Something Real

by Nellie Christine

  Isa’s brown skin was glowing as it always did, and though she always meant business – much like his father – he was happy to know that she was a sweet person. Unlike Harvey.

  “This is my new assistant, Derrick Fuller. He’s been helping out with some of our event planning here and there.”

  Derrick stood up, fumbling his pad and pen, but reached out and took Grayson’s hand as a greeting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Paul.”

  Grayson nodded to him with a smile. Mr. Paul. That was cute. “Likewise. Call me Grayson, though. Please.”

  “Have a seat,” Isa said. She gestured for the waiter as Grayson took the empty seat opposite of Derrick. There were already chips and guacamole on the table, barely touched. “We were trying to wait for you.”

  Grayson apologized for his lateness. “The trains were going local with it being Sunday of course, so I had to grab a taxi from uptown. Hope I wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”

  “We weren’t here much longer before you were,” she said.

  They placed their orders, and Grayson rubbed his hands together as he tried to think of a way to ask Isa Blackwell, someone his father had worked with and trusted for years, not to tell him about this little get-together.

  “So, I know you’re working with The Pretty Committee, and I met with them and their management team,” Isa began. “The girls have a lot of faith in you, so just tell me what you want to do and I’ll make sure it gets done.”

  Grayson picked up his water and took a sip before speaking, just to relax his nerves. “Well, you know the girls will be done with their album in a matter of days, and we’re releasing their first single for radio airplay.”

  Isa nodded with an obvious look on her face. “And you should know that I’ll be making sure that song gets tons of play on the top stations all over this country.”

  Grayson watched as she picked up a chip and ate it before she continued.

  “I’ve planned a contest for merch, but once they take off, you’re going to want to do something for tickets and meet and greets.”

  “About that,” Grayson cut in. She looked up at him curiously, and Derrick’s interest piqued a bit too. Grayson cleared his throat. “I was hoping you’d give me advice on something, but it has to stay between the three of us at this table.”

  Derrick smiled as he shrugged. “I’m not saying anything.”

  “Depending on how heavy this is,” Isa began. “I may be able to do that. But let me know what it is first…”

  Grayson looked up at her. “I had this idea for a show The Pretty Committee could do. It would be this Friday, though, and I know that’s last minute, but with the single being released this week…”

  She looked at Derrick and then back at Grayson. “I’m guessing you haven’t spoken to your father about this?”

  He shook his head no. “I haven’t spoken to anyone, really. Well, I did get in touch with the Parks Department about a venue, and I spoke briefly with the organizer of a toy drive here in the city about working together…”

  Isa’s interest rose even more. She nodded. “Go on…”

  “I was hoping that The Pretty Committee could perform on Friday night. They’d sing a few songs from their album and a couple Christmas carols. Instead of charging for entry, we could just have everyone bring a gift for the toy drive. It’s good publicity all around.”

  Isa smiled at him, and Grayson wasn’t sure if it was a ‘you’re insane’ smile, or a ‘that’s a brilliant idea’ smile. He hoped it was the latter. He looked at Derrick who was smiling, too. Eventually, Isa nodded her head and looked at her assistant.

  “Take notes for me.”

  “Of course,” Derrick put a chip in his mouth and quickly picked up his pen.

  “So,” Isa began. “This sounds really incredible. I’m not sure why you don’t want to tell Harvey. Are you afraid that he’ll be upset that you aren’t making people pay to see the girls?”

  “Not at all,” Grayson explained. “He’d tell me that having a charity event is something he’d expect from me. But what he may think I’m crazy for was my other idea…”

  “Uh-oh,” Isa said with a smile. She sat back and looked around the restaurant as more patrons entered. “Talk to me.”

  Grayson took a deep breath. “I wanted to sign an artist and have said artist perform in the middle of The Pretty Committee’s set. You know, sort of like an opening act, but in the middle. Just to introduce that person as a new artist of ours.”

  Derrick hummed. “But are you supposed to be signing anyone?”

  “That’s what I wanted to ask,” Isa said. She sat forward now. “Who is this artist you want to sign, and will they be good enough not to tank your whole show?”

  Grayson looked down at Derrick’s notepad and shrugged a bit. “I haven’t exactly found them yet.”

  Isa shook her head. “Boy, what are you getting yourself into?”

  “But I will find someone in time,” Grayson told her. “I’ll sign them to a short-term deal and have them perform. My dad will see that I know what I’m doing, and then I’ll continue to work with my own artists –”

  “And if this idea flops?”

  Grayson looked at her. “I can’t have that happen.”

  She looked at Derrick and sighed. “Okay. This is what we’re going to do. You’re going to tell your old man that we’re planning a show on Friday for the girls. I’ll keep the part about you having an artist quiet – for now – but you have to make sure this works.”

  Grayson nodded.

  “I’ll look into a few different venues and I’ll let you know by Tuesday where we’re setting up shop.” She told her assistant a few places to write down and a few names to get in touch with. Derrick nodded as he scribbled it all down. “Then I’ll finalize everything with the toy drive as soon as we have a place.”

  “Try your best for Washington Square, please. And thank you –”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” Isa continued. “Tonight, there’s going to be a performance by this up-and-coming band at Webster Hall. You go to that show, see if they’re what you’re looking for.”

  A band wasn’t exactly what Grayson wanted to start off with. He nodded anyway, allowing Derrick to write down the information for him and accepting the slip of paper with a gracious smile. Isa continued to ramble off directives, so he made sure to pay attention.

  “If they aren’t what you’re looking for, you may have to hit another show out of the metropolitan area. I haven’t heard of any other gigs coming up this week with performers that I’d suggest any label to offer a record deal to. But, timing is everything, Grayson. If you don’t have an artist by Tuesday, we’re only going to do the show with The Pretty Committee alone.”

  Grayson nodded. The pressure was on, and he really was feeling it. But, he remained optimistic. “Thanks, Isa.”

  Their food came, and as they ate, they talked about things other than work and music. Oscar would be proud that Grayson was having lunch with people that weren’t him or their college buddies and talking about something other than work, even if much of it was filler conversation about what they’d be doing for the holidays, Isa’s kids, and award season approaching.

  Isa got a phone call before their dessert could arrive and excused herself. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Grayson wondered if it was his father calling for one reason or another. He could probably sense in the atmosphere that something was out of whack. He ate the last of his quesadilla and reached for the napkin in his lap, wiping at his mouth. Hopefully between the show tonight and the Tuesday deadline, he’d be able to find someone who would wow not only him, but his father as well. So much was depending on it.

  “I know I’m probably not the guy someone would go to for talent advice,” Derrick began. His voice was a little on the higher end when he spoke, like he was a bit nervous. “I couldn’t even succeed at playing the recorder in 4th grade.”

  Grayson chuckled, but prompted him to continue. “Y
ou don’t have to be Picasso to know a beautiful work of art when you see it. Say what’s on your mind.”

  Derrick licked his lips before he spoke again, and the action was a bit of a distraction, so much so that Grayson missed the first few words of whatever it was this guy had said.

  “…watching videos on YouTube. I mean, isn’t that how your father found The Pretty Committee? There’s usually some amazing vocalists doing covers or even recording and posting their own songs.” Derrick smiled shyly.

  That much was true, but Grayson wasn’t looking for another YouTube celebrity. That felt too… easy. When he was younger, he always had this vision that he’d be walking down the street, or into a club, and that he’d hear the person. He’d hear his first artist, and he’d know right away. That was sort of how it had been when Elijah started to sing last week during Grayson’s date with Bryce. He just knew.

  But, Elijah wasn’t the right one for a number of reasons.

  “Or, hitting up gigs around the city could be a good idea too,” Derrick continued. “The show is on Friday. I imagine that’s scary. Having to get the lawyers to contract something that works for both parties by then.”

  Grayson reached for his Coke and nodded. “Scary is the word that works, for sure.”

  Derrick smiled at him and shrugged a bit. “You can do it.”

  They shared quick eye contact before Grayson looked away. He didn’t want to be awkward, but he couldn’t help being awkward. He cleared his throat and tried to think of a topic to bring up so that they could talk about something else until Isa got back –

  “I’m sorry about that.” Isa sat down and quickly pulled cash out of her wallet.

  Grayson looked over at her as she reached for her purse.

  “I’ve got a little husband emergency, so I’ve got to run. Derrick, I’ll see you at 10 o’clock tomorrow. Grayson, let me know how the show goes tonight.”

  “I will,” he said quickly, not knowing if he wanted to be left alone with a very attractive guy at this work ‘date.’

  Derrick didn’t seem too bothered, helping his boss into her coat.

  “I hope everything is fine,” Grayson added.

  “It’ll be. Talk to you soon.”

  “Yeah.” Grayson watched as the woman made sure she had everything and then jetted for the exit.

  Derrick was still standing for a moment, eventually smiling before retaking his seat. “Um… I suppose we can cancel her dessert order and just get out of here,” he suggested.

  Grayson checked the time. He could go home now and find a show he actually wanted to go to tonight. The band playing at Webster Hall…meh. He knew it wouldn’t be the right fit. Right now, it was only approaching three in the afternoon. He dropped down a tip, and then looked around for the waiter to let him know they’d be leaving.

  Derrick made some more small talk as they got into their outerwear and walked outside together. Grayson stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked towards the corner, about to find a taxi or call for an Uber when Derrick said it.

  “Maybe one day we can go out for coffee and talk. Maybe we can get to know one another better.”

  Grayson turned to him to see how serious he was, and once he saw that Derrick was blushing, but not backing down, he smiled.

  “Oh. You’re serious.”

  Derrick coyly fiddled with one of the buttons on his coats as he nodded. “That I am…”

  Grayson cleared his throat and looked away. There was a sweet man asking him out. He didn’t understand why he felt uneasy.

  “I try not to date guys I work with,” he said. “You’re a very attractive guy, but we should keep our relationship strictly professional.”

  Derrick pulled at his grey hat and smiled a bit. “I was afraid you’d say that. Well, just ignore the fact that I’ve written my number and Instagram on the back of that paper I gave you with the show info for tonight.”

  Grayson laughed and looked away. “Wow.”

  “Best of luck tonight, Mr. Paul.” He waved goodbye and turned to leave without another word.

  Grayson looked up to watch him go.

  There was something he noticed immediately, and it was something that was missing. The giddy feeling Grayson felt when Elijah had looked at him like that wasn’t there. There was a hot, and probably amazing guy that had just asked him out, and Grayson was still thinking about the guy that he’d had drunken and then office sex a few days back. How was that okay or even normal?

  He watched people stroll through lower Manhattan for a moment more before lifting a hand into the air. Maybe he needed to get back to his place and focus on his next mission: finding a new artist before Tuesday evening. Boys would always be there, but this opportunity? Not so much. A few taxis flew by, but one pulled to a stop in front of him. He made sure that his phone was safely in his pocket before getting into the back seat.

  ∞

  Back at the apartment, Grayson had a plan before even opening the door. He knew that it was likely Oscar and Eleanor were distracted in one another, so he intended to run directly to his room and remain there, but he had to achieve this in a quiet manner so that they wouldn’t know to bother him.

  He locked the front door behind himself, looked around the flat, and as quietly as he could, made his way to his end of the apartment.

  Grayson let himself relax as soon as his bedroom door was closed. He began to get undressed, remaining only in his white t-shirt and checkered boxers before heading over to the laptop at his workspace. After putting in his password, Grayson shook his head at the fact that Facebook was still open.

  At least he left Elijah’s profile, though.

  He sat down and chewed on his lip as he remembered that he came over to his laptop for a reason. That reason was to look for somewhere to go tonight that would have an artist he could potentially love. Only he had to know if Elijah had updated his status at all since Grayson had last checked. Once he checked, he knew he’d be able to get on with his day, and get done what needed to be done.

  Just a quick check…

  Knock. Knock.

  Startled, he quickly switched windows on his laptop, opening up a Microsoft Word document before telling whoever it was at the door that they could enter his bedroom. It didn’t matter that he was giving said person permission, because before he could finish, Oscar had already turned the doorknob and walked in.

  Boundaries? What are those?

  “Well,” Oscar said. “Returned without saying anything, huh?”

  Grayson turned and looked back at his computer screen. He pretended to type out a letter to no one in particular, but he made sure that it looked professional while he was at it. Something to help keep up appearances and get Oscar on his way a little quicker.

  “Hello, Oscar. I told you I was busy this weekend. You know that.”

  Oscar stroked his curly hair back as he walked closer to where Grayson sat.

  “Whatever it is that you need can wait another hour,” Grayson continued.

  “You’ve been in here all weekend.”

  That would’ve been true if Grayson hadn’t gone out to the meeting with Isa Blackwell and Derrick Fuller, but he did, so it wasn’t. He figured that maybe he could tell Oscar what happened at the meeting, just to get his friend off his back, but that would prolong Oscar’s time in his room.

  “Sonny …?”

  “It hasn’t been all weekend. You saw me go out for that meeting almost two hours ago –”

  “You came right back here,” Oscar interrupted. He straightened the Puerto Rican flag t-shirt he wore over his chest as he spoke, but Grayson still pretended to be typing away on something important. “Look, man. We’re going out tonight.”

  Grayson finally stopped typing and then turned to face his buddy. “You and Eleanor? That’s great. Sunday is date night, right? Have fun!”

  Oscar shook his head, looking his best friend dead in the eyes. “The three of us are going out. We’re going to find a place where there’s gr
eat music, affordable drinks, and we’re going to have a good time.”

  This wasn’t what Grayson had in his plans for the night. In fact, if he hung out tonight instead of doing what he promised Isa he would, there was a very small chance he’d find the person he needed.

  “As fun as that sounds,” he began. “I think I’m going to have to pass. I need to find an artist before Tuesday and if I’m getting hammered with you, that’d be highly unlikely.”

  Oscar nodded, but the look on his face was one that Grayson knew all too well. He wasn’t giving up. Oscar cleared his throat and gestured to the computer.

  “Do you mind if I use your laptop for a second? I need to order a new battery for mine so I’m out of commission until then. You know, just to check work emails and such.”

  Grayson shook his head no. “You’re lying.”

  “Open the web browser, Sonny.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because your computer works perfectly fine and you don’t need to be near mine,” Grayson said without hesitation. “The three times I did let you near my computer, my anti-virus protection found porn site-related computer viruses. I learned my lesson.”

  Oscar walked closer to the desk and Grayson felt vulnerable. Just a few nights ago, he was chastising Oscar and Eleanor for being weird, creepy internet stalkers. Now, he was about to be found guilty of that himself. Unless…

  Grayson slammed the laptop closed. There.

  Oscar watched as his best friend pushed the ‘work’ he was doing to the side and pick up a blue hoodie to put on. He smirked.

  “So,” Oscar began. “How’s your boy doing?”

  His smile definitely had an air of ‘I fucking knew it’ to it. Grayson hated that. He admitted defeat and answered anyway.

  “The last status he posted was about him spending time with ‘the lady in his life.’ He hasn’t really been on all weekend,” Grayson continued. “Although it doesn’t seem like he’s ever on Facebook much, so that could be his normal activity. Fuck, man,” he breathed out, burying his face in his hands for a moment. “I just…”

  “You like him,” Oscar finished for him.