I approached the front door and was ready to knock when it flew open and there stood Beth. My entire body did flips at the sight of her.
“I thought I heard you pull up,” she said, leaning up and kissing me on the cheek. “Come on inside. Ethan’s been on the phone almost non-stop. Always happens the closer it gets to him leaving.”
Nodding my head, I followed her into the house. “Yeah, last minute details.” I could hear Ethan’s muffled voice.
“Would you like to sit outside? I hate being indoors when it’s nice like this. Before you know it, it’ll be too cold and rainy.”
“Outside sounds great.” I followed her to the deck and sat in one of the wood chairs near the table. It was a perfect afternoon. A slight breeze was kicking up from the water, making the sun a little more bearable.
“Can I get you something to drink, Dame?”
“Water would be great.”
“Back in a minute.” She paused at the slider. “Just so you know, we loved your business plan. Ethan is itching to get things started.” She smiled as she turned and disappeared back into the house.
I couldn’t help but grin to myself. My gut instincts were right. This concept was on the verge of coming together at last. I felt my body begin to relax.
The sound of the slider brought me out of my daydream. “Here you go,” Beth murmured, setting the bottle on the table for me.
“Thanks.” Picking it up, I uncapped it and took a swallow, watching as Beth sat down next to me.
“I think Ethan is winding up his call.”
“I’m in no hurry.” Damn, she made me all kinds of crazy. I knew what I wanted to do, and I believe she did too. Best to take it slow. Once Ethan was back on the road, I’d pursue my feelings. Take her out, get her alone, to see what happens. There’s no question of what. Just a matter of when.
“I’ll wait until Ethan joins us, but we’re both ready to move forward. I think moving his management under the Consortium roof might help alleviate some of the kidding he gets about his mom being his manager.”
I chuckled as a wave of memories came roaring through my brain. “Yeah, I understand. I had to deal with that myself. My parents managed us for a long time. They did a great job, don’t get me wrong.”
“I know. There just came a time when it was better to move on.”
The slider opened and out came Ethan. He had his phone in one hand and a couple of file folders in the other. He walked around and shook my hand before sitting on the other side of the table.
“Mom tell you we’re in?”
“She did. I agree with her, having The Consortium listed as your management team sounds a lot stronger than listing your mother as your manager. No offense, Beth. This move is going to show people you’re on a higher level now, that you’re not some flash in the pan. It’s going to make people sit up and take notice of you.”
Ethan gave me a lopsided grin. “Wow. That’s exactly what Mom and I were thinking.”
“Everything stays the same. Beth still is your manager, we just use the business name.”
“Do you think we can make an announcement about me signing with Consortium Entertainment before I go back on tour?”
“Consortium Entertainment?” I raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
“I thought that would be better than Consortium Music. Since there are so many ways to get music out there.”
“I like it. Next question—what do you want out of this, Ethan?”
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. A smile crossed his face. “For now, I just want partnership in the record company. Hell, I’ve got a shitload of money. Might as well invest it. I could help with finding office space.”
“Ethan has invested in some office buildings. A couple are in Seattle, the third is in Bellevue.”
I whistled. “High rent district.”
“I can get us a great suite overlooking the lake and Olympic Mountains. Similar views in Seattle. It’s all in where you want to be.”
“Where does the firm show locale now, Dame?” Beth asked.
“Seattle. I use my home address and a post office box.”
“So, it might be smarter, for now,” Beth said, looking at Ethan, “to remain in Seattle. Damien’s from Seattle, makes sense to keep it here.”
“That’s fine. I was just offering.”
“We’ll make plans to look at what you have here,” I said. “That can be another marketing opportunity. Once we decide where to house it, once the office is ready for business, we can make that announcement.”
“Speaking of announcements, here’s something Mom and I worked out. See what you think.” He passed a file folder my way.
I opened it and read the press release. It very simply announced that The Consortium Group was pleased to announce that they had signed Ethan Maverick with Consortium Entertainment. It went on further to state that the company would also now be handling his PR and management. The phone number was unfamiliar. There was a second announcement, this one via Beth announcing the same thing, but coming from Ethan’s camp.
“This is good. I like it. Do you mind if I run it by Zara first, before either is sent out?” I grinned, noticing my logo on the one release.
“No, I think she should see it if she’s going to be helping,” Beth replied.
“Well, I’m not sure how deep she’s going to help, but right now, as long as it doesn’t interfere with her mom gig, she’s fine. If it gets to be too much for her, she’ll let me know. Then, we’ll look for someone.”
“That’s understandable.”
“The other papers are contracts. For both. I know your entertainment attorney can make up whatever forms are necessary. If you don’t agree with anything, let me know, and we’ll talk it through. I’m excited about this. I see great things happening for all of us,” Ethan said.
“Ethan, for a man your age, you have more business sense than some men twice that.”
“Thank you. I’ve always believed an artist should know how his machine works. Perhaps not be involved in the daily workings, but at least know where his money’s going, or what sort of deals are being negotiated.”
“Too bad more don’t.” I glanced down and re-read both documents. “You know we’re doing this on just a handshake until legal gets things drawn up?”
“I do, and that’s good enough for me.”
“And me,” Beth said softly.
Oh fuck, I’m done for. “This phone number?”
“I noted on your web site that the phone number you list is your personal one. So, I got another number added. I hope I didn’t cross a line.”
“No, no. But let’s add mine underneath. Once we’re in an actual office, we’ll have landlines, and then we can drop the cell numbers. If I don’t want to talk, I can always let it go to voice mail.”
“That’s a good idea, Damien. Because if it’s something about the recording part or something that doesn’t involve Ethan directly, I don’t need to be answering calls.”
“I’ll go get my laptop and fix that.” Ethan got out of his chair.
“In the meantime, I’ll call Zara.” I watched him disappear into the house. “He amazes me, Beth. He’s got his stage persona, and then you get him away from that, and he’s this laid back, young man who’s as smart, if not smarter, than his college-educated peers. You raised him right.” I gazed at her for a moment, wanting to reach out and touch her.
Not now. Now is not the time. Focus. Call Zara.
Grabbing my phone, I called my sister-in-law. I didn’t have to wait long for her to pick up.
“Hi Dame, what’s up?”
“I didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?” I hadn’t heard either of the kids in the background clamoring for her attention.
“No, not at all. Elizabeth is in a pre-school a couple of days a week. Need to get her ready for kindergarten. Wolfie too, though with him, he needs to socialize with kids his age.”
“Gives you a break too. Though if my brothe
r’s around, I don’t know how much of one you get.”
“He’s in his studio if you need to speak with him. But yes, it does me good to have a break from the kids. The little ones. Logan’s a whole other matter.”
I chuckled. “I don’t need A. I need to send you something to read. A press release. If it meets with your approval, I would like you to send it out as soon as you can.”
“Oh? What’s up?”
“The Consortium is alive and well.”
“Really? I can’t wait to read it then, since you’re being so vague about things.”
“In a nutshell, Ethan Maverick and I are starting a label. He’s my first signing client. It’s all under The Consortium. He’s moving his management there too. So things are starting to happen.”
“Wow! That’s wonderful news. I know you wanted to get the label going. Now, it’s a reality.”
“Yes, it is. My offer still stands. You want the PR aspect, you’ve got it.”
“I may take you up on it, if you can work around my home life.”
“You know I can. Be looking for it. It should be your way in a few minutes. Call me after you’ve read it. Sorry we didn’t go through you, but Ethan wanted this announced before he went back on tour.”
Ethan had sat back down at the table with his laptop, making the corrections. He had a smile on his face.
“I’ll call you as soon as I receive it. I’m in the office anyway, catching up on some things.”
“Good deal. Oh, and tell that sorry brother of mine to come up for air.”
I heard her cackle on the other end, making me realize she might have misconstrued my comment. Oh yeah. She and Amadeus were in their own little world sometimes. I envied them for it.
“Got it ready? Zara’s in her office working so she’ll look at it as soon as it hits her email,” I said to Ethan.
“Give me her email addy, and I’ll shoot it off to her.”
“I hope she didn’t mind us writing it,” Beth murmured.
“No, Zara’s fine with it. She’ll read it, and if it meets with her scrutiny, she’ll have it out shortly.”
“That’s cool,” Ethan replied. “Then Mom can get mine out, and we can wait for the explosion.”
“The explosion?” I laughed, picking up the water bottle and taking a long swig.
“Yeah, you know. Once this hits, the phones will be lighting up.”
My phone rang. “It’s started already.” It was Zara.
“Well, what do you think?”
“It’s perfect. I rewrote it on The Consortium’s letterhead. I’m sending it out as though it’s coming from the firms PR department. I hope you don’t mind. I sent a copy back. Let me know while I’ve got you on the phone. If it’s good with you, Ethan, and Beth, I’ll send it out.”
I nodded to Ethan. “Check your email. Zara sent it back. Wants everyone’s approval. Hang on Zara.”
“That’s fine. By the way, your brother is curious as to when we’re going to get to meet Ethan. I think he’s a little jealous of Angus having met him already.”
“I bet he is.” I chuckled. “I’ll get back to you on the other.”
Ethan and Beth were rereading the release. I quickly explained why Zara had done the changes.
“She’s right. It says there’s a PR person on board. Tell her to send it.” Ethan drawled, clasping his hands behind his head.
“Yes, let’s get it out.”
“You hear that, Zara? Go with it.”
“It’s off to inboxes everywhere,” she replied. “Congratulations, Damien. Things are really popping for you at last. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“You know there’s Grammy talk about two of your songs. Songwriter of the year too.”
“It’s too early to even think that lofty. But I appreciate the support.”
“I know you can’t talk, but any plans for you as an artist?”
I chuckled. “You never know.”
“Okay. I’ll keep you abreast once I start hearing back. Call when you’re by yourself. Okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thanks for doing this.”
“My pleasure. You’ll be getting my bill soon. Talk later.”
I shook my head as the call ended. Zara had it in her blood. As bad as she might want to retire, she never would. Not completely. “She’ll let me know once she gets any feedback.”
“In that case, I guess I better go inside and send mine.” Beth stood up, smiling at me. A strange look that I could take to mean a couple of things. I tried not to think the obvious, because I was going to have to adjust the way I was sitting in a moment.
“I guess we need to celebrate or something,” Ethan drawled. “This is a big deal.”
“It is, and we should. Let’s see what your mom thinks. We’ve earned it.” A bing on my phone indicated a message. I looked down, smiling as I read it. “Zara. She wants a photo of us together.”
“Mom will too, I’m sure. She still has connections at Rolling Stone.”
“That’s a good one to keep,” I replied as I typed back to Zara that a picture would be forthcoming.
“Has she ever told you some of the people she’s interviewed? When she was with them, that is.”
“No, she hasn’t. I imagine she has some stories to tell.”
“She does.”
I thought about the contract and other legal things we needed to follow through with. “Ethan, pull up those things you wrote up for the contracts. Send them to me while we’re sitting here. I’ll send a short email to the attorney with that attached. If he has any questions, he’ll call me.”
I rattled off my email, and he shot it my way. I quickly composed a cover letter and sent it all off just as Beth reappeared.
“Damien and I were discussing the fact that this calls for a celebration,” Ethan told her.
“Yeah, and Zara wants a picture of us together. Ethan and me.”
“I was just going to suggest the same thing,” Beth answered.
Ethan grinned. “What’d I tell you?”
“I suppose we could take one inside somewhere.”
“That would work for now. Zara suggested we do another one once the contracts are done.”
“I like the way your sister-in-law thinks,” Ethan replied.
“She got Amadeus where he is.”
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
“I’ve got an idea. It won’t be boring,” Ethan quipped as he gathered his laptop. “I’ll be right back.”
“Should I be afraid?” I asked Beth.
“Yes. He’s always thinking. No telling what he’s got in mind.”
In a half hour, the first official photo of us was taken. Courtesy of Beth. Ethan had come out of the basement where he stayed with two guitars and his ball cap back on. Backwards. Beth ended up posing us against a wall in the living room. Our backs together, facing the camera, guitars poised for action. It turned out pretty damn good, considering we had serious mad looks, looking like rock stars. Whatever that was.
“Excellent idea, Ethan.” I said as I handed him back the guitar.
“Yeah, why be normal, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“I sent it to you, Dame. You can forward it on to Zara.”
“Yeah, let me do that before I get a reminder text.” I chuckled as I sent it on.
Ethan’s phone rang. “I’m sorry guys. I’ve got to take this.” He walked away, talking to whoever had called.
I gazed around to Beth who was standing there watching us. Fuck. I am so fucked. “That’s fine. Do what you need to. Your mother and I will try to decide how we should celebrate.”
“Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s go back outside and sit.”
I nodded my head, smiling as I read a text from Zara.
My God, Dame! There is no mistaking where his genes are from. He looks just like you!
I chuckled.
“What’s so humorous?”
“Zara. She was just comm
enting on how, ahem, much Ethan and I look alike.”
“She’s right, you do.”
It was right at that moment, we were standing against the railing casually, and I lost my head. Gathering her in my arms, I kissed her. Possessively. Her mouth, my lips—together and hot and heavy.
When we pulled apart, she backed up. Just a step or two. Where she could look at me better, I suppose.
“Did I make a mistake?” I asked, not sure how to read her.
“No. In fact, I quite liked it.”
“Then what?”
“I think we need to shelve this until Ethan’s left. It’ll give us some privacy to...you know, discuss this, make sure this is what we both want.”
“I know it’s what I want. You’re all I’ve been thinking of, Beth. However, you’re right. We need to wait until he’s on the road.”
“Come sit. Let’s decide how we want to celebrate.”
The kiss. It forever changed both of us.
****
Finally, after two days, I’d had enough. I called Amadeus. Waiting was making me crazy. Beth wasn’t avoiding me exactly. She had plenty to do with Ethan going on the road and our announcement to keep her silent.
I decided I needed to see them anyway. I was sure Zara had questions, and as for my brother, I was sure he was primed and ready for a chance to question me. There was a lot on my plate as well. Decisions to be made. Ethan was setting up a time for us all to look at office space in one or more of his buildings. That was simply wild—him owning buildings. What could I say? He was a smart dude.
So, I hopped the ferry and went to visit my kid brother.
Amadeus opened the door with two kids in tow. “This must be the day for brothers. Come on in. Angus is on his way too. Zara’s run to town, and I’m on dad duty.”
“That’s fine. No pre-school today, I take it,” I replied picking Elizabeth up, who was pulling at my t-shirt. “What’s Angus’s deal?”
I really would have preferred to have a one-on-one with Amadeus about all this. Now, it would be public, or at least family knowledge by tomorrow. I was going to have to change my plans. I followed him inside the house, Elizabeth chattering the entire way.
Tudor Redemption (Tudor Dynasty Book 4) Page 10
