Author's Note: Hello all. I know that not many people have been reading this story, but its one of those stories that I just cant seem to shut out. I recently saw This Is It, and I have to say that the movie was absolutely amazing. I cried, and as much as it was from sorrow, over the fact that nobody would see Michael's vision put together and complete, I cried out of happiness from the sheer beauty of seeing him in his element. Anyways, I obviously dont own Michael Jackson, I just own my characters and my ideas. Anyways, enjoy everyone, and review if you want. But remember, if anyone leaves a mean or flaming review it will be deleted. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I wont stand for hateful talk about someone that I look up to and miss so much. Xoxo Amber.
Chapter 2:What The Hell Just Happened?
"The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation."-Michael Jackson
I park my car outside of my Mom's house, noticing that my brother's Brandon and Kyle are here. Great. I groan as I lay my head against the steering wheel, I have no idea what I'm going to do. I have until tomorrow morning to give my decision. Stay here in L.A being Jay's personal assistant, something I'm comfortable doing, something I know that I can do, or take the job for Michael Jackson, which I still haven't quite wrapped my head around. I push out of the car door, smiling as I pick up Carly-Ann's bike to park it by the front door. I open the door, shutting it loudly behind me.
" Mama," Carly-Ann's voice rings through the house as she screeches around a corner, my brother Brandon chasing after her.
" Uh oh, is the big bad Brandon monster coming after you?" I ask, scooping her up into my arms. In answer, Carly-Ann giggles uncontrollably as she buries her head in my neck.
" Hey Dani, how is my favorite little sister?" Brandon asks, tossing an arm carelessly over my shoulder.
" I'm your only little sister, and I'm okay. Glad you're here. It's a good night for the entire family to be together," I say, walking with Carly-Ann on my hip into the kitchen.
" That's a serious voice you have on there Dani, everything okay?" he asks, and I open my mouth to explain the predicament that I'm in, but Kyle and Mom's sudden appearance in the kitchen stops me before I can even start.
" Well would you look at this, my little sister is here," Kyle says, wrapping me into a tight hug. I smile as I pull away, settling Carly-Ann into a chair. I cast a look over my shoulder and see the way that Brandon and Kyle are standing together, shoulder to shoulder, right behind my mother as she stirs something in a pot. So much alike, even after all this time. Sure their twins, but aside from their looks, they are two completely different people. Brandon is the more laid back one, the artistic type. He'd rather lock himself away in his studio with a blank canvas than face a large crowd. Whereas Kyle thrives when he is in a huge crowd, surrounded by noise and chaos. Just like me.
" Supper will be ready in twenty minutes, Brandon, Kyle, why don't you set the table so your sister can sit down and rest before we eat," mom says, and I feel somewhat confused. Is my stress and nervousness so apparent that even my Mother notices?
" It's okay Momma, I can help," I say, taking the plates from Kyle's hands before she can say in anything. I listen at the comfortable chatter in the kitchen, going about my own business as I set the table, wondering just how I am going to tell everyone of my plans.
Dinner was going well, quite actually, with the occasional giggle escaping Carly-Ann's lips. Leave it to Kyle to insist on making faces at my daughter, interupting her meal. I smile though, knowing that my daughter is one lucky little girl, to have uncles who would do anything and everything for her.
" So how was work today Dani?" Mom asks, pulling me from my thoughts, and I choke on my food reaching for my glass to keep my hands busy. There's a glint in my mother's eyes that tells me that she may know something, but then I think of how impossible that could be.
" Actually, I'm glad that everyone's here tonight. I got a offer to work as a P.A for someone else today," I say, deciding it would be better to just tell them right away, rather than over think it. I look at the huge smiles on Kyle and Brandon's face and my mother, who looks a bit surprised. I stare at her nervously.
" Well, are you going to tell us who, or make us guess?" Kyle asks, excitement in his voice. I slide my plate away from me bringing my hands up to the table, playing with my fingers trying to fight the butterflies in my stomach.
" You wont believe me, because I didn't believe it at first either," I say, knowing that I was just trying to avoid having to tell them.
" Come on Dani, just tell us," Mom says, and I take a deep breathe.
" Michael Jackson," I mumble out, and I'm met with confused looks.
" Sorry, we don't speak gibberish, what was that you said," Brandon says, and I shake my head.
" Michael Jackson," I say clearly, and silence fills the room, its so quiet in fact that I swear you would hear a pin drop. Brandon sits back in his seat staring at me closely, and then, to my utter shock, Kyle bursts into loud laughter.
" Yeah okay, your going to work for Michael Jackson, and I just got elected to be the pope," Kyle says, laughing so hard that his face turns bright red. It takes only a minute for him to realize that I am completely serious.
" She isn't kidding Kyle," Brandon says, his face completely composed, and yet I can see the wheels in his head turning.
" When would you start?" Mom pipes up, her voice shaky.
" Carly-Ann and I would have to leave in two days," I say, dreading this part of the conversation, more than anything I have dreaded before.
" Leave? Where would you two be going?" Mom asks, her voice tight and full of a boiling anger. I swallow harshly, forcing the words out of my mouth.
" We would be going to Dublin, Ireland," I say, and I watch in horror as my mothers face turn at least five different shades of red.
" Ireland? Are you insane? You cant just go gallivanting across the world with my grandchild! See this is exactly why I didn't want you to take this career in the first place. That's it, first thing Monday morning you are marching into that office and your quitting that job, and you are enrolling in a nursing program," she screams, pushing away from the table with such force that it knocks Carly-Ann's glass over, in turn making my daughter cry hysterically.
" Kyle, can you please take Carly-Ann to the other room?" I ask, and I watch in silence, my own anger building inside of me until I know that my child is a safe distance away. " I am not signing up for a nursing program Momma, and I'm taking this job. I didn't have my mind made up, in fact I doubted that I was going to take it, until now. A month ago you told me how proud of me that you were, that I was going after my dreams, making something of myself. What's changed?" I ask, my voice slightly accusatory as I sop up the spilt juice on the table.
" What's changed is the fact that your even considering taking Carly-Ann with you," she says, and I turn to look at her, a fresh fierceness in my eyes.
" Why is that a problem? She's my daughter, I go, she goes, end of story," I hiss between clenched teeth. " Look I dont want to fight with you on this Mom, but I'm a grown woman now. I make my own decisions, and I will do what I feel I have to do. Not just for myself, but for my daughter."
" Any good mother would think twice," she shoots at me, and I cringe at her words.
" Then I must be a damn fine mother, because I have thought about this more than twice. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, to see the world, to see the world with my daughter, and I will be damned if I am going to let a shrew like you stand in my way," I say, throwing the rag into the sink, before I storm out of the kitchen, taking Carly-Ann by the hand, Brandon and Kyle looking at me with sorrow in their eyes.
I run the brush through Carly-Ann's hair, humming softly like I do every night, and I am slightly caught of guard when she turns to look at me, her big beautiful green eyes serious.
" Mama, why did you and Grandma fight tonight?" Carly-Ann asks, holding her pink, and somewhat weathered teddy bear tightly in her small arms.
" Well, baby. Mama got a really awesome job offer today at work, and Grandma is angry because it will take you away from her," I say, pulling her blankets back so that she can climb into her bed.
" Where are we going that's so far away?" she asks, rubbing her eyes furiously.
" Ireland. Michael Jackson wants Mama to work for him," I say, sitting next to her so that she can snuggle next to me for her bedtime story.
" You mean Mr. Thriller Man? He is so cool, oh Mama, are we really going to see him?" she asks excitedly, turning shining eyes towards me.
" Mr. Thriller Man? I swear kid, I'm going to kill your Uncle Kyle one of these days," I murmur, reaching for her favorite bedtime story. In answer, Carly-Ann giggles, snuggling into me as she gets ready for me to read from her Winnie the Pooh book. As always, just as I'm getting to the part where Winnie-the-Pooh gets stuck in the door way of Rabbit's house Carly-Ann is out for the count. I close the book, laying a small kiss to her forehead. I pick up discarded items of clothes as I go, kicking toys out of the way as I go. I turn to look at Carly-Ann one more time before I turn on her night light, leaving the room. What if I take this job and it's a huge mistake? What horrible effect would it have on my daughter? Or what if I didn't take this job, and for the rest of my life I'm stuck asking myself what if?
" Carly-Ann James, get down here right this second, I'm going to be late for work," I yell up the stairs, easily balancing on one foot as I slide my shoe on my foot.
" Coming Mama," Carly-Ann's voice floats down the stairs, and I smile when I see her standing at the top of the stairs, her hair in lopsided pig tails.
" Oh sweet girl, do you want me to fix your hair?" I ask, as she walks towards me.
" No, I did it all by myself," she says, and I sigh at how head strong she is.
" Okay. Well lets go sugar plum," I say, picking up my bag from the floor, securing her hand in mine. Five minutes into the car ride Carly-Ann speaks up from the back seat. " Mama, I had a dream last night," she says, and I smile as I look into the rearview mirror.
" Did you? What was it about?" I ask, stopping at a red light, listening intently to her.
" It was about Mr. Thriller Man, and he was so nice. He loved you, and he loved me, how a daddy should love me," she says, her voice sweet and low. I have never lied to my daughter. I knew the minute that I told her father that I was expecting and he walked out on me that I couldn't hide that from her. She would ask questions one day, and I would have to have the answers.
" Oh baby," I say, caught off guard by her remarks. I had made up my mind last night, when Carly-Ann was finally asleep, and I was alone in the quiet of the night, all I had was myself and my thoughts to keep me company. What am I supposed to do now. I pull up outside of my Mother's house, sitting for a long minute thinking of some way to explain to Carly-Ann that if I was going to take this job that the likelihood of her dream coming true were slim to none. I smile when I see Mom walking towards the car, feeling somewhat relieved that I wouldn't have to come up with an answer now.
" Thanks Mom. Bye baby, see you when I get off work, be good," I call through the car window, and like every other day I watch as my Mom and my blonde haired angel walk hand in hand to the front door, and I smile when Carly-Ann looks back, a huge smile on her face as she waves goodbye.
I tap my foot in time with the elevator music. Today was already shaping up to being a bad day. A late start, Carly-Ann's dream of Mr. Thriller Man, and the long line at the coffee shop have proven to put a smear on my record of being on time. I sail past the receptionist desk, tossing down Renee's usual blueberry muffin, not stopping long enough to say hello. I rush into Jay's office, carefully putting his morning coffee on the desk before taking my seat. I flip open my organizer and find that today was an easy day. A few meetings, and that was it, an unusual thing for Jay. I smile when Jay hangs up the phone, sighing contently when he takes his first sip of coffee.
" Morning DanI. I need you to clear any appointments that I have for lunch," Jay says, and I nod scanning the organizer.
" Uhm, Jay, you didn't have anything planned for lunch today," I say, pulling the cap off of my pen so that I can write in what he needs me to write in.
" Oh perfect. You and I have a lunch date," Jay says, and I stare at him surprised. I hadn't yet been on a lunch meeting with Jay, though almost every single time he came back from one with a stack of handwritten notes on napkins, he always asked why he had never dragged me along.
" Okay, well who is it that you, erm, we're meeting with?" I ask, looking at him curiously.
" Doesn't matter. Just put VIP, you'll see when we get there. I need you to run to the copy place and make copies of this, about seventy five should do it. Then I need you to run by my dry cleaners and pick up my clothes, here's the ticket, and then we have lunch reservations at The Palm for twelve o'clock sharp," he says, and I can tell I went a little wide eyes. The Palm, as in famous restaurant. I walk out of the office feeling like I'm walking on a cloud. My head races at a mile a minute as I consider the possibilities of who it is that we are meeting at the swanky L.A restaurant.
Two hours later I am fidgeting in my car, trying to convince myself that I look fine. Everything is going to be fine. 'Oh who am I kidding?' I ask, looking around at all of the rich looking cars surrounding my poor hand me down car. 'Its now or never little girl.' The voice of my father rings through my head, and I smile as I push out of my car. I walk through the front door of The Palm, and immediately my newly found confidence plummets as I see everyone around me. I wipe my hands nervously against my form fitting jeans and walk to the man standing at a small podium. I watch as he lazily looks me up and down.
" Can I help you?" he asks, not trying to hide his condescending tone.
" I have a meeting with Jay Lawrence," I say, and immediately his eyes light up.
" Oh of course, right this way Miss," he says, and I smile, a bit surprised by his sudden change of attitude. I follow him to a deserted part of the restaurant and smile when Jay raises one hand towards me.
" Dani, right on time. I have always loved your punctuality," Jay says, kissing my cheek lightly before I take my seat. I run my hands through my long blonde hair nervously and Jay laughs slightly. " Don't worry so Dani, you look fine," he says, and I watch as he checks his watch. I sip from my water and smile, forcing myself to relax slowly.
" And they are right on time," Jay says suddenly standing slowly with a huge grin on his face. I turn in my seat to look at who it is that we are meeting with, and to my utter amazement its none other than the King Of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.
I stare in bewildered amazement at him. His tall, and slender frame made the simple white shirt tucked into a pair of black jeans look like something that belongs on a god. No picture or video in the world would, or could do him justice. His beauty is undeniable. I get to my feet, extending my hand to the man accompanying him, smiling as he introduces himself, though I couldn't hear what he said over the pounding of my pulse in my ears. Before I have the time to react Michael takes my hand in his and a jolt of electricity courses through, shooting throughout my whole body.
" Hello Daniella," Michael says, his voice rolling over me smoothly. It takes me a full minute to come around, and the response I give is enough to have blood rushing to my face.
" Hello Mr. Thriller Man," I say, and in that instant I close my eyes on a groan as the room grows eerily silent. A few seconds later, laughter rings our from Michael, and I groan as I turn to sit back down. 'Just kill me now,' I think to myself, bunching the napkin on my lap tightly.
" My apologies Daniella, I have gained a few nicknames in my day, but that's a new one," he says, and I wish that I could sink down in my chair, maybe even hide under the table.
" I'm so sorry, its what my daughter calls you," I respond, wishing that at this moment I had taken my mother's advice, and gone into nursing.
" Ahh. How old is she?" he asks, and I look at him, my eyes meeting his. And I realize that he is genuinely curious about my daughter, that the question wasn't asked out of politeness.
" Carly-Ann is five," I say, crossing my legs under the table nervously.
" Ahh five, what a marvelous age to be," he says, and I smile, sitting back against my chair, listening as business talk ensues.
I glance at my watch for what feels like the millionth time. Somehow our lunch meeting has turned into a talk fest, and I begin worrying that I will be late picking up Carly-Ann. Jay clears his throat and I glance up, blushing deeply.
" I'm sorry. I know I should be one hundred percent tuned into what's going on right now, and believe me, I am so grateful for the opportunity, and I'm so much more grateful for getting the chance to meet you Mr. Jackson, but the truth is, its going on four o'clock, and I have a little girl to pick up," I say, and in saying this I know that I run the risk of losing any and all possibility at having a job. I look around at the contemplative faces surrounding me at the table, and I wince when Michael draws in a deep breath. I jump slightly when he claps his hands together, a wide grin on his face.
" You were right about her Jay, though I knew that from the beginning. Daniella, you will be perfect for the job. We will be leaving the day after tomorrow, I will have a car pick you and Carly-Ann up. My people will work on any needed paper work for you and your daughter. See you then, beautiful," he says, getting up gracefully from his seat. I stare after him and Max, feeling as if I was just run over by a semi truck. I turn back to look at Jay, and shake my head in disbelief.
" What the hell just happened?" I ask, my head still spinning.
" I believe you just got hired by the King of Pop," Jay says, his voice full of humor, his eyes sparkling with pride.