They caught him up on the growth of their family, passing around cellphones full of pictures. He was truly happy for his friends.
Cameron finally bit into his sandwich. He groaned to his core.
“It’s good ain’t it?” Asher smiled.
“Man!” He wiped the smoky sauce from his mouth. This singer could sound like a toad and Cameron wouldn’t care. His outlook on the night went from gloom to promising. Good food. Great friends. Sitting back listening to them made this trip worth it.
Then the lights dimmed. Asher’s wife started clapping and bouncing up and down in her chair before the music started.
“My Lady, she hasn’t even started.” Asher whispered, the love in his voice made Cameron glance over.
“You know she’s my favorite.” Jazz whispered back.
“Y’all hush.” Yuki added from across the table, settling into Dylan’s side.
Cameron figured he had about a year to pull off this soundtrack. A year to assemble a formidable roster of artists to present their sound to the world. He wanted all the tracks to feature RSE artists. But the look they shared paled in comparison to the success he sought. It was one he envied. And like Marques and Brione, they all gave him hope. He lifted the sandwich entertained by their banter until he heard her first note.
Chapter Two
Nervous jitters swirled in her stomach as Sydney Jones stepped to the microphone. And the feeling never ever got old. It was sort of like real life magic. Fairy tales and birthday cake. And everything that makes life worth living. But it almost killed her.
Not metaphorically. But a real, stretched out on a gurney, rushed to the emergency room, death situation. And all because of her first and only love, music. She took the whole, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll to the extreme. Not the sex, but the drugs and touring, pushing her body to limit until she nearly overdosed.
“The pieces of me, are like ashes in the wind….”
Sydney closed her eyes as her first public notes in five years emerged from the pit of her soul, bubbling up to the service. She requested the low house lights to conceal her nerves and to mute the accessing eyes. Most people heard about her overdose. It was the worse day of her life, but tonight she would sing for her brother Isaac and walk away again. She had to.
She settled in for the set. Letting the music be the escape it once was. Isaac and his band backed her every note, skat change and adlib. Opening her eyes, she glanced at Isaac, it was written on his face, and she couldn’t contain the joy either.
Was it possible to love the very thing that was detrimental to her health? Her very life?
Yes.
Sydney scanned the room, feeding off the energy of the audience as heads bobbed and fingers snapped. A woman near the stage sat with a pained expression on her face. That was music too. It could take you back to a place, a time, a love.
The next notes Sydney dug deeper and let voice intentionally crack. To make it ache. To make it tell a story. Her story. Their story.
The final note escaped in a whisper. She stepped back into the shadows of the stage. She could probably hear a pin drop and then a thunderous sound filled the room. They howled and cheered.
Sydney held back tears.
“Thank you.” She used the black towel on the bar stool to dab her eyes. “Tonight, is my baby brother’s birthday. Can y’all help me out?”
They hooped and hollered.
“On the count of three, let’s sing Happy Birthday. One…two…three….”
And as requested, the crowd sung to Isaac and she used the time to get herself together. Isaac was the light in her life. He helped piece her back together when everyone turned their backs on her. He didn’t give up on her.
“Y’all sound beautiful.” She took a drink of water, letting the shadows nurse her tatter soul. As they transitioned from the traditional rendition to the Stevie Wonder version.
“Happy Birthday to ya…”
Sydney held the microphone towards them as the band joined in.
“We need to take this act on the road. Give yourselves a round of applause.” They clapped louder as Isaac bowed. “I think I can dig up a few more songs, if you’d like to hear them.”
The overwhelming sound encouraged her to continue. Sydney signaled the band and the music to a mellow Jill Scott number. Man could these guys play.
Sydney stepped back into the spotlight. And the lights shimmered off her sequin mermaid dress. She dropped the drugs and picked up cooking. It gave her a few more pounds than she was used to but it made the rock of her body solid. A few people stood, as she cooed about living her life like it was golden.
Yeah, music was magical. She rounded the verse out and hit the chorus and the audience hit every note and queue like real background singers. Sydney laughed tossing her curls back and forth. Danced around the stage. Clapping her hands over her head as the audience bellowed about freedom and she slipped into the moment.
The song ended and this time they didn’t wait. Every man and woman stood on their feet. She clapped along blowing kisses, smiling so hard her face ached.
“We need to take this act on the road.” They laughed along with her. And as they took their seats she wiped the sweat from her face. “Y’all I saw this fine brother tonight.”
“Alright now!” A woman yelled.
“Yes, honey. Tall, chocolate and fiiiine.” She fluffed her hair and shook her shoulders. That got them laughing again. “He was so fine I had to change my set list to add this one.” She flicked her wrist toward Isaac. He hit the introductory notes and the party continued. “Oh y’all know this one too.” She gave her sassiest wink and settled the microphone in to the stand. “This is what I should have said to him.”
Sydney cooed about his brown skin, rolling of her hips to the Indie Arie joint that had the women grabbing their men. The silhouettes of couples slow dancing between the tables scattered around the room. She let the words flow like smooth milk chocolate, as she let him run through her mind. And then she spotted him.
Center table near the back. And unlike the rest of the audience, his eyes were locked on her. The intensity pulled her from across the room.
Might as well make it count. Sydney slipped into her sultriest rendition and the band didn’t miss a beat.
Her admirer leaned forward and she let the words of the song do the talking. His eyes closed for the briefest moment, as his head rolled side to side, so slow she almost missed it. When his eyes opened the look he gave her made her want to jump off the stage.
The song ended and Isaac thumped on his bass for her final number and every hand went up in the air. Fingers snapped, bodies rocked.
For her last selection, the lights lowered back to a dim and she beckoned him to her using the words from Marvin Gaye, Sydney took them on a journey. Crooning for the lover outside her reach.
She sent the message with her body, every calculated wale and extended note. Mr. Suit-and-Tie, I’m gonna make you come to me.
The bridge came and Isaac took over for the guitar solo. Sydney closed her eyes, letting her hips sway, as the melody from the crowd built in a simmering chant. Singing every word of the chorus.
Sydney sprinkled her well-place runs around the room. Then she took them all up a notch folding over and coming up tossing her hair reaching towards the object of her affection.
Her signature beg and plea blended with riffs of the guitar and the audience brought it on home. The song ended and thunderous sound filled the room again, seeping into her pours, and this was why she loved music. To bad her love didn’t love her.
Sydney turned towards the band and clapped with the audience. Isaac grabbed her hand, lifting it it up and they screamed so loud she thought she’d be deaf. She’d have to soak it up. This was a one time gig.
She mouthed her thanks making eye contact with people here and there. Then her eyes found his, standing as if a spotlight hung over his head. The expression on his face said he felt ever word she sent his way.
<
br /> “Give it up one more time for my big sister, Sydney “Lady Bird” Jones.”
She bowed and exited the stage. She needed a drink.
What a show! Cameron had to have her.
He’d never had an experience like that in his life. The hour set exceeded his expectations. She radiated star quality. She had that illusive “it” factor that can’t be trained or explained. It just was. And she had it in abundance.
Raised in a musical family gave him an advantage. He’d seen his father perform with his group for his entire life. He’d seen his brother perform around the world. But Sydney put a hoax on the audience with each sway of her hips, bounce of her curls, and her voice. God that voice. He wanted to experience it again.
Cameron stepped around Asher and made his way to the side door. The audience stood clapping, still transfixed by her show. Thankful for his six foot height, he bobbed and weaved through the crowd, extending his neck to see which way she went. His heart raced faster than his feet could carry him. He crossed the doorway and he ran smack dab into Bruce Daniels, their music man and partner with RSE.
“Man, I was coming in to find you. Everyone is waiting for you.” Bruce gestured over his shoulder.
“Did you see a woman in a black dress come through here?” Cameron used his hands to cast her silhouette while scanning the length of the walkway in search of her curly fro. He guesstimated she stood to his shoulder. But her hair should make it easy to spot her. But he saw nothing.
Bruce shook his head. “What woman?”
“Isaac’s sister.” He walked toward the front, she disappeared. The people began coming out of the lounge and it buzzed with energy.
“Isaac’s sister?”
“Yeah, man. Isaac’s sister. Sydney something Jones.” He was getting agitated with all the questions as the area between the lounge and bar flooded with people. They swirled around him obstructing his view.
“You mean, Sydney “Lady Bird” Jones?” Bruce spoke over the crowd.
Cameron stopped turning back to Bruce, zeroing on his best friend, and business partner. “You know her?”
“And you don’t?”
“Should I?” Cameron wanted to scrub the humor off his face. But not knowing most artist helped him form an independent opinion based on the music. It let the music, be the music.
“And she’s here?” He heard the awe in Bruce’s voice, as he scanned the swelling crowd for her too.
“Yes. She. Is. Here. ” He glanced back inside the lounge. “She was here.”
“And I missed it?”
“Bruce.” Cameron stopped in front of him. The adrenaline for the show and his desire to know find his curvy bombshell had him ready to throttle Bruce. “Who is she?”
“Cam, I don’t know if you want to entertain that one. She has an amazing voice. But I’m not sure she’s what you’re looking for.” He averted Cameron’s gaze.
“I need her for the soundtrack. Her show was electric. The audience loved her. You should have seen it. Fast. Slow. She didn’t miss a beat. When we put her voice with your music…. We’d be unstoppable.”
Sydney was the queen he needed for RSE. All that sexiness hypnotized the entire audience, him included. And she had the chops to back it up.
“She is a star, man, I know it.” Cameron paced in a circle collecting his thoughts. “It was like throwing Whitney, Lauren, Amy, and Mary J into a crock pot. That woman was bad. I want her Bruce.”
Cameron found them. Bruce molded them. It was a team effort.
He could see it now. Never mind knowing she flicked on every switch in his body. He couldn’t have her, have her. Not in his bed. Not sample those full lips. Not if he wanted her as an artist.
He had a feeling those ruby lips would haunt him.
“Want who?”
Cameron looked up to see his brother, Marques, and the whole team standing beside him—Devin, Jamal, and Damian. Having all the partners in town meant they could vote tonight.
Cameron led the team but they had a policy of needing 100% agreement when signing an artist. But Cameron made the final call. He could hear her voice over one of Bruce’s tracks. He would have Marques write a few songs for her.
He turned to explain and heard Isaac walk up. “Which way did you sister go?”
Isaac blinked a few times, as if surprised by Cameron’s outburst. “She left.”
“What do you mean she left?” Cameron’s heart dropped.
“She left. Bars aren’t her thing. She came for the first set only.”
Cameron ran a hand over his face. “I need you to call her and get her back here. Tonight. I want to sign her to RSE.”
The adrenaline flooded her veins. It was the most addictive high brought on by singing on stage. Sydney sat in her car taking several deep breaths, gathering her thick hair into a messy bun. She cranked up the air condition leaning closer to the vents and used a towel to dab at the sweat running down her neck.
What a show!
She flipped down the visor and laughed at the mess before her. She’d sweated off her makeup, but her lipstick was intact. The urge to grab a glass of Hennessy and smoke a cigarette made her shift the car into gear. She imagined she’d always associate the stage with her past lifestyle. A lifestyle she no longer wanted for herself.
“Happy Birthday Isaac.” She said to the empty car.
Sydney tossed the damp towel in the passenger seat flipping the visor closed. She enjoyed it while it lasted, now it was time to leave S&J and head home. She’d take a cold shower, cook herself a hot meal, and find a way to push Mr. Suit-and-Tie and the ache for music and the stage from her mind. This wasn’t her life anymore.
Chapter Three
Cameron suppressed the urge to run after Sydney. Tonight was all for Isaac. His performance proved what they already new. He would be a major asset to RSE and the industry.
The VIP suite held a oversized conference table. The staffed decorated the room with birthday streamers and a cake on stand in the back of the room. The food lined the far wall in a buffet style with two to three dishes from each of the truck vendors.
S&J had a wonder concept of bridging international ales and international cuisine. Cameron would have to add them to their rooster of event locations.
“Surprise!” Clapping brought Cameron back to the matter at hand as Isaac stood in the doorway of the room.
His face filled with shock, scanning the room. RSE chartered a private airplane to fly the entire team to Austin. Cameron walk over to greet the man of the hour.
“What is this?” Isaac said, a slight quiver in his voice.
“We want to show you how much we appreciate your hard work, your endless touring, and your superb musicality.”
Isaac dropped his gaze and Cameron grip his neck, much like he handled his younger brothers. Twenty-five was in his rearview mirror. It would be the beginning for Isaac.
“You came to us wet behind the ears.” The crowd laughed, and Isaac did too. He looked up with unshed tears in his eyes. “You have put in the time and the energy. We hope this small token of our appreciate will show just how much we love you man.”
Cameron stepped back giving Isaac some space. “But first we have a question.” He took the contract from Damian, “Would you like to become an official member of the RSE family?”
Isaac glanced up and around the semi-circle. Each of the partners stood before him like a hedge of protection, standing in solidarity. Cameron could tell by the slight quiver in his lip, Isaac was about to crack.
“Ladies, will you give us a few minutes. Eliana I’ll need you back in about ten minutes.” Cameron waited for the room to clear, leaving the RSE partners. A few squeezed Isaac’s shoulder, whispering congratulations as they walked. “We don’t want to overwhelm you or pressure you.”
“Nah, it’s not that.” Isaac said, brushing away tears. “You don’t understand what you’re offering me. This contract means the world to me.” He reached for it. Still not looking up to
meet Cameron’s gaze. “Cam you took a chance on me when all I had was a used bass guitar and a dream. I didn’t have a cent to my name. I was a kid on my own. And now this.”
Isaac head dropped and the guys rallied around him.
Cameron gripped the back of his neck and pulled Isaac in to a bear hug. “Family…”
“Over fame.” The others guys finished without hesitation.
“Isaac, you don’t need this contract to know that you are family.” Cameron watched him mature from a boy rough around the edges to a leader. “You could tell us ‘Go to hell’ and we’d still consider you a part of our family and team.”
Isaac chuckled. “Nah man. Never.” He stood upright and looked around the room. “I’d sign that contract in blood if I had to.”
“No blood is needed. But you will work, harder than you ever have.” Cameron locked eyes with him, then motioned to the table.
Cameron sat at the head. “This is a formality but I want you to know how we work before you sign.” He used a finger to reenforce his words, tapping on the contract in front of him. “Our motto is ‘Family Over Fame’ because the men around this table will officially become your big brothers. Invested in your success. Support when the load seems a little to heavy to hold.
“We want to see you exceed your wildest dreams in this industry but most of all we want to see you thrive as a man.” He glanced around the table, this was their legacy.
Cameron gestured to his left to start the proceedings, “Marques Carter is both an artist and a partner. You’ll work with him to improve your writing skills and while we’re grooming you, you’ll serve as his creative director, alongside Brione.”
Marques tipped his head, “Welcome to RSE.”
“Thanks man.”
“Devin Moore handles marketing, promotion, distribution—”
“I deliver babies, cook a gourmet meal, throw a mean party…” He chuckled, his high voltage smile on deck. The guys laughed. He stood giving Isaac a pound.
Rockstar Sinners (Forbidden Chords Book 2) Page 2
