Taming Precious Sinclair (2 page)

As she thought about her friends and the horrible toil the show had heaped upon them; she couldn’t stop herself from being troubled over something far worse. Even though Precious had always been popular; being liked had never reached its current epic state. She constantly dealt with the average Joe on the street, treating her like they knew every detail in her life. The way people would call her, using her middle name; instead of her given name, Amelia. Who were these people, and why did they possess these presumptive ideas? The way people concluded things about her; just because they watched her on television weekly when the show was aired. Precious didn’t at all care for this part of showbiz. Being a celebrity wasn’t fun and she didn’t know how she would tell her good friends that her first season would be her last one.

“Precious... Sit next to me. I saved you a seat.”

Regina pulled out the chair nearest to her. Of the four women, Precious and Regina Christy had always been the closest and this notion unnerved the other two women in their group. Primarily Faye. Regina tugged at the three carat pink diamond that hugged around her neck. Regina’s family were jewelers. Precious had always admired the delicate fineries gifted to her by her parents. But oddly, Regina had never been big on wearing the stuff. However, she wore her jewelry because she knew that it pleased her father.

“Excuse my tardiness girls.” Precious smiled, while offering up an apology. “I got held up at the office. Actually I was drawn into an unplanned debate with my father but I’m sure you girls already know what that’s all about.”

Her father, Colten Sinclair is an investment banker. Recently he’d employed Precious to manage one of his hedge funds. Of the four women, her job didn’t require much face time with her father. However, on this day, they all knew why her father had summoned Precious to meet him in his office. With Stone Norris back in town, most people knew his return would generate a buzz.

“Precious... Not again.” Regina said.

Before Precious could respond. Before any of the other women could speak or ask their questions; the director raised his hand, yelling out the word...

“CUT!” Amazingly Artie’s shout didn’t appear to disturb the patrons. This had not been the first time the girls had shot a scene here; but this taping was a first. With twenty-two episodes under their belts; this taping had captured the final show of season one. The girls each gleamed a smile at each other but, one smile was fake. Faye had hoped to make this year her best season by announcing her engagement to one of the wealthiest men on Wall Street. Wilson Crain Van Borne. A man who knew nothing about Grosse Pointe or the hierarchy that governed their town. Their romance had been a tightly guarded secret, until her mother stumbled upon her phone. His text message, telling her how pleased he’d been when she accepted his proposal. Faye had been angry at first but when her mother teared up; her anger waned. That’s what this lunch had been all about. Faye had never been engaged and she’d wanted her friends to share in her joy. But that wasn’t to be. Artie said in his New York accented voice...

“That’s a rap ladies. I’ve got what I need. With the footage that we already have; we’ll piece together the finale.”

The director pulled back from his position, preferring to talk to the cameramen and the audio techs to ensure that they’d gotten what they needed. He couldn’t end his season as the director, with bits and pieces that couldn’t be edited. But if the picture and the sound was all right; then he would have something to work with. Earlier, before arriving at the restaurant, Artie had captured a conversation that was sure to be bombshell news.

As the clock ticked, prior to Artie hollering
‘cut’;
the producer had begun stepping forward to give his assessment but his feet stopped short, when he’d spotted Precious crossing the floor. He watched her as she glided into the room. There was something about her that lie wedged beneath his skin. When he’d first met her, he’d sensed the attraction and for that reason Hamilton purposely stayed away. He rarely made his visits known and he’d not been expected for todays filming. When Hamilton had been noticed standing in the rear of the restaurant, the women appeared genuinely surprised. They turned to look at him, and he nodded his hello from across the room. Hamilton Gantry stood off in the distance, eyes shielded behind a pair of dark sunglasses. His face was tanned, with a few days worth of unshaven stubble. He’d been out West, working out of his Los Angeles office. While standing in the restaurant, observing the taping; Hamilton had stood silent, casually observing how Precious Sinclair’s entrance had upstaged Faye’s announcement. When Precious had interviewed for the reality TV show, he’d asked Artie to find out her ethnicity. His curiosity was primarily due to her unique beauty. She didn’t look like the carbon copies he typically saw in major cities. Fake boobs, fake lips, hair extensions and dyed blond hair. In LA, that look was a dime a dozen. When asked, this wasn’t a question that Precious cozied up to because with her background, there wasn’t one straightforward answer. Her mother, Camille Royal Sinclair was born to a father of mixed Caucasian and African American heritage, and her mother was full Samoan. Precious’ father had a heritage that was a little less complicated than her mother’s. Colten Sinclair’s father was African American and his mother was half Filipino and African American. Both of her parents were fair skinned with curly black hair, but her mother’s tended to be straighter. With such a grand mixture; Precious had coined her own ethnicity. Afro-Causimofilipino-American. When eyebrows raised in confusion, she would clear it up by saying...“I’m an American.”

That line still got a smile, whenever he thought about it. He’d been smart to agree with the casting director because since the debut episode, and the last time he’d received a recent update. Amelia Precious Sinclair was a fan favorite and the most popular cast member on his payroll.

When Artie turned, he spotted Hamilton standing in the rear. The producer rocked his head, gesturing for the director to join him. Artie lay down his headset, then he weaved through the tables, heading where Hamilton stood in the distance. Hamilton lifted up his sunglasses when he said...

“Are you sure you want to end it here? Sounded to me like Faye was getting ready to announce her engagement.”

The director smiled widely when he said...

“So you know about that.”

Artie chuckled because nothing got pass Hamilton Gantry. He was one of the most successful producers in the business and his shows were always in the top ten. Hamilton said...

“I know Faye Gunther. She loves the spotlight. I also know her fiancé. I’ve met him more than a few times. The last time I was in New York I spotted them at the Four Seasons. They looked like two lovebirds, ready to tie the knot.”

Artie smiled like a Cheshire cat, when he said...

“Yeah well... I’ve got something better than Faye telling her fans that she’s marrying her dreamboat.”

“Are you sure Artie? This entire season, Faye never let on that she was even seriously dating.”

Conspiratorially, Artie leaned in to prevent anyone from hearing his conversation.

“I know why Precious was late meeting her friends here at the restaurant.”

Hamilton lifted his eyes, peering over at the women. The cameraman was talking to Faye and Pamela; telling them to hold their places until Artie returned. But Faye was shaking her hair, trying to persuade him to film her news without Artie. As this minor battle of words went on, Precious turned in her seat and her eyes met Hamilton’s. With his glasses off, Precious was struck by his unflinching stare and when he returned her gaze with one of his own. Hamilton noticed that she didn’t shy away. Usually, most women would have lowered their head or pretended to look in another direction. Hamilton is an extremely wealthy and powerful man. He possesses a compelling attractiveness that few can ignore but strangely on the surface, Precious always seems to be immune to him. Unlike the other women. Bewitched or not, Hamilton refused to be the first to break his gaze. He waited her out, until her eyes softened with the turn of her head. He’d hoped it had been his blazing glare that forced her to blink but Precious had felt a light tap on her shoulder. Regina was capturing her attention. In his head Hamilton muttered a curse. He’d enjoyed looking at her from this angle. He liked the idea that for more than an instant, she’d regarded him. But now, her friend held her attention.

Hamilton centered his thoughts, because he’d allowed himself to be thrown off base. Shifting back into working mode, he lowered his gaze when he addressed Artie. Actually, he had too because his director was half a foot shorter than him.

“So...what do you know?”

Hamilton didn’t doubt that the scoop would be good because Artie was the best director in the reality TV show business. But he needed to be sure.

“Well,...I stopped by the club this morning to talk to Faye’s fiancé. He’s in town because her parent’s plan to host a small engagement party to celebrate their announcement. It was a fluke that I ran into him. I only went there to get a few more shots of the club. The old ones that we have were never that great. Anyway... Wilson was there playing squash with Stone Norris. You know.... The guy everyone thinks is the perfect man for Precious.”

Hamilton knew about the man but he wasn’t so sure that he agreed with everyone else's assessment.

“Yeah... I know about Stone Norris. He started a new building project right... In Fiji.”

“Yeah. His family owns a slew of resorts and luxury hotels.”

“When did he get back? I thought he was overseeing the construction.”

“Yeah... Well, that’s what I thought too. But he got back in town a few days ago and when he arrived, he didn’t even check in with his folks. His first stop was at the Sinclair house to talk to Precious’ father.”

“About what? Business?”

“I guess this could fall under the business category. Stone went to tell her father that he wants to ask Precious to marry him.”

Hamilton raised one eyebrow when he said...

“Why would he go to her father to discuss something like that? Has he already asked Precious to marry him?”

“He asked again, and she refused him...again. But this time, he’s using a different strategy. He went to her father to drum up some help. You know... He needs an ally. Apparently Stone Norris has had a thing for Precious for the past few years. He’s done everything that he knows to do but nothing seems to work. He went to her father because he’s heartsick. Actually, to be blunt; Stone wants her parents to persuade Precious to marry him.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Hamilton couldn’t resist lifting his eyes to stare at Precious.

“Nope... I’m not kidding you boss, and I got the entire conversation on tape.”

“What...?” Hamilton said shocked. “What part Artie?”

“I got Stone and Wilson talking in the lounge at the club. They’d both had one too many drinks, and they said more than I think they meant to say. Long story short... I have Stone on film, saying that he wants to marry Precious. She said no but her father and mother have agreed to help persuade their daughter to marry him.”

Hamilton looked over at the table again. Now, the cameraman was talking solely to Faye. He knew what that conversation was about. Faye was trying to persuade the man to turn the camera back on; giving her center-stage. He also watched as the camera slowly lifted, then the light turned on. Faye wouldn’t be happy until she flashed her gum-ball size engagement ring for adoring fans to see. He ignored her for a moment, allowing his eyes to trail over to Precious. Again, he sensed nothing out of the norm about her. Precious didn’t look like a woman who’d recently turned down the prospect of marriage. On the other hand, Hamilton felt a sense of glee knowing that she had.

Lowering his eyes to his director, Hamilton said...

“Artie, are you sure about this? She doesn’t look at all upset.”

“Look Hamilton... I don’t know what happened at her father’s office today; however that’s a scene I would have killed to film.”

Artie’s brows furrowed due to the missed opportunity. Even though Hamilton produced several reality shows, he still didn’t understand the fascination and he didn’t thrilled over the idea of peeking into the lives of others. Voyeurism wasn’t his kind of entertainment. On the other hand, the shows were cheap to produce and they each grossed him enormous amounts of money.

Artie continued.

“Like I said... I don’t know what went on between Precious and her father but according to Stone; her father and mother are willing to help him.”

Hamilton had an immediate reaction hearing this; causing a worried indent between his brow, and Artie noticed this, so he asked...

“You did know that her parents want to see her married and settled down, didn’t you?”