Our big adventure was coming to an end. The Triple Threat Tour's last dates would be two nights at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The tour had been a huge success for all involved. Every show was a sellout, we could've easily done another run across America with the same results. Chuck was already huddling with the tour organizers about a run through Europe or Japan. Chris and I were happy we'd be able to sleep in our own beds very soon. Touring was a great time but we both knew when it was time to get off the carnival ride.
The first night was filled with special guests backstage and onstage. Rhianna brought Justin Timberlake up for her song "Rehab" to the requisite screams from the crowd. Justin was with Jessica Biel and we were privileged to get a photo of all three backstage for her website. Jessica was friendly and quite pretty, she'd seen our work elsewhere and Chris immediately slipped his business card to her and Justin.
"Always working an angle..." I said to him.
Rhianna's boyfriend Chris Brown turned up, so any rendezvous with her was now unlikely. He was cordial toward us, but I quickly reasoned that keeping my distance was best. Anyway, we had a job to do. Rhianna still gave me a smile every so often. She'd certainly remember the fun we'd had together. It was one reason she wanted me on the tour in the first place.
Throughout the tour, we'd had very little contact with Beyonce'. From the beginning we'd kept our distance from her, she had a cotillion of fierce looking bodyguards around her at all times, and a husband who seemed very stand-offish towards us. At the first night's show, Beyonce' surprised the crowd by bringing up the members of Destiny's Child for a surprise encore of "Bootylicious" and then called us in for post-show photos. Rhianna looked stunned to be in the same room with them. The Tigress girls were uncharacteristically silent; the giggles were nowhere to be found. As we snapped photos, Beyonce' surprised me;
"Hey, I've seen you at every show with Rhianna. What's your name honey?"
"Uh, Jim... I've been doing the photos for Rhianna and Tigress." I said hesitantly.
"Well, you guys should do my photos too." She said.
"Thanks, I'll tell my boss that." I replied.
"You mean you're not the boss?" she asked, surprised.
"No, I just work for that guy." I said pointing at Chris, who sheepishly waved. I think he felt the same way I did; 'she's talking to us?'
"You guys do a great job, thanks for everything!" she said as she was hustled out by her guards.
Chris and I just looked at each other, stunned.
"Gee, we just had our encounter with the queen." I said.
"Maybe she's been on tour too long." Chris said sarcastically.
Chuck then bounced into the room.
"Wow! Can you believe that! What a lady, huh?" he said with his usual enthusiasm. "Don't go too far guys, we've been invited to an end of tour party, let's go!"
So much for sleeping in my own bed tonight, I thought.
The after party was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where everything had started. Chris and I felt good knowing that we'd accomplished something big like this. We were big time now, we'd been the lead photographers on the biggest tour of the year. The photos we took were being seen worldwide, not just on the website of a band. It felt good to kick back and enjoy what we'd accomplished.
And it was about to get better.
I was talking to some of Tigress' backing band when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
