Guess what? I still don't own this chiz. Just, you know. A story for Christmas about everyone's favorite part of the season, shopping.
:}
Trina smiled as she made her way through the stores, looking at different items and prices. This felt like what she was meant to do, at least until her inevitable fame kicked in. "Trina?" A voice she hadn't heard in a minute said.
"Sandy? Sandy Howard? Is that you?"
"Trina, it is you." The girl had been an anomaly, not a shrugger, but still one of the invisible people at Hollywood Arts. She'd been one of Trina's friends, back at school, and since gradating had pursued her career behind the scenes. Neither had spoken in over five years, not since they'd graduated, and to Trina, it was a reminder of how easy it could be to just slip into a routine and forget one's dreams. "My god, it's been years. What're you up to these days?"
"Oh, the usual." The Latina replied. "Just doing some Christmas shopping."
"Tell me about it." Sandy looked around the store. "I was hoping to get done during my lunch break, but my boss said I could have more time, assuming I was willing to do a touch of his shopping as well. Man got tired of his wife hating whatever he got her, and so he gives me a budget, and reimburses me after."
"Where do you work?" Trina knew she'd been led to that question, and had wanted to avoid saying it, except part of her knew this could lead to something better for her.
"I'm an executive secretary for this guy working at one of the studios. James Gilmore. You probably never heard of him." Sandy held a momentary sliver of hope that this important but invisible member of the studio's hierarchy was somehow just famous enough for a random person to know who he was.
"Didn't Jade West threaten to rip his manhood off?" Trina wondered.
"God, Jade…" A sigh. "Imagine my surprise when she walked in, already well known for her work while in collage, and demanded to see my boss. See, he'd blocked one of her projects, cause… Cause she hadn't kissed his feet when she got there, and he could block the project, keep it from getting made. Amazing how many people have that kind of power, can't get anything made, but they can just say no, and the project dies, right there… And he demanded every woman kiss the ring." She let out a breath. "Mans a pig, but not the kind who uses women for sex. He's a one woman man, and very happy. Just, god, such a blind spot…"
"I'm still in contact with Jade." Trina told her. "In fact, she's on my list today."
"You're buying her a gift?" Surprise etched on the other girls face.
"Not exactly." Trina glanced to the side. "I'm a personal shopper. Jade's a client. So's my sister. I'm working, even as we speak. I need to help buy things for both, cloths and cosmetics and such, plus each has a list like a mile long of gifts to give, and never, NEVER let Jade pick gifts for anyone."
"Personal…" Sandy reeled at the thought of shopping for a living.
"Yea, I started out doing it part time, for Tori as she built up her music career, and it kinda snowballed. I've shopped for gifts for some power players in this town, and Mason Thornsmith said he's continue to both use my services, and recommend me to everyone, just as long as I never sing at him again." her face contorted. "Hurtful."
"Ouch." Sandy agreed. "So, we both know Tori made it… Who's she dating."
"God, pay attention to the world around you, girl. Everyone knows she's been schtuping Jade." Trina smirked. "Ever since Beck and me joined forces to get them together, couple of years ago, they've been going strong. Course, given her personality, Jade needs people to take care of a lot of her weak points, like dealing with people diplomatically, or ordering food without blowing a gasket. Girls a problem. So she has people, like Beck. Boy is talented as anything, but had problems as soon as the politics of Hollywood kicked in. That, plus he was no longer THE hottie, and it was just one more blow to his ego. Works now as Jade's personal assistant while he retrains as a director. Jade's used him for second unit, and he's gonna make his mark that way, acting as he feels like it. Like Jade did, only he's not nearly as pushy, so he needs her drive to help him make it."
"Oh… Anyone else…"
"Cat was doing her best to be another preggers housewife, and then Robbie got her to start her own fasion label. The two work together, when their not doing whatever else, cause they both have their hands in, but they work at her label, and it's doing good. I help them buy some things, and Cat is one of my go to designers. Robbie's also a designer, odd as it sounds, and he's more grounded. Did you know he used to design Rex's clothing?" Trina smiled. "Jade was guilt-ed into helping fund raise for them, so is a part owner, as is Tori. Made a profit last year. Plus, Rob got his line in Wako's, their low end line, and it's bringing in the cash. Not bad, considering how young the company is. Cat needs someone to be practical like that. Plus, the whole Hot durger craze, Cat started that too."
"So good to catch up on the kids who buried out classes main people." Sandy griped.
"Look, we could talk about Andre, who's a songwriter, working with all kinds of artists, Tori included." Trina shifted, ready to push her sales pitch. "We'd have to include how hard Tori is pushing for him to help both Cat and Jade. They have such great voices. Just, if I do that, I think I'll lose you."
"No, you won't." Sandy sighed. "I did want to know what happened to them. Glad Hollywood chewed a few of them up, cause they dominated so much at school."
"Hollywood did try to use them as a chew toy, that's true…." Trina waved to one of the store managers, who she knew by name thanks to her profession. "But enough of them were and are in the position to help that we, as a group, have been looking out for them. Trust me, Cat wouldn't be on this path to success without Rob, who needed me and Tori to get Jade to help put the whole thing together. Andre would succeed, as would Tori, but without Beck and Tori calming her the fuck down, Jade would probably be in jail by now. Hell, I've heard her gripe about every would be power player at every studio, which is why I know your boss is a five star jerk who desperately needs my services."
Brown eyes boring into her, Sandy looked trapped. Trina decided to take mercy. "I know that James married his secretary, just two years ago." She smiled. "So, Misses Gilmore, wouldn't you like a Christmas where you didn't know what you were getting, but knew it'd be a decent gift?"
"In his defense, he's not good with people." Sandy tried, but already knew she'd lost. "Give me your information, and I'll see if he's willing to use your services."
"I come highly recommended." Trina said. "My future sister in law swears by it. I can have Jade come by, explain how good I am…."
"Yea, the hard sell." Sandy said, remembering how her husband had decided he should green light her project, making the studio loads of money, and saving his manhood.
"So, other then getting married, what else have I missed about your life?" It was time to build rapport, cause it never hurt to have the client trust. 'Plus, odds are I'm gonna be buying her Christmas present, so I might as well know who she is, so I can guess at what she likes.'
:}
Admit it, if there's one great shopper in that show, it's Trina. Found her Fazzini Boots at a major discount, and has shown she can shop with the best of them. So, thoughts.
Oh, yea, review, or Jade might just go over Santa's list, and… Lets not talk about unpleasant things, shale we?
