All of the work we'd been doing was starting to pay off. After working in a cramped studio, Chris made a deal for a much larger facility. It would be in, of all places, a former bowling alley. It was 2 stories, built in the late 50's, and even had a private entrance. So we wouldn't have a repeat of the "Paris smuggling" that had been our ticket to the big time. Chris spent the next month supervising the design of the place. We made a nice deal to sell all the bowling gear (but saved one lane's worth for ourselves, how many photographers can boast of an in-studio bowling alley?) and gained a huge new workspace complete with upstairs offices.
As if all this wasn't exciting enough, Chris got a call that sent us in another direction.
"Hey, Hollywood! What've you got planned for next month?"
"Let me check my calendar," I said with a mouthful of bacon cheeseburger and looking at a blank desk "Gee, nothing."
"Remember Chuck Tyler?" he said
"Tyler? Tyler? Oh yeah! He's the cheapskate who wouldn't let us ride to Vegas for the Tigress show."
I was telling the truth. Chuck said there was no room on the private jet to Vegas for us, and THEN claimed the record company switched planes on him when we suddenly noticed the huge Gulfstream jet at the Vegas airport while we were flying home on a packed commercial flight.
"Well, Chucky-boy is making up for it. How'd you like to go to London with Tigress?"
"London! Are you serious?" I yelled
"You bet! Tigress is doing their promotional tour and we get the job of shooting photos for their website and elsewhere."
"We're there, baby!" I yelled out
"Yeah, well I figured since you invaded Paris it was only fair to let you invade London too." He said with a sly grin.
"Hey! Watch it! You're talking about the girl I loved for one night, and one night only!" I replied with an equally sly grin.
We were over the moon.
Tigress' tour would be a whirlwind 3 weeks bouncing around England, Ireland and Scotland. The girls would be doing lots of TV appearances, interviews, photo shoots, etc. And we'd be along for the ride snapping pictures for the record company and their website. The timing of this was perfect, the builders would be at work while we were gone, so we could shut down the old place, head off across the pond, and come back to a new home. Chris had his cousin supervising the construction so we knew things were in good hands when we took off for London.
For a change, Chuck was a man of his word. We had a private jet taking us to the U.K., and we had Tigress along for the ride. It was a long flight from LA and I hate to admit it, but I slept most of the way. I think Chris was busy reconnecting with "Candy" and "Mandy".
Tigress hit London in a big way, there was a huge reception for them when we arrived and we were snapping away. The next few days were a blur. I was hoping I might get to play tourist at some point.
But we had a big appearance to plan for.
Tigress would be performing on England's top music program "Mega Music 360". And it turned out we'd be part of the performance. Chris had the idea of us playing paparazzi on screen while they performed. This would give us even better pictures. Chuck and the girls loved the idea. I just hoped I didn't trip over anything while on camera.
"Mega Music" was England's version of "TRL" and usually featured a rotating group of hosts. But this week it brought in someone else. Hilary Duff.
We arrived at the BBC studios that afternoon for rehearsals. Chris and I followed the girls around, snapping photos here and there. I was loading shots into my laptop when I heard a banging sound from a hallway. I looked around the corner and there she was.
Hilary Duff, looking cool in a red and white striped Nike running suit and sneakers. Only here she was banging a Coke machine with her foot.
"God damn it!" she was yelling.
For someone as short as her, she packed quite a kick.
"Uh, can I help?" I asked
"Stupid fuckin' machine steals my money!" She angrily replied.
"Let me try it." I said
My approach was a little more subtle. I pushed against the machine 'til it leaned back, then let it go. With a heavy thud, it hit the floor.
And 2 Cokes slid out.
We both looked at each other, amazed.
"Simple." I said with a smile and a shrug of my shoulders.
"I guess so!" she replied with an even bigger smile
"I'm Jim, by the way. I'm doing the photos for Tigress."
"Hi, I'm Hilary." She replied shaking my hand.
"Uh, indeed you are. And you're even prettier than I expected." I said nervously
"Oh, thank you!" she laughed
She noticed my camera and laptop on my shoulder.
"Oh! You're one of the paparazzi guys." She said
"Yes, it was my boss, well, my friend's idea." I replied
"How's that work?" she asked
"Long story, but we went to school together, he does the photos, and I do the computer work." I explained
"Where are you from? Certainly not London." She said
"LA, he has a studio out there."
"Which one? Maybe I know it." She asked
"'East Coast Image'." I replied (Clever name, huh? We thought it would be funny)
"I know that one!" she said excitedly "they did those Paris Hilton shots. Those were so cool!"
That girl's name keeps coming up at the strangest times, I thought.
Hilary was called away by the assistants on the show. She walked off with them but over her shoulder said;
"Great meeting you Jim! See you on the show."
And that was it for my meeting with Hilary.
I smiled to myself as she left. Man, she's cute!
"Congratulations to the lucky man." I thought.
The show went great. I had to remind myself not to look at the cameras while they performed and while we took our shots. But I caught myself looking over at Ms. Duff. She had changed into a white shirt and black leather miniskirt combo. Showing lots of leg too. Stiletto heels completed the look.
She was a long way from "Lizzie McGuire" that's for sure!
After the show, Chris and I thought we'd finally had some time off. Not quite, Mega Music always had a big party at the end of each week's show and naturally, Tigress would be there, and us too.
The party was held at a ritzy hotel in London and it felt strange knowing that we were the only photographers who didn't have to shove one another around for the perfect shot. But that's just what happened as a sea of flashbulbs went off as Hilary walked in. She made a point of stopping for the other photographers. Then suddenly pulled Chris and me over.
"Hey guys! I have my own paparazzi with me tonight, so be nice to them!" she said with a laugh. So the photographers from the states had English photographers photographing them. Strange didn't begin to describe it! But the dirty looks we got from them said more!
The party was a blur, Hilary floated around the room talking to everybody connected with the show, telling them how much she loved being there, loved London, wanted to come back again. I kept my mind on my work. Chris, on the other hand, was working the room in his own way. And it was getting a little too claustrophobic for me. So I grabbed a drink and headed out to a nearby courtyard. Just as I'd begun to calm down, my phone rang. It was Chris.
"Hey pal, you can wrap things up if you want to." He said with a cool professional tone.
"Oh, OK. Uh, where are you?" I suddenly wondered why he was calling me if we were practically in the same room.
"In the limo with the girls, say 'hi' girls." He replied with a laugh and a touch of swagger. I then heard Candy and Mandy, plus unknown others yell out;
"Hi, Hollywood!" and then dissolve into giggles.
"You abandoned me AGAIN?" I said, shocked.
"Oh, come on! Have some fun Hollywood! London after dark is supposed to be pretty wild." He replied with a laugh.
"Uh-huh. I'll see you back at the hotel, I hope!" I said.
"Unless my companions have other ideas, yes." Chris replied
Then I heard chanting;
"Hollywood! Hollywood! Hollywood!"
"See 'ya later pal!" and Chris hung up his phone.
I was alone once again in a strange city. I headed inside to collect my gear and figure out my travel plans. Just once I'd like to leave HIM alone in a strange town.
Just then, Hilary appeared.
