Chapter Two

Cassie threw her duffel bag onto the floor of her penthouse apartment. She almost wished there was a maid or someone around to yell at her for leaving things around. Walking over to the kitchen she grabbed some leftover pizza from the fridge and flopped onto the couch. Flipping through the channels she finally paused on a Looney Toons marathon and began giggling along.

The apartment was small intended only to be a starter for Cassie and her Mother. Carl an Agent from All-Star Talent spotted a winner in Cassie and moved in quickly. He had eyes on the Mother. At least he had eyes on the child's potential riches. What Carl did not bank on however was an accident that would take the Mother's life and leave the child an orphan.

Now Cassie mainly lived alone sending a big check to her agent and another to a lawyer whom both ate up her resources but kept her happy. She had everything a young girl could want. Money, fame, and superstardom lay right at Cassie's fingertips. Carl even said that he was working on an audition for the new movie Princess Bride. Once that was clinched nothing would stop her shoot to the top.

Absentmindedly Cassie picked up the script from the coffee table and flipped through it. A year ago she would have been thrilled for such a chance. Then again a year ago she went to school, had friends, and her Mom was alive. Now a private tutor came everyday at three. Her so-called friends turned out to be shallow and no longer cared about Cassie but Cassandra the model. Finally, her Mom did not survive the accident that happened coming home from a date with Carl.

The phone began to ring and Cassie walked over and hit the speaker phone button, "Cassandra, talk to me."

"Cassie, sweetie! How's my favorite guardianee today?" Carl's voice rang all too chipper.

"What do you want Carl?" Cassie groaned cleaning up her pizza box mess.

"Now is that any way to talk to your legal guardian and favorite agent?"

"How much did you lose this time Carl?"

"Only five thousand, but I'll pay it back. Say did you get the script?"

"Got it. The part is a little stupid. Does Buttercup have to be such a dunderhead?"

"Hey, I didn't write it babe. You study that and be prepared to make magic at the end of the week."

"Will do. What else Carl?"

"Did you see the cover of Teen Fad? Guess who's their feature story?"

"Some 21 year old model named Cassandra?" Cassie said dryly.

Carl muttered something that didn't make it through the speaker then said, "Cassie do you want to make it big or not? Trust me. I know what sells."

"Oh and adding seven years to my age has nothing to do with it or the fact that you can gamble my earnings at will?" Cassie said frustrated.

"Watch it you little twit. I made you what you are so don't question me or my choices. Your Mother put me in charge of you…"

"Because you made her to fall in love with you just to get to our money! She'd still be here if you hadn't gotten her drunk that night." Cassie screamed at the phone.

"If you were my daughter…..nevermind. Look you have elbow rubbing and mingling at the Smash Club at 9:00pm tonight. The producers and directors of the movie are going to be there. You're on the VIP list so no worries about an ID being asked for. Do yourself up right and be there."

"But…." Cassie began.

"BE THERE!" Carl yelled and the line went dead.

Cassie made faces at the phone ready to throw it out the window. It could be worse. She could actually have to see Carl instead of everything being over the phone. Groaning she went into the bedroom to quickly do her homework and take a nap before her trip to the salon to age seven years for another brown nosing spree.