“I heard you sing. I think you’re incredible.” Chantel smiled. “If you’re interested, I would like to sign you to a development deal with Charisma. I want to see where you go with your songwriting.” She peered at Laz. “The great thing is that when you’re ready to record, you’ll have a great producer.”
Avery looked up at Laz.
He nodded. “I’ll be producing music, which is great. If I can’t develop talent, I would like to help artists in other ways.”
“Me, too. If you’re not too busy with your day job, I would love for you to sing with me on a track for an upcoming album.” Chantel held Avery’s hands as she spoke to her.
“Uh, hell yes!” Avery hugged Chantel again. “Thank you. What a wonderful day.”
Chantel peered over when Truman Woodley and a security team headed her way. “I have to go. Come by the office on Monday to discuss the contract.” She leaned closer to Avery. “No more cleaning floors and toilets for you.” She winked and left with her husband.
Chantel hugged Laz again. “I still can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.” She kissed him and slid her tongue in his mouth.
Laz held her close to his body.
When she pulled back from the kiss, she rested her hands on his chest. “Think we can find a broom closet somewhere? I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you, too, babe. But your parents are here. I think we should at least see them.” He patted her backside. “Besides, we have the rest of our lives to make beautiful music together. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Avery couldn’t wait for her life to begin with love, music and Laz.
Don’t miss Crystal B. Bright’s next book in the Love & Harmony series,
Crazy on You
Available soon!
Chapter One
“Baby, let’s get naked and let me ride on you all day.” As soon as Tassia Hogan sang the infamous hook in the popular song by Aaron, another Charisma artist, her stomach knotted despite the smile on her face.
The large crowd in the open arena area at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater screamed as soon as she sang that line. Some of the fans even sang with her. Tassia danced around on stage while Aaron commanded the crowd. One day, the roles would be reversed. She would be the lead and she would have others backing her. Hopefully, she would sing something better than songs like “Ride Me.”
When her part of the song came up again, Tassia steeled her nerves, smiled, and sang her heart out. When she noticed small, preteen kids in front of the stage singing that same titillating line, she had to look away.
Singing this damaging line did, at least, put her out there in front of audiences. She had spent years in the background singing backup for lots of singers including Chantel Woodley when she used to be known as Shauna Stellar. Since the song landed in the number one spot on several music charts, she had gotten paid handsomely. She knew she wanted more.
“Thank you, everyone!” Aaron raised his hand in the air. When Tassia came down to the front next to him to bow alongside with him, he immediately said, “Good night!” He walked off without her allowing her to bow alongside with him.
Embarrassed heat flamed her cheeks as she walked off the stage behind Aaron. The singer who had a lighter skin tone than Tassia’s chestnut-colored one paced offstage as though waiting for something.
Tassia listened to the crowd and heard them screaming, “Encore! Encore!”
Aaron clapped his hands and skipped around. “They want more of the kid. Let’s go.” He ran back out on the stage.
One of the backup singers in all black held Tassia’s arm. “You going?”
Tassia shrugged. “Why? He’s not doing ‘Ride Me’ again, and I’m done doing the backup thing.” She saw Aaron jumping around on the stage. “You had better get out there.”
Tassia continued on to her dressing room, one she shared with the other backup singers. She didn’t mind that. She like talking and laughing along with the other men and women who stood only a few feet from stardom. She did wonder when her time would be coming.
Tassia took the opportunity to get in a shower before the other singers came to the room to strip and do the same. She washed off all the glitter and makeup. As she stood under the hot streaming water, she let everything go down the drain. She would forget about the state of her career or the types of songs she sang for the moment.
When she heard a door closing, she assumed the other singers had finished their work and had come back to the room. She finished up her cleansing shower and turned off the water.
“Hey, how was the encore?” Tassia opened the curtain as she waited for the answer.
To her surprise, Dorian stood in the room with his phone pointed in her direction. Thankfully, she didn’t open the curtain all the way so that he caught her nude body.
“What the hell?” Tassia held the thick tan curtain in front of her body so that only her angry face could be visible. “What are you doing?”
“Say hi, baby.” Dorian got in the camera view. “Standing here with this hot lady after a great set with Aaron here in Virginia Beach.”
Tassia shook her head. “Turn it off and get out.”
Dorian covered his mouth. “Oops. Looks like the show is over. Bye, world.” He clicked something on the screen and lowered the phone. “Great show.”
“Get out and close the door behind you.” Tassia didn’t believe Dorian when he looked like he had stopped recording.
“What? Fans want to see you.” He crept up to her. “Hell, I want to see you.”
Tassia pointed to the door while keeping the curtain wrapped around her body. “Get out.”
Dorian raised his hands in the air in surrender. “All right. All right. I’ll see you out there.” He brought his face forward like he wanted to kiss her.
She closed the curtain on him and stayed in the stall until she heard the door close. With great caution, Tassia pulled the curtain back again and peeked out into the all-white bathroom. Finding it empty, she stepped out and quickly picked up a bath sheet to wrap around her body. She tucked the additional fabric in front and also slipped on a thick, blue terrycloth robe.
She wiped her hand down over the frosted mirror to see her reflection. Through the water droplets on the reflective glass, she found that she looked exhausted. Dark circles ringed her eyes. Despite working out every day and keeping to a strict diet to keep fit for this tour, her face look puffy. After removing her bright red lipstick, her lips appeared chapped.
This life didn’t suffer fools or weaklings. At least tonight would end a six-month-long stateside tour. She could now relax. Her relaxation would involve a beach somewhere where no one knew that damn song or the part she played in it. For as childish as Dorian could be, he at least provided a great distraction for her. He could turn a root canal into a party. She would need that fun energy.
She got dressed in leggings and an oversized T-shirt in time for the other background singers to arrive to the room. Along with them came Dorian. In his oversized button-down plaid shirt and baggy jeans, he looked like he wanted to look like a teenager. It didn’t help that he kept his Afro cut in a high-top fade.
When she first met the roadie, she thought the African-American man looked cute. He made her laugh, and was down to have fun at all times. He made her remember that she should still have fun in her life.
“You’ve gotten so many hits on your video.” He held up his phone to her.
“Not a great thing.” Tassia shook her head.
Dorian shrugged. “Why not? You want your fans to see you, right? The real you?” He wiggled his eyebrows in a comical way.
“Right now, I just want to see the insides of my eyelids until I can take a long vacation.” She grabbed her suitcases and dragged them out the door.
She would have thought Dorian would have helped her. He followed her ou
t to the tour buses. Gentleman all the way.
Tassia stopped next to the bus. “Look. We’ve had a lot of fun on this tour.”
Dorian reached for her. “Yeah, girl. In the hotel, in the bathroom, on the stage.” He licked his lips and leaned down like he wanted to kiss her neck.
“Yes.” She smiled despite the public display of affection. Never her thing, but with Dorian, she would roll with it. “Now we can go off and do that secluded island thing. I know of a great spot in—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Dorian held Tassia’s shoulders and pushed her back. “Secluded island? That sounds like we would be alone.”
Tassia fought hard not to laugh in his face. “That’s the whole point of a vacation.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t sound cool to me.”
She blinked. “So vacationing on an island with me doesn’t sound like a good thing to you?”
He snickered and stumbled back from her. “Nope. To be on an island with just you would make me feel like my parents or something, like we should be playing shuffleboard or bingo.” He laughed.
Tassia didn’t. “We’re both twenty-three. We’re young.”
“Yep. Young, black, and gifted.” He nodded while keeping his hands on her hips.
“So we can walk around on a beach and wear bathing suits all day if we want. And now that the tour is over—”
“Yeah, now that the tour is done, we can go off and do our own thing…with other people.” Dorian’s face became solemn. “This was all for fun, right?”
Tassia stared at Dorian. How could she miss seeing that he hadn’t taken her or what they did together seriously? “You don’t want to keep seeing me?”
Dorian shrugged. “I just see two different things for us. I’m working on my career.”
“As a roadie? That’s your career?” She put her hand to her head.
He nodded. “It’s what I want to do, babe. You’ll be going on other tours. We’ll split up. A relationship like that won’t work.” He pulled a joint from his pocket along with a lighter. “I’m sorry if you felt like this would go somewhere.”
“Thanks.” She started loading her luggage on the bus by herself. “I can’t believe this is happening. You used me.”
He snapped the lighter before dousing it. “Don’t be all like that. We used each other. You needed a distraction on the tour.” He licked his lips. “I wanted the ‘Ride Me’ chick.”
Tassia could have reminded him that the few times she did have sex with him, it had felt more like a chore than pleasure. She wouldn’t stoop to that level. She still had to leave this situation with her head held high, and she had a good opportunity for that as long as Dorian kept his attention on his drugs and not her.
“Fine. Have a nice life, Dorian.” Tassia headed to the open door of the bus.
“See you, hotness. Hope you’re not simply a hook girl.” Dorian sneered at her before he walked away.
Damn. Dorian voiced a concern that she had had. Would her mark in music be reduced to a line she hated singing night after night? Something would have to change.
Once Tassia got back home to Virginia Beach, she visited Charisma Music to pick up some of her stuff and for a meeting. It still felt good to visit the place. Her shoulders relaxed when she walked in the doors. This place felt like home.
In the open lobby area hung artwork done by musicians. No pictures of current Charisma artists to show anyone favoritism. The cozy furniture and plethora of plants gave the place a homey feel.
Never did Tassia regret signing her development deal with Charisma five years ago. She certainly had a lot of great opportunities since then. If she didn’t have this meeting, she would take advantage of the end of the summer season and enjoy the local beach before going to a more exotic on out of the country. Greece would be nice.
Tassia peeked her head into Chantel’s office. Finding it empty except for two high chairs and toys littering the floor, she went to a nearby conference room where she found Chantel’s assistant cleaning up what looked like cereal from the long conference day.
“The twins took over.” The mature man scraped the strewn pieces into a trashcan. “Looking for Mrs. Woodley?”
Tassia smiled at Earvin. “Meeting. I thought she would be in her office.”
He pointed down. “In the studio. Meet her and the mister there.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Truman is here, too?”
Tassia shouldn’t have been worried. She had done great work for the company. She also knew how volatile and fickle the business could be. One day she could be up. The next day she could be out the door. She hoped the latter didn’t apply to her.
She got to the studio and heard some tunes coming from the space. It helped that the door had been left open. Had it been closed, she wouldn’t have heard anything.
Tassia stepped inside and saw a familiar face behind the boards.
“Hey, superstar.” Super producer Laz Kyson nodded to her as he turned off the music. “I thought you were still on tour with Aaron.” He stood and hugged her.
“Ended yesterday.” She sat down next to him.
The tall blond-haired, blue-eyed hottie didn’t look like he would fit at a record label run by the R&B Princess of Love Ballads. Then again, Chantel’s country-singing husband flipped the perception of the recording studio. The music that came out of the place could best be defined as eclectic. Pop, rock, R&B, country, indie. That variety attracted Tassia to the label.
“You just got off tour and you’re already working?” He nodded at her.
“Not by choice.” She crossed her legs. “I would much rather be lounging on a beach somewhere.”
“I hear you.”
“Speaking of hearing, what were you playing before? Sounded good.” She looked in the studio area and didn’t see anyone in there recording.
“You like that?” He hit a button on the panel and played a song from beginning to end. “It’s called ‘Shame’ by singer/songwriter Avery.”
“Sounds incredible.” Tassia nodded.
“It better. If I didn’t make my wife sound good, she would never forgive me.” Laz chuckled.
Tassia found hope to see so many successful couples in the business. She didn’t see that happening to her, especially if her last relationship meant anything.
“By the way, the bosses are in the conference room down the hall.” Laz nodded his head forward.
She stood. “Do you know what it’s about?”
Laz shrugged. “Not sure. But I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“We’ll see.” Tassia hung her purse on her shoulder as she walked down the hallway.
She arrived at the conference room and found Chantel and Truman Woodley sitting at the conference room table. Chantel had her feet up on her husband’s lap. He rubbed her bare feet. The romantic gesture brought a smile to Tassia’s face.
“Hi.” Tassia stepped into the room. “Is this a bad time?”
Chantel removed her feet from her husband’s lap. “Of course not.” She padded over to Tassia. “So great to see you again.” She gave her a hug.
“Yep. Welcome back.” Truman stood and hugged Tassia also. “Please have a seat.”
Like a gentleman, he pulled out Tassia’s chair and did the same for his wife. Looked like Chantel found the last of the good ones.
“I know what it’s like to just get off tour. I know all you want to do is rest and relax.” Chantel smiled as she spoke to Tassia.
Chantel and Truman sat at one end of the table. To not make the meeting seem so official, Tassia sat on one side of the table instead of the end and positioned herself as close to the duo as she could.
“You’re right about that. I feel like I’ve been running for years.” Tassia noticed the slightly concerned looks covering her bosses’ faces. “But you know me. I never turn d
own work. Bring it on.”
“That’s good to hear.” Truman nodded.
“But I am concerned about something. Since I have you two here, there’s no better time than the present to discuss it.” Tassia sat up taller.
“Sure. What’s on your mind?” Chantel leaned forward.
“When I signed my development deal five years ago, I knew that I wouldn’t be banging out albums right away. I knew it would take time and I would have to work hard.” Tassia had to frame this right. She had to show her appreciation.
“And you have worked very hard. Don’t think we haven’t noticed.” Chantel put her hand on top of Tassia.
It still blew her mind that this multi-platinum artist could be this kind and personable with people who worked for her.
“Thank you.” Tassia patted Chantel’s hand. “I hope with all the work I’ve done that I’ve finally earned my spot. I’ve written hits for you, Truman, for you, Chantel, for the two of you as a duo, and more. And I’ve sang backup for a lot of artists.”
“And let’s not forget that incredible hit song.” Truman wagged his finger at her.
Tassia tried so hard not to roll her eyes, but it happened.
“What’s that look about?” Chantel cocked her head.
“I’m not ungrateful about that opportunity. Aaron is a hot artist out right now. I was able to be on a successful track. People know me more.”
“But?” Truman adjusted his baseball cap on his head.
Tassia took a deep breath. “I don’t want to be known as only a ‘hook girl.’ I’m more than that.”
“You are right about that.” Chantel held Truman’s hand. “My husband and I recognize that. We also know that you’ve paid your dues. For that reason, we have an opportunity for you.”
Tassia felt the tide turning. Since she no longer had any kind of relationship now, she could concentrate on herself.
“Have you heard of Hyde Love?” Truman picked up a remote.
“Hiding love?” Tassia almost thought the two of them got into her thoughts.
She hadn’t planned on turning her back on the idea of love. She wouldn’t be seeking it while going to the next level. Relationships, sex, and love would only slow her down. The little fling she’d had with the roadie had to hold her for a while.
Love Like Crazy Page 28
