Chapter 117

I followed Myrna into her office and she asked me, “Do you have a place to keep receipts and things?”

“No, Mom keeps that stuff for me.”

“Not any more. Pick up a metal box with a lock on it. Keep it in a safe place, and I want you to put every bill, every receipt, and every piece of paper that you get into it. Pay for it with your credit card and get a receipt if you buy lunch or dinner. Get a receipt if you pay a toll. Get a receipt for everything if you pay cash for something, and it all goes into the box, okay?”

She got up and went to a cabinet when I said that I would. She unlocked it, took some things out, and came back to the desk. She set a small stack of money, several large yellow envelopes, a piece of paper, and a small box down. She pushed the paper in front of me and said “Sign this.”

It was a receipt. She pushed the money in front of me as I was signing it, and said, “Here’s two hundred. Get it from a bank, an ATM, or cash a check when you need more.”

Stunned, I asked, “So I can buy anything I want?”

“Of course, you can. Your folks might want to talk to you about it if it’s a big purchase like a car or something, but it’s your money. The only thing I ask is that you put all your receipts and things in an envelope, and make sure that I get it at the end of every month. That doesn’t sound too hard, does it?”

“I-I guess not.”

She pushed the envelopes in front of me and said, “Here are some extra envelopes,” then she opened the box and said, ‘These are for you’.

The box contained business cards, so I pulled one out. It was transparent blue, had a headshot of me on the upper left corner, and ‘Peter Baker, actor/model’ was in the middle and it gave the Stone Agency’s phone number.

I asked, “What are these for?”

“You’re a professional now. You have to let people know who you are. Always have some with you. Stick a few in your wallet.”

She sat back and looked at me for a long moment, then she asked, “What do you think about the way that your life is headed?”

“It’s exciting and I like it.”

“You’re not scared?”

“No.”

“Good. Your parents taught you well. You have all the tools that you need to be successful, and it’s time that you started using them. You’re almost eighteen now, and you are entering a grownup world. It’s going to be tough, so you have to quit thinking like a schoolboy and start thinking like a man. That doesn’t mean that you have to change who you are, and it won’t be hard for you to do. You get along with people, you’re smart, and you have a tremendous amount of natural charm.”

“I do?”

“Sure you do. That’s why you’re so successful with girls.”

Surprised, I said, “I-I’m not that successful.”

She countered, “Don’t be silly, of course you are. Cindy talks about you all the time. She tells us how the girls at school fall all over you and some women do too from what I hear. That’s okay, but I’m talking long term. Boyish charm may work for a while, but there are going to be a lot of people with their eyes on you for lots of different reasons, and some of them are going to want you to fail. I know you and you won’t fail if you remember two very important things that hold true in your regular life, and especially when you’re out in public. You must ALWAYS think before you act, and be very careful of what you say. You’re about to become a very public person, and the slightest misstep in either direction could come back to haunt you.”

I stumbled, “I-I’ll do my best.”

She put her hand on mine and smiled before she said, “I know you will.”

We said our goodbyes and Jasmine stopped me on the way out. She said, “Wow, that thing you did with Erin is really amazing.”

“Thanks, I just saw it. I had no idea it would turn out like that, but speaking of amazing, you look great. Are you up for a part or something?”

“Thank you, but no, this is the way I dress every day now. Stone is getting to be big time.”

“That’s what Myrna says, so you aren’t acting anymore?”

“Not any more. This is a good job and I like it. I’m taking some night school classes and everyone says that I have a future here.”

“I’m sure you do, but why did you give up acting?”

“One of the reasons I gave it up is because of what I learned from watching you. You’re a natural. People flock to you. They never did that to me. I know that I’m pretty and I know that I can act, but that’s just not enough. I tried everything, Pete, but nothing worked. Well, that’s over now. I love my job, I’m finally seeing someone, and I’m at peace with myself for the first time in a long time.”

I touched her shoulder and said, “That’s great. Tell me about your boyfriend.”

“He’s not really my boyfriend, we just started dating. His name is Stan Carlin. He’s the assistant manager at the bank next door. He’s a good guy, Pete. He’s probably too good for me, and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold on to him, but I’m going to treat him right and we’ll see what happens.”

“That’s crazy, Jasmine. You’re gorgeous, why are you worried about hanging on to him?”

“Hollywood is a small community. I’ve done some things that I’m not proud of, and people talk.”

She really looked disturbed, so I said, “I’m sure that he’ll understand that people always talk about girls as pretty as you are if he’s a good guy like you say he is. I bet that you have nothing to worry about.”

Her mouth dropped open and I think she was about to thank me, but her phone rang, so I waved at her and left when she answered it.

I stopped at the bank next door. It was part of a major chain, but this was a small branch. There were maybe five or six people working there, so I went to a teller and asked to see the manager. The teller was a heavyset girl and her eyes got big as though she was surprised to see me when I walked up to her. She pointed to a gray-haired guy sitting at a desk when I asked for the manager.

He didn’t seem to be doing anything but staring at his phone, but the teller stuttered, “M-Mister Erickson is busy just now. Have a seat; he’ll be with you shortly.

There were some chairs in the center of the room and I noticed the other tellers watching me when I headed toward them.

The manager apparently saw me as well, because he called my name and he motioned me over when I looked at him. He said, “Peter Baker, right?” when I got close.

He said, “I’m on hold right now and this call is important when I nodded. “I need you to sign a signature card, so I’ll have someone help you, but please don’t leave until I talk to you.”

He pointed to an empty desk not far from his and said, “Have a seat over there, someone will be right with you,” and he began waving his hand at someone.

A man came over as soon as I got to the other desk, and said, “Hi, you must be Peter Baker.”

He stuck his hand out when I nodded, and said, “I’m Stan Carlin, it’s nice to meet you.”

It suddenly hit me that this was the guy that Jasmine was dating when I shook his hand.

He sat down and started gathering up some papers, so I looked around. I noticed that the tellers were still watching us, so I asked, “Why do the people here seem to know me?”

“Because we told everyone that you were coming in. Mr. Erickson and I went to the Stone office when we asked them to place their business with us. Your picture is on the wall, plus we see you in the newspaper all the time.”

“I see. I, uhh, guess that I’m here to sign a signature card.”

“Yes, I have one here,” and he put a card in front of me and showed me where to sign. He said, “I understand that you just opened a checking account,” when I finished. “Do you need some help on how to use it?”

“No, I know how to write checks and keep records.”

“Good, you’d be surprised at how many people don’t.”

He glanced at Erickson’s desk then he said, “I know that Mr. Erickson wants to speak with you, but he’s still on the phone.”

“That’s okay, I’m not in a hurry. So you folks take care of Stone’s banking needs now, eh?”

“Yes. Their business has recently taken off, and we’re proud to be able to serve them. Everyone there is very nice.”

I got an idea and said, “They sure are. Have you met Jasmine, their receptionist?”

“Uhh, yes.”

“She’s really a fox, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she, umm, certainly is.”

“She is, and she’s not only gorgeous but she’s sweet as can be. It’s really a shame that she’s hung up on some guy.”

He blinked before he asked, “Is it one of those actors she goes around with?”

“I don’t think that she dates people in the entertainment business. I’ve asked her out a couple of times and she always says no. It seems that you banking guys have all the luck. She told me that she’s dating some guy who works at a bank and that she really likes him.”

The look on his face was comical. It was a goofy looking half smile, and he began staring off into the distance.

The manager came rushing over with his hand outstretched just then, and said, “Hi, I’m Roger Erickson. Sorry for the wait.”

I shook his hand and he asked, “Is everything all right here?”

“Yes, Mr. Carlin has been very helpful.”

He said, “Good,” then he handed me a business card and added, “This is my card. It has the phone number of the bank, and it also has my cell phone. Have them contact me here if you have any difficulty with people accepting your checks or your credit card and it’s during the business day. Have them call my cell phone and I’ll do my best to help you if it’s after hours.”

“Wow, that’s very nice of you.”

“We’re glad to do it. Stone is a very important client, and so are you.”

We shook hands with that, and my head was spinning as I left. It was the first time I realized that I was famous enough that people actually recognized me and that I had enough money that a bank would go the extra mile for me.

I decided that it was a good feeling.

I called Brandy on the way to my car, and asked, “Where do you want to meet?”

“I still have some things to do. Tell you what, let’s meet at the Red Robin Café in the West Hills mall at twelve o’clock. We’ll have lunch and we can do some shopping there. I want to take you to a tailor I know after that. His shop is not far from there.”

I laughed to myself when she hung up. That was the mall where Cindy and I had been, and I wondered if we would be in any of the same stores as I thought about it. It caused me to laugh out loud.

With some time to spare, I called Jasmine. I said, “Hi, it’s Pete when she answered. “I just came from the bank and I met your friend. You’re right; he seems like a nice guy. But listen ... You don’t date guys from the studio and you refuse to go out with me, especially now because you told me that you have a thing for a guy who works at a bank.”

“What are you talking about, you never asked me out.”

“You’re not listening. I told him that I asked you out and you turned me down because you don’t date guys in the industry. Look, I just met Stan and he likes you a lot. Go along with what I told him and go for it if you’re serious about him.”

“What else did you tell him?”

“I told him that the fact that you were bowlegged made you a great lover, and that all those zits you had were only temporary.”

“You WHAT! I’m not bowlegged and I don’t have zits. What are you trying to do, scare him away?”

“I’m trying to tell you not to worry about losing him. You must have drugged him or something because he acts like he’s nuts about you.”

She gasped, “Oh my God, really? Do think that...”

I laughed and hung up before she could continue.

I took my time driving around in my new car, so it was just before twelve when I got to the mall. I was sitting at a table in the Red Robin when a tall blonde woman walked in, but ‘walked in’ really doesn’t describe it. She strode in like she owned the place, and there was a hush as everyone turned and looked at her when she stopped and looked around. She was wearing sunglasses and had an expensive-looking business suit on. She looked like she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. She reminded me of Sylvia at first glance. Every thing about her said class. Even the way she was standing was ... right. It said that she was a beautiful woman and she knew it.

She then did something that took my breath away. She took her glasses off and headed toward me.

It was Brandy!

I stood up, and I couldn’t help but stand there staring at her when she got to the table. She finally cleared her throat, so I came to my senses and went around to pull her chair out for her.

I sat down when she was seated, and I guess that I was still staring at her because she frowned and said “What?”

“You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. Why do you seem surprised?”

“I’ve never seen you dressed this way, you look fantastic.”

A waitress showed up with water and menus just then, and she began telling us about lunch specials. We ordered, then Brandy grinned and said, “So you think that I look hot, eh?” when the waitress left.

“Yes I do, and so does everyone else here. That was quite an entrance that you just made.”

She laughed, then she raised an eyebrow and said, “Well, you’ve seen me naked, you’ve seen me in street clothes, and now I’m in a business suit. Which do you like best?”

“I like them all best.”

“C’mon, silver tongue, make a decision.”

She was teasing me, so I pretended to stare off in the distance for a few seconds, then I answered, “I think I like you best when you’re naked and I have my dick inside you. I hear that you have an opening I haven’t tried yet. Any chance that we can use it right now?”

She burst out laughing and it looked like she was going to make a smart comeback, but her cell phone rang. She excused herself to take it and the conversation lasted for a while. She said, “That was my appointment,” when she finished. “They had to reschedule, so we can do it tonight if you’re up for dinner.”

“I’d like that, but let me call Nell and see if she has anything special planned.”

I called Nell’s office at Burgers headquarters and a familiar voice answered, “Nell Burger’s office.”

“Hi, Cindy it’s Pete, how are ya doing?”

She answered in a hushed voice, “I love it here, Pete, and guess what just happened. A guy came in and put a brass thing on my desk that says ‘Cindy Haynes, Administrative Assistant’. Is that cool or what?”

I joked, “Wow, does that mean I have to make an appointment to talk to you from now on?”

She giggled, then in an official sounding voice, she said, “Yes, and it’s ‘Miss Haynes’ to you from now on, so what is the nature of your call?”

“Well, I was hoping to talk to the gorgeous administrative assistant who works there. She’s the one with the great looking butt. Is she there?”

Still giggling, she said, “This is she. How may I assist you, Sir, or would you rather talk to my butt?”

I laughed, “No, you’ll do. I’d like to speak to Ms. Burger.”

“My butt will be heartbroken. Let me see if Ms. Burger is available.”

She put me on hold for a second, then she came back and said, “She’ll be right with you, and thanks, Pete, thank you for this.”

I tried to tell her that it wasn’t all me, but I was back on hold and Nell answered a second later, “Hi, Pete, what’s up?”

“Brandy’s appointment was cancelled. She wants us to have dinner tonight. Is that okay?”

“Yes, Dear, thanks for letting me know. I’m actually glad, because I have a ton of work here, but do me a favor and let Megan know. She probably won’t answer her cell phone at work, so just leave a message.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Have a good time, Dear, and be especially nice to Brandy tonight. The guy who she’s been seeing called her today and said that his wife put her foot down and he couldn’t see her anymore.”

“I thought that she wasn’t really crazy about him?”

“Not as a lover, but he was a friend and it’s never good to lose a friend.”

“I see. Okay, I’ll be nice.”

“I’m sure that you will. I gotta go, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I was thinking of how she wasn’t expecting me to be home tonight when I saw the waitress heading our way with our lunch. I left Megan a message that I wouldn’t be home for dinner tonight while the waitress was serving our food.

Everything looked delicious and we were both hungry, so things got quiet for a while. I had ordered a brisket sandwich. It was huge with all the trimmings, and it was so good that I wolfed it down. I was finished before Brandy, and I was looking around when I noticed three girls coming toward us. I recognized Tiffany Greene and her two pals. The three of them were a year ahead of me and had just graduated from my school. They were always together at school, and it looks like they still are. Tiffany is a tall blonde and she’s very pretty. The other two girls were pretty as well, but not as cute as Tiffany and she definitely was the leader. The three of them were always around and they seemed to know everybody. Most people said that her sidekicks were okay but not everyone liked Tiffany, and I asked Karen why one day.

She told me that Tiffany was a straight ‘A’ student and was either a member of, or was the chairperson of, nearly every school committee. She was even the head cheerleader and Queen of the senior prom. She was popular, but not everyone liked her because of two things. The first one was that she tended to be a bit of a snob to anyone who wasn’t in her tight circle of friends. The other one was that it was hard to have a conversation with her because she talked nonstop once she got started, and it was always about her. She was pretty, so lots of guys tried to ask her out in spite of that, but the only guys she dated were the really popular guys around school and she only dated them for a little while.

Karen said that she heard from some guys who Tiffany dated that even getting a good night kiss was a major deal and not worth the aggravation when I asked her why.

I’d only spoken to her once. It was after the football game where Kaz had cleared the way for me and I had run for the winning touchdown. We were running off the field when the game ended, and she had yelled ‘Great game’ on my way past her. I said, “Thanks,” and that was the only conversation that we ever had.

Tiffany said, “Well, if it isn’t the famous Pete Baker,” when the girls got to our table and stopped.

“Hi, Tiffany.”

“I see your picture everywhere. It looks like you have big things going on. Why didn’t you ask me out when we were in school?”

“I thought you didn’t...”

“You should have, we would have made a great looking couple, don’t you think?”

She turned to Brandy without waiting for an answer or even taking a breath, and continued, “Hi, you must be Pete’s mom. You look fantastic! I loooove your outfit! I saw something like it at Brandy Wilshire yesterday, and I almost bought it. Well that settles it. I’m going back there this afternoon and I’m gonna order one like it. I think the girls should get one like it as well, as a matter of fact. I just hope that we look half as good in it as you do.”

Without stopping again, she turned back to me, “So call me sometime and we’ll do lunch or something,” and without even looking back at her friends, she marched off saying, “C’mon, you guys, let’s go to Brandy Wilshire. We have to go shopping.”

Stunned, Brandy and I looked at each other. I started laughing, but Brandy sat there with a sour look on her face. She finally said, “What the hell was that?”

“That was hurricane Tiffany.”

“Is she always like that?”

“I guess so.”

“Don’t you know?”

“Not really, I just know her from school. I’ve never actually talked to her.”

“Does she have money?”

“I think so; I understand that her family owns a bunch of hospitals.”

“What about the girls she hangs with?”

“I hear that all her friends’ families are loaded. Why do you ask?”

“I designed this suit. Every one is custom made to order and they can run up to two thousand dollars depending on the fabric. That’ll make for a nice day at my Wilshire store if they each get one.”

“Oh, I see what you mean.”

“So maybe I won’t kick her ass after all, at least not today.”

“Why would you kick her ass?”

“For calling me your mother. That little cunt knows damn well that I’m not your mother.”

“I’m sure that she didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Bullshit! I look damned hot today. She said it because she’s jealous.”