Queen of Kings

by RH Tucker

  “Jade, no. That’s your music. I don’t care if all you were doing was snapping your fingers, there’s no way in hell I’m letting them—”

  “Austin is Jimmy’s son,” I blurt out, stopping his words. His eyes meet mine, looking confused. I nod. “He didn’t tell me and used his mom’s name when I met him. I don’t know if it was his plan or his dad’s. Maybe they were in on it together, or maybe he didn’t plan anything but took advantage of the fact that he knew I was in his dad’s building. I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

  “Damn,” he whispers. “Do you really think he’d do that? I mean, I only met him those couple of times, but he seemed cool. Definitely not a douchebag like Bret.”

  I scoff. “I don’t even want to talk about Bret. We met Jimmy at that lunch, and Bret sided with them. I know I broke up with him, and our relationship always seemed like a contractual obligation, but I thought … I just thought …”

  “Hey.” Maddox reaches over, taking my hand. “Please don’t cry over him.”

  I blink, and the tears fall over my cheeks. “It’s him. It’s Austin. It’s Jimmy. It’s the entire thing,” I eek out, wiping my eyes. “I feel so stupid. And the worst part of it all is you’re right. Austin didn’t seem like that kind of guy. That’s why I liked him. That’s why I felt more with him these last few weeks than I ever did with Bret. I-I can’t believe he …”

  “Come here.” He scoots closer, wrapping his arms around me. “Please don’t cry, sis. Those bastards aren’t worth it.”

  I nod, agreeing with him. They aren’t worth it. None of them are worth my time or thoughts or tears anymore. But that doesn’t change the fact of how hurt I feel over it all. Maybe I’d only be disappointed by Bret not taking my side. Maybe I’d only be angry that Jimmy Richards had me sign a contract he knew wasn’t in my best interest. But I’m more than those things. I feel betrayed and crushed because of Austin. And even if I don’t want to cry, the tears still fall with my arms around my brother.

  28

  Austin

  I’ve stopped sending text messages. Not because I want to but because they aren’t getting through. Neither are phone calls. She’s blocked my number.

  I waited outside of Juxtapose Studios the day after it happened, but she never showed up. The second day I had classes all day, but I drove by, on the off chance of spotting her outside of the building. I knew it was practically impossible to see her that way, but I still did it.

  Now that she’s not taking calls or text messages, I continue to wait outside of the studio, hoping to see her coming or going. Neither has happened, and it’s been over a week. Heading to Rich Records, I drive in silence, listening to the nondescript buzzing of cars on the streets. Even if I haven’t seen her, I’ve been trying to think of something I can do to apologize. Anything.

  But everything always leads back to why she wouldn’t believe me. Back to hiding the truth from her.

  “You’re just in time,” Shawn says when I walk into the lobby.

  “For what?”

  He points across the room, at the building across the street. Turning around, I see the yoga-pants-wearing jogger with her poodle on her leash. “Neon blue today,” Shawn says, chuckling.

  “Yep,” I reply, taking a seat in his chair, not paying any attention to the jogger.

  “Oh, come on. Nothing?” He swats my arm.

  “You should go over there. Introduce yourself.” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Make up some story about how you’re not really a security guard and then go out for a while until it all blows up in your face.”

  He cringes. “Still no answer, huh?” All I can do is shrug. “At least she knows who you really are.”

  The comment makes my jaw drop, and I glance up at him, annoyed. “Seriously? Your jokes suck, man.”

  “Sorry.” He looks away, leaning against the desk. “What are you going to do?”

  I roll my eyes, then let my head drop back, staring up at the ceiling. “There’s nothing I can do. She’s cut me off. I can’t do anything to apologize, much less explain things.”

  More silence. I know he wants to be encouraging, or at least supportive, but I’d do anything to somehow forget about everything. I can’t stand that she thinks I deliberately tried to deceive her. But forgetting everything is the last thing I can do because the front doors open and in walks Bret.

  I’ve never seen his bandmates, but I can only assume the two guys with him are them because they’re dressed the same way. Knockoff Halloween rock star costumers, complete with wrist-covering black bracelets, chains hanging off of their necks, and pitch-black dyed hair hanging in front of their faces.

  “What’s up, Austin?” Bret calls out like we’re friends.

  Getting up from the chair, I cross my arms over my chest. I haven’t seen this guy since the lunch, and my immediate urge is to hit him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “We’re hitting the recording studio,” he answers.

  “Are you joking? You’re seriously still going through with this crap?”

  He stares at me like I’m crazy. “Still? Dude, this is what I’ve been working toward for years. Some assistant called me yesterday, and we finally have studio time.”

  “I can’t believe you. That girl trusted you, and you’re just pissing it all away? For what?”

  He starts laughing. “Trusted me? That’s real nice talk for someone who she was hooking up with behind my back, then broke up with me over.”

  I step closer, only for Shawn to get between us. Bret’s two friends stand behind him, scowling at me. “We weren’t hooking up, jackass. You two had your own issues.”

  “Whatever. I don’t even care, so I don’t know why you do so much. Jade knew this is what I wanted.”

  “Yeah. Way to go, ass.”

  Rolling his eyes, he lets out a sigh. “Look, you gonna tell me what studio we’re in, or should I call daddy?”

  It takes everything in my power not to lunge over Shawn and deck him. Turning back around, I open up the computer on the desk to see the studio reservations for the day. “You’re in studio two.”

  “Thanks, junior.”

  “Go to hell.”

  He chuckles while I scowl, watching his lackeys trail behind him down the hallway. Turning a corner, they’re out of sight, and I spin back around, kicking the desk. So now, not only do I have to live with the guilt of how I acted with Jade, but I’m forced to watch Bret reap the benefits of dealing with my father.

  “I have to go,” I tell Shawn, heading toward the doors.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I have to fix this.”

  “But I thought—”

  I turn around, walking backward. “Shawn, I have to at least try.”

  Shaking his head, he gives me a reluctant smile, lifting his shoulders. I nod, feeling his unspoken sentiments and head to my car. I don’t know what my first move is. Sitting in my car as the engine runs, I’m not sure if I should try texting or calling her again. It’d never get through, but maybe by some miracle, there’d be a glitch in the phone service, and it would. Shaking my head at myself, my thoughts then travel to possibly going to the building she lives in and just waiting for her to show up. Is that too stalkerish?

  Instead, I decide to go back to Juxtapose Studio. I find a parking spot across the street and turn the car off. With my seatbelt still in place, I linger in the car, staring at the front doors. I don’t know how this is any less creepy, but it’s the only idea I have. I also have no idea if she’s even inside, or if her band is, but the guilt is eating at me. I have to do this.

  Heading inside, I’m met by the lobby secretary. “Can I help you?”

  I take a deep breath, trying to think on my feet. I can’t just act like a no one and say I’m here for Jade or the Kings of Karmichael. “Hi, yeah. I’m Austin Richards of Rich Records.”

  “Oh, nice to meet you, Mr. Richards.”

  “Thank you. My father is in talks for a, uh, holi
day record with the Kings. I know they’re in town, and I was hoping I could finally talk to them.”

  “Oh.” Her pleasant expression morphs to that of concern. “I don’t know. The artists usually don’t like to be disturbed.”

  I laugh and try to remember every condescending and conniving lesson my father ever imparted to me. Smiling, I give her a wink. “Oh, I know. Believe me, at Rich Records we’ve had some singers really make a scene. I promise I’ll be in and out. It’s really just a crossing of the i’s and dotting some t’s.” I laugh again at the lame joke attempt.

  It works. She smiles and instantly relaxes. “I guess that would be okay. You are Jimmy Richards’ son anyway, not some random person trying to gain entrance.”

  I act shocked. “Oh, I can give you a couple of stories about people trying to do that in our studios.”

  “It’s horrible, isn’t it?”

  “Definitely.” I grin widely.

  “They’re in Studio C.”

  “Thanks so much,” I say. “What was your name again?”

  “Deborah?”

  My smile grows. “Thank you, Deb.”

  Giving a playful knock on the desk, I make my way past the doors that lead into a hallway and act like I know exactly where I’m going. But since I haven’t been here before, once the doors close, I frantically look around and scan everything, looking for any signs or numbers.

  Turning down another hallway, I find a door marked “Studio B.” No windows are looking into the studios, so I don’t know how they are separated or if Jade is even here with them. Approaching a door labeled “Studio C,” I grab the door handle. I take a deep breath, staring at the woodgrain door, hoping this isn’t another thing that will explode in my face.

  Opening the door, I find Maddox and EJ behind a mixing board. EJ is adjusting a level while Maddox stares into a different room, separated by glass windows. In the sound room, Derrik and Jade stand in front of a microphone.

  Maddox hits a button. “That sounds great, guys. Once we get David in here, he’s gonna produce the hell out of you two.”

  EJ hears the door and looks over. His eyes widen in shock and anger. “What are you doing here?”

  I don’t have time to answer. Maddox turns to see what EJ’s talking about. “Get the hell out of here!” he yells.

  I lift my hands in defense. “I just need to talk to her.” My eyes jump to the sound studio. Derrik looks just as pissed off as Maddox and EJ, while Jade stares at me over this shoulder. The happy expression she was wearing a moment ago, listening to Maddox, morphs to hurt.

  “You’re not talking to anyone,” Maddox growls, stepping around EJ, pushing me.

  “Maddox, I know you guys are pissed off, and you have every right to be. But I didn’t mean to lie.”

  “No, you just meant to play my sister, pretending to like her so your dad could swindle away her work.”

  “No!” I shout at him. Looking back at the sound studio, Derrik and Jade hurry over, opening the door that’s connected to the room we’re in. “Jade,” I call out to her, but I’m stopped by Maddox pushing me.

  “I’m going to tell you this one last time; get out. Now.”

  Ignoring him, I gaze back at her. “I’m sorry. I never meant to—”

  “Screw it,” Maddox hisses, then swings a right fist, connecting it with my jaw. I stumble back, able to hold myself up by grabbing the door handle.

  “Maddox!” Jade calls out.

  EJ and Derrik rush over; EJ holding back Maddox, and Derrik pushing me against the door. “You need to leave,” Derrik hisses.

  “I just want to apologize. I never meant—”

  “I don’t care!” Derrik yells. “No one here wants any lame-ass apologies.”

  My eyes shift to Jade again. “If you just give me a chance to explain.”

  Derrik pushes me harder against the door. Jade steps closer, and I see EJ’s and Maddox’s gaze land on her. Slowly, she shakes her head. Her green eyes stay on me for a moment longer, before turning to the floor. “Just leave,” she whispers.

  Maddox’s face drips with disgust. EJ seems annoyed but more concerned with Jade, and Derrik keeps his eyes on me, his arm still extended to keep me away from them all. Jade turns around, staring into the empty sound room, holding herself.

  I knew I screwed up. I knew it before she ever found out. Standing here, seeing the mixture of annoyance, apathy, and hurt on all of their faces reinforces the fact that there isn’t anything I can do to make up or apologize for this.

  Keeping my eyes on Jade, she never looks back at me. I open the door and leave, knowing it’s over.

  29

  Jade

  “Thank you! Thank you so much!” a girl squeals, jumping up and down as Maddox signs an autograph for her.

  Lily gives me a sideways glare, smirking, and I hold back a chuckle. Maddox is getting a haircut, and since Lily’s aunt owns her own beauty salon, Lily offered him a place to get his hair cut. We showed up to the salon fifteen minutes after it closed, but her aunt was running behind with a girl. The same girl who just freaked out when Lily walked us in.

  Seemingly desperate for signatures, she had nothing on her but her cellphone, so Lily got a black marker, and we signed it for her. Her mom gave us both grateful smiles while the girl continued to longingly gaze at her phone in awe. She may never upgrade again.

  “That never gets old,” Lily chuckles as Maddox takes a seat in the chair.

  “What?” he asks.

  “Watching people freak out over you guys.” She laughs.

  Maddox quirks an eyebrow, smirking. “How come you never freak out?”

  “What’s there to go all crazy over? I’ve known Jade forever, and you’re just her brother.” He scowls, forcing a laugh out of her. “Sorry, Maddox. I will never look at you like some bad boy rock star. You’ll always be Jade’s brother.”

  “You know, that could still be hot. Sort of like a best friend’s brother who’s off-limits.”

  “Pass,” she shouts, laughing again. “I’ll leave the groupie stuff for your new girl.”

  “What new girl?” I ask, my own laughter finally calming down.

  “Whoever this chick is that has Maddox in here getting a haircut after almost two years.”

  “It’s not for a girl,” he responds, rolling his eyes. Lily doesn’t believe him, and she’s made that known since she set up the haircut. The two exchange a silent stare. “It’s not,” he persists. “It’s for a job.”

  His comment now makes me scoff. “A job? Right, Maddox.”

  He’s been very hush-hush about this whole thing, so this is the first I’m hearing about it. Lily’s aunt grabs a pair of scissors, then pulls up on his hair. It’s not incredibly long, but that’s only because he’s trimmed it himself for the past couple of years. He’s kept it long enough that when wet it falls down to his chin, but he usually doesn’t put any product in it, or he’ll wear a hat.

  Showing him his hair in the mirror, she holds up most of it. “That’s a lot of hair,” she says. “You sure about this?”

  He nods. “It’s just hair.” Lily and I exchange confused looks. He must notice because he lets out a sigh. “Okay, I haven’t said anything because I don’t want to jinx my chances.”

  “This is weird,” I reply. “How in the world would you jinx your chances? You’re a King. What is this, Maddox?”

  “It’s a residency over in Malibu.”

  “A residency?”

  “Yeah,” he continues. “Mavin International is opening up its newest resort soon. I heard through the grapevine that they’re looking for a resident DJ, and I really want it.”

  “Why?”

  It’s an honest question. I know he loves DJing and parties, but I don’t see why he’d want a residency at a hotel chain, even if it is for one of the most beautiful, luxurious hotel companies in the world. He’s a rock star living his dream life. What more could he want?

  Taking a deep breath, he glances at me. “I wan
t this for me, Jade. The same way you wanted to record your own stuff.”

  “But what about our album? We’re gonna start recording soon after we work out the songs.”

  “I’ll still be there. That’s why I want this, it’s in Malibu. Adam and I are actually thinking about leasing this awesome penthouse in Brentwood. The parties are going to be amaze-balls.” He laughs, forcing one out of me. “I’ll be close to you guys, and can do this, too.”

  I can’t fault him for wanting something of his own. Playing music in clubs, behind his turntables and boards, has always been something he’s loved. We all support him, too, but I know he loves that he’s creating the exact beats and rhythm that he wants to create.

  “I don’t understand one thing still,” Lily speaks up. “You’re Maddox Barkley. Why are you trying to impress them? Your credentials speak for themselves.”

  He grins, wiggling his eyebrows. “Lily, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speak so highly of me.”

  “Don’t get any ideas.” She points at him, smirking.

  “The owner of Mavin International is rumored to be pretty uptight. They’re opening this location, almost like a testing site. If it does good, they plan on opening these high-end clubs in more of their locations. My interview isn’t with him, but whoever’s managing this place will no doubt be reporting back to him on some level. I just want to give myself an upper hand if I can. But don’t get it twisted, I’m still gonna be partying my face off.”

  His comment makes all of us laugh. Lily’s aunt once again lifts the hair. “Last chance,” she says.

  He looks back at her in the mirror, then nods. “Do it.”

  “To my boy!” Adam raises his drink high, as Lily, the band, and I all sit around the table in the VIP area of a nightclub.

  We cheer, celebrating Maddox, and his new gig. “Thanks.”

  “Was the owner super uptight like you thought he’d be?” Derrik asks about Maddox’s meeting he had earlier today.