Falling Down(77)

"Tell me more, Button."
"They live in a gated community and their house is gated with high tech security," Frank interjects.
"Frank, my man."
"What's up, Tony?"
"What a shit storm."
"Yeah, but our girl's handling it."
"Of course she is. She's a Russo, isn't she? So she'll be safe with them?"
"She will. She'll have us there if she needs us as well. There's plenty of room from what Ben's told me."
"Yes, sir--"
"Anthony."
"Anthony," Ben corrects. "We have over thirty rooms in the house. They can have their own wing if they choose or they can stay in the same wing we're in. I think the latter would be better security-wise, but that's up to them."
"True, true. This sounds good. Lucy."
"Yeah daddy?"
"Are you involved with Jesse?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Hmm. I thought so. So those rumors aren't wrong."
"Those stem from when we were in a club."
"Practically fornicating on the dance floor," my mother says.
"Whatever mom."
"It's the truth. The video doesn't lie."
"I'm a grown woman, mother."
She tsks. "I just spoke with Irene."
"Is that where you were? Managing two phone calls at the same time?"
"Yes, you know I am good at multi-tasking. Anyway, she thinks it might be a good idea for you to do a press conference."
"What? No! Why can't she just put out a press release?"
"The rumors are out about you leaving acting and starting in music. There's speculation that you're joining Jesse's band. There's speculation you're also joining a few other bands. They're going to want to hear it from you considering the big topic of discussion is you and Jesse. "
"Of course it is," Jesse says.
"This is the life of a movie star."
"So I'm learning. I just wish none of this was going on, for Lucy's sake."
"We all do."
"I have to agree with your mom, Lucy, about the press conference."
"What? Traitor!"
He chuckles.
"You just don't know, Jesse. They're brutal. When I called them vultures, I meant it. They're vultures, piranha, and any other flesh-eating beast there is."
"We'll have to talk to Cage first and get things set up and coordinated between Lucy, Cage, and Irene."
"I like him, Lucy. He's intelligent."
Jesse chuckles.
"Oh Lord. You only like him because he's agreeing with you."
"It shows his intelligence that he agrees."
"Alrighty then. Carry on discussing the press conference that's going to put me in my grave."
"Dramatic much?" Jace says and Sera smacks him.
"You don't know, Jace. You'll learn and you'll learn fast. It's not like it is with rockstars or on TV when they see someone come out of a restaurant. They are harsh, accusatory, and vicious," Sera tells him.
Ben and Jesse both look shocked. I sigh.
"What do we have to do, mama?"
"Just do what Jesse suggested and coordinate everything with Cage and Irene."
"Okay. Cage is our acting manager until we get everything worked out. He may stay on during our first tour."
"I would prefer that," my dad says.
"I'm sure he'll be in touch with you soon, daddy. He faxed Irene the contracts."
"Good, good. Things are moving along then."
"Two weeks from today we'll be in the studio recording. Oh my gosh! Guess who is playing rhythm for us?"
My mom and dad mutter they have no idea.