“You do that.” I cut the orange and put the slices on a small plate, before pouring the drinks. I carry all of it over to the table he pointed out. “Your drinks, guys. Who’s having what?”
They start grabbing their glasses from the tray. I set the shots on the table. “Enjoy, guys.”
When I turn away, a black-haired woman asks loudly, “Hey you, can we sing karaoke?”
I look at her. “Sure, I’ll get the machine going. I’ll let you know when everything’s ready.”
“Cool, thanks.”
More people come in, and then more after those, which means it will be getting crowded in here pretty soon. “Micah, you need to help me out here.”
“Me?”
“No, your twin brother,” I reply dryly. “Please, come on.”
He stands up from his stool and walks around the bar to join me. “Alright, I’m going to draw and pour the drinks, and you deal with the guests.”
“Great, thanks.” I look around. “Oh fuck, I forgot to start the karaoke machine. I’ll take care of that first.”
“You do that.” When I turn away, he slaps my butt.
“Bastard,” I laugh as I rub the spot, because it stings.
He winks at me and his lips curve into a mischievous smile before he starts asking the people at the bar what they’d like to drink.
I hurry into the small back room, close the door behind me, and prepare the old karaoke machine. I hope the people who are going to use it can sing at least a little bit.
“Can I help you?”
I turn around and see Mr. Toffee-hair behind me. “No, thanks, I can handle it.”
He comes closer anyway. “Looks like you’re fighting with that machine though.”
I brush off his comment. “Nah. We’re not fighting, just bitching at each other, her and I.” I offer him a grin and focus on the machine again. “Are you part of the band as well?”
“Yep.”
“Singer or musician?”
He smirks. “At the moment, neither. I was phased out for the time being, and that is also the reason we need more background singers. To compensate my absence on stage.”
I look at him more closely. “Penalty bench or stress?”
“Stress. My doctor, which means Jayden, ordered a sick leave and told me to get lots of rest.”
“Oh wow. Get well soon then.”
“Thanks.” He stands closer to me. “I think you might really be a good match for the band.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, you’ve got a great voice. I don’t know a lot of women with a husky voice like that.”
“I don’t have a husky voice!”
“You could easily compete with Bonnie Tyler.”
“You’re insane.” I give the karaoke machine a kick, which finally gets it to work. “Do you know how to handle a gadget like this?”
He nods slowly. “I’m Alexis, by the way. But we were introduced last night, Honor, don’t you remember?”
I exhale. “I do, but thanks for the reminder. I wasn’t sure anymore which one of you was Alexis and which one was Mike.” I laugh awkwardly.
He joins in my laughter. “You could call me Kingston. That’s what the others do most of the time.”
“Why? Because you’ve been blessed with a girl’s name?” I ask, suppressing a giggle.
“It’s a unisex name,” he protests. “Why does everyone think it’s a woman’s name?”
“Because I, for one, haven’t met a lot of guys called Alexis. You’re the very first, to be honest.”
“Well, okay, but we also have the comic muse in our group. Come on, that’s even rarer.”
“What?” I ask with a puzzled laugh.
“The black-haired woman is called Thalia, and that’s the name of the comic muse.”
“And the goddess of beauty,” I remark cleverly.
His face falls. “How come women know these things?”
“Because we’re good at remembering all the details.”
Alexis snorts with amusement. “I’m going to get my friends, so they can scream their heads off. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“I hope I am. Please don’t give the microphones to anyone who can’t sing.”
He gives me a thumbs-up and smiles.
I return the smile and he leaves the karaoke room. I stare after him, but then I hurry back to help Micah.
“You doing ok here?” I ask him.
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
Jayden, Alexis, the comic muse, and the rest of their group file into the small room, but we leave the door wide open. I turn off the regular stereo so they can sing undisturbed. The other patrons will be able to enjoy a private concert of sorts. It’s not an everyday occurrence that Downstair Alley plays in your favorite neighborhood bar. Much rarer than you might think.
Micah and I continue to take care of the drink orders. He’s drawing beers and I deliver the drinks to the respective tables. I’m glad nobody orders any complicated cocktails, since that would slow down everything else, which is never good when the place is packed.
“Time to wrap up the party, guys!” I call over to the tireless karaoke singers. They’re the last guests, and it’s four in the morning.
Micah and I have already cleaned the rest of the bar, but left the group alone until now, since they were obviously having a great time. “Jesus, what a night.”
I nod. “Oh yes, I’ll be glad to lock the door, but first I need to do the cashing up.”
“You want me to stay until you’re done with that?”
“That would be so sweet. I don’t like to walk around on my own this time of night.”
“Okay, why don’t you start with cashing up then while I take care of cleaning the karaoke room?”
“Thank you, but I’ve got to ring up the last few guests first.”
“I’m right here, ready to pay our bill,” a voice says, causing me to look up.
“Oh … Let me ring up your tabs; It’ll only take a moment.”
“Thank you, Honor.”
Micah disappears into the other room. I start adding up the numbers.
“This is a really nice place, even though the location isn’t exactly perfect.”
“It’s okay, this way it remains an insider tip. Though I’m guessing that as soon as people here that you and your friends partied here tonight, your fans are going to swarm this place.” I briefly raise my eyes to smile at him. “Don’t you think?”
“A friend of mine owns a pastry shop. She got a lot of new customers because of us, so I guess it’s possible,” he smirks as he pulls out his wallet.
I hand him the bill.
“That’s less than I expected,” Linden says.
“We’re not exactly a hotspot, as you just said.”
He takes out a few large bills and hands them to me. “Keep the change, Honor. Are we gonna see you tomorrow at the Plaza? Three o’clock?”
“Uh … yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Just go to the front desk and tell them we’re expecting you. They’ll tell you where to go.”
“Alright, then I’ll see you tomorrow, Linden.”
„Okay, see you.“
Once he’s gone, I count the money and am surprised by the generous tip he’s given me. Closer to thirty percent than to the usual fifteen. I don’t think anyone has ever given that much before. Wow.
Chapter 3
“Hi, my name is Honor Prescott. Mr. Priest is expecting me,” I tell the receptionist at the Plaza Hotel and offer him a smile.
He nods. “Good afternoon, Miss Prescott. I’m going to call Mr. Priest to make sure that he’s expecting you. Sorry for the inconvenience, but we have to do that.”
“Thanks.” I wait while he talks to Linden.
When he hangs up, he sighs. “The elevators are on this side. Tell the bellboy that you want Mr. Priest’s suite, and he’ll take you there.”
“Thank you very much.” I smile at him again before heading over to the
elevators. The doors on the left are open, so I step inside quickly and tell the bellboy I’m seeing Linden Priest. The doors close and we ride up.
“Mr. Priest’s suite is down this corridor, third door on the right.”
I nod at him, walk down the corridor, and hope that my outfit choice wasn’t stupid. I wanted to be myself, so I am wearing a denim skirt and a simple top plus my denim jacket. This morning, I caught myself several times wishing that their manager would hire me. Or is it the band itself who decides whether I will join their ranks? I’d have to work more with them and much less with the management after all.
When I reach the third door, I knock timidly. Anxiety is starting to crawl through my veins, because I’m really scared I’m going to blow it. I want this job; it could be the first big step on my career ladder. I would be working with the current superstars – reason enough to sell your soul.
The door opens. It’s Alexis, and he gives me a tired smile. “Hi, Honor. Come on in.”
“Hi, thanks.” I step inside and I’m impressed that even the entrance hall is amazingly spacious.
Alexis leads me into the living room. “Guys, Honor is here.” He looks at me. “Left to right: This is Mike, Azer, Gavin, Linden, and our manager, Joel Young. You’ve already met Jayden, and here we have Draven, Amira, Callum, Cedric, and Porter.”
“Hi,” I say, feeling overwhelmed. I doubt that I can memorize all these names so quickly.
Mr. Young gets up and holds out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Honor.”
“You too, Mr. Young.” My voice is too shy.
He smiles. “I’ve already heard a lot of good things about your singing from the boys. Did you bring a demo that I can listen to?”
“Yes. Hold on a sec.” I open my handbag and take out a DVD. “This is a recording of my performance at our graduation concert. There are also some audios on there of songs I recorded with a good friend.
He takes the DVD and puts it into a portable drive that’s connected to a MacBook. “Alright, let’s hear your pretty voice then.” He points at an empty chair. “Please, have a seat, Honor.”
“Thanks.” I sit down holding my bag in my lap, and wait for him to give me a devastating verdict. I’m convinced that for some reason he won’t like it.
“What did you sing in this concert?” he asks.
I clear my throat. “Without you I’ll die.”
Alexis whistles. “She already knows the lyrics to one of our songs.”
“What are you doing up anyway? Shouldn’t you be resting, so you’ll be fine again for the upcoming tour?” Mr. Young addresses him.
“This is a band decision, that’s why I’m here. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in my room in no time,” he replies as he sits down in a chair next to me. “They all act as if they’re my babysitters,” he whispers so softly that only I can hear him.
I refrain from any visible reaction.
And then my voice comes from the speakers. I take a deep breath and hold it. I’m tense, excited, and anxious. I’m everything you can be in a moment like this.
“No need to be so shy,” Alexis whispers. “They look excited.”
I raise my eyes and look at the men, waiting for their verdict.
The song ends, and then Mr. Young selects one of the audio demos. “You have a very impressive voice for a woman.”
“Thanks,” I say shyly.
“It’s the truth,” he smirks, before focusing on the recording again. “Above all, I’d say it’s very versatile.”
“Says the connoisseur,” Alexis pipes up.
He sighs. “Maybe the sick man should be in bed.”
“I’ll be gone in a minute, I only want to be part of a democratic vote about this,” Alexis counters, causing his friends to suppress their laughter.
“Honor, I think I’ve heard enough, and I hope you understand that, before I decide, I want to give other applicants a chance to show me what they’ve got.”
“What? Joel, she’s damn good! We all agreed that Honor is a perfect match,” Azer protests vehemently.
“Yeah, I think Honor should get a contract right away,” Gavin backs him.
“I can wait. To be honest, I didn’t expect an immediate yes or no answer anyway,” I interrupt them.
Mr. Young hands me my DVD back. “Don’t get me wrong, Honor, your voice is fantastic, but I want to hear a few of the others, too.”
“I understand,” I reply and put the DVD back into my bag. “I’m afraid I need to leave now, since my boss is waiting for me to start work.”
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Alexis says and stands up.
I say my goodbyes and follow him back through the hallway.
“Disappointed?” he asks once we’re at the door.
I shake my head as he opens it. “No, I sort of expected an immediate No. Waiting is always hard, but I’m going to try not to expect too much.”
“Hm.” He nods. “I’m going to put a good word in for you.”
“That’s not necessary. Everyone should get a fair chance.” I smile at him and walk out the door.
“Alright, I’ll go back in and see what the others are saying.”
“See you soon … or maybe goodbye, Alexis.”
“I hope to see you again soon, Honor.” He returns my smile.
I walk towards the elevators, my shoulders slumping. I press the button and wait, and when the door opens I step inside. Just before they close again, someone’s hand stops them.
It’s none other than Alexis Kingston. “Would you have dinner with me, Honor?”
I stare at him, momentarily dumbfounded. “No.”
Now it’s his turn to look surprised. “Why not?”
“Let me think … oh, I know … Maybe we are going to work together soon, that’s why. Would you clear the door now?”
“Only if you change your mind,” he counters with a smile.
I sigh heavily. I can always cancel later, though. “When and where?”
“Right now, at the next Burger King or McDonald’s.”
“Seriously?”
He chuckles. “About the right now, yes. But I don’t care where we go actually.”
It takes me until now to register that he’s wearing a jacket. Alexis puts a beanie on his head and holds up dark shades. “Alright, but I don’t have a lot of time.”
“Make time.”
“I can’t.”
He steps into the elevator with me. “Why not?”
“Because I can’t. I need to start work in a little bit.”
“Then I’m coming, too.”
I roll my eyes when he presses the elevator button. “Shouldn’t you be in bed? That’s what Mr. Young said.”
Alexis shakes his head. “No, I’m only supposed to rest and take it easy.”
“Why is that anyway? What happened?”
“A little too much going on for a little too long,” he answers evasively. “I’m just exhausted from all the interviews, press gigs, and constant touring. I’m rarely ever home. If the success continues and we don’t get a break, I think I’m going to pull out of it all for a while and stay in Miami.”
“You’re from Miami?”
“Yes, from Coral Gables, to be specific.”
“What’s it like there?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’ve been to Tampa once, visiting a great aunt. It’s nice there.”
He nods. “Yeah, Tampa’s nice, too.”
When we reach the first floor, Alexis doesn’t move. “What are you waiting for?” I want to know.
“I don’t use the main entrance, so we’re going down to the parking garage. I prefer taking the car.”
“Okay.”
We go down, exit the elevator, and walk through the empty parking garage. “Nice ride,” I remark when I see the black Range Rover. I have a thing for SUVs.
“Yeah, I agree.” He unlocks the doors and we get in.
“And where are we going now?”
&
nbsp; “I’m in the mood for a hotdog. Is that okay?”
“Hotdogs are always okay,” I reply with a smile as he starts the engine.
“Alright then.” He steers the car through the garage. “When did you start singing?”
“I’ve always been singing. I studied voice and acting.”
He nods. “I’ve been singing since I was a kid, too. At some point, Linden and I entered a singing contest. We were joined by Gavin, Mike, and Azer, and we became what we are now. Five guys from Florida, currently in New York, but constantly traveling, working our asses off until we have a breakdown.”
I give him a wide-eyed look. “Then you don’t enjoy it at all?”
“Not anymore.”
“That’s a pity.”
“Yes, it is. Music used to be my life.”
“Is it possible that you’re just overworked?” I ask cautiously. I don’t know Alexis, but considering how his face, and those of his band members, is on every teen magazine, and their songs are really popular, I can imagine that he is thoroughly exhausted. He looks like he’s in the middle of a legit burnout.
“Probably,” he sighs.
We’re sitting on a bench on Liberty Island. I’m still puzzled how he managed to get me here this quickly. I suddenly found myself on the ferry, and now here we are, munching on hotdogs and watching tourists. “Pretty busy spot,” he remarks. “I like it here.”
I study him. “Do you prefer quieter places?”
He nods slowly. “Lately, yes.”
“And before?”
“Nothing could ever be too loud for me. I was … I mean, I am a very loud person myself. But right now, I prefer peace and quiet. Relaxing and simply sitting somewhere, like this,” he explains pensively.
“I’d say I’m a loud person, too.”
“I noticed that the day before yesterday. What were you celebrating?”
“Our graduation.”
“Oh, so you just finished college?”
“Yes. Four years at Juilliard. Voice and acting.”
“And where are you from originally?”
“I’m a real New Yorker, but I’ve got family overseas, in England and Italy.”
“Who’s from where?”
I smirk. “My dad was born here, but his family is British. My mom is Italian.”
Alexis: In love with a rockstar (The Hamptons Series Book 2) Page 3
