The gossip industry has been a part of Hollywood probably since the first movie camera was produced, maybe even before that for all I know. It's gone from newspaper columns to radio to TV and now the Internet. The famous names have all been there at one time or another and these days the name I saw most often was Veronica "Ronnie" Barrett, not that I read all these scandal mongers, mind you. I just had a "professional interest" in them. Ronnie had been around Hollywood a long time and maybe it was sheer luck on my part but she never put two and two together when it came to me. That is, my name never caught her eyes (or her spies' eyes) when I was at some Hollywood soiree` and some starlet gave me a wink and/or a smile. What she DID know me for, was that I was tight with Jackie Morrison so I guess she figured I could provide any dirt on whatever "the Jackal's" next deal was. And that's how I wound up on the phone with her one morning.
Did I mention she was calling me at home? On a Saturday morning? Before my first cup of coffee? And interrupting my enjoyment of Bugs Bunny and Cap'n Crunch?
"C'mon, Jim! Jackie's got some kinda deal going, I can just feel it!" she said in her Bronx accented voice.
"Ronnie, I don't hang out in her office all day. In fact, I've only been in her office once in the last month. So, what makes you think I know about any deals she's got going?" I said while in the midst of trying to refill the food dish of an impatient cat named Smokie.
"OK, lemme confirm something, how 'bout that?"
"Oh, alright..." I yawned
"Jackie had the deal with DC Universe to do the Batgirl film with Jenna Dewan, right?"
"Right."
"That deal fell apart when Jenna got preggers, right?"
"I think you could've been a little more discreet in your word choices...but yes."
"So, who's on the short list to replace her?"
"You'd have to ask someone else."
There was a short silence on her end.
"I know who that someone else is." Her tone could only suggest she knew just who that was.
My eyes widened, it was true that Jenna Dewan had been cast to play Batgirl and there was a huge press event in Vegas to announce this, but then she had to drop out of the film due to her pregnancy. And everything was back to square one. The new Batgirl's casting was a big secret and Jackie was being even more hush-hush about it than the last time. Now I was caught in a big dilemma. Technically I knew as much as the fanboys did about who would be cast, but what if Ronnie was playing a "gotcha" game with me? She was famous for that.
"OK, uh, try me." I said
"Rumors say it'll be Camila Cabello."
"Interesting name, I'll say that."
"Is it true? Is she on the short list?"
"Again, Ronnie you know as much as I do. Nice chatting with you." I said as I hung up.
While stirring creamer into my coffee, I thought about that name. Camila Cabello? That WAS an interesting name, I'd never met her so that made things only more intriguing.
Ronnie's intelligence wasn't quite on the money. Jackie called a meeting to announce our new plans, but didn't say for sure if Camila had the part. She'd apparently gotten some backlash from the other producers connected to the film. They wanted to play it safe this time and announce the casting only when it was absolutely confirmed. Jackie obviously wanted to avoid any embarrassment and took a more low-key approach this time.
And Ronnie got the chance to gloat, but only a little, over her scoop. Being only half-right wasn't her style, for sure. But she got a lot of mileage and readership by keeping the rumor mill running and that was most important. At least to her.
Camila's reps though, were happy. They knew how big a part like this could be for her and they wanted to take a careful approach too.
"Jim, I'm sending you down to Miami for the weekend." Jackie said near the end of the workday "I need you to do a preliminary meeting with Camila's manager."
"She switched managers? Isn't that kinda risky?"
"She doesn't think so, her agent's a friend of mine and he says you know the new girl."
"The new girl?"
"Amy Adamson, ring a bell?"
"Amy? Whoa, uh, yes, yes, I do. Wow."
"OK, then. Grab the first flight down there and work your magic."
The idea of meeting up with Amy again was certainly nice. We went way back to my days with East Coast Image and her career seemed to parallel mine in many ways. She'd managed Tigress to international stardom, then when they split up, she took over their lead singer's career and overnight became the most in-demand manager around. Lately, she'd taken a step back to marry her longtime girlfriend and become a Mom. But if her name was popping up with somebody like Camila, it was a sure sign she was ready to get back in the business. So, a trip down to Miami sounded great to me, but one aspect suddenly got my attention as I was about to walk out of the office.
"Grab the first flight? Um, I thought I'd be using the company jet, y'know..." I said sheepishly.
Jackie looked up at me and slid her reading glasses down. "Look, 'Hollywood'...you'd be wise to remember that the company jet is not like borrowing your Mom's car to go to the Mall."
The message had gotten to me loud and clear. Looks like I'd better check my frequent flier miles before I made a reservation.
So, I was off to the sun and fun capital of the USA, Miami Beach.
I could almost hear the salsa music playing as I stepped off the plane. The Miami sun was brilliant and I felt like a million bucks as I strolled through the airport.
"Hey, 'Hollywood'..." I heard behind me.
As if the good feeling couldn't get any better, who did I see casually standing at the arrivals gate, looking so tanned and so cool , but Amy Adamson. She started to snicker a little then dashed into my arms.
"Oh my God, it's so good to see you again!" she laughed "It's been way too long!"
"Well, you have been busy with other things...Mommy." I replied
"Oh yeah! It's a never-ending adventure! C'mon let's get your stuff."
"You're looking at it." I said showing my canvas duffel bag that had as many miles on it as I did.
"Geez, you're still carrying that thing?"
"Hey, if it works, I keep it!"
She shook her head "You haven't changed a bit."
"True, but you have."
She gave me a beaming smile as we walked "Uh-huh, best thing I've ever done. Tell you what, let's have dinner tonight, you gotta try some Cuban food and I wanna hear all about what working for the Jackal is like."
"OK, deal."
Amy and her wife Maria met me at a Cuban-themed restaurant that evening and immediately had us feasting on numerous dishes and glasses of authentic Cuban rum. And yes, somewhere in there we did get to talk some business.
"Jim, there was a very good reason we picked this place." Amy began "I think you'll want to meet the owner." She said as she waved her hand to someone behind me. At that moment a very petite and bookish brunette made her way over and sat down next to me.
"Hi! I'm Camila." She said as she removed her large eyeglasses and offered her hand "Amy's told me about you."
"Whoa, yes, hi..." I finally said.
She looked so cute in a simple pink t-shirt and tight white jeans. The colors really showed off her thick brunette hair that was so casually tousled.
"You own this place?" I asked
"Uh-huh, with my Mom. She runs the kitchen and I just stay out of her way."
"Sounds like a good arrangement."
"You bet, how do you like the food?"
"Great, I wish I could get stuff like this out in L.A."
"Well, you might. I'm thinking about opening a second one out there. Not just yet, though. I think I should see how things turn out before I do."
"Things like say, a Batgirl movie?"
"Shhh! No one's supposed to know yet!" she said with a laugh.
"Yeah, 'Hollywood' didn't the Jackal teach you anything about discretion?" Amy added "You never know who might be listening."
"Who is this Jackal person anyway?" Camila asked
"Jackie Morrison, his boss. And technically yours when we're out there." Amy said "She's harmless for the most part, I mean, she hired Jim here. She runs the studio and is Executive Producer on the film. The better things work out, the less you see of her. That's pretty much the theory of working for her."
Amy gave me a quick summary of what she wanted to accomplish now that she'd taken over Camila's management duties. Camila added a few things here and there but stayed quiet for the most part. Once she'd finished, I took one more drink of rum.
"Well, you've certainly given me plenty to take back to L.A." I said "I think Jackie will be pretty pleased by everything. I don't see any problems."
"Great!" Amy said as she looked at her watch "I need to call it a night, I've got Mommy duties to take care of at home." She said with a smile directed at Maria.
"Hey, why don't you come out to my place tomorrow? I'd love to show you everything, it's so cool." Camila said enthusiastically.
"Hey! Great idea! You can play him some of your new music" Amy added "She's already got some ideas for the soundtrack, how 'bout that?"
"The lady's ambitious, I like that." I replied.
"You know it." She said with a giggle.
Camila gave me the address of what sounded like an ultra-chic high-rise called Gold Coast One in the South Beach area. I'd rented a Corvette convertible hoping I'd get some time to cruise around town Miami-style (Hey, if I couldn't get the cool corporate jet, I could least have a cool rental car). Even though I hadn't been to this part of Miami for several years, as I got closer to her place, the buildings started to look familiar. I pulled up to the address and stared at it for a few minutes before going in.