The Dip and the Resurface

Part 17

Ivy

"You have got to be kidding me!"

"I'm not," my boss looked at me, "I thought you'd be thrilled - I've been told that you hit it off with them at the Brit Awards."

"I'm not doing it," I repeated, "their lead singer treated me like shit! I don't care if they're headlining. I'm not wasting another minute of my life on that man."

"You know that all the international headliners have their own personal assistants for the night. This is a live TV broadcast and we cannot afford to make any mistakes. Everything has to run smoothly, and you're the most experienced floor manager I've got, so I cannot give you the night off, Ivy," my boss sighed.

"I'm not asking for a night off. Can't you just put me on someone else?" I asked desperately, "there are more than one main act!"

My boss looked at me apologetically, "Look, I wish there was something I could do, but Emma is on Kanye West, Sophie is on Muse, James is already in contact with Bruno Mars, and Marc has been assigned to Katy Perry. If you want to switch with someone else, you'll have to take it up with them. I thought you and The Pilots were a sure thing so I asked you last. The others have already accepted their artists for the night."

With a heavy sigh I left Mrs. Pattersons' office and considered my options. I didn't even want to waste my time switching with Sophie as I new that Josh and Tyler would be performing with Muse. Whoever had Muse also had The Pilots.

I thought about the other headliners: Kanye West, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perty.

Suddenly, I remembered a text that Tyler had sent me months ago saying that he disliked Katy Perry. He'd probably steer clear of her all night. 'Yes' I thought to myself and ran to Marc's office.

"Come on in," he called as I knocked on his door.

"Hi, I'm not interrupting, am I?"

"No, not at all. What can I do for you, honey?" he looked at me over his flamboyant glasses.

"I was wondering if you've been assigned anyone for the EMAs yet," I started.

Marc threw down the pen he had been holding with a shriek, "I'm on Katy Perry! Can you believe it?!" he exclaimed, "I've been a self-proclaimed Katy cat for years!" he did a thing with his hand to look as if he was clawing at something invisible.

"So I'm guessing there's no chance that you'll maybe switch with me?" I sighed. I already knew I had lost but refused to admit defeat.

"Honey, unless you've secretly invited Lady GaGa and Beyonce to this thing, there's no way in hell that I'm switching for your punk rock boys!"

With a sigh, I left Marc's office and headed for Emma who was on Kanye-duty.

"Emma?" I knocked at her door, "can I come in?"

"Sure, Ivy. I was just about to take a small break anyway. Little guy's taking all my energy," she touched her pregnant belly with a smile, "Can I offer you some tea?"

"No thanks. How's the little guy doing?" I pointed to her belly. Emma was really nice but right now I didn't care about her baby, I was just trying to butter her up.

"So sweet of you to ask!" She smiled, "He's doing really well! Doctors say that he's at six pounds already, so if he gets much bigger, it'll probably be a tough birth," she said, caressing her stomach, "but I'm guessing you didn't come here to talk about my pregnancy. What can I do for you?"

I sighed and explained her my situation and how Tyler had treated me. She had been with me at the Brit Awards but I hadn't told her of the aftermath until now.

"Hmm," she said, "I'd love to help you out but my husband would probably leave me if I switched out Kanye West. He's a die-hard fan and I promised that I'd get his Yeezy sneakers signed for him."

"Please, Emma, I'm begging you! I wouldn't be coming to you like this if it wasn't absolutely necessary! I can't see him again!"

"I'm sorry Ivy - have you tried Marc or Sophie? They're on Katy Perry and Muse. And James is on Bruno Mars."

"I can't do Muse and Marc wouldn't switch..." I mumbled, "and we both know how the conversation with James is going to go."

She nodded. James was the office hard ass. He enjoyed giving everyone a hard time - and ever since I had rejected him at the Christmas party two years ago, he loved giving especially me a hard time.

Emma looked at me with an apologetic look, "I'm so sorry," she said, "but my hands are tied."

"I understand," I sighed, "guess I'll go try the devil then. Wish me good luck."

"Good luck," she sent me a small smile.

On my way to James' office, I chose the words I was about to speak carefully. I had no idea how to butter him up. He had never been my cup of tea and up until now I had avoided him at all costs.

With a small knock, I waited outside his door until I was called upon, "come on in," he said.

"James?" I peeked inside.

"Oh it's you," he said curtly, "what do you want?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but Mrs. Patterson asked me to make sure everything with Bruno Mars was going smoothly."

"It is," he looked at me, squinting his eyes suspiciously, "why?"

"She asked me to switch artists with you," I tried.

"Why? Who are you on?"

"American band," I said innocently, "You probably haven't heard of them."

"Try me," he said tonelessly.

"They're called Twenty-one Pilots - and they're really good!" I added, "They'll be doing a mash-up with Muse."

James' smile curled upwards and at first, I thought I had convinced him until he started doing a little evil laugh, "Ah yes, The Pilots," he said, "as I remember, you were quite cozy with one of them at the Brit Awards. I seem to remember the two of you all snuggled up in the corner."

"Please?" I pleaded.

"I could easily switch with you. I don't even care about Mars" he said, looking at me, "but honestly, Ivy, nothing would give me more pleasure than to see you suffer through the night with that American boy.."

"Wow, thanks James. You're such a great colleague," I said and gave him an ironic thumbs up on the way out.

I cursed James all the way back to my own office when I heard someone yell my name behind me, "Ivy, wait up!"

I looked around and saw Emma who was fighting to catch up with me, "Wauh! Baby's definitely weighing me down," she laughed as she was panting beside me.

"What's up Emma?"

"Well, I take it from the look on your face that James didn't buy your proposition."

"Of course he didn't," I sighed.

"Well, I just got off the phone with my husband, and I told him everything!"

"REALLY? He understands?"

"No, he actually forbade me to switch with you," she laughed.

"Oh.." I muttered, all excitement gone.

"..But you know what? He's not the master of me. And as long as I'm carrying his child, he's totally whipped. I'll make sure that you get Kanye, and in turn, I'll deal with The Pilots," she said, looking all proud of herself.

"Thank you so so so much," I hugged her, "I promise I will get your husband's sneakers signed anyway."