“Not much in truth.” Lauren grins and this gets a laugh from everyone. It’s pretty obvious when Grotzy looks at Lauren he is harbouring some naughty thoughts.
“This a great gift though, Shaz,” Dom states and Shazza nods with a grin.
“I know this. How about you give Tara your gift now, Dominic?”
I clap and bounce on the spot. “Did you get me something for the studio, too?”
Dom winks at Shaz before addressing me. “It’s not really for the home studio, but I’m sure it will be in there at some point. I’ll be right back.” He leaves the room and I look to Shazza who looks as excited as I feel.
“Is it good?” I whisper and Shaz nods once.
“You are going to love her?” She whispers back and I frown.
Her? What’s he done, booked a cleaner or a maid or something?
It’s Lauren I hear first as her “Aww,” turns all eyes to the doorway and in walks Dominic with a tiny little snow white kitten nestled in a baby pink bed. My eyes widen and my heart melts. He approaches me and I see she is wearing a pink bow with a name tag hanging against her chest. Her big blue eyes survey me and I can’t help mimicking Lauren.
“Aww, Dom, she is so cute. Aren’t you a fluffy little thing?” I ask her as Dom passes her into my arms and she lets out a small meow.
“Tara, meet Melody.” Dom smiles and I gently cuddle the kitten into my bosom.
“Melody? What a perfect name, who picked that?” I smile, stroking her soft downy fur and kissing the top of her head.
“Shazza and I both kind of came up with it. I know how much you hated coming back to an empty house, so now you have a reason to keep a light on and there will always be a friendly face, happy to greet you when you get home.” Dom smiles, pulling me gently to his side and laying a kiss on top of my head.
Melody is without a doubt the cutest and most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. I think I’m in love with her already and I’m even more in love with Dominic than before, if that’s even possible.
“Thank you, Dom. She is gorgeous and you are so sweet, I love her. I love you,” I declare and this raises another round of ‘Aww’ from my guests. I go up on tip toes and kiss him on the mouth. He rests his forehead against mine and whispers so no one can hear.
“I love you, too, Tara Powers. So fucking much, I really do.”
I drop another kiss on his mouth and smile. My eyes begging him to show me again, later, when everyone has left.
I cut the cake and everyone has a slice with more drinks before they all wish me happy birthday again and filter out. Even Shazza leaves to spend the night at her parents but I think it’s more just to give Dom and I some space. Once Pops and Val leave I lock the door and I go join Dominic in the living room. I flop down on the sofa in a rather exhausted heap and sigh happily.
“Well, I think I can safely say this has been the best weekend I have had in a very long time. And that’s saying something when I didn’t do any work,” I chuckle before lifting Melody onto my lap and start to stroke down her fragile little back. She gets comfortable with her tiny head on my thigh before promptly falling to sleep.
“I’m glad you’ve had a good time. It has been the best weekend I’ve ever had. You’ve made it the best.” He smiles, wrapping his arm around me and I lay my head on his shoulder.
“Do you think things could get any better now?”
“I think we’ve got a lot more good times in from of us, Tara. If I’ve got anything to do with it I’ll make every weekend as good as this one.” He kisses my head affectionately.
I smile and yawn, really needing to catch up on some sleep for work tomorrow.
“I’m gonna go run you a hot bath to soak in while I clear away some of the mess in the kitchen,” Dom announces before tapping my knee and getting up from the sofa.
“Thanks, baby.” I hear him go up the stairs and I smile to myself, looking down at the tiny ball of white fluff in my lap. I gently lift her and drop a kiss on her little pink nose before I lay back on the sofa and lay her on my chest.
“We are so lucky to have him looking after us, Melody,” I tell the kitty who simply closes her eyes and starts to purr. “You’re a lucky kitten.” I close my eyes and start to count my blessing but I don’t get as far as I would like before I fall into a deep sleep.
Dominic
I step into the room and stop in my tracks when I see Tara sleeping so peacefully with the Melody cuddled on her chest. I smile to myself at how innocent and angelic they both look. Tara’s silky blonde hair is fanned out around her like a halo and her beautiful mouth is very slightly open. I contemplate kissing her but talk myself out of it, not wanting to wake her. She must be exhausted after the busy weekend she’s had. I can’t resist kneeling beside her and casting her beautiful face to memory.
I can’t believe I am lucky enough to be here with her. I knew I was going to meet a music legend when I came to work for Pops but I’m not in awe of her because of her job or popularity, I’m in awe of the beautiful person she is, inside and out.
Moving here from Birmingham was the best thing I ever did. Not just because I’m a better person now for making the change and growing the fuck up, but because it brought me to Tara. She makes me a better person. Tara taught me that even with a reputation and people judging you by what rumours they hear about you, you don’t have to be that image. You can live behind it, but you don’t have to own it. Tara isn’t disrespectful and is far from a diva. She respects everyone who supports her work, hence all the hours she puts into being the best she can be, not just for herself but to bring them the best she has to offer them. Whether it’s working in the studio every week day or travelling miles to hit the clubs at the weekend. She works tirelessly for them, to make their weekends in the clubs the best.
I know my past antics and my denial of mistakes almost broke us, everyone knew she was too good for a slum dog like me. I understand Shazza’s reasons for objecting to Tara and I. She wanted to protect her best friend and all Shaz knew was what she had heard from people like Lucy. I’ve had the third degree about hurting Tara from everyone; Shazza, Pops, Baz and even my mum, but I think now they see I would never hurt Tara, and not because of their threats, because I would sooner die than see pain and upset in her eyes. I want to protect her from everything, give her everything and I’ll do everything in my power to keep her happy.
Her public image may be as a slightly gothic looking, fast tempered, little diva that’s quick to put people in their place, but I can see straight through that façade to the sensitive young lady who has a big heart that she is scared to share after she lost the most important people in her life. I see the gentle, compassionate and caring woman who is always looking out for the people she cares for and admires.
I brush her hair back off of her forehead and softly kiss her, gently as not to wake her, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by Melody who looks up with big sleepy blue eyes and I tickle the fur on her head before she continues to purr and settle back to sleep in the valley between Tara’s breasts. “You lucky little kitty,” I whisper before going through to the kitchen to tidy up while Tara rests. She is going to need it, because once this house is spic and span, I’m going to carry her to bed and we’re going see this weekend out on a high note, with Tara laid out beneath me, panting as I tell her, and show her, how much I love her in every way possible.
C hapter 18
The next three weeks pass in a blur of work, clubbing and grabbing every spare second I can alone with Dominic. He has always been capable of making me laugh and been eager to hold me but his efforts to be close to me and ensure I’m happy have trebled since our week apart and I border line on beyond blissful. Every night I fall to sleep in his arms, loved and sated and every morning I wake wrapped around his strong and warm body, happy to start a new day with him by my side. Melody seems to love him as much as I do and watching him on the living room floor playing with her is so heart warming. I’ve often discovered her curled
up in his clothes rather than her bed and have to smile. His scent seems to drive us females, of various species, wild.
We’ve enjoyed meals out together, dirty nights in many nights ripping up dance floors in various clubs. I played a gig in Glasgow last week and we hit our first after party together. We fell into Dominic’s flat Sunday afternoon after being up all night drinking and partying. The guy knows how to bring the party like no one I’ve ever met.
This particular Friday I have been looking forward to because tonight I’m playing the Frantic Friday show with Dominic and I really enjoyed our last radio session together. Not just because he was topless the whole time, but because I enjoy watching him work.
Shazza isn’t in Xtreem studios today because she is recording a track for DJ D over at Epic Records. Grotzy is skipping lunch to work straight through his break on the track he is engineering with Lauren. It seems Hot Ice is long gone and Jay is finally forgotten as Lauren gets closer to Dean and branches out as a solo DJ and producer. The canteen seems excessively quiet with just myself, Dominic and Pops sat chatting during lunch.
“Did you ever hear anything from Jimmy Rayner about Xtreem Vs Epic Records?” Dom asks Pops whilst picking through a pasta meal.
Pops shrugs nonchalantly, which neither confirms nor denies whether he has. Dom and I trade an intrigued look and I swallow my mouthful of food.
“Does that mean it’s going ahead?” I query and Pops clears his throat.
“I gave the event some serious thought and told Jimmy if he was interested then he could draw up some plans and come to me with a proposal but I wouldn’t be bringing a business plan to him.” Pops flippantly comments before taking a drink and my eyes widen.
“I thought you wanted this event? I thought you didn’t want Epic going with Serious Soundz’ business proposition? Shouldn’t we be the ones drawing up ideas to take to Jimmy?”
“Serious Soundz had the event with Epic in the bag. Mark Hardy agreed to using Sphinx as the setting. The only reason it got called to a halt was so Jimmy could see our ideas before making a decision on who to work with, Xtreem or Serious Soundz.” Dominic looks as worried as I am. Is Pops throwing in the towel on this? Is he honestly going to let Epic go with Serious Soundz? Why?
“Listen to the pair of you, worrying we are going to miss out on this event.” Pops smirks putting his drink on the table. “Stop stressing and let things unfold.”
I put my lunch down and square Pops with a confused look. What the hell is he playing at? “You wanna let them go ahead and cut us out? Listen, Pops, I was happy to drop Serious Soundz out before our birthday bash but I won’t be happy if we’re the ones getting cut out now.”
“We aren’t being cut out if we aren’t in, in the first place,” Pops chuckles.
“Listen, Donald, I’m not used to talking in riddles and right now you aren’t making much sense. Am I right, Tara?” Dom looks to me and I nod in agreement. “So, let’s cut the macca and say it how it is. Are we making a play for this event or not? Because it’s going to be the biggest event this year. It’s all set to be the big A Vs B Christmas bash. Are we A or B? Because I don’t wanna be the C that nobody gives a cock about. I wanna see Tara headline that event.” Dom practically demands and I smirk at him, my heart warming. I squeeze his hand and he looks over at me. “It’s true, Tara, you’re the best there is on all three labels and you deserve to headline more than Dayton, Lucy or any of the other competitors.”
I lean over and kiss his cheek, whispering my thanks for his support. We both turn back to Pops for a no bullshit answer.
“Dominic is right, you are the best Tara. You have the EDM award to prove it. That got me thinking though. Xtreem has the best DJ’s, one of the best venues, more cash and more clout with the clubbers. We can bring all that to the table and both Epic and Serious Soundz know this. Approaching those labels to join us is below me. I’m not competing with less savoury labels to bag an event. If they want what we have, which is bigger, better and a hell of a lot more than them, then they will approach us. Epic never did that, so, more fool Jimmy if he thinks I’m going to beg him to work with me.”
Dom and I both trade slightly worried glances and none of us quite knows what to say. I mull over what Pops has said for a minute before coming to conclusion that he is totally right. Serious Soundz started this whole thing by asking Dominic to convince me into playing back to back with Lucy. I remember Dom being quite hyped by the idea before I told him to fuck off.
“So you’re calling their bluff and letting them go into a bidding war over who partners us?” I make sure I’ve got this straight and Pops nods. “You think it will pay off?”
Pops nods again. “It’s not much of a gamble. Tara, have you ever known me to ask for support for our events?” I shake my head. “Trust me, within the next couple of weeks, both Epic and Serious will come to us with a proposal. The question is, who do you want to play with?”
I blink and look to Dom with puzzled eyes. Dominic shrugs and the question is fired back to me. I turn back to Pops.
“Who do you think we should go with? Epic have always been my preference but… I would kind of feel bad for Lucy now.” I admit and Pops smiles a knowing smile.
“I’m leaving this one to you, Tara. I have a wedding to plan for the spring, I don’t have time to manage anything besides the bare minimum from now until I make Valerie my wife.” He smiles at the thought. “This project is all yours. You will manage this one without much from me.”
I get a blast of fear go through me.
Holy shit, manage the whole event myself? I can’t do that. Pops has always been the man behind the scene while I’ve been the face on the night. I’ve helped plan before but I’ve never managed it all alone.
I feel Dominic take my hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll do fine, Tara. You know we’re all here to help you. I think you’ll make the right choice.” He reassures me and I offer him a thankful smile, feeling a little better but I look back to Pops with quizzical eyes, seeking his reassurance and all I get from him is a knowing look.
He’s throwing me in at the deep end, now he wants to see me swim.
Three weeks later it would seem Pops’ gamble has paid off and I’m sat with two event plans in front of me. One from Epic Records and the other from Serious Soundz. When we decided to back away from the whole project both labels saw this for what it is. A battle to win us onside if they want this event to be the one that tops the whole year and makes Christmas go with a bigger bang than bonfire night ever could. Now I’m playing the Christmas fairy and I can grant only one label their wish.
I run my fingers into my fringe and rest my eyes on the heels of my hands. This is not fucking easy and I pull my hair in frustration as I growl.
“Still haven’t made a choice then?” Dominic startles me. I didn’t even hear him enter the office. He gently runs his hands over my shoulders and starts to slowly massage out the knots and I groan in appreciation. I indulge in the feel of his dextrose fingers working my tight muscles.
“Not yet, Goliath. Please, help me!”
“Sweetheart, I’m going to quote you directly here. I should know my role. I may run the studio but this is Pops’ record label and I seem to recall him asking you to manage this event. I’m here to do anything you want once you have decided which of the two labels we are going to partner. Sorry, midget, this choice is solely yours.”
I sigh. I know he’s right and before I got to know Lucy this would have been a very easy choice. Now, not so much. I find the idea of working her interests me now and I’m cutting Serious Soundz some slack because of her and probably Jimbo, too. Jim has a substantial following.
“I’ve been trying to weigh up pro’s and con’s.”
“And they are..?”
“Epic have a marginally better venue with Sphinx than Serious, who want us to host it at Wonderlust.” I start. “Epic have a bigger budget meaning we have to foot less of the bill. They have Dayton Scott w
ho seems to be pulling in a hell of a lot of female clubbers. His following is big.”
“Okay, what else?”
“Serious Soundz have Lucy.” I shrug. “I know if Lucy and I went back to back for the first time, we would outsell Dayton, no doubt. I really like the guys at Epic though. I’d feel so shit about cutting them out. Plus, Jimmy has some great ideas about using snow machines and hot tubs…” I wince.
“Sounds like Epic have the better business ideas here, I think the profit lies with them.” Dom points out what I’ve already noted.
“I agree and it almost swayed me, but then Serious Soundz threw in a deal with an event album. We record all the sets on the night and sell the CD with us taking 75% royalties to make up for Serious Soundz not bringing a huge budget to the table in the first place. Between that and the guaranteed ticket sales from Lucy and I going back to back, I think it’s about even.”
“Shit, that is a deal swayer. I don’t envy you having to choose, sweetheart.” Dominic continues to massage and I sigh. The room falls silent for a few minutes but my mind is still racing. “The way I see it, Tara, you only have to answer one question here.”
I turn and look up at Dom, my eyes begging him to put me out of my misery and choose for me, even though I know he won’t. “What question?”
“Who will you feel worse about shitting on? Dayton Scott or Lucy Hart?”
And that is a question I don’t think I’ll ever be able to answer.
I’ve spent a week agonising over what to do about this big event and I finally feel like I’ve come to a decision. I am still so nervous about my choice that, even with Dominic’s reassurance and support, I have to call a meeting with Pops and the team. I have even gone to the extreme of having visuals and a ticket and profit projection made for the meeting in the hope that it will really sell the idea, not just to the Xtreem team today but to Jimmy Rayner at Epic Records and Paul Martins at Serious Soundz. I haven’t scheduled a meeting with them yet. I need to know I have the support of Pops and the team first.
Disrespectful Diva (DJ Series Book 2) Page 22