Before We Say Goodbye

by JN Welsh

  Luke showered her with doubt. “Agreed.”

  Leona opened her cell and started dialing. “We’ll see you at Aurora tonight. The contract will be locked in before Luke leaves the stage.”

  “You’re making big promises, Leo,” Tommy warned.

  “Ones I intend to keep. By the way, there’s an electronics store two blocks from here. You can get flash drives there.” Leona pulled out a box of animal crackers and tossed it to Luke. “I heard these were your favorite. Hopefully, it’ll take the edge off. Let’s go, Abe. We’ve got work to do.”

  As she rounded the corner to the elevator, she glanced back to see Luke’s stunned face as he stared at the box of animal crackers.

  Animal crackers. Luke had to admit Leona Sable did her homework. He tore into the box and popped a few in his mouth, watching as she disappeared into the elevator.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Tommy reprimanded.

  “Did you know she was Reese’s ex?”

  Tommy adjusted his glasses. “I did, but she’s not Paul.”

  Luke popped a few more animal crackers into his mouth. The familiar aroma and taste calmed him. “Birds of a feather flock together.”

  “Apparently, she didn’t want to flock his way or they’d still be together. You could give her some credit.”

  “Oh, I gave her a lot of credit or I would have walked out.” Luke frowned at his friend. “If she’s going to manage me, she’ll have to do a hell of a lot better than Poison Ivy.”

  Ivy Nichols, his former personal manager, hadn’t been mentioned in conversation for some time. The mess she’d made of his career was the gift that kept on giving, and how he’d come to need someone like Leona in the first place. The money Ivy stole from him was just a bonus.

  Tommy tilted his head. “You’re actually going to compare Leona Sable to Ivy Nichols? The manager that dropped you like a sack of hot potatoes?”

  That comparison, and Leona’s association with that weasel Paul Reese, had caused Luke to lose his temper. He’d worked hard to keep his emotions in check over the last six months, but things weren’t going well. For a thirty-six-year-old DJ who hammered away at his goals, he was fairly popular, but he still hadn’t achieved the level of success he wanted.

  This has to be my year.

  “I’ve asked almost everyone we know for recommendations. They all say she’s the real deal.”

  “But had I known she was Reese’s ex I would have asked for a different recommendation.”

  “Reese fucked up your album, but you fixed it and now you’re ready to tour.”

  “He fucked more than my album.” Luke crossed his arms and stroked his chin with the back of his hand. One meeting with Leona Sable and all his demons stood in line to kick him in the balls.

  “You have to let that shit go, man.” Tommy patted him on the shoulder.

  He wasn’t ready to let it go. Album sales were down even though his fan base grew daily, and he wasn’t sure if he delivered the quality music his fans had come to love him for. At a time when he should be reaping the benefits of all his hard work, he felt like he was starting from the bottom.

  “Do you think she’ll deliver?” Luke stretched the tightness around his neck.

  “Not in three hours, but she’ll bust her ass trying. Did you see that look in her eyes?” Tommy gave a low whistle.

  “Determined and beautiful all at the same time. She wants to prove me wrong so bad. Good luck with that.”

  Leona knew how to leave a great first impression. The animal crackers were a nice touch, but images of her full lips and her ass in white leather lingered.

  “Will you still let her manage you if she doesn’t pull it off?”

  Luke was silent.

  “Ivy nearly destroyed everything you worked for. We need a miracle worker. Leo can clean this up.” Tommy reached for the box of crackers.

  Luke evaded the man’s attempt to dip into the box. “Stop reminding me.”

  He would have preferred a man or a less attractive female manager, because when he met Leona, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The last thing he wanted to do was sample Paul Reese’s leftovers, but from her creamy brown skin to her luscious breasts, he could see temptation becoming a problem.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Tommy growled.

  “What?” Luke tilted his head back and sprinkled the crumbled remnants of the box into his mouth.

  “Hey, man, I spent the last six months bringing you back from some pretty dark places and less than gentlemanly behavior. Need I mention your temper? Stay on the wagon.”

  Luke chuckled. “Let’s go.” He pondered his friend’s words. Leona was a temptation to be reckoned with and as far as the proverbial wagon was concerned, he could see himself hopping off.

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  CHAPTER THREE

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  “Leo, I—”

  “Not now, Abe. I want to hear everything. Trust me, I do, but we have bigger problems. I have to make good on these promises I just made and I don’t know how the hell I’m going to do that right now.”

  “Darlin’—”

  “Let me think.” She didn’t want to hiss at him because Abe wasn’t only having a bad day, but a bad year. Nonetheless, she had to do some major problem solving and she couldn’t do that with him chattering in her ear.

  While she shared a cab with Abe to their Midtown Manhattan office, the ideas started to flow. She created an online event for Luke’s performance and invited everyone she knew, including tastemakers and other influencers who she had great relationships with in the past. She spread the word on all her social media accounts and promised autographs and photos with Luke to the first fifty people and VIP guests who bought a ticket through her invitation. Then she hit her contacts list. Starting with A, Leona called or texted her industry connections one after the other with fingers of fury.

  She hadn’t contacted these people in over a year and with Paul’s lies floating through the airwaves, she wasn’t sure they would be responsive.

  “Leona is creatively stifling and her marketing is one-dimensional. Wallace Entertainment is robbing their artists of millions,” Paul had spewed in an interview that not only played on all the network entertainment shows, but in print media, as well as online outlets. None of his claims had compared to what he’d done.

  Leona sighed and scrolled on her phone. Next on her list was Ramelda Manikas, entertainment guru and celebrity publicist.

  “Hi, Ramelda? It’s Leo.”

  “Leo? Leona Sable? I thought you left New York. You’ve been off the grid for…”

  “…A year. I know. I took a little time off.” Leona tried to sound cheerful.

  “You know, darling, time off kills careers.” Ramelda’s Greek accent and entitled tone emanated through the receiver. “It’s been rumored that you have, well…lost your touch.” Ramelda had been Leona’s go-to person for attracting media attention to her events. Ramelda’s deep and international network consisted of legendary artists, entertainment powerhouses, tastemakers, and “celebutants.”

  Leona swallowed her anger. Paul’s rumors had spread like wildfire, but she wasn’t going to let it stop her. “I need a favor, Ramelda. I have an event tonight for a hot EDM DJ who is blowing up the scene. Do you think you could spread the word?”

  “Darling, I’d love to, but—”

  “Ramelda, we’re old friends, aren’t we?” Leona regarded the city through the cab window as it whizzed across town.

  “Of course, darling, however—”

  “Old friends help one another, don’t they? Like giving access to exclusive bachelorette parties or the many times you got page six information before it leaked.”

  Ramelda sighed. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. When is the event?”

  “It’s at eleven, the artist goes on at midnight.” Leona held her breath.

  “Tonight?” The woman’s incredulous tone had even Leona clutching her pearls.

  “Yes.”


  “Darling, that’s an aggressive deadline. I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll try to help you out.”

  It was all Leona could ask for. “Thank you so much. I’m sending you the information right now.”

  “Get yourself back together, darling. We miss you. I can do more for you when you come back with some recent success and that fire I love.”

  “I will.” Leona almost sighed the words. “I really appreciate it.”

  They hung up and Leona recalled a time when an event was the place to be, as long as her artists were attached. But things had changed.

  “So?” Abe scanned the screen of his phone and used his thumb to scroll down a page.

  “She’ll see what she can do.”

  “And the press?”

  Leona plucked her earlobe. “Can you reach out? I’m sure they’ll be there to cover it and we need them. I just…let me focus on this.”

  Abe side-eyed her.

  “I’m fine,” she assured him.

  Abe put his hands on hers. “Just do what you do best and you’ll come out on top.”

  In the past, she could double the figures she gave to Tommy, even under such a tight deadline. She had talked a good game but any success tonight would take some begging and potentially buying VIP bottle service herself.

  Leona forwarded the event details to Tommy, including the autograph and photo op giveaways after Luke’s performance. Her role, past getting more people and media to the club, was unclear since Luke hadn’t yet signed with Wallace Entertainment. She just hoped Tommy would inform the owners and security of the accommodations needed to manage the additional backstage traffic.

  When they arrived at the office, Leona was on several calls at once, redeeming favors, bargaining with promoters, and creating a last-minute frenzy for Luke’s performance. In between calls, Abe leaned against the edge of her desk. He looked uncomfortable and not as strong as he normally was in these situations.

  “I know you’re thinking about bailing after tonight, but I want you to manage him.”

  “A foot in the door. Get the contract signed. That’s what you said. Now you want me to manage an artist that doesn’t even want me?” Leona reached for the phone to make another call, but Abe stayed her hand.

  “You’re going to deliver tonight, even if it’s less than what you quoted. He’s going to want you because of what you will be able to accomplish in so little time. This will be big for us if he signs. We’ll be associated with a DJ that is going to explode this year under the right management—our management.”

  Here we go. “What happened, Abe? How did the company get to this point where we have to rely on one difficult client as our savior?”

  Abe hesitated to deliver the news, yet looked relieved at the opportunity to share the information. “A perfect storm, really. When Paul changed management, he was vocal about you and the company. The publicity hit us hard. You’ve been out for over a year and I tried to keep us afloat and work with the other managers and agents. Some stayed and others fled for greener pastures. Sure, that cut down overhead but taxed our agents, and rent in the Big City ain’t cheap. We just couldn’t acquire new talent or keep up with the demands of our current clients. The entertainment landscape has changed. We weren’t able to pull in the kind of revenue we needed.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Why didn’t you tell me, Abe? I would’ve done whatever you asked.”

  He massaged his eyebrows. “That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you. I wanted you to come back when you were ready and after you faced all your demons.”

  “Only one demon,” Leona returned. “You still should have told me.”

  “I’m telling you now.” Abe shoved his hands into his pockets.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. “This is my fault. I’m sorry I let you down.” The tightness in her neck from the overwhelming guilt constricted her words. She blinked back tears that rimmed her lower lids as the sting of grief over her breakup with Paul surfaced. Her private lovers’ quarrel with her ex became a public circus. Her effort to separate what happened then from what was happening now failed. Leona had kept the comments about their relationship diplomatic and tasteful, but Paul’s determination to destroy her reputation, both on a personal and professional level, pushed her into seclusion. She was ashamed that she’d chosen going into hiding over protecting the company.

  “No, darlin’. Things happen. Sometimes they don’t work out, but we have an opportunity with Luke. If his tour is successful, the revenue we’ll recoup will get us out of the red and we can start recovering. He needs us as much as we need him. I wouldn’t trust this with anyone but you.”

  Leona wiped her eyes and with it the remorse that threatened to swell out of containment. “Which part of that horrific scene did you not witness? You’re getting old, Abe, but…”

  “Watch it, young lady,” Abe warned with a grin.

  “I’m kidding but not really.” Leona swiveled around in her chair. “Did you see how he flipped when I mentioned managing Paul? He either hates women, just me, or the rumors got to him.”

  “He couldn’t stop staring at you. No man who does that hates women. I don’t know what his angle is, but what I saw was chemistry. You both did what you’re good at.”

  Leona smirked at his vague delivery. “Which is?”

  “You were managing and he was being a challenging artist.”

  “Optimistic. But don’t you mean difficult artist?”

  “No, challenging.” Abe patted her shoulder. “Rise to the challenge.”

  She sighed.

  “His agent likes you. That’ll help.”

  “Hmmm.” Leona wasn’t too convinced that factor would be helpful at all.

  “Will you do it, Leo?”

  Abe had given her a start at Wallace Entertainment and over the years had mentored her and supported her career. Now she’d help him and the company they both loved. She could be Luke’s personal manager and work closely with Tommy on deals while Luke toured, and communicate with the tour manager she’d eventually assign to make him successful. Their interactions would be limited.

  That’s fine by me. “Yes.” She stood up and moved closer to him. “I won’t let you down, Abe.”

  “You never have.” He hugged her and then held her by the shoulders. “First order of business is to go and see The Musical Prophet perform tonight at Aurora Nightclub. Tommy put you on the guest list.”

  “You’re not coming with me? Gee, Abe, just throw me under the bus. You saw him with me earlier and you’re going to send me into the lion’s den solo? With friends like you, who needs enemies?”

  “Take your outrageous British friend with you,” he suggested. “She’ll help you lick your wounds. Just get him to agree to sign with us.”

  “Okay.”

  Abe grabbed his leather case by the carry handle and headed toward the door. “Oh, and, Leo?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Welcome back.”

  “Go fly a kite, Abe.” Leona returned to her contact list. “Now where was I? Ah yes. R.”

  Don’t miss IN TUNE by JN Welsh, available wherever Carina Press ebooks are sold.

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  Copyright © 2018 by Jennifer N Welsh

  www.CarinaPress.com

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  Click here to preorder IN TUNE!

  Acknowledgments

  Thank You God for this journey, the blessings, miracles and angels in my life. Through You all things are possible.

  Thanks to my family and friends for their love and support!

  Thank you to my writing partners and groups. I truly and deeply appreciate your time, advice, and talents.

  Thank you to my agent Sarah Younger and the wonder super team at Nancy Yost Literary Agency for helping to make this book possible.

  Thanks to my fans and readers. You’re the best!

  About the Author

  JN Welsh is a native New Yorker. She writes entertaining, often humorous, and provocative tales a
bout strong, career-driven, multicultural heroines who are looking for love. Her punchy, flowing dialogue and big city stories are heartwarming and stick to your ribs. When she’s not writing she can be found dancing, wine-ing, rooting for her favorite baseball team, and/or indulging in countless guilty pleasures.

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  For recent releases, updates and to connect with her on social media visit: http://www.jnwelsh.com or sign up for my newsletter, my monthly newsletter.

  My Letter to You

  Hi there!

  Thank you for reading Before We Say Goodbye! I hope you enjoyed reading this short as much as I loved writing it!

  I truly enjoy hearing from my fan-friends so please reach out to me through my website or on social media. Also if you love to read, like I do, and liked this story, please share it, write a review, and check out some of my other titles!

  Oh, and if you ever see me at any reader events, say, hi!

  Best to you,

  JN

  Books by JN Welsh

  Gigolo All the Way

  The Letter - An Erotic Romance Novella

  Single by Choice

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  Coming Soon by JN Welsh

  Sea Breeze Seduction Series

  Book II – Bittersweet

  Book III – Moonshine and Mistletoe

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  Coming Soon by JN Welsh and Carina Press

  In Tune