After Hours Redemption (404 Sound)

by Kianna Alexander

  Blaine removed his shades, his dark eyes shimmering with a mixture of confidence and mischief. “Now that you two ladies have met, let’s get to work on this album, shall we?” He winked, then began walking past the reception desk and down the hall.

  Eden swallowed. Those piercing eyes...deep brown, flecked with gold. They’d been her downfall once before, and she couldn’t afford another fall. Not now. She dragged her gaze away from him, focusing on Naiya. Looping her arm through the younger woman’s, she asked, “Tell me about your vision for this album.”

  A few minutes later, they were settled into the recording studio. Blaine sat at the control board, while Naiya and Eden sat facing each other inside the booth. As Naiya relayed some of the topics she wanted to explore on her album, Eden took notes. Listening to Naiya, Eden found herself increasingly intrigued by the young singer’s words. Not only was she a talented vocalist, but she possessed great intellect, as well as a surprising level of awareness of the world around her.

  “I have to tell you, Naiya. I was impressed with your singing, but now that I’ve heard your thoughts, I’m even more impressed with you.” Eden closed her notebook, resting it on her lap. “You’re so tuned in to everything.”

  Naiya tilted her head to one side, releasing a brief giggle. “I know people like to think that the younger generation is too self-absorbed to notice such things. But not all of us are that way.”

  Eden winced, noticing the way Naiya had subtly quashed her preconceived notions. “I can see that. And I’m honored to help you realize your vision with this album.”

  Naiya snapped her fingers as if remembering something. “I almost forgot. I brought my journal.” She reached into her purse, taking out a small spiral-bound book and passing it to her. “I don’t know what your process is like, but I thought it might help with the lyrics.”

  Accepting the journal, Eden smiled. “It absolutely will help. Thank you for trusting me with it.”

  Blaine’s voice filled the booth as he spoke into the mic. “Okay, ladies. Have you had enough time to chat?”

  They both nodded.

  “Good,” he continued. “The bigwigs at the label want us to turn around a first single pretty quickly, so we need to get cracking on that. After that’s done, we’ll tackle the rest of the album.”

  Naiya’s grin revealed her excitement. Standing, she slipped on a headset and spoke into the mic. “Do we have a beat yet?”

  “Yep. Just got one in from Jazzy.” Blaine flipped a few switches on the soundboard, and the sounds of the track filled the space.

  Eden was bobbing her head and tapping her foot almost immediately, and she felt the smile sweeping over her face. The track sounded unique and fresh, yet reminiscent of nineties hip-hop. “This is fantastic.”

  Naiya, snapping along with the beat, said, “You can’t go wrong with an 808. I love this! It’s retro but it’s current at the same time.”

  Eden had to agree. The Roland TR-808 drum machine had played a seminal role in hip hop and R & B music, starting with its release in 1980. While it was only in production for three years, the 808 had been used for countless hit songs, and even today’s music software often emulated the patterns the legendary drum machine had created. The track the producer had created for Naiya had just enough instrumentality to give it a classic sound and used the 808 to lay down a trap drum line popularized by some of the hottest recent rap acts.

  Blaine’s million-dollar smile beamed through the glass partition. “Great. Then it’ll give y’all the perfect jumping-off point. I’ll just let it loop.” He slid back from the board and stood.

  Eden turned his way, and their eyes connected.

  He offered her a smile tinged with wickedness.

  Her breath caught in her throat. She could remember him smiling at her, just that way, one night when they’d been working together. She swallowed, recalling how that smile had set off a chain of events that had ended with them making love. Her tongue darted over her lower lips as she recalled the way he’d bent her over the conference room table and lifted her skirt...

  His voice cut into her memories. “I’ll be in my office. I’ve got a call to make.” Taking off his headset, he exited the studio with a wave.

  Eden watched him go, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment as his overpowering male energy left the space. She knew she needed him gone so she could concentrate, yet less logical parts of her wanted him nearby.

  * * *

  In the quiet of his office, Blaine sat down at his desk and sighed. He hated to leave the studio, because he loved watching the creative process in real time. It was like being present for a birth, metaphorically speaking. There was nothing else quite like watching a musician bring forth a new song. The music became a living thing with a bass line for a pulse, a lyrical heart and a body made of sound. Out in the world, that music could change someone’s mood, their day or even the trajectory of their life.

  He believed in the transformative power of music. To him, it was just as tangible and present as the air he breathed or the water he drank. That was why he’d entered the music business. It wasn’t about the storied Woodson family and their history. It was about him, pursuing his true calling, on his own terms.

  And now, to be working with Eden again felt amazing. She’d been his muse in the past, and he knew she’d be able to create something truly special with Naiya. A tiny part of him still held out hope that she’d create something special with him, too, something as beautiful and as timeless as a classic love song. He knew it would take work to get back into her heart, but he was willing to do whatever it took.

  Marvin’s cryptic warning from their meeting in New York had been echoing in his head. In order for him to move forward with Naiya’s debut, he needed to know the whole story. Parts of him were ill at ease, and he hesitated over the keypad of his phone.

  But he pushed past his apprehension and dialed his boss’s direct number.

  A few moments later, he ended the call. Leaning back in his chair, he released the groan he’d been holding back for most of the call. In a way, he’d expected bad news. But he’d never thought it would be this serious. The sweeping changes being made by AMGI made him nervous. And even if Against the Grain survived this round of cuts, what guarantee did he have that he wouldn’t be facing the same situation again at some point in the future?

  The other blow from the call was Marvin’s admission that label management wasn’t fully on board with his decision to have Eden do all the songwriting. According to the suits, Eden didn’t have a consistent enough track record for writing chart toppers.

  He sighed. What I really need is a massively successful album. With that kind of money, I could cut ties with the corporate world of music, and Against the Grain would become a truly independent label.

  Maybe Naiya’s album would be just what Against the Grain needed.

  He thought of the other three artists he was currently working with, but none of them seemed more likely than Naiya to deliver the powerhouse content he needed.

  You could just ask your father for help, a voice in the recesses of his mind chided.

  He frowned, rejecting that voice. He’d made it this far without his father’s money, and there was no way he’d ask for it now.

  Pushing his chair back from the desk, he stood and stretched. Eden and Naiya were probably well into their process by now, and even though he wasn’t in the best mood, he wanted to observe as much of it as he could. Pocketing his phone, he left his office.

  Instead of returning to the studio, he exited the building via the rear door and headed for the small courtyard. After the conversation he’d just had, he needed some fresh air and some time to clear his head before he went back to working the controls. As he moved toward the wrought iron bench beneath the old poplar tree, he noticed someone sitting there.

  Eden. The sight of her made his pu
lse race.

  A smile turned up the corners of his mouth as he approached her. “What brings you out here, Eden?”

  She looked up from her phone, a soft smile on her face. “I...couldn’t focus. So, I decided to come outside and get a little fresh air.”

  He chuckled. “What a coincidence. I’m in need of a little decompression myself.”

  “The music biz.” She shook her head, her gaze directed upward, as if she were studying the canopy of leaves above her head. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”

  “That’s for sure.” He moved closer, gesturing to the empty spot next to her. “Mind if I join you?”

  She was quiet for a moment. Just before the silence became uncomfortably long, she said, “Go ahead.”

  He sat next to her, leaving only a sliver of space between them. Draping his arm over the back of the bench, he asked, “How far have you two gotten on the single?”

  “Not very. I know the direction for the song, but I was feeling a bit stuck.” She ran a hand over her loose curls. “I thought it would be better to just take some time and get myself together, rather than try to force the process, ya know?”

  He nodded. “I get it.” He scratched his chin with his free hand. “Do you remember that time back in the day when you had writer’s block? We were working on that song ‘Love by Night.’”

  She tilted her head, looked thoughtful. A moment later, she snapped her fingers. “Yeah, I remember. That’s the time we went for that run around Piedmont Park, right?”

  “Right.”

  She let her head fall back against his arm as she laughed. “Oh, man. I had forgotten about that.”

  “You wanna go for a run now?” He gave her a teasing look.

  She rolled her eyes. “You know the answer to that.” Gesturing to her body, she said, “I don’t run, and it’s probably obvious.”

  “I can tell you still work out, though.” He winked. “I know it takes effort to maintain a shape like that.”

  Her cheeks reddened as she changed the subject. “How long is that trail loop? Three miles?”

  “Closer to four. It was a hell of a workout.”

  She laughed. “You’re telling me. I remember going back to the studio sore and sweaty.”

  He leaned in, unable to resist. “Do you think that was because of the actual run? Or what we did on the trail?”

  She dropped her gaze to her lap.

  “Remember? We found that little wooded nook just off the path...” He traced his fingertip in a circle over her thigh.

  Her hand went to her chest, and she swallowed hard. “I remember, Blaine.”

  “Standing in that position for so long might have made you sore,” he announced. “But I never heard any complaints.”

  “I didn’t have any,” she admitted softly. “It was amazing...you were amazing.”

  Their gazes met, and the heat of the memories they’d made in that little corner of the park passed between them. He could still hear her soft moans, feel her hands grasping his shoulders for purchase as he tasted the sweetness flowing between her thighs.

  He picked up her hand, raising it to his lips. Placing a soft kiss against her palm, he released her. “We’d better go back inside.” It was true...he knew that if they remained out here much longer, he wouldn’t be able to resist dragging her soft, curvy body into his lap.

  She stood, appearing a little shaky on her feet, but only for a moment. “Agreed.” After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “Blaine, we really shouldn’t dwell on the past now. Let’s just keep things professional, okay?”

  He offered a quick nod in response.

  Seconds later she walked past him. Enjoying the view of her backside, he followed her back into the building.

  Five

  The next day, Eden was back in her seat on the stool inside the recording studio at Against the Grain. Her leather notebook on her lap, she absently flipped through the pages. Naiya’s journal had proven to be a valuable resource for Eden when it came to writing lyrics for her debut single.

  I just hope I’m going in the right direction for Naiya. She certainly has a lot to say.

  With the wealth of information she’d gleaned about the singer’s inner life, she felt confident that she’d written a solid draft for the single. Now it was simply a matter of whether Naiya and Blaine agreed.

  Thinking of Blaine brought a slight smile to her lips, despite her better judgment. She still remembered the day they’d met on the campus of Atlanta Tech. He’d been charming, funny and easygoing, and at the time, she’d thought him the perfect counter to her studious, hardworking, straitlaced self. Blaine Woodson wasn’t like any other man she’d ever met, and he’d fascinated her from the very start. What followed could only be described as a passionate affair. While they worked on music in the studio, their hearts entwined like the treble and bass lines of a song. Their song was beautiful, yet tragically brief.

  With time came wisdom, though, and she’d since learned the folly of her ways. What had seemed like an ideal match had only led to heartbreak for her, both romantically and professionally. Shaking her head to cast off those wayward thoughts, she stood. Leaving her notebook on the stool, she left the studio and went across to the ladies’ room.

  When she returned to the studio and opened the door, she detected a familiar woodsy and decidedly masculine aroma. As she entered the space, a small creaking sound near the board drew her attention. She glanced in the direction of the sound and saw Blaine sitting there, his back to her as he spun the chair slightly from side to side.

  She cleared her throat, and as he pivoted to face her, plastered on a congenial smile. “Hi, Blaine. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. Much better now that you’re here.” He grinned. “I’m excited to see what you’ve come up with, and I’m sure Naiya is, as well.”

  She answered only with a smile and a nod. She didn’t open her mouth, to avoid saying something foolish. What was it about his presence, the sound of his voice, that made her knees go weak? She looked through the glass partition, and seeing no one in the booth, asked, “Where is Naiya, anyway?”

  “Caught in traffic. She texted me to let me know she’s on her way.”

  She chuckled. “Gotta love Atlanta traffic.”

  “Yeah. Where the rush hour is from midnight to 11:59 p.m.” He scoffed. “I’ve been late to many an appointment trying to navigate through Midtown.”

  “You’ve actually got a better shot getting places on time if you walk.” As much as she loved the city and her fellow “ATLiens,” she didn’t think she’d ever get used to the frenetic pace of traffic, especially 85 where it cut through the heart of the city.

  He rubbed his hands together. “So, you ready to get this single done?”

  “I am, assuming you and Naiya like the lyrics I’ve come up with.”

  “Can I take a look?”

  She shook her head. “I always let the artist lay eyes on my lyrics first. After Naiya’s seen it, then you can take a look.”

  He looked surprised but seemed to take it in stride. “Okay. Can’t blame me for being curious, though. There’s a lot riding on this album.”

  She watched him silently, noting the way his entire demeanor changed when he uttered the last few words. There’s a lot riding on this album. Was that indicative of the way he felt about every album his label released? Or was there something more to the story, something she wasn’t privy to?

  Before she could ask any more questions, a smiling Naiya entered. Her hair was in a ponytail hanging down the back of her pink-and-white maxi dress. “Hey, y’all.”

  “Hi, Naiya.” Eden turned her full attention to the young singer. “I’m really excited for you to see what I’ve come up with for your first single.”

  She clapped her hands together. “Me, too. Let’s dig in.”

  The t
wo women entered the booth and took their seats. Eden hazarded a quick glance through the glass partition and saw Blaine leaning his elbows on the soundboard surround. The expression on his face looked as if his mind was elsewhere. Returning her focus to Naiya, Eden handed over her leather notebook. “Here’s the song. After reading your journal, I thought your first love might be a good place to start.”

  Naiya blew out a breath. “So, we’re going for drama, eh?”

  “Sort of. Anyway, I think the things you wrote about your first love and the subsequent heartbreak were very compelling. Audiences are pretty likely to relate to that, regardless of their age.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Eden watched as Naiya read through the lyrics. “Trust me on this one. Love songs usually take one of two paths. Romantic and sentimental, or bitter breakup. What I’ve tried to do is create a third path. ‘It didn’t work out, but I don’t hate you, and you gave me some good memories.’”

  Naiya nodded. “Nice.”

  Silence fell between them, and Eden thought about the lyrics she’d written. The story had not only been inspired by the words in Naiya’s journal, but by her own experience with Blaine. They’d had a great time way back when, and though she doubted she’d ever fully trust him again, she didn’t hate him. On the contrary, she wished him happiness.

  I just wonder if he could ever find that happiness with me. Thinking about all she’d shared with him was bittersweet. There were parts of her heart, hidden deep down where no one could see, that still craved his love. But logic and common sense told her to steer clear of him. Working with him, while keeping things strictly professional, proved more challenging than she would have expected.

  Naiya looked up from the notebook, her eyes wide.

  Eden watched warily, unsure of what her expression meant. “What do you think?”