Under the Spotlight

by Angie Stanton

  “What are you waiting for? Get in there and sing,” Garrett said.

  “I can’t.” She seethed, clenching her fists, despising Garrett more than ever.

  “Come on, Red! Let’s make some music!” Steven called out, waving her in.

  Garrett stepped over and spoke in her ear. “You’re seriously going to tell Steven Hunter that you won’t sing with him? Get the hell off your ass and go.” He practically shoved her out of the room.

  Riley moved like a zombie. She couldn’t sing in front of all these people, and definitely not in front of Steven Hunter. She entered the live room trying to figure out how to escape.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were on Chart Toppers? I can’t believe I’m meeting you. The way you sang our song was brilliant. I’ve heard a lot of renditions, most of them a disaster, but yours was genius. Did someone write that version for you?”

  “No. I used to sing along to the radio and make up my own countermelodies.”

  Steven looked at the guys in the control booth, who’d all taken a new interest in her. “Brilliant, what did I tell ya?”

  Despite the awesome compliment, Riley wanted to crawl behind an amplifier and hide.

  Steven turned back to her, excitement in his eyes. “You’ve gotta sing it for me. Don’t make a grown man beg.”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t sung in front of anyone in a really long time.” The last time she sang publicly, she’d cried and blubbered through the song. Riley fought the urge to vomit.

  “Seriously? That’s a crime right there.”

  “I’m really nervous. I haven’t sung since I was on the show,” she whispered, hoping that would make him understand and give up.

  “Aw, Red, there’s nothing to be nervous about. We’re all friends here.” He spread his arms and indicated the guys in the control room, too.

  She pictured cocky Garrett probably laughing from behind the safety of the console. She wanted to run away and hide, but it wasn’t an option.

  “Tell you what. We’ll sing together. Hey guys, can someone bring in another headset for Red?”

  Her stomach dropped.

  Before she knew it, she wore a headset and stood in front of a mic, next to Steven Hunter. The rest of the band, her boss, coworkers, and Garrett Jamieson watched. It was a good thing she didn’t have to hold a mic or they’d see her hands shaking.

  The music cued up and Steven started to sing. She missed the entrance.

  “Come on, join me,” he said between the lines.

  She looked at the control room again and back at Steven. She sang with him, barely making a sound. Steven laughed.

  “Oh, Red, you gotta get behind that sound. They gotta hear you in Pittsburgh.”

  Inside the booth, she saw everyone laugh. She bit her lip.

  Steven turned on them. “Hey, assholes. Give the kid a break. In fact, someone kill the lights in the control room.”

  He covered the mic with his hand and spoke only to her. “Ignore those idiots. They don’t know how hard it is to be the one in front of the mic.”

  The control room went dark and suddenly it was only her and Steven. He removed his scarf and tied it to the mic.

  “There, now we’ve got some style. Let’s try it again. We’ll take it easy. It’s just you and me, kid.”

  Riley smiled weakly. She suddenly wanted to do this. When would she ever get another chance? She rubbed her sweaty hands on her jeans.

  The music began and this time she came in when he did. She smiled as she heard their voices blend, like they did when she sang to his songs on the radio so many years ago.

  Steven didn’t overpower her voice, instead, he met her at the same volume, giving her the confidence to continue. With each line she sang, she became stronger. Excitement mixed in with the dread, making the experience not quite so terrifying. She put a little umph behind her voice and powered up. Steven grinned.

  He jammed with the music, making the whole performance look effortless. Riley giggled as he played air guitar during the musical interlude.

  When the song ended, Riley sighed in relief. She did it!

  “Nice job,” Steven said. “Let’s do it again. Only this time I want you to forget everything around you. It’s you, me, and the music. I want you to bring it. I want to hear those harmonies. And I want you to belt those big notes. No holding back.”

  “Okay,” she agreed. It surprised her how eager she was to try again. The first time she had been lame. She’d been tentative. Now she wanted to prove she could do better.

  “Hit it, boys,” Steven called out.

  The music pulsed with the low thump of bass and she hit the opening line with guts. Steven fist-pumped the air as they sang the chorus. Her heart raced with adrenaline.

  Steven rocked out next to her. She wanted to burst into tears or laughter at the insanity of singing with him. It was unreal. It was beyond a dream come true. It was somewhere in the stratosphere of impossible.

  When the final chorus came, Steven whispered, “Let’s bring this baby home. We gotta lay it all bare. No holding back. Ya with me?”

  She nodded. They came in on the last chorus together, and for that little bit of time she pretended nothing in the world existed except singing with Steven Hunter. She put every ounce of power behind her voice. Her countermelody blended with his melody. As she belted out the final notes, Steven ad-libbed some of his crazy famous riffs.

  The song ended, and she couldn’t fight back her grin.

  Steven high-fived her and let out a rock star whoop. “Hot damn, she’s still got it!” He looked into the darkened control room. “What do you think of that, you tone-deaf mutes? Stop picking on little girls.”

  Barry’s voice sounded over the intercom. “I’ll be damned. That was amazing.”

  Riley’s heart thudded loudly in her chest. She hadn’t sung like that since, well, since the show. Her hands still shook, but she’d just sung with an icon.

  Steven looked her in the eyes. “You’ve got pipes, Red! You need to stop hiding behind the glass and get out and use that God-given talent of yours.”

  “Thank you. That was amazing.”

  “The countermelody you sang was genius. Mind if I use it?” he asked.

  “Of course not. That would be great.” She grinned. “I’ll never forget this.”

  “Damn straight you won’t. Okay, have we got everyone awake in there now? Let’s get down and dirty and make some music.”

  Dazed, Riley walked out of the live room. This had to be the greatest moment of her entire life.

  She hesitated before the door to the control room. Her chest tightened and she braced for the guys’ reaction. Applause greeted her.

  “Where’d you get that voice? You sing like an old soul,” Ron said.

  Riley dipped her head and smiled. She’d never seek out compliments, but they were nice to hear.

  “If I didn’t just watch those notes come out of her myself, I never would have believed it,” Barry said.

  On the far side of the room by the control console, Garrett tilted his head in an I told you so kind of way.

  Riley took a seat on her stool. While she enjoyed the compliments, all this attention over her singing dredged up insecurities from long ago.

  Thankfully Barry took charge and got the group back on track. “Steven, we’re ready when you are.”

  12

  Garrett watched Riley as she stood toe-to-toe with Steven Hunter and started to sing. Damn, he wished he had the guts to get out there and sing with him, but he hadn’t been asked. Scrappy little ginger-haired Riley, the most unlikely person in the building, won the honor.

  He still couldn’t believe how well the girl full of sass could sing. And not like a thirteen-year-old on a reality show, but like a rocker. He’d watched her YouTube videos, but nothing prepared him for when she opened up and revealed that huge, soulful voice. It defied odds.

  “Please tell me you’re recording this,” Ron said, as blown away as Garrett.r />
  “Oh yeah.” Garrett had actually decided to record it as a joke and play it back to Riley the next time she made him feel like a fool. But the joke was on him. No one sang like that after taking a five-year hiatus, but somehow Riley did. She had a natural gift. That was the only explanation.

  He noticed the cameraman recording video as well, and smiled.

  “She doesn’t even look nervous,” Ron said.

  She didn’t. Her hands were in her front pockets, her foot tapped to the beat, and her whole body pulsed to the music.

  “Barry, where did you find this kid?” Teddy, the band’s drummer, asked.

  A sly smile crossed Barry’s face. “Jason Edgette called me up and asked me to give her a job.”

  “Didn’t he used to judge Chart Toppers?” Garrett asked.

  “He did. He told me Riley was special. I had no idea she could do this.” He shook his head in disbelief.

  “There’s no one in the industry that sounds like her. She has the most original voice I’ve heard in a long time,” said Frank, the chain-smoking band member.

  “But can she hit the high note?” Garrett asked.

  “No way,” Ron said.

  They all quieted as the key changed and the momentum of the song built.

  “Wait for it, wait for it,” Teddy said.

  Garrett leaned forward in anticipation. He was rooting for Riley, and he wasn’t sure why.

  “Here it comes,” Frank said.

  Riley looked at Steven, he nodded, and together they belted that note to the heavens. Riley nailed it in all her raspy glory.

  Inside the darkened control room, everyone cheered.

  “No freakin’ way, man,” another said.

  “Look at Steven. Have you ever seen him so impressed?” Frank laughed. “She almost outsang him. We gotta find a way to use this video.”

  Garrett had never seen Riley look so pleased with herself, certainly not since he’d met her, and why shouldn’t she? She was a dynamo.

  Barry hit the talk-back button. “I’ll be damned. That was amazing.”

  “Thank you,” Riley said.

  Barry laughed.

  Garrett couldn’t believe her subdued response to Barry’s compliment. Wasn’t she aware of his far-reaching influence in the music industry? Suddenly all the pieces of his life fit together. Riley was an unturned stone waiting to be discovered.

  She might have resisted the idea before, but now that he’d witnessed this impromptu jam session, there was no way he’d let her turn him down.

  How awesome would it be to launch his career as a record producer by putting out a hit? He certainly had the connections, and he’d just fallen upon a surefire star. He just needed some backing from the boss.

  “Barry, would you be okay if I worked with Riley and put together a demo?”

  “I’d love to hear her lay down some tracks for real, but it may not be as easy as you think,” Barry said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “I think you might find the artist a bit reluctant to cooperate.” He smirked, clearly knowing something Garrett didn’t.

  “Don’t worry, I can be very persuasive.” Riley didn’t stand a chance. Now that he’d seen a real sample of how she could sing, he’d give her the full-court press.

  The door opened and Riley slipped into the room. They all applauded.

  She dipped her head, wearing a timid smile, and he was drawn to her even more. Her shy modesty was a rarity in this business.

  “If I hadn’t just heard you myself, I never would have believed it,” Teddy said.

  Riley glanced Garrett’s way. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. He couldn’t wait to talk to her alone. She averted her eyes and took her seat.

  Barry hit the talk-back button. “Steven, we’re ready when you are.”

  Garrett shifted his attention to the task at hand and queued up the track. They worked the song for an hour, listening for every spot that could be improved. Steven was a pro. As wild as his reputation was, in the studio, he worked with pure professionalism and drive, as well as plenty of laughs.

  When Barry called a break, Garrett waited for Riley outside the control room.

  “Riley, hold up a sec,” he said as she came through the doorway.

  “What?” she asked, not stopping.

  “You were phenomenal.”

  “Thanks,” she said, and glanced away as if not wanting to talk about it.

  “I talked to Barry and you’re not gonna believe the great opportunity I’ve got for you.”

  Her attention snapped back to him. She stiffened. “What are you talking about?” she asked, her tone cautious.

  “He gave me the go-ahead. We’re gonna record a demo together.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Not as in a duo. I’m going to produce, you’re going to sing.”

  “I told you before. This . . . is not going to happen.”

  “Oh, come on. The way you sing makes people sit up and take notice. You have natural talent. You can’t ignore it anymore. I’m going to put you back up onstage under the spotlights and make you famous.”

  “No.” She crossed her arms.

  “What do you mean no?”

  “I mean. Hell no!” She raised her voice and her face turned red.

  “Let me start over. Apparently you don’t understand.” He stepped closer and put his arm around her shoulder. He could smell the sweetness of her hair. “You have a product that is waiting to be discovered and I have the motive, smarts, and contacts to make it happen. I’m going to make you a lot of money.”

  She brushed his arm away. “Thanks. But, I’ll pass.”

  “Riley, no one passes. Opportunities like this don’t come around more than once in life.”

  “Well, I do.” She stomped off.

  13

  That weekend, Riley walked with Erika through Lincoln Park to the baseball field to find a guy Erika liked from work.

  “How are things at the studio? Is Garrett still bugging you to sing for him?” Erika asked as they walked toward the ball fields.

  “All the time. The guy doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. I might mess with him and say yes just to bring me a day or two of peace before he figures out I’m yanking his chain.”

  The sun beat down and the light summer breeze off Lake Michigan cooled their skin. Squirrels darted about as a jogger passed.

  “Nice. Oh, there’s the field, over there.” Erika pointed, and they followed the sidewalk toward the concession stand and bleachers.

  “So who is this guy we’re here to stalk?” Riley asked.

  “I’m not stalking. He told me to come. His name is Chad and he works in the warehouse.”

  “Hang on, I want to get something to eat.” Riley stopped at the concession stand. “Popcorn, please,” Riley said to the shaggy-haired sales kid, and handed over her money. She turned to Erika. “So, has Chad asked you out yet?”

  Erika leaned back against the counter, searching the ball field for him. “No. We’re still doing the mating dance.”

  “Huh?”

  “He comes to the store floor pretending he needs help buying a cell phone case for his sister’s birthday. I do reconnaissance on the break room like a double agent so I can just happen to take my break at the same time.”

  “How very James Bond of you.” Riley took her change and the popcorn. She followed Erika to the metal bleachers, where they climbed to the third row.

  “This is a delicate situation. If I show too much interest, he’ll run scared. If I’m too easy, he’ll take the goods and disappear before round two.” Erika craned her neck, trying to find Chad.

  “That sounds like our receptionist, Tara. She’s definitely doing the mating dance wrong. She’s more of an instant-gratification kind of girl. She’s been drooling over Garrett Jamieson ever since he showed up.”

  “Well, he is a hottie.”

  “Yeah, but then I met him and he ruined the whole image by speaking.”

 
; “There he is.”

  Riley turned her head, expecting to see Garrett. “Where?”

  Erika pointed and then waved to a tall, solid guy playing second base. He waved back, then returned his attention to the batter.

  Riley’s heart fell when she realized Erika wasn’t referring to Garrett, which was confusing and stupid because she didn’t even like him. She focused on the guy out on the field. “Looks cute. At least from a distance with a baseball cap on.” Riley took a handful of popcorn.

  “Trust me, he is. So, is it true that Garrett’s a total man whore?”

  “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Online, where else?”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me. You know, you take a perfectly hot guy, make him a superstar, and he becomes an insta-jerk, who thinks the world revolves around him and that anything in heels can’t resist him.”

  “Good thing you wear flats.” Erika grinned.

  Riley tossed some popcorn at her, and they giggled.

  The inning ended and as the rest of the guys on Chad’s team ran to the bench, he beelined straight for Erika.

  “Hey.” He climbed the bleachers and sat next to her. He wore a blue Cubs hat, and had a crooked nose and a friendly smile.

  “Hi,” Erika said, her voice suddenly high-pitched.

  Riley held back a smile.

  “Chad, this is my friend Riley.”

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Nice to meet you.” Riley noticed how he angled his body toward Erika’s, but stared at Riley, and more specifically her hair. She glanced at Erika with a raised eyebrow.

  “How’s the game going?” Erika tried to draw Chad’s attention back to her.

  “I’m sorry, but you look really familiar,” he said to Riley.

  “I do?” She was pretty sure she’d never met him before.

  “I could swear I’ve just seen you.”

  “Unless you hang around the recording studio where she works, it’s not likely. That’s the only place she ever goes.”

  “That’s it! In a recording studio. On YouTube.”

  Riley groaned. Not more YouTube videos from Chart Toppers. She glanced at Erika and silently begged for help.