…" Manny was interrupted when Toby opened a red velvet jewelry case, which exposed a silver diamond chandelier necklace. "Toby you shouldn't have…" she was speechless.
Toby put the necklace around her neck and clasped it, "I should". He replied.
Off in a distance, Craig watched and Toby and Manny were engaged in a deep hug, he felt a relish of jealousy wash over him and glared to a waitress who was waving shyly at Craig. He waved back and looked to Manny once again. If she wanted to play games, he could play them too.
(A/N: JEWLERY STRIKES AGAIN! I know Manny is a little old to be a model but... oh well! Umm... I'm almost halfway done with story. I'm thinking about writing a follow-up piece but I dunno. Please leave your comments, and I'll try to make the next Chapter a little longer.)
