“Don’t you have anything to say?” I challenged.
“He was cutting us loose?” Jordan asked, his voice surprisingly weak.
I sat down beside him. “Yeah, man. He was. He thought he had a better chance of making his big cut if I went off on my own. I told you he’d been after me to sign a contract with Deep Hill Records. I guess he went behind our back and started talking smack to the people here at Pirate. So I’m not sure exactly what they’re expecting when we walk in there. It sounded like Jose filled their heads with a bunch of bullshit.”
Jordan let out a heavy sigh and dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. Finally he looked at me with a pained expression.
“I think I owe you an apology,” Jordan said.
Mitch and Garrett stared at our drummer in surprise.
“An apology? Is the world ending?” I crossed my arms over my chest defensively.
“I’ve been a dick. And I haven’t given you the benefit of the doubt. You’re a pain in the ass. But I get that’s who you are. I should have trusted you to have our back.”
Despite the barbs thrown in, it was the one thing I had really needed to hear from him.
“Thanks, man,” I said.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but we need to go in that room as a team. We need to take this on together. Because at the end of the day, this is our band. Our music,” Garrett spoke up.
We all nodded.
It wasn’t much longer before we were called back into a small conference room. We sat down around a table that took up most of the space. There were a couple of guys that I recognized from when we had signed our initial contract.
Danvers, the CEO, and Tate, the Vice-President of Operations. There was also a man and a woman that I didn’t recognize who had a pile of papers in front of them.
“Hi guys. I wish I could say it was good to see you, but given the circumstances, I can’t really say that,” Danvers began, narrowing his eyes as he looked at each of us. We didn’t bow our heads like naughty little school children. We kept our chins up and our backs straight.
“This is Fiona and Chet with legal. They’re going to talk through the finer points of your contract. Because apparently we have pretty big problem here guys,” Tate said, leaning forward and folding his hands together.
“Where’s Jose?” Danvers asked.
“We fired him,” I reported.
Danvers and Tate raised their eyebrows.
“Really. Well, that changes things significantly,” Danvers stated.
“I know he’s been talking in your ear about shit that’s definitely not true,” I chimed in, seeing this as my chance to set things straight.
Danvers leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his protruding belly. “Go, on,” he prompted.
“I’m not planning to jump ship for another label. I’m not looking to leave these guys and go out on my own. I’m here until the bitter end. And Jose didn’t like that. So now he’s gone. And here we are. And we hope like hell you don’t drop us. Because we made some mistakes. We messed up big time. But we can also learn. We have a better handle now on how to navigate through some of this crazy shit. And I think, if you give us a chance, we can prove you were right to sign us in the first place,” I finished, taking a deep breath.
Danvers and Tate shared a look. I wish I knew what they were thinking.
Jordan leaned forward and clasped his hand on my shoulder. “Nicely said, man.”
“Thanks for that, Cole. It’s nice to hear you all are taking this seriously. Because it was beginning to look like it was a big joke to you,” Tate said sternly. We all shook our heads.
“We take this opportunity very seriously. And we’re thankful you’ve given it to us, “ Jordan interjected.
Tate nodded before continuing. “Look, let’s get to the guts of this meeting. You’ve been called here because of your behavior on the Primal Terror tour. We signed you guys because we saw potential there. You have talent. That’s no secret. But there’s more to making it in this industry than just talent. And your unprofessional attitudes is totally unacceptable.”
He turned to Jordan and the other guys. “I understand you haven’t been happy with the direction of the publicity. Well that’s tough tits, fellas. We plan to market this album how we think is best. What do you have to bring to the table as far as marketing experience?”
Garrett, who was normally impassive, clenched his jaw. “This is our band. We know what works and what doesn’t. We have a pretty good idea of what our fans want. We just want an opportunity to talk about marketing before it’s shoved down our throats. We get that Cole is a great singer. He’s awesome at what he does. But this isn’t a one-man show. And we want the chance to market the band as a band.”
Danvers and Tate seemed to consider what Garrett had to say.
“This is the way it works, guys. You don’t have any say in how things are put out in the press. It’s the name of the game,” Tate looked at me.
“Cole, Jose had told me that you wanted out of your contract. That’s why I’m more than a bit surprised to find out that he’s no longer managing you. He seemed pretty sure of the other opportunities out there for you.”
My bandmates were looking at me but my attention was on Danvers and Tate. “Fuck, Jose,” I spat out, not caring that my use of language perhaps wasn’t appropriate for the setting.
“Like I said, I never gave him permission to talk on my behalf with you about my contract. I have no desire to terminate, nor do I plan to leave the Rejects. My priority is this album and promoting it.”
I chanced a glance at Garrett and he gave me a small nod. Jordan patted my back and Mitch smiled.
It felt good to be back in the fold.
Danvers and Tate seemed pleased but still very serious. “Okay, well that’s good to hear because we’ve already invested a lot into this release. We need to talk about where we go from here. Because what happened on the road was inexcusable. To be asked to leave a major nationwide tour does not make you look good. And it doesn’t make the label look good either. We need to rethink how we’re going to market you and this album in the best possible way. But you need to trust that we’re going to do what we have to in order to ensure you and the album is a success. Can you put your egos aside and let us do that?” Danvers gave each of us a pointed look.
Jordan nodded. “Yeah, we can do that.” The rest of us nodded.
Tate turned to Fiona and Chet. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to need you today. Thanks.” The legal department said their goodbyes and left us to talk about all the ways Generation Rejects were going to take over the world.
After the meeting, we were all left full of the warm fuzzies. I was back with my band. We were doing this together. And even though we still had stuff to sort out, we would get there.
“Maysie and I are planning to stay in the city for a few days. Why don’t you all stay too? I think it would be good for all of us to be away from the shit for awhile,” Jordan suggested.
“I’m not sharing a room with you two. I’ve had to listen to you one too many times as it is,” I replied, grimacing.
“We know you stand outside the door and listen, perv.” Jordan hit me in the back of the head. But it wasn’t done maliciously. It was the sort of joking reserved for friends.
“Let’s do it. I could use a little Big Apple madness,” Garrett said.
Mitch and I agreed.
We met up with Maysie at a tiny café across town. She was relieved when we explained how things had gone down and she had even given me a hug when Jordan told her how I had fired Jose.
“I never liked that guy,” she admitted.
“So what are we going to get in to?” Mitch asked, rubbing his hands together like a lazy Bond villain.
“I don’t know. There’s Broadway. Or Madison Avenue! I’ve always wanted to go to Saks!” Maysie exclaimed. The guys and I exchanged looks.
Then we all grinned. “Let’s go clubbing!
” I announced, followed by a riotous cheering from my friends.
Maysie rolled her eyes.
Later that night, after we had checked into a cheap hotel on the Lower East Side, I sat with my phone in my lap, debating whether or not I should call Vivian.
I wanted to call her. I really did. I wanted to tell her everything that had happened.
But at the same time I wasn’t sure I had a right to.
There was a knock on my door and I called out, “Come in!”
Maysie poked her head around the door.
“You busy?” she asked.
I waved her in. “Not at all.”
“I wanted to talk to you in private for a minute without Jordan or the other guys around,” she said, pulling a chair out from the desk in the corner and having a seat.
“I always knew you wanted my body, Mays. You just have to ask and I can make you a very happy woman,” I teased, giving her a wink.
Maysie groaned. “Do you ever give it a rest?”
“Nope,” I responded, grinning devilishly.
“Okay, I’m just going to put this out there, because I don’t know when I’ll ever have a chance to again,” she began.
“Now I’m intrigued. Do tell.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
“If you fuck over Viv, I’ll cut you like a bitch,” she warned, her eyes flashing.
Shit, I hadn’t expected her to say that.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“You heard me, Cole. I’ve watched you treat her like a damn yo-yo for years. I know Viv comes off tough but she’s not. She’s sensitive and vulnerable and you can’t use her like a freaking toy you want to play with when it suits you. She cares about you. A lot. Though I’m not entirely sure why.”
“Gee thanks, Maysie,” I muttered.
“I’m serious. We’re going out tonight on the town. And you’ll do what you always do. Pick up a random girl, not thinking about the person back in Bakersville who hasn’t hooked up with anyone in over two years because she’s hung up on you!” Maysie was pissed. She looked ready to take my head off. But what she said shocked me.
“Viv hasn’t been with anyone in two years but me?” I couldn’t believe it. I had convinced myself that she had messed around. I hadn’t been able to fathom a woman like her not being with someone who would treat her right. The way she deserved. The way I had never been able to treat her.
“No, asshole, she hasn’t. So please remember her when you’re out tonight. Think about her feelings before you take some random back to your hotel room.” Maysie got to her feet and was ready to leave.
“Hold on a sec,” I called out, stopping her.
“I haven’t been with anyone but Vivian in a long time, Mays.”
Maysie gave me the yeah right look.
“I’m serious. I haven’t wanted to. I know I haven’t been the best guy. I know I’m arrogant and full of myself. I know what you think of me. But you need to know that I don’t want to hurt Vivian ever again.”
I took a deep breath.
“I love her, Mays,” I admitted quietly.
Maysie’s eyes widened. Why was everyone so shocked when I said that? It was almost annoying.
“Well shit,” she said.
“Yeah, shit indeed,” I agreed.
“Then why are you here and not back there with her?” Maysie asked.
“Because I’m not sure she’ll have me,” I told her, admitting my biggest fear.
Maysie snorted. “Oh she’ll have you. No need to worry about that.”
I shook my head. “You don’t understand. I told her I loved her. I laid it all out there but she doesn’t believe me. She doesn’t think I have it in me to commit to her.”
“Do you blame her?” Maysie asked.
“Fuck no, I don’t blame her! I just don’t know what to do to convince her.”
Maysie sat down beside me on the bed and patted my back. “You poor, lovesick idiot. Girls aren’t that hard to figure out, you know,” she tsked.
“Then do tell, oh wise lady!” I begged.
“You need a grand gesture. Something that will surprise her. Something Vivian won’t expect. Get romantic with it. Be cliché. We love that stuff.” Maysie smiled.
“Be cliché. I don’t get it,” I mused.
Maysie rolled her eyes. “Guys are so useless.”
She pulled her wallet out of her purse and opened it up. She handed me a ticket.
“Kimble Foundation’s Third Annual Fundraising Gala presents Our Fading Blue.” I looked up at Maysie in confusion. “I don’t get it.”
Maysie pointed to the ticket. “That’s the gala Vivian has coordinated. It’s fancy and a big deal. And what’s more important is that Vivian will be there all dressed up and looking fabulous. You need to rent yourself a tux, get your ass to that gala and sweep her off her feet. That, Cole, is your grand gesture.”
I grinned. “You are one smart cookie. Jordan is a lucky man.”
Maysie grinned back. “And so are you.”
I looked down at the ticket, thinking of Vivian, my smile threatening to split my face in half. “Yes I am, Maysie.”
I stood just inside the large room feeling stiff and uncomfortable. Maybe Maysie was wrong. Because this had the makings of a really bad idea.
I had no idea where Vivian even was. And I had to go to the bathroom. But hell if I was going to try to get these pants down. They looked as though they were spray painted on.
I was anxious and ready to get the romance part over with. I didn’t know what the hell I was going to say. Something told me tapping Viv on the shoulder and saying “Tada!” wasn’t going to cut it.
“You’re looking lost,” a tiny woman said from beside me. I fidgeted in my tight pants and shiny shoes.
“You could say that,” I mumbled, swatting away some glittery shit that was falling from the ceiling.
The lady chuckled. “Do you work for the Kimble Foundation?” she asked.
“What? Uh, no,” I said, distracted by the monstrous ice sculpture thing that looked as though it wanted to eat me. Whose idea was it to put that scary shit in the corner?
“I didn’t think so. Are you here with someone?” Why was this lady bothering me? Couldn’t she tell I wasn’t in the mood for chitchat?
“Not exactly,” I explained, trying to look around for Vivian. Though I wasn’t sure how I could find anything in this huge crowd.
I thought I seen Gracie and Riley but I couldn’t be sure. I knew that they had come with Vivian. Maysie had given me the rundown once we were back in Bakersville.
I hid before they could see me. I didn’t want them to notify Vivian of my presence before she had a chance to see me herself.
Maybe I should have just called Vivian and gone to see her. Screw the romantic gesture. It had been days since we last spoke. She probably wanted to take my head off by now. But Maysie convinced me going grand was the only way to do this.
My pinched ball sack was cussing Maysie out right now.
“Who are you looking for, darling? Let me help you before you pass out.” The little old lady seemed nice enough and she did seem concerned about my overall state at the moment. Not that I blamed her. I was sweating like a pig and fidgeting more than a whore in church.
“I’m looking for Vivian Baily,” I told her.
The lady smiled and it made her look ten years younger. Hell, if she was thirty years younger and I wasn’t stupidly in love with someone else, I would totally have tapped that.
“Vivian works for me! She’s the one that put all this together! Didn’t she do an amazing job? I’m Marion, her boss!” the lady said, holding out her hand.
I looked around the room, really taking stock of everything Vivian had done. And Marion was right. The place was incredible. I didn’t take a lot of notice of fancy schmancy crap, but even I could appreciate it.
There was so much to Vivian that I didn’t know. So much that I planned to spend a lot of time figuring out. I had
a future to invest in. . .with Vivian.
I shook Marion’s hand. “It looks bitchin’,” I agreed.
Marion smirked and I realized my gutter mouth had gotten loose again.
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
Marion waved me off.
“No worries. There’s nothing wrong with some colorful language. I like to drop an F bomb every now then.” I laughed loudly. This Marion broad was pretty cool.
She pointed across the room. “The last time I saw Vivian, she was over there.”
I tried to find Vivian but still couldn’t see her.
“Okay, I should go find her. Thanks, Marion,” I said, granting her my best panty- melting smile.
She may be old, but even Marion wasn’t immune to my charms.
“You’re welcome. I hope you find her,” Marion called out as I started to walk through the crowd.
“Me too,” I said under my breath.
I bumped into a waiter, who spilled wine down my front. I tripped over a woman’s shoe and stomped on her toe, prompting her to hit me with her purse.
I ate a couple of hors d'oeuvres and drank a few cocktails. And I still couldn’t find Vivian.
And just when I was debating the futility of my plan, it was like the climax to every stupid CW drama I had ever watched when there was nothing else on TV. The lights dimmed, the music changed to a slow, romantic number, and suddenly I saw her.
She was standing in the corner, laughing with a man, letting him put his hand on her lower back.
My good mood vanished instantly and I saw murderous, gut-wrenching red.
She was beautiful in a long silver gown that slit up the thighs and plunged down the back. Her hair was pulled to the side and fell in curls over her right shoulder.
She looked down right fucking edible. I wanted to taste the skin on the back of her neck, knowing it would taste like salt and vanilla.
I wanted to hear her laugh, her eyes dancing as she looked up at me. And I wanted those same green eyes on fire when she threw her shoe at my head.
I wanted everything about her.
I slowly and purposefully walked across the expansive room towards her. I clenched my fists as I watched the guy beside her lean down and whisper something in her ear. And then he was walking away and leaving her alone.
Seductive Chaos Page 27
