"You want me to go where?" I asked Chris wearily.
"Calabasas." He replied.
"And for what?" I responded.
"I need you to deliver some paperwork to this address. They need to sign for it and approve the content." He explained, quickly adding "Hey, I'd go there myself, but my accountant is coming over and this is the only night he has free and our tax return is gonna be a lot more complex this year so I don't want to rush this."
"But wasn't FedEx invented for times like this? I'm beat, man." I protested. "We've been running around the last 2 weeks, we've got another project starting soon and I'd rather not drive all the way up to, where was it again?"
"Calabasas." Chris said again
This was one time when I was about to put my fist through a door. I was right, we'd been incredibly busy lately. Yes, that's good for a business, but not for me.
"I don't even know where that is!" I said exasperated.
"That's why I'm giving you this." And he dropped a set of keys in my hand. It was the keys to his Porsche convertible. He'd gotten it recently and proudly saw it as a symbol of his hard work.
"Take my car, it has the GPS system in it, I programmed the address in last time I was there so it won't be a problem for you." He explained.
"Alright, alright I'll go." I said.
"Thank you. Look, I know I put you in tough spots, but you have to admit that in the end it's worth it, right?" Chris really sounded sincere at this moment.
I looked around at what our work had gotten us so far. We had a successful business that kept getting bigger and better. Yep, we were big time, just like we dreamed.
"I'll even fill the tank for you." I said as I headed out the door with a smile.
The Porsche was one smooth ride as it navigated the highway. I truly felt like the king of the road with the top down, shades on, and Aerosmith on the sound system. And the GPS did work as expected. I pulled up to the contact address, a boutique called "Dash". It looked like a pretty ritzy place. I looked at the envelope and read the directions on the paperwork. It was to be signed by one Kim Kardashian, and no one else.
Gee, he's being direct in his orders to me.
I walked in to the shop and it was pretty quiet. A pretty young girl asked if she could help me.
"Oh, Hi, I'm from East Coast Image and I have some materials that need to be approved by the owner." I said.
"OK, hang on. Kim! There's somebody here for you!"
From the back of the store walked this vision, no, bombshell of a woman. It suddenly hit me exactly whom I was meeting with. And it was really her.
It was "the" Kim Kardashian alright.
She had on a dark pinstriped pantsuit that really accented her jet black hair and olive colored skin. Her hair wasn't tied back or anything, it was cascading around her shoulders. I think I might've even gasped somewhat when she walked out.
"Hi! Are you Chris' partner?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes, that's me." I replied.
"He told me you'd be coming," She said looking at her watch, one that looked almost diamond-like. "Wow you got up here fast."
"Beginners luck, I guess." I said with a shrug.
"Come on in the back, I've got all the stuff you need." And I followed her into the office area.
"I'm gonna close up Kim!" said the girl who met me as we headed into the back.
"OK, Kourtney. I'll see you at home later."
That's right! Her sisters are involved in this place too.
She sat down at a small desk and started looking over the papers and photos. They were for a new photo campaign Chris had started on when we were in London. He'd somehow met with her reps there and they'd been talking back and forth by email ever since. I hadn't concerned myself much with what he was working on. I suppose I should be, then I wouldn't be so exasperated at driving to Calabasas. The office was small, but neatly furnished with a leather loveseat and tables stacked with magazines and photos. A simple antique table served as a desk with only a laptop and a phone on it. Very simple, very efficient.
"So, how long have you been working with Chris?" she asked while reading the papers.
"Oh, uh, only a few months. But we've been friends for a long time."
"I met him awhile back, I think it was at some party Paris had." She replied.
"Hilton?" I asked
"Who else? She drives me nuts. Just promoting herself all the time." She said.
"Really?" I replied.
"Oh, don't get me started on her." She said raising her hand slightly, but still smiling. Then saying; "Nah, she's OK for the most part. She doesn't come up here all that much so it's not like I see her all the time."
"Oh, I get it. The less you see of someone, the better?" I offered.
"Right." she replied.
She was flipping through the photo sheets, then looked up at me.
"Have you seen any of these?"
"No, I only knew he was working on some project with you but nothing more." I said.
"OK, well I guess you should know. I'm starting a lingerie line here, probably only on the web site. Want to see the photos?" she asked with a sly smile.
"Uh, sure." I said
I went over to her desk and stood in front of it, looking at the photos upside down.
"No, no, come over here." She corrected.
I hesitated slightly.
"Oh come on, I don't bite. Unless you want me to." She said with another sly smile and a raised eyebrow.
So I went behind her desk and she showed me each photo.
The photos were, well, incredible! She had on a variety of satin nightgowns, camisoles, even a series of flannel pajama sets with necklines that really accented her curves on top. It was very hard for me not to stare down at the incredible chest that was before me. Not just in photo form, but for real. There were also outfits that must've been intended for role-playing that included a schoolgirl outfit of plaid skirt and grey sweater with a private school logo.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"This one is nice." I said pointing at the schoolgirl outfit. "But this one is a little more, uh, romantic I guess." Pointing to a satin nightgown.
Kim listened intently to my thoughts and I could tell she was watching me.
"I think it will be a big hit for you." I said with confidence.
"Great!" she said smiling.
She signed all of the papers where directed.
"OK, did Chris tell you what to pick out?" she asked
"Pick out?" I said, confused
"Right, oh he didn't tell you? OK, part of the deal with him was the employees could pick out stuff they wanted from the store. You can get something for your girlfriend for free." She explained.
"Oh, well, uh.." I stammered
"You don't have a girlfriend? Come on! Really?" she sounded stunned.
"Uh, sad but true I'm afraid."
It was true. Yes, good 'ol "Hollywood" had had his share of beauties but my schedule was such that a private life really hadn't presented itself to me. It's not like I hadn't been trying. But somehow I just never really embraced the swinging single life the way Chris did. Hell, he had a master's degree in that!
"Hmm, let me think." Kim said.
"Uh, I guess a gift card would be fine." I offered.
"Oh no, this isn't a Wal-Mart store. I've got an idea."
She gathered up all the papers and photos and slipped them back into the envelope I brought them in.
"I'll give you a first look at everything. And then you can tell me what you like."
"Oh, uh, Okay." I was confused at this moment. What did she mean by that?
She led me down a hallway to what seemed like a large elegant dressing room with mirrors on all sides. A couch and some chairs were in it too and several small cabinets.
"I'll be right back." She said and left me in the "roomful of mirrors". I kept thinking of the old Hendrix song;
