by Leanne Davis
“So are you like my handler?”
“No, I am your liaison.”
“Liaison? What does that mean?”
She sighed. Audibly. “It means you will meet with me to decide what you intend to pursue as a career. I have a list of international organizations that either work with musicians and/or hire them. Opportunities from all around the world. We get regular notifications and links. The demand can change daily, or be called out consistently. We will review whatever interests you. Having access to your own instrument seems to be number one on my list. So I’ll look into that.”
“Don’t you need to hear me play first or something?”
She tilted her head and gave him a once-over. “You don’t have to prove yourself or perform for us. Being accepted means you passed your audition. We’re here to facilitate your chances of making a real career with your music. Again, we don’t guarantee fame or stardom and those who become rock stars are in a very exclusive minority. We try to help you find a way to make a livable wage while expressing your talent. We won’t judge you or require any standard of performance. We don’t tutor, teach or coach you in your actual musical skills. There are a million programs offered at the local community colleges and universities to provide for that. There are also private lessons and countless avenues to learn how to play an instrument or how to sing better. We offer the next step. We take people, like you, who already outperform any students at their level. Not that we don’t encourage continuous learning because we can all make improvements, right? We help you find your path. You, alone, decide what path you take. If we find a job or internship or even some temporary gigs, and it’s not something you like to do, then you don’t have to do it. Does that make sense? This isn’t about patting us on the back if we find you a huge, visible opportunity. It’s not about appearances. The only thing that matters is what you want to do. We succeed if we find new options that you enjoy, which end in mutual satisfaction. It’s not forever. I trust you read that our connection starts with one year. We will review and renegotiate the whole thing at the end of that year if something positive hasn’t happened yet. We don’t expect to babysit you, or push you into something you hate.”
“Who finds these opportunities?”
“They find us; the longer we stay at it, the more often people find us when they seek new talent. We’re like talent scouts and agents rolled into one. But we don’t charge you.”
“How do you get your cut?”
Sighing and shaking her head, she said, “You really didn’t read anything about us, did you? This is a non-profit entity. I work here part-time. I make money at my job with Next Generation Consulting. And yes, that’s my father’s company.”
“Why?” Incredulous, he stared at her. “Why would you guys do this for free? Why not get a small cut at least? I don’t get it.”
“It began as a mentorship program. It was designed mostly for people without the resources to do any of this themselves. No one expects to earn money for that. Rob Williams started it. He wanted to make it easier for talented artists to find a way to succeed in their chosen career because he remembers how hard it was to make it happen for himself; it nearly killed him, you know.”
Ross snorted. “Sure. What sob story did he tell you?”
She smiled with a strange gleam in her eye. “He didn’t tell me any story. My mother did.”
“Why is your mother included in this conversation?”
“She was married to Rob then.”
“What? And Rob is your uncle? How did that happen?”
“He married my aunt.”
“Well, I mean, yeah… but… okay, I’m lost. Explain.”
“My mother was married to Rob when Zenith began; I call it round one, and then it broke up. She suffered greatly from Rob’s alcoholism and subsequent failure to succeed in life. She was abused and hurt until she finally got away from him. She met my dad and so began an entirely different story. Rob eventually got sober and rebuilt his life. He met my dad’s sister, and they eventually got together. Then Zenith made it big as it is now. But for at least a decade they were nothing more than a local indie band.”
“That’s kind of fucked up.”
“Yes. I believe it was a tough time for them. But mostly, for my mom. So you see, in a way, this is Rob’s manner of seeking redemption for a time in his life when he inadvertently damaged many other lives. He hopes to make a difference for others like himself.”
“And so you just pony up for random musicians to hang out here in Seattle?”
Her mouth quirked up. “Well, in a sense, yes. But we believe it’s much more than that. Getting the support and seal of approval by our organization can only highlight your future career. We’ve gotten some clients instantly successful placements that have become their careers. Understand one thing, if we help you, it’s totally on you whatever happens next. Addicted to drugs? Those’ll catch you in the ass. If you’re lazy and don’t work, or get fired or whatever, then that’s all on you too. Again, none of this is any guarantee. It’s merely a chance. A start. A hope.”
“But again, why? What do you receive from it?”
Head shaking again, she sighed. “You really don’t get it? The fulfillment and reward that comes from knowing our advice, support and counseling changed a fellow human being’s whole life for the better. That’s the main point of all our literature. I’m still wondering why you came here since you didn’t know a thing about what you were getting into.”
“I simply wanted to live free somewhere and play drums. That’s it.” He shrugged, being honest. Turning, he flopped onto the big, overstuffed chair, lounging purposely. “And for Zenith. Why the hell not take a chance to meet famous people?”
“Okay. Well, fair enough. Here you are. You are quite skilled at your musical gift. So you have fulfilled your end of the bargain; now you get our end, which is all this. Remember, your success is strictly on you and what you make of our assistance and support. You can lead the horse to water but you can’t make it drink unless it wants to.”
“So… now try to be a good, little boy?” He quirked an eyebrow at her not-so-subtle effort at chastising him.
“You can be whatever you want. I literally don’t care. I hope you’ll do well here because you want to succeed, otherwise, I guess it’s free housing and food… for a short period of time.”
“Doesn’t that piss you off? Make you want to cut me out?”
She blinked several times, adjusting her stance and finally walking around the chair before sitting in it. She crossed her legs and modestly arranged her skirt as his gaze followed her movements. The swish of her skirt exposed several inches of skin that mesmerized him temporarily. “You do realize you have about six weeks to prove yourself to us. Then we have the right to terminate our mentorship with you and pay for your return ticket home.”
“How do you determine if I’m a good enough boy during those six weeks?”
His use of the word boy was irritating her. Her jaw tightened as she pressed her lips together. Along with her knees. Ross enjoyed witnessing that. He liked to see his effect on her in such a physical way. Of course, she was damn well aware he was no boy and her reaction was driven by the man inside him.
“If you fail to meet with your liaison, which is, of course, me, we will terminate the agreement. We require a series of six check-ins. Really, we never have to use them in any formal way, because to date, every single applicant we’ve accepted in this program has been incredibly hardworking. They eagerly seek access to all of our resources as that’s the whole reason why they came here. But it’s your prerogative if you choose not to or you prefer to be difficult. For a few weeks, we’ll let you slide for free but after the six weeks, if we don’t have a record of the check-ins, we’ll send you off.”
“All right. So, I’ll behave.” He gave her a full once-over. “Sometimes, I mean, often.”
She shrugged. “You can literally do whatever you want as long as you’re not high or drunk
on my time.”
“This is a weird-ass thing you all do.”
“It is. Rob made it up. I never heard of anything like it. That’s why I find it so interesting to be involved with.”
“And you don’t get any salary?”
“I do have my expenses paid. But it’s not as much as you’d think.” She rose to her feet suddenly. “I’ll let you get settled in here. When you’re ready to move forward, and get started, please text me. The number is on the paperwork I left there.”
Clipped and professional, she was finished with him and ready to leave.
She’d obviously had enough of him. Releasing a sigh of relief when she exited, he was more than happy to be free of her too. His nerves were strung tightly. Getting on the plane nearly took all his guts. Having never flown before, the terror that gripped him was shocking, fast, and sharp. Anxiety surged through his blood as the plane took off, and his throat swelled almost shut to prevent him from breathing. The plane bobbled and wobbled as it climbed and the ground dropped out from under him, a graphic illustration of his stomach and his guts sinking into his feet. He detested the entire experience. Getting into Seattle after a safe landing, the sweat drenched his body. But he dared not show it. Keeping his jangled nerves to himself, he pretended not to have any discomfort. He was not used to traveling, having never done so, and had to quit his job to come there. His fear and insecurity were magnified because he had zero savings to fall back on. This shit was it.
Yeah, he went to their website and read all the information, catalogues and brochures about the program. He wasn’t crazy enough to upend his entire life if he hadn’t fully vetted his destination first.
He just found it hard to believe in. How could they actually find him a decent paying job? Any job would be a decent job. That dream was beyond all likelihood. Out of all the people that applied, he was chosen. It was impossible to imagine. He’d bartended at The Red Zone ever since graduating high school. His less-than-stellar grades and total lack of ambition, along with any goals or direction, banished him to mediocrity. This was the first offer of anything worthy that could capture his interest indefinitely.
But his life experiences made Ross cynical, and he was loath to believe in it.
He seriously doubted the program, or Rob, or Zenith would recognize in him a talent worth paying for. Nor did he believe what the rich, entitled woman, his liaison to all these things, promised. Everything was no more tangible than a cloud in the sky. He might stare at, reach for, and want it, but there was no way he could ever touch it. As if Zenith’s Promise and Jody could do what? Lift him up high enough in the sky to glimpse a translucent dream with as much viability as a drifting cloud? He was very skeptical.
He coated his heart and mind with an indifference that protected him from ever feeling anything. Excited? Nope. Hopeful? Nope. Anxious? Yes.
History wrote the script for all the negative outcomes in life and Ross wasn’t big enough to challenge it.
Chapter 3
FLOPPING ONTO HER DESK chair, Jody twirled around with her head tilted back as she stared up at the ceiling. Daydreaming again. Oh, damn. That Ross Karahan was too hot for anyone’s good. He was the type to make a girl do things she knew better than to do. That kind of behavior was completely beyond her willingness to indulge or entertain, yet his physical appeal, and his stupid charisma was so powerful she found it hard to resist. Like an invisible force field that was so potent it sucked everything and everyone towards him, Ross was a strong magnet.
Yes, maybe she was being a little dramatic, but that’s the way the guy came across. How ridiculous. Sure, he was hot and handsome, built like an Adonis with his chiseled features. Blah. So what? Lots of guys fit that description. What could possibly make him any different? Except he was lazy in his speech, manner and tone. Purposely careless and apathetic. He didn’t even bother to learn anything about his destination and purpose, the place where he was flying across the country to be? That was insane. Actually, it was very strange to her. She couldn’t think of a reasonable explanation for such behavior. It seemed so pointless. Rebel that he tried to be, coming here with no discernible idea regarding what it was, made him appear even more clueless and ignorant. The too-cool-too-care attitude she believed he was trying to portray fell flat with her.
She lifted her head when a noise pulled her out of her Ross meanderings. Karlee Randall entered the office and slid into the chair beside her desk. “So how was the new guy?”
“Hot.”
Karlee laughed. “Oh. Really? You say that pretty often. What makes you think they’re so hot? You have eclectic taste.”
“Not this time. Oh, no, this guy is what every woman would consider hot. Imagine a model/actor/construction worker/rock star/soldier in terms of hotness all rolled into one package. I can’t even explain it.”
“That you never say. And usual isn’t ordinarily your taste.” Karlee flashed her a knowing smile.
“Oh, like yours is? You’re engaged to a rock star.”
“I’m engaged to Xavier Montgomery. Lord, no one looks at him and thinks rock star.”
“Everyone else does. Everyone but you.”
Karlee gave her a goofy, love-sick smile. Having only recently gotten engaged, Karlee was visibly happy, seeing double rainbows everyday. Karlee was twenty when she started dating Xavier, and they endured a painful three-year breakup during which Xavier became a worldwide sensation. That all crumbled with the influence of drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex that culminated when his first wife had his baby. Xavier stopped it all at once and came home, intending to rebuild his life. Karlee and he reconnected, keeping it secret for a long time, and only Jody knew the truth. Xavier’s name was never spoken with Karlee’s family, after what he’d done to Karlee to get to Rob. Rob was the last one to forgive him. But Xavier’s undying devotion to Karlee managed to win the last family member over and all the residual doubts eventually disappeared.
Xavier was the inspiration for Zenith’s Promise. He used Karlee to meet Rob and facilitate his shot at stardom. The hare-brained plan worked, except he foiled it by falling in love with Karlee. When she found out the true reason why Xavier entered her life, she broke up with him. He responded by breaking both of their hearts.
Now Karlee was thriving. She wasn’t looking forward to moving out of the condo she shared with Jody and Jody’s heart squeezed with pain whenever she imagined no longer living with Karlee. She loved the years they shared in the condo, staring out at Pier 57 and the Ferris Wheel, glimpsing Elliot Bay just beyond that. Obviously, their rich-assed parents paid the monthly expenses. It was nice that they totally got on so well with each other. The privilege and opportunity they both enjoyed were unparalleled to most people. But wealth came with its own issues. No one wanted to hear the poor, little, rich daughter’s spiel. So spot on. Jody understood that.
Karlee got it too and they went crazy, whining and venting about their shared perspectives without judgment. That was pretty awesome. As was the fun they always had. So many years. Dinners out. Going to neighborhood bars or shopping downtown or dance clubs or wandering the freaking streets on a Sunday afternoon. Staying up late, eating crap food and talking. Jody drinking, Karlee rarely. Karlee was quiet, reserved, and far less wild. Jody liked drinking, eating, dancing, singing… whatever was lively and happening out wherever they went. They went out a lot. Every weekend, and sometimes during the week. Friends were many and they quite often hung around their condo for days at a time.
Now, Karlee was moving onto a new life. A new phase for her. Jody was happy for the couple, and Xavier’s four-year-old son. They found an apartment on the outskirts of Seattle. But nothing would ever be the same. Jody knew that. No midnight eating/drinking/gossip sessions. Crazy-long conversations until the break of dawn. No more listening to totally unique people jamming away on their instruments while Karlee and Jody just hung together. No more going out. Not like they did now. There would be plenty of visits. They intended to continue worki
ng together. But it would propel their friendship and cousin status to the next phase. More sedate, grown-up, mature. Perhaps meeting for lunches or… what? Dinners with Xavier and Karlee at their family apartment, condo or house? Sigh. Yes, all of her life was changing rapidly.
Jody would have to consider getting a new roommate. That reality made her shudder. Karlee was the perfect roommate. Ideal. Quiet, but fun. Reserved, but also gabby and gossipy. Serious, but laughing all the time. Private, but loving to do things together.
Despite Jody’s energy and love for people and parties, she also liked to retreat into her room for total quiet. Introspection. Refueling. She was an introvert who loved people. Or an extrovert who loved her own space. She really wasn’t sure, but there was definitely a yin and yang to her personality.
“So, this Ross?”
“I’m not sure. He didn’t read anything about the program and said he only wanted to get a chance to meet Rob and live an easy lifestyle for awhile. He didn’t even know for how long. It was so odd. Like he couldn’t even be bothered to read the home page of our website. I mean, come on, that takes what? Maybe three minutes at most? Seemed like a super strange reaction to this. I mean… he was talented, right? I feel fuzzy now.”
“Yeah. Insanely. Rob really connected with his sound. Rob articulates it in ways that are impossible for me to describe.”
“I guess Rob’s going to want him then? Like, we have to put up with him?”
“That bad, huh? Want me to take him off your hands?” Karlee offered, stretching her arms back and snapping the gum in her mouth nonchalantly. Not much ruffled Karlee’s demeanor.
“No,” Jody answered far too fast. Something jolted inside her. Why was she so adamant about not wanting Karlee to take over for her? “I can deal with his insolence. Unlike the grateful, excited, passionate, and totally strange musicians and attitudes we’re more used to.”