My face immediately dropped and I habitually touched my chin with my hand. Frank Dileo, in the flesh--with
customary cigar in tow.
Damn.
How on Earth did he find out? We were so careful! We flew in a private jet, rode through LAX in an unmarked car, hell Katherine (my mother) didn't even know I was in the country! How on Earth...
As they strode across the lawn, the two progressing figures were joined by another--a tall, burly man in a jet-black suit met them grinning at Frank and shaking his hand in a firm grip. Really, Jerry? I should have known.
I felt like a fool: here I was 29 years old thinking I'm fooling everyone and the one person I thought was in my corner was consorting with the enemy. Ok, so maybe enemy is being dramatic. But why did he have to tell Frank?
I sheepishly shuffled my feet and glanced down at Bubbles. He must have sensed my disorientation. He grinned absent-mindlessly and trotted back to tree that he scaled with ease. Animals are beautiful that way. Their lives weren't as complicated, all they had to do was eat and poop. Ah, the life!
My daydream was interrupted by a heavy pat on the back by Franks heavy handed palm. "Mike, how the hell are ya?" he grunted, sweating profusely in his Hawaiian print shirt. I always teased Frank about his fashion sense.
Frank was a complete Type A personality. He always had to be in control. That's why he was so good at his job. He helped put Thriller at the top and he even helped coerce a crazy huge deal with Pepsi Co.
Mr. Bone attempted to diffuse the obvious tension, "OK boys, how about we head to the cabana and discuss numbers, hmm?" He had a heavysouthern drawl and reminded me of the clay-mation cowboys that had an appearance in the Intro of my 'Speed Demon' short film. Tears pricked my eyes, I was LIVID. But I couldn't let my blinding emotion overwhelm me--I was here for one reason and one reason alone--to build my haven, my paradise.
Mr. and Mrs. Bone, Frank and Bubbles trotted up the shady cobblestone path, I lingered in the back and fisted my pockets. I wonder if she would like it...if she would approve. I don't know why but her opinion meant so very much to me, Deb that is.
 |
| Tatiana Thumbzten, 1988 |
I looked at him ready to let him have it--I was fully prepared to shout how insolent and belittling it was to be looked after in such a way. But when I met Franks eyes, there was so much concern there. Sure, he is a macho man, heck the definition of it! But I knew, in his heart of hearts that he had my best interest at heart. I trust too much, too easily one could even say, but Frank has been a rock in my life back since The Jackson's at Epic Records. My heart immediately unclenched, "yeah, I know Frank," I acquiesced. I took my hands
out of my pockets and crossed them in front of my chest, lips twitching I smiled up at him from under the shade of my Fedora. "So... how mad was Tatiana?" I half snorted.
Frank paused staring at me, cigar balancing effortlessly between his middle and index finger before breaking into a gut busting laugh. I reveled in his laugh, but then felt a twinge of guilt. Tatiana Thumbzten starred alongside me in one of my latest short films, "The Way You Make Me Feel". The last I had seen her, she had practically made out with me in front of 100's of thousands of fans in Brisbane, Australia (November 28, 1987). That was a mistake. The audience went insane, and not exactly in a good way.
Tatiana was threatened with removal from the tour by Frank and the label heads stating "she was too much of a distraction." They gave her one more chance, warning if she pulled a stunt like that again she would be removed permanently from the American leg. Hell, they didn't even know the worst of it--I day dreamed of the incident as Frank and I caught up with Mr. Bone and his wife.......|END|
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