Play for Me (2 page)

“Let me do one thing at a time.” Sam stopped short as her
phone rang. “Just a minute, Mom. Hello? Jordan? Is that you? Where are you?”
Sam mouthed to her mother. “Jordan.”

“Our Jordan?” Bunny sat up, obviously curious.

“Yes,” said Sam. She turned her attention back to her twin
brother. “Jordan, what's up? I'm with Mom.”

“Now what? Are you in trouble?” asked Jordan with a laugh. He knew how his mother and little sister did nothing, but push each
other's buttons.

“I'll tell you later. Are you going to be in Chicago?” asked Sam excitedly, glad at the prospect of seeing her brother. She really missed
him at times like this.

“Yeah, that's why I'm calling. Next week, I'm going to be
playing lead for
Asylum
Monkees
at the House of Blues. I'll be in
town for that night. Is it okay if I stay with you?” asked Jordan.

“Sure! You're always welcome. Can you get me in?” Sam always
liked this part.

“Better yet, I'll get you a backstage pass.” Jordan smiled
as his sister's enthusiasm.

“Awesome! Wait, Mother wants to talk to you.” Sam handed the
phone to Bunny's outstretched hand.

“To what do we owe the honors, Jordan?” Bunny sounded gruff
but she looked pleased to speak to her son. “Sam will be pretty busy, so don’t
take advantage of her. She lost her job and has to look for a new one.”

“What? Put Sam back on the phone,” demanded Jordan.

“No, I'm not done yet.” Bunny glanced impatiently at the
waitress as she hovered to take their orders. Sam quietly ordered some
appetizers and two Cosmos while her mother chatted with Jordan. “Do you need
money?” asked Bunny quietly.

“Mom, I'm good. When's the last time I asked for any?
Besides, I wanted to talk to Sam. I'm going to be in town for a night. What I
could use is your infamous pot roast for dinner.”

“You sure you don't need a little something to tide you
over?” It killed Bunny that Jordan didn’t need any money.

“I'm good, Mom. Really. Let me talk to Sam.” Bunny
reluctantly handed the phone back to Sam.

“I'll be there as soon as I can, Sam. Tell you what. Why
don't you call me later and tell me all about it. If it's true, I just might
have a job for you.”

“Really? Doing what?” This certainly got Sam's attention.

“Call me later. I'll be waiting.” Jordan ended the call,
leaving Sam even more curious.

“What did Jordan say and what did you order?” demanded
Bunny.

“He said he had to go and would talk to me later. I just
ordered a little something and a Cosmo. I'll do my resume first thing tomorrow and
will get it to you pronto.” Sam put her elbows on the table with her chin in
her hands and stared at her mother. “What's next?”

“I should be a career counselor instead of a stay at home
mom,” replied Bunny. Sam listened painfully as the night progressed.

****

“Jordan? It's Sam.” She felt exhausted from spending an
evening with Bunny.

“Hey, little sister. What happened? I can always tell when
Bunny is on a roll. You have to get out of that city.”

“Oh Jordan, it's been awful. They laid me off. Five years of
service down the drain. Mom found out about it because my secretary told her
when she called me.” Sam sat on the couch with her legs curled up. Her glass of
Merlot sat dangerously on the arm of the couch.

“Which is why I don't work nine to five and I'm my own boss.
Sam, you're a strong person. You were meant to do other things. Besides you're
a spinster. When is the last time you had a date?”

“Jordan, don't even go there. You sound like Mom. She's
always trying to fix me up with someone. I just haven't found anybody
worthwhile.”

“That's because you're not looking hard enough, but enough
of this. Just the other day, I ran into Jett Robinson from the eighties rock
group,
Savvy.
”

“Oh I can't stand him!” uttered Sam. “He thinks the world of
himself. I even refuse to watch his reality show.”

“Now, don't be too hasty, little sister. He could be your
ticket to a new career,” warned Jordan.

“What? I refuse to go on his show and slither all over him.
He's old and washed up.”

“Sam, he's nothing like that in person. It's all an act. He's
actually a really nice guy. Here's the gig. You wouldn't be on his show; you'd
be his press assistant. He's looking for a really sharp woman who is just the opposite
of the bimbos you see on the show. This person would answer his emails, make
appointments, weed out people looking to cash in on his money. Things like
that. You'd be paid very well, and would run your own shop.”

“I don't know,” said Sam. “I did get a nice severance
package so I'm not hurting for money.” Still, curiosity won out. “How much
money?”

“We're talking close to two hundred grand a year plus fringe
benefits,” tempted Jordan.

“You've got be kidding,” stated Sam, stunned. “That much
money? What do you mean fringe benefits?”

“I don't know all of it, but clothes, cars, lunches. Stuff
like that. I told him about you and he really wants to meet you. Of course,
this would mean living in Los Angeles. Think you can handle it?” challenged
Jordan.

“How did you meet him? I know you've played with a lot of
famous people, but wow. I'm impressed.”

“I'm helping the band with their latest song to be released
next month. They needed an extra lead guitar and they found me. He and I got to
talking for hours and this came up. I told him I had an awesome little sister
who has been wasting her time in the corporate world. I showed him your picture
and he said you were exactly what he wanted.”

“You showed him my picture? Which one? Jordan, I take lousy
pictures. You know that.” Sam covered her eyes, mortified. She tried to think
which picture Jordan had of her.

“No, you don't. Well, do I have you convinced yet?”

“Ohmigod. Let me think about this. It's so sudden.” Sam
closed her eyes, trying to absorb it all.

“Good. I'll let him know you're interested. He'll probably
want you to fly out as soon as you can for an interview.”

“Get the details and I'll whip up my resume. Will he pay for
the flight out there?”

“Don't worry about the resume. Jett isn't into things like
that. It's the word of mouth in this business.”

“Oh.” Another thing Sam couldn't understand, but she tried
to go with the flow here. “How do I get in touch with him?”

“I'll give him your phone number. Catch you later, Sam.” Jordan
hung up, and Sam sat there staring into space, mulling over the conversation.
She jumped up and booted up her lap top and searched everything she could about
Jett and
Savvy.

“Sam? This is Jett Robinson. I got your number from Jordan.”

“Jett? Oh yes, Jordan said you'd be calling me.” Sam
couldn't believe she had Jett on the phone. He sounded like such a normal
person, not this big oversexed rock star. Well, maybe he's not
that
old.

“Good. Jordan told you what I am looking for?”

“More or less. He said I'd be helping out with your fan base
and making sure everything runs smoothly.”

“That's right. I need someone who is organized and can
pretty much take control of running the organization. But the most important
thing is that you're not a fan.”

“He told you that?” asked Sam in surprise.

“Hey, I'm not offended at all. Too many people get caught up
in the character I play and can't do the job right. I need someone with a
perspective to keep the real world from the make believe world. What does your
schedule look like?” Jett sounded all business.

“I'm pretty much free, the only thing is Jordan is playing
here next week, and I'd like to see him.”

“What day is today?” Sam could hear him shuffling papers.

“Monday,” offered Sam.

“Can you make it Wednesday? Fly out tomorrow, meet me on
Wednesday?”

“Sure.”

“Great. Book your tickets, hotel and limo and keep a receipt
so I can reimburse you. Let me know your reservations and I'll have my driver
bring you here.”

“Will do. What's the best phone number where I can reach
you?” Sam slipped into her business mode, overcoming her shyness.

Jett rattled out a number. “It's private so don't give it
out.” Jett laughed.

“Isn't that an Arizona number?”

“I like you already. You've got a head on your shoulders.
Yes, it is. Do you know why?”

“Because your children live in Arizona,” replied Sam calmly.

“I thought you weren't a fan?” countered Jett.

“I'm not, but I did do my research. Didn't want to start
cold cocked,” admitted Sam sheepishly.

“Can't wait to meet you, Sam.” Jett chuckled and
disconnected the call.

Excited, Sam called Jordan, but he didn't answer so she left
a message. She got busy and booked her plane tickets and winced at the price of
nine hundred dollars on such short notice. She made her hotel reservations and
called a limo service to pick her up at LAX. Satisfied, she called Jett back
and left a message outlining her itinerary. Sam dreaded the next call. Bunny.

“Hey, Mom. It's me.”

“Hello there, Sam. Where's your resume. I've been waiting
for it? I've lined up at least four friends who say they want to interview you,”
said Bunny.

“There's been a change in plans,” began Samantha slowly. “You
see, I have an interview on Wednesday.”

“Oh honey, that's great. With what company?” Bunny sounded
truly happy.

“It's not really a company. You see it's for an
organization.” Sam closed her eyes.

“Sam?” warned Bunny. “I know that tone of voice. There's
something you're not telling me, and I don't think I'm going to like it.”

“No, I don't think you will.” Sam swallowed hard, trying to organize
her thoughts. “It's a press assistant position for a famous rock star. He has a
business manager to run the business side but I'd be helping with his personal
schedule. He needs an organized, sophisticated and polished person.”

“Sam, you have too much education to submit to that level.
Why, you'd be hired help like a servant. No way are you taking this job.”

“Mom, I'm thirty-years-old. I can make my own decisions. You
know I love running things and I would be great at this job. Besides, the pay
is to die for; two hundred grand a year.”

“I still don't like it. Rock star? Do I know him? “ Bunny's
voice stilled as she put two and two together. “Your brother set you up with
this, didn't he? Didn't he?” Bunny began screaming now. “Don't tell me you're
going to be running around with all those music druggies like he is?”

“No,” explained Sam. “I'm the one who stays home, and I
don't know if he's a druggie. I don't think so. I think he's past that stage.” Sam
closed her eyes and she delivered the last punch. “It's in Los Angles, too. I'd
be moving there.”

“The answer is no, and that's final. You're my baby and I'm
not going to have you traipsing to the other side of the country. It's bad
enough I worry about your brother. I don't care how much money he offers you.
Find a good job here instead. This is Chicago. Surely, you can find a rock star
around here.”

“Mom, this is my life, not yours. I'm leaving tomorrow to
interview with Jett and I should be back on Friday. I'm putting Cracker in the
kennel, so you don't have to worry about him.”

“I can't believe you're doing this, Sam. This is so…so
impetuous of you. You're only thinking of yourself and not your poor parents.”

“Yes, I
am
thinking of me and my life. I would regret
it terribly if I didn't take this chance. I think you're the one who is being
selfish. You don't want me leaving.”

“Well,” said Bunny. “Can't you see it's all wrong for you?”

“Then, let me make my own mistakes.” Sam ended the call,
pushing her mother's negativity away. She then called her best friend, Deb
Cicone, to tell her about the change in her life. At least Deb appeared to be
excited for her.

****

Sam boarded the plane thinking the worst part of this had
been putting Cracker in the kennel. He didn't understand and carried on
horribly. Her heart twisted in agony over it. She grimaced at her seat number,
twenty-seven C, all the way in back of the plane. Sam had never flown first
class and looked on enviously as the people sat in the wide seats, drinks in
hand either reading or chatting.
Maybe one day
, she thought to herself.
She had no carry-on luggage, so she trudged on back to her seat. At least she
had an aisle seat where she could stretch her long legs. A young lady sat in
the window seat and she smiled at Sam. Sam smiled back, buckled her seat belt
and pulled out a novel she had been meaning to read.

“Oh, I just love that author,” said the woman. “By the way,
my name is Robin.”

“I'm Samantha. I agree, this author is great I can't wait to
start reading this one.”
Hint,
hint
. Sam didn't really want to
talk. She hoped to get this read by the end of the flight.

“Are you visiting or are you on business?” asked Robin.

“Business,” said Sam, trying to keep the conversation short.

“What do you do?” Robin chugged down some coffee which
explained her highly charged state of mind.

“Uh,” Sam hesitated not knowing what to tell her, so she
lied, “I'm in administration for a Public Relations firm.”

“Oh, how exciting. I'm a teacher and I just took a vacation
to Chicago. Lovely city. The food there is to die for. I'm originally from
Seattle.”

“Excuse me, ladies, but I think I belong here,” said a low
masculine voice. Sam looked up only to be introduced to a man in his early-twenties,
obviously a body builder. Sam had a problem looking into his eyes because hers
were stuck admiring his abs which were enhanced by his skin tight shirt.