Unleash Me, Vol. 1 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (21 page)

I told her about Julian West
’
s interest in turning
my book into a movie, and that Boss likely was the best person to escort me for
that reason.

“
A
potential movie?
 
Lisa, that
’
s wonderful.
”

“
It
’
s surreal.
”

“
It
’
s ideal.
”

“
It
hasn
’
t
happened yet.
 
I really don
’
t expect anything to
come from it.
 
But it is nice to
think that he
’
s
asked to meet me.
 
That
’
s kind of killer.
 
You know how much I love his work.
”

“
Everything
seems to be happening at once.
”

“
Tell
me about it.
 
Did you see the ad in
today
’
s
Times
?
”

“
I
did see it
—
and
I thought it was fantastic.
 
And
that quote from Spears!
 
So
well-deserved.
 
And by the way, I
don
’
t
care what Boss thinks
—
I
thought you totally looked hot.
 
Blackwell and Bernie nailed it.
 
You looked ethereal, which is perfect for your genre.
 
I couldn
’
t stop looking at you, and that was their intention.
 
Those diamonds on your lips were insane.
”

“
I
never thought I
’
d
be sporting diamonds there,
”
I
said.

A thought crossed Jennifer
’
s face.
 
“
You probably don
’
t know this, but Julian is one of Alex
’
s good friends.
”

“
Actually,
Blackwell told me that.
 
She also
had a few ideas about how I could use his enthusiasm to keep my book closer to
the way I wrote it.
”

“
How?
”

I gave her Blackwell
’
s rendition of how
things might go if I played it right.

“
She
’
s a genius.
”

“
She
is.
”

“
Do
you think it will work?
”
she
asked.

“
It
depends on how West reacts to the proposed changes.
 
If he loves them, I
’
m screwed.
 
But if he hates them, Boss will have no
choice but to listen to him because we all know that he can
’
t screw up a potential
movie deal, which would only sell more books.
 
What I know right now is that nothing is
certain.
 
I need to continue to work
and to implement Boss
’
changes
—
as
in now.
 
I can
’
t waste any time.
 
Blackwell asked me to meet Bernie and
her at six.
 
That gives me much of
the day to work on the book, which I have to do.
 
If West convinces Boss not to change my
book
—
or
at least not to change a large part of it
—
then I won
’
t be as stressed out
as I am.
 
But I can
’
t count on that.
 
I have a contract, I have my marching
orders, and I need to work.
 
So, I
should get moving.
”

“
Before
you get to it, tell me how it was with Tank this morning.
”

“
Heartbreaking.
 
But at this point, let
’
s face it
—
I
need to get a grip.
 
I
’
ve become a whiny
little bitch, which I can
’
t
stand in anyone, especially in myself.
 
It really is just two weeks.
 
Yes, I
’
ll
miss him and I
’
ll
absolutely miss you.
 
But come
on.
 
It
’
s two weeks.
 
Tank and I will survive.
 
I
’
m sad that he
’
s leaving, and I
’
ll miss you and him terribly, but then all of you will be
back before I know it.
 
I don
’
t do weak, but I did
it this morning.
 
I
’
m putting an end to
that now.
”
 

I stood.
 
“
You need to get back to packing.
 
When you
’
re finished, knock on my door.
 
I
’
ll give you a big kiss goodbye, and then I
’
ll continue to work
until I need to leave to meet with Blackwell and Bernie.
”

“
And
with Boss,
”
Jennifer
said.

“
He
doesn
’
t
intimidate me, Jennifer.
 
At least
not now.
 
We
’
ll see how tonight
goes, and then I
’
ll
reassess.
 
Blackwell said that he
needs me more than I need him.
 
Tank
echoed that statement.
”

“
I
agree with them.
 
Wenn Publishing is
looking at you to improve their bottom line.
”

“
Which
I hope to do.
 
God knows those ads
have set a high expectation.
 
So, I
’
ll leave you to
pack.
 
I
’
ll be working on the
book.
 
Let me know when you
’
re about to leave, and
I
’
ll
give you a big send-off.
”

I was about to enter my bedroom when
my cell rang.
 
I pulled it out of my
pants pocket and saw that it was Blackwell.

“
It
’
s Blackwell,
”
I
said to Jennifer.

“
Well,
answer it.
”

“
Hi,
Barbara.
”

“
Hi,
Barbara, my ass.
”

“
What
’
s the matter?
”

“
All
things I once considered divoon have just been debunked!
”

“
I
don
’
t
know what that means.
”

“
What
it means is that we are officially in full crisis mode.
”

“
What
are you talking about?
”

“
I
hate the dress that I
’
ve
chosen for you to wear tonight.
 
It
’
s black.
 
Everyone is going to be wearing black
tonight.
 
Why should you also be in
black?
 
You shouldn
’
t.
  
Of course you shouldn
’
t.
 
I don
’
t know what I was thinking when I selected it, but it
’
s not right.
 
It doesn
’
t make the right statement.
 
Hell, it doesn
’
t make a statement at
all.
 
It won
’
t get people talking,
and that is what we need.
 
So, we
need to accomplish that.
”

“
How?
”

“
By
going shopping before it
’
s
too late.
 
Right now, I
’
m parked outside your
apartment, so get a move on, princess.
 
You
’
ll
find me in the limo right outside your door.
 
And don
’
t you dare keep me waiting.
 
You and I need to haul ass to Bergdorf
before it
’
s
too late.
”

“
You
’
re going to have to
give me five minutes.
 
I need to get
dressed.
”

“
Then
move it!
”

I hung up the phone and looked at
Jennifer.
 
“
I should be rewriting
my book, but apparently I
’
m
going shopping.
”

“
With
Blackwell?
 
Gird your loins,
girl.
 
This will be epic.
”

“
I
know it will.
 
You told me how it
went for you.
 
I also know that this
could take hours.
”

“
It
could.
 
So give me a hug and a
kiss.
 
And in two weeks, all of us
will be back.
”

*
 
*
 
*

Outside the building, I saw the black
stretch limousine, and once again, I was struck by how quickly my life was
changing.

“
Bergdorf,
”
Blackwell
said to the driver once I was seated beside her.
 
“
We need to step on it.
R
á
pidamente
!
”

By the time we arrived at the store,
Blackwell was on a tear.
 

“
Stella
McCartney,
”
she
said as we hurried into the space.
 
“
She understands what
it
’
s
like to have no tits.
 
She
’
s the perfect choice
for you.
”

“
Gee,
thanks.
”

 
“
Oh, please.
 
Don
’
t be so sensitive.
 
You
’
re
a stick
—
celebrate
it.
 
If we
’
re lucky, we
’
ll find something that
fits, and then we can move the hell on and find some shoes.
 
That will be easier.
 
Hopefully Dior, because, after all, they
’
re goddamn Dior.
 
Then the undergarments, which must
include Spanx
—
even
for you, my dear.
 
They will even
you out nicely.
 
You might not be
able to breathe, but that doesn
’
t
matter to me as it shouldn
’
t
matter to you.
 
Consider it a
concession for looking your best.
”

In the elevator, Blackwell crossed
her arms and tapped her foot as we rose.
 
When the doors slid open, I followed her as she steamrolled out.

“
Somebody,
”
she
said to no one in particular.
 
“
I need
assistance.
 
Straight away.
 
As in now.
”
 
She
snapped her fingers above her head.
 
“
Hello!
 
We need assistance here.
 
It
’
s Blackwell.
 
Don
’
t
you dare cower away from me now.
 
I
know some of you are doing just that.
 
You
’
re
huddled in your little corners
—
I
can smell it!
”