Hard Rock Unrehearsed

by Van Dalen, Rene

  When they landed on top of the building they went through the same procedure. She was glad when the doors closed behind them and they were finally in the penthouse. It seemed as if the whole damn thing was one huge glass box set on top of a building! They had stunning almost three hundred and sixty degree views of Seattle. Adam walked towards the glass wall and tapped it.

  “The glass throughout the apartment is tinted, so we can see out but no one can see in, even when the lights are on inside. It is bulletproof, bombproof, hell every sort of proof my Dad could think of. Access to the penthouse is by private elevator and card access only. The guys have the option of doubling up in the bedrooms or they can take one of the bedrooms on the lower floor. The two lower floors are part of the penthouse apartment and we usually use it for security teams and such. There is a private staircase that connects those floors with this one so you don’t have to use the elevator at all. I put Jade and Diego in the master suite because it’s soundproof and as I understand it we are going to need that.” He laughed as Jade charged him and he ran around the couch to get away from her. “You will thank me later when Dad gets here Princess. He’s staying here as well.”

  Jade groaned, sank down on the huge squashy couch threw her head back against the cushions and closed her eyes. When she opened them Luis had sat down across from her and had a folder open on his lap.

  “We’re having a band meeting. I want no interruptions therefore I suggest the rest of you sort the sleeping and guarding arrangements out while we are busy.”

  The room went silent and then they were all just gone! Everyone! Even Tag and Diego. Jade looked at Giv and raised her eyebrows. ‘Ninja’s’ he mouthed at her with a grin and she grinned right back at him.

  “We have quite a bit to go through so let’s get to it.” Luis said and they all fell silent.

  “Firstly I have heard from the label and they have their legal team on the allegations made by Ms. Rutherford. The label is not happy about the adverse publicity the band is receiving right now but they are not blaming Jade for the way it’s being played in the media. Having said that they are not happy and being not happy they tried to force us into accepting extra dates in LA and doing a special show in Vegas to placate the fans according to them but it’s just them trying to ride the money train on the publicity you are receiving. I told them we would discuss it and that I would get back to them. They are pushing hard but I’m not going to let them run rough shod over us.” He looked around at all of them and no one said a word. “If you take the dates it would mean that your break before leaving for Europe will be cut by one week which would leave you with two weeks to rest and prepare. Not doable as far as I’m concerned.

  Secondly your contract with the label is up for renewal early next month. This is a big one. I've had two offers from other labels who would like to sign you to their stable. The one offer is one I feel we should seriously look at while the other I think is a fishing expedition to ascertain if you would leave your current label. The serious offer comes from Regional Records which you all know has Sweet Sacrifice and Killing Fields in their stable. I think we should seriously consider this offer”. He looked around the quiet group. “Regional has a good reputation and I know for a fact that they treat their artists well so think on it over the next couple of days.

  Thirdly the label wants to release a Best Of album and a live concert album early in the New Year, they are very insistent about it. Releasing a best of album at this stage of your career I feel is a mistake. Yes you have made it, yes you have had a series of number one hits that your fans love but they would love a new album more. You are a young band and have some way to go before you can think about an album of your best songs. We need to give them a couple more albums before we go that route. As I’ve said before releasing a live album was on the cards anyway so that’s not a problem.”

  “I agree.” Trace said as he sat forward. “We’ve been working on a new album with Jay and it’s going to blow everyone’s socks off.”

  “That’s good to hear and it's something we will address once you are back from the European leg of the tour and we have a clearer view of the future of the band. Talking about your future leads me to the fourth point we have to discuss. Richie. I have been in contact with him and with his Doctor. He is recovering well and is working through some things that apparently contributed to him spiralling out of control. Even though his recovery is going well his Doctor is wary about him joining the band for the European leg of the tour, he fears that the pressure might be too much. I’ve given him my assurance that no one in the band or those close to the band are drugging or even drinking to excess and that he would be safe. Jen is standing by him and supporting him in his struggle to get clean and has given him her commitment to help him through this even if it means going on tour with him. Richie is hoping to join you in San Diego for the last concert of this leg of the tour but he says only to watch, not to perform and no media either. I have given him our assurances that however he wants to play this we’ll be there for him.”

  Everyone nodded their assent but at the same time they kept on glancing at Jade.

  “And now to the fifth point. Jay. As her manager I am working along with her family to minimise the damage being done to her in the media. I had an update from the legal firm employed to pursue the matter and they informed me that a public apology and a special report is being put together by Ms. Rutherford to refute all the allegations she made during the interview. An apology has already gone out to the media and will appear in the entertainment sections of the national newspapers and in the top entertainment magazines.”

  “Thanks Papa Luis, I appreciate everything you are doing for me.” Jade murmured.

  Luis smiled and nodded.

  “Point six is about what is going to happen over the next two days. We have two days to rest before the show. For the rest of today and tomorrow I want all of you to rest, relax and do whatever you want as long as you don’t leave the penthouse. On Friday we have a sound check at the stadium at 12.30 then back here for lunch and we leave for the stadium again at 5.00 to enable the stylists to do their thing to make you all look halfway decent before you go on stage and for a small meet and greet with the fans from your Seattle fan club. I tried to cancel the after show meet and greet set up by the label but unfortunately that was denied so you’re all going to have to suck it up and endure the questions that are going to be thrown at you. Jay will not be attending she will be coming back here immediately after the show.”

  “That’s bullshit!” Jade burst out. “I’m tired of running and hiding. Whoever this person is who has been hounding me I won’t hide from them any longer. I’ll be at the meet and greet with boots on and I’ll be at the after party!”

  That got her silent looks but she didn’t give a damn.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  She was bored. Hours had passed since they all explored the penthouse and the apartments on the floors below. The guys had sorted out their sleeping arrangements, Trace and RJ chose to share one of the rooms in the penthouse while Jimmy and Giv decided on the apartments below. There was even a room set aside for her Dad. He called to inform them he had been delayed and would only be in later. That was a good thing because she wasn’t looking forward to that confrontation at all.

  Diego had disappeared. He hadn’t been seen since they got to the penthouse and Jade was getting pissed. No one seemed to know where he had gone and Tank’s lame assed excuses just pissed her off more. There had to be a reason why her Dad, Mike, Adam, Rick, Tag and Diego were incommunicado at the exact same time. Or maybe Diego was avoiding her after his weird reaction on the plane.

  Jade wandered restlessly around the penthouse admiring the view. She came to a decision as she looked out at the same damn buildings for what seemed like time number hundred and ninety nine. The master bedroom wasn’t the only soundproof room and grabbing her big slouchy bag from the couch she stalked over to it, opened the door and closed it behind her.
Her Dad had put in a large music room, complete with a baby grand and several guitars hanging from hooks around the room. The piano stood to one side of the windowless room and the guitars were arranged to be more of a display than functional. Two big black couches stood against two of the walls with colourful pillows scattered on them and a red afghan draped over the back of each. Above the one couch a large window filled most of the back wall except for the door that lead into that room, peaking over the couch she gasped as she took in the state of the art recording equipment. It was a studio! A full on studio! Another door lead out of the closed off section and she was sure if she investigated she would find musical equipment and anything she might ever need to record whatever she wanted to.

  It didn’t take her long to get set up and arrange everything the way she liked it. The music came to her as always, soothing, calming and then it changed. She felt it building and stopped playing to extract her trusty pad and pencils from her bag. Jade wasn’t sure why the music wanted to be hard and harsh but she felt it in every note she played and wrote down. The more she played the more she knew it was heavier than anything she had written before. It portrayed the rage she had bottled up for years. Rage at Val, rage at Tag, rage at Diego and rage at even Luis. But the rage that threatened to consume her if she didn’t bury it deep was the rage and hatred she felt for Gina and Marcella Vincent, the sisters from hell. She felt that rage and converted it into something positive, a song so powerful it surged through her fingers saturating the room with its sound. She was standing leant over the keyboard and hammering out the notes when she felt a change in the air of the room. Screaming out the lyrics she turned her head and looked over her shoulder at Trace who stood motionless in the open door. She ceased playing immediately and turned to him.

  “I want to record that with you. You and me, in the studio, we record it for your first album.” He growled out as he slammed the door shut behind him.

  “What? Trace that song, it’s not nice and not at all what I......” He interrupted her mid-sentence.

  “Don’t give a fuck babe. That song is going to be number one on the rock and metal charts and I want it to be my voice that supports you. Honey that song, it’s your guts, your heart, your life, everything that is you. Shit babe if you can write one you can write a whole fuck of a lot more!”

  Jade grinned and then lost the grin. “I’m never going to go out on my own Trace, I don’t have the strength to face the shit storm it would create.”

  Trace had moved closer to her as she spoke and was now next to her and he curved his arm over her shoulders, holding her to him. “You have such a huge and amazing talent babe why the hell would you want to hide it?”

  Jade dropped her head on his shoulder then moved away to sit on the piano bench running her fingers mindlessly over the keys. “There is so much crap going on in my life Trace. There are things from my past that I have tried so very hard to forget but every time I’m close to succeeding something happens and its right there in my face again. This whole fiasco with Molly Rutherford is but the tip of the iceberg if the person who I have a feeling is behind all this shit plays their next card. It’s going to be foul Trace, not dirty, that’s still too clean, it’s going to be foul and it’s going to drag all of you into that cesspool if you don’t distance yourself from me.”

  “That’s not going to happen Princess.” A deep voice said from behind them and both of them swung around.

  “Dad!” Jade was of the bench and into his arms in a flash, sighing as they closed around her and hugged her tight.

  “When did you get here?” She asked softly with her cheek pressed into his chest.

  “Just walked in Princess.” His voice rumbled in his chest under her cheek. “And I’m telling you without any uncertainty, none of you are going to be touched by their foulness. They are going to pay for what they did, they and everyone who helped them in any way shape or form are going down.”

  “Dad! You’re not a one man army! I want retribution for the shit I have been accused of, definitely, but I do not want innocents knocked down because they inadvertently helped the persons who are out to get me.”

  She looked up into his face and saw that she had lost, her father had shut down and he would do as he saw fit. With a sigh she leant back against his chest and hugged him as he snorted his answer and Trace chuckled. Shifting her to his side he held out his hand in greeting, introducing himself.

  “Michael Galloway.”

  “Trace Hanover sir, I’m pleased to meet you.” Trace smiled as he clasped her dad’s hand and winked at her.

  “You think she’s good enough to embark on a solo career.” Her father used his business voice and Jade watched as Trace’s mouth tipped up on one side in a small smile.

  “Definitely sir. Your daughter is a talented musician, a singer and songwriter with such incredible depth that she could hold her own with the top artists around today. She has been hiding that talent for years and I think it’s time for her to step out of the shadows and take the limelight she so richly deserves. I want to work with her, the band wants to work with her and once she has been heard I’m sure the offers are going to be streaming in from the labels who will want to sign her.” Trace gushed.

  Michael Galloway grinned at Trace. “She will be signing with Regional Records and no other, as will Storm Front I hope. We feel sure you will be happier with our style of doing business than your present label. But no pressure, you have time to make the right decision.”

  Trace and Jade stood there gaping up at him, well Jade had to look up, Trace was on more of a level with her dad as he was tall.

  “Since when does the family own Regional Records?” Jade whispered.

  “Princess, did you really think I would trust some greedy record mogul to take care of Patrick?” Her dad asked with an arrogantly raised eyebrow.

  “Holy shit Dad! Didn’t he lose his mind when he found out? He wanted to make it on his own, not with family money!”

  “He did make it on his own Princess. I just moved in to make sure he was properly taken care of after.” Still looking just as arrogant he sighed. “Patrick and I have an agreement, I don’t interfere any further and he stays with the label. Easy.”

  Jade sighed heavily. “As if you don’t interfere! We both know that’s an impossibility for you, you can’t help yourself.”

  Michael frowned. “I love my family Princess and I will do anything I have to do to protect them. Anything.”

  Her dad gave her his beautiful smile and changed the subject.

  “Your brothers and I just returned from a meeting with Diego’s IT specialist and I’m pleased to report that we are hours away from shutting Will Seeker, whoever he may be, down.”

  “That will be great. It will make the last few dates of the tour so much easier and a whole lot more fun.” Trace moved towards the door as he spoke. “I’m going to find RJ to tell him about the song, drag him back in here and then we are going to get some work done.”

  He walked out and closed the door softly behind him.

  Jade moved away from her father and walked around the room, touching a finger to a guitar string here and there, setting them chiming before she moved away to the next to only run a finger over the body before moving away again. Throughout her father watched her without saying a word. At last she turned to him and met his warm gaze.

  “You know don’t you?” She asked softly.

  He only nodded and didn’t say a word.

  “You know it’s the Vincents doing this don’t you?” Again he nodded.

  “They have hated me from the minute Val noticed me and they have caused me such pain that I find it hard to think objectively about what they are doing now.”

  “They are going to pay for all of it baby girl. They are going to pay for every single tear, every single sleepless night and every single empty day they caused my princess to feel.” Her dad rasped out in his deep cold voice. “I warned Val Delgado to treat you with care, to love you
as you deserve and had he survived the accident he would have been faced with the consequences of not doing as he had vowed.”

  “Dad!” Jade gasped softly as shock raced through her.

  “Baby girl you have been our princess from the moment your mother and I looked at the sonar and were told we were expecting a little girl. I promised her baby, I promised her I would keep you safe and the Vincents and Val Delgado made me break my promise. That is not going to happen again. I will not allow it to happen again.” He drew in a deep breath before he continued. “This morning Steele selected a team that will head up your personal security under Diego’s direction. Diego and I had a meeting and cleared the air. There had been some old resentments and misinformation to get rid of and we have done that. He has my support and permission to pursue a relationship with you.”

  Again he left Jade speechless and gaping at him with an open mouth.

  “That clears the air, so Princess how about something to eat and something to drink before you get busy with the band.”

  And just like that her father changed the subject and walked out of the music room. Michael Galloway had said what he wanted to say, arranged matters the way it suited him, manipulated his family in a way he believed kept them safe and was moving on to the next challenge. He was so annoying!