Two weeks later, acebo sits crossed legged in John Branca’s office sofá on a rainy Thursday afternoon trying to interview a potential manager. After three possible candidates, the only thing she has established is that her eyes are now beginning to hurt after all the eye rolling she has been doing in-between the candidate’s culo kissing. She knows what she is looking for and it is not these men who seem like “yes” people. acebo is looking for someone who makes an entrance, an impact and who will most importantly get the job done. John looks over at acebo who is staring off into el espacio giving two shits at what the little, sweating, balding man is saying across from her. He gives her a slight nudge to the foot with his foot to make her pay attention. As the little man finishes up acebo sweetly smiles not saying one word. John clears his throat. “Thank tu for coming in, Jeremy. We are still interviewing and should let tu know as soon as we can.” The man weakly smiles before patting his receding forehead with his handkerchief before standing up and heading for the door quickly. “Don’t call us, we’ll call you,” acebo mumbles as he closes the door. John gives her a look. “What is wrong with you, Holly? tu call me up saying tu need to find a new manager, so I find the best in the business, and so far tu dislike every single one of them.” “Correction, John, this is not the best in the business, and if it is, I’ll do my own managing.” “Now hold on there, managing is no easy task. What was wrong with Jeremy? He had excellent credentials, managing some of the best in the business.” acebo shifts herself on the sofá rolling her eyes. “And he was a bore! My God, if tu dicho boo, he’d probably cry. I’m looking for a shark, John.” John bends forwards in the chair sighing out and rubbing the back of his neck in agitation. “Why don’t tu just come out with it, Holly, you’re just pissed off that none of the candidates so far have been women.” Holly’s mouth drops open at his words. “Now that is not true. I could give two shits if my manager is male, female, o in-between. I’m looking for quality and I expect quality. Now, who’s next?” John grabs another folder on the coffee mesa, tabla and opens it up. “Lana DeVito, thank God for a woman.” acebo shoots him a glare. “Just send her in.”

John hits his intercom button on the telephone that is sitting on the coffee mesa, tabla too, “Send in Ms. DeVito.” Within moments a loud voice can be hard as the double mahogany doors oscilación open to a tall slender woman with dark brown hair is standing in the doorway looking out into the reception area. “You call this a cup of coffee? jesús Christ, I could teach a wild ardilla to play the harmonica better than this!” acebo smirks at her candor. She turns around to face them and smiles before walking towards them extending her hand. “Hello, Ms. Williams and Mr. Branca, a pleasure to meet you.” She sits down and sets down her coffee in front of her with disdain before crossing her legs professionally. acebo sits up a little straighter. John looks at her résumé before looking up at her, “Well tell us a little bit about your background.” Lana rolls her eyes playfully, “Ugh, is this really going to be one of those mundane interviews that starts off por me explaining my credentials? My credentials are already right in front of you, so por me telling tu will waste your time and my time – something I loathe. Instead, why don’t I just tell tu why I think I deserve this job?” John raises his eyebrows and looks over at acebo where acebo is grinning from ear to ear. She folds her arms and looks at Ms. DeVito with amusement. “Please do, Ms. DeVito.” “Well most importantly, I’m damn good at what I do, I have worked with many in the past and I have gone for the jugular multiple times to get them the best deals and pride myself on that fact. Also, something that tu won’t find with other candidates is that I care about my clients, and there is nothing that tu could throw at me that I would not be able to handle. So, do I have the job?” acebo holds up her hand, “Now, hold on speed racer. Tell me más about tu going for the jugular because managing is still considered a man’s world, unfortunately.” John looks at both of them before cutting in. “Not necessarily, each año the statistics have been altering that más women – “ “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, John. tu know it as well as I do,” acebo cuts in looking at him. “And don’t give me useless statistics when I know my competition,” Ms. DeVito adds looking at him before looking back Holly. “Basically, you’re asking me if I have bigger balls than my male competition?” “Basically, yes.” “Then the short answer would be yes because I’ve been in a room with música executives where I’ve made them cry at the end of a negotiation.” acebo smiles, “And that’s exactly what I’m looking for. When tu work for me, Ms. DeVito, understand I only ask for four things: shrewdness, loyalty, professionalism, and a sense of humor. If tu don’t possess any of them then we can’t be in business together.” “Well with that in mind, I have a few stipulations of my own.” acebo smirks, “Oh tu do?” “Yes, I don’t work with just anyone, including spoiled princess routines who act like the world owes them something. Also, your reputation is my reputation so I expect full authority on what I think is best for tu and your career, and if tu don’t agree with that then we can’t be in business either.” acebo inhales and looks at the floor before looking back up at her. “I can agree to that as long as tu understand that my word is the final decision on anything tu propose. tu may put gas and oil in the car of my career, but I will always be in the driver seat, is that understood?”

John looks back and forth between them as if it was a tenis match waiting for the siguiente one to make a comeback. Ms. DeVito leans further back in her asiento and smiles to reveal a slight gap in-between her two front teeth, which rather becomes her. She fixes her wispy bangs in contemplation before replying. “You know for an eighteen-year-old tu are pretty shrewd yourself, and I like it.” “And it’s best tu don’t forget that. Now, would tu like to work for me as my manager?” Ms. DeVito looks at John. “Where do I sign and when can I start?” “Now, if tu want, acebo has been without a manager for a week now and her prior engagements from her old manager are running out,” John says as he slides the contracts over to her. She reads the documents carefully with a steady eye before signing and when she does looks up at acebo with another smile. “Look’s like I’ve got my work cut out for me,” she stands up and extends her hand up to acebo as acebo stands up to meet her hand. “Ms. Williams, let’s make some history together.” acebo smiles back, “Oh, believe me, we will.”



Across town, Michael sits in the sterile and cold examining room of his dermatologist. Sitting on the edge of the examining table, he swings his legs back and forth to pass time as he hums a tune he came up with on the ride over here and reads the posters on the walls about skin cancer and acne. The door opens up to a middle-aged man with a fuzzy mustache and a clipboard in front of him. He looks in and smiles warmly as he closes the door behind him. “How are tu doing, Michael?” “Just fine, Dr. Rice.” Dr. arroz goes over to the counter and places down the clipboard as he puts on gloves. “I see tu aren’t in for a routine check-up on your acne today.” He walks over to Michael. Michael sighs and turns over his left arm to reveal a tiny white mark on the inside. “No, I wanted to mostrar tu this. I’ve never seen this before.” Dr. arroz grabs Michael’s arm and examines it closely before looking up at him. “Have tu seen any más of these spots?” “No, but then again, I’d be más comfortable if I inspected your back. Lift up your camisa, camiseta for me, please.” Michael follows his orders but loathes taking off his shirt, even in front of doctors. He has always been teased about not being toned and having as many protruding muscles, as a regular man should have from his family and since then it’s made him self-conscious. Dr. arroz examines his back thoroughly for about ten minutos until he takes off his gloves and throws them in the trashcan. “You can put your camisa, camiseta back on, Michael.” He begins to write something down on his clipboard. “Well, what is it?” Michael asks, curious as he puts his camisa, camiseta back on. “After examining your back and finding one tiny spot back there I’d conclude tu have vitiligo.” “Vitiligo? What’s that?” “Nothing too serious, just the skin losing its pigment. In your case, I wouldn’t be too concerned. Do tu recall any family members having this?” “Not that I remember, why?” “It usually is a hereditary disease, but sometimes it just occurs in some.” Michael’s eyes pop out. “Disease?” Dr. arroz looks at him with a small smile, “Nothing to be alarmed about. tu may have a few más patches pop up but that’s about it.” “It’s not contagious is it?” Michael says thinking about acebo and how maybe touching her could give her this. Dr. arroz chuckles, “No, no, nothing like that. tu can’t spread it through the skin on skin contact. But tu keep an eye on it and let me know if anything changes.” “So I don’t need to take anything?” “In your case, no. Like I said, don’t worry, it won’t get worse, I promise.” Michael shrugs, “Whatever tu say, Dr. Rice.”



Later that evening, Michael looks over at acebo in the car with a smile as he holds her hand on their way to the Stars Come Out for the Sun event. “Do I look alright?” He asks as he looks down to adjust his blazer lapel. acebo looks over at him and smiles. “You look fine, as always. I also like that your hair is getting curlier,” she says as she touches it with her other free hand. Michael looks at her through hooded eyes and a smirk. “Thanks, babe.” acebo looks at him with a playfully raised eyebrow. “Babe? Since when did we start using nicknames?” Michael grabs her cheek with his other hand and whispers against her lips, “Since now.” He gives her a quick kiss on the lips before sitting back in his asiento as they approach the Hollywood Palladium. “If tu don’t like it I can name say something else.” acebo rests her head against the asiento and looks at him as the sky begins to darken outside the windows. “It doesn’t matter to me, Michael.” She gives him a kiss on his hand as they arrive to the Palladium. Hell, Michael could call her “Hey you!” and she would be ecstatic. Just to have his time and attention makes her happy and grateful.


Inside the room is full of full of celebridades new and seasoned that makes acebo feel like a fan instead of a guest. The room smells of alcohol, money, and the faint smell of pot, (not uncommon for these events). Michael holds onto the small of Holly’s back as he looks around the room looking for a familiar face until he spots one. “Hey, there’s Jane.” acebo snaps her head at him. “Jane, as in Jane Fonda?” Michael looks at her quizzically. “Yeah, why?” “Because Michael it’s Jane Fonda! Have tu not seen her movies? Especially the one with Robert Redford?” Michael chuckles at her, “I amor to see tu estrella struck. Hey, Jane, come over here a sec!” He shouts over to her with a smile and a wave, acebo pinches him on the arm. “Don’t bother her!” She harshly whispers in his ear. Jane looks over at them with a smile and walks away from the group she was talking to and comes up to them slowly saying hello to others along the way with such ease and grace that it makes her envious. “Oh my God that’s Jane Fonda!” acebo whispers as she gets closer to them. “Jane, I’d like tu to meet someone very special, acebo this is Jane Fonda, Jane, this is acebo Williams.” Jane smiles and extends her hand to Holly, “Of course, I know who she is. I am a huge fan of your music.” acebo sucks in a breath, “I-I am such a fan of your work and you’re the epitome of a fabulous woman, truly.” acebo says with a reddening face at her fawning of Jane. Jane laughs and grabs her for a hug, “You are beyond adorable! Michael, she is everything tu dicho and more,” Jane says with a wink at him. Michael looks at acebo with awe, “I know she is.” He watches as acebo continues to talk to Jane with an innocent and open eye that it takes him back at how she is still fairly new to this business. He smirks as he watches Jane take acebo por the arm and escort her to get a water, which acebo turns around to mouth an “Oh my God!” at him.


An hora later acebo is seated at a mesa, tabla as she watches Michael mingle with a few of the village people waiting for the evening to be over. Her feet are killing her in her new pumped shoes as she looks down at her feet and sees blisters starting to form on the back of her heels. “Is this asiento taken?” A deep voice says besides her. She looks up to see Jon Voight standing there with a drink in his hand. “All yours,” she says as he pulls up a chair beside her. He takes a sip before looking at her, “I’m a big fan of your work,” he says calmly before taking another sip. She looks at him and smiles, “Same here, you’re a brilliant actor.” “Ah, I’m not sure about that, but one thing I do know is that if my daughter was here she would be begging tu for your autograph.” “What’s your daughter’s name?” “Angelina, here I’ll mostrar tu a picture of her like the proud dad that I am,” he says playfully. acebo chuckles as he pulls out a foto from his wallet and shows a beautiful little girl with dark hair. “She’s gorgeous,” acebo murmurs looking back at him. He looks fondly at the picture before putting it back in his pocket. “I was supposed to see her this week, but I had to come here and do this event instead, the price of fame I suppose.” acebo shrugs, “Yeah, I guess.” “That’s the funny thing about these kinds of things,” Jon says looking around the room, “People have this perceived notion that we famous people are some mystical creatures who lead this glamorous lifestyle, but when in actuality, we are just as fucked up as they are.” Jon takes another gulp of his drink before looking at the empty glass. “I need a refill, can I get tu anything?” “No thanks, I’m good.”

As he stands up to leave, acebo can’t help but think of his words and how everyone here is just normal people. If only her fans knew what Michael and she went through on a daily basis they wouldn’t think their life is so glamorous. To everyone right now, she is here with her famous boyfriend at a fabulous party with other celebrities, when in actuality she is sitting tired at a table, watching him with feet that are killing her. Perception is truly a fickle thing. It amuses and tires her at the thought. Maybe that is what the public is in amor with…the allusion, she thinks to herself as she watches Michael talk to Jane who has now walked up to the group and started chatting with them. Sometimes she still feels like she is on the outside looking in at these types of events. She is known, but not too known, yet. It makes her feel awkward and vulnerable, two kinds of feelings she hates to feel. As she continues to look at Michael she admires how even though he gets nervous and uncomfortable at these events he somehow fits. Compared to her, Michael was a veteran in this business, and she needed to quickly learn from him how to do these types of events and soon if she wanted to just as talented as him one day.



“This makes the days all worth it,” Michael murmurs as acebo crawls into cama and into his arms yawning. “Yep, this is nice,” Holly, mutters with her eyes slowly starting to close from the long day. Michael holds her in his arms looking up at the ceiling with his mind still running a mile a minute. Most nights he can sleep with her beside him, but some nights he still can’t sleep, but just lying with her in his arms makes things better. He looks down at her and touches her long hair in his hands. “Did tu get a manager today,” he whispers. She stirs and looks up at him with a weak smile. “Yeah, her name is Lana.” “You like her?” She nods. “She’s a shark, so of course I admire her.” Michael chuckles, “When will I get to meet her?” “Well, she’s persistent, so pretty soon.” acebo nuzzles her head against his chest and looks at his arm to see the white splotch on his left arm. Suddenly, she is wide-awake. She looks up at him with a concerned look. “What’s wrong with your arm?” “Nothing, just a little vitiligo.” “I’ve never heard of that before, but is it serious?” “No, I went to the doctor today, and he dicho it would be fine.” acebo looks at it again, tracing the small white spot with her finger before looking up at him again. “When were tu going to tell me?” Michael looks around the room before looking back at her trying to find the right words. “I didn’t want to worry you.” “Remember what tu said, this only works if we are completely honest with each other.” “I know, I know…. and in the spirit of total honesty, I need to tell tu something I’ve been thinking about.” acebo perks herself up por sitting on Michael’s lap and giving him her undivided attention. “What would tu like to talk about?” Michael looks at her in this position sitting on parte superior, arriba of him and smirks, rubbing her upper thigh. “Keep sitting like this and I’ll forget everything I have to say.” acebo looks down bashfully. “Michael…” Michael chuckles before continuing, “I’ve been thinking about getting my nose done.” acebo cocks her head to the side looking at him quizzically. “But why, tu are perfect just the way tu are.” Michael rolls his eyes. “I feel disgusted with my nose anymore. Once the tour is done, I want to get it done, what do tu think?” “I don’t know Michael, I never knew this was such a sensitive area for you, but if it means that much to tu and if it will make tu happier then I guess go for it.” “Will tu be angry with me if I get it done?” “Michael, what kind of girlfriend would I be if told tu not to do something that would ultimately make tu happy? I…” She trails off with her thought, searching for the right way to phrase it. “Yes?” “I just don’t want tu to get carried away with plastic surgery, ya know? The wormhole as I hear some call it.” Michael shakes his head, “That won’t happen to me, I’m not that impressionable, tu know this.” “I do, I just worry.” “Well don’t, I can handle this.” He pushes her back down to him and gives her a kiss that seems to ease her anxiety, melting the stress of the día away, their lips moving rhythmically other the others softly until both pull back to rest their foreheads against the other. Michael takes his knuckles and brushes it gently against her cheek. “I promise, I can handle this.”