Disrespectful Diva (DJ Series Book 2)

by Helen J. Barnes

  It feels so alien to be in the conference room at Xtreem Studios with the whole team waiting for me to enlighten them as to what I chose to do. The fact that I’m actually nervous is what feels so unnerving in itself. Dom stands at the back of the room with the rest of the radio team and winks, his little smile spurs me on and I clap my hands, quietening the chatter.

  “Alright folks, I know you’re all wondering which label I decided we should partner this event with and I just want to tell you all it wasn’t easy coming to a decision. I know a lot of you have offered advice and I thank you all for that.” I scan the room and when my eyes meet with Pops’ gaze I can see amusement dance in his orbs. I take a deep, shaky breath, hoping he won’t think I’ve lost the plot with this plan.

  “So, who are we working with, Tara?” Shaz questions from her seat next to Grotzy.

  “If my proposal is accepted by everyone here, especially you, Pops, as well as Jimmy and Paul, then we will be working with both labels. I’m proposing a triple label festival.” I gulp and watch as the whole room simultaneously widen their eyes at me before looking at each other. The only people who don’t look surprised are Dominic and Pops.

  A slow clap starts and I see everyone turn to see Pops stand and come to stand beside me, pulling me close with a huge grin on his face. I smile up at him, pleased he seems to support my proposal. He lays a light kiss on my cheek and speaks quietly into my ear.

  “I knew you had my business brain, Tara. This is exactly what I would have proposed.”

  I look up into his eyes, so full of experience in this business. If I ever have half the business skill and brains he has in this industry then I think I can safely say my career will be long and productive one.

  “Thanks, Pops. It means a lot,” I answer and I mean it.

  “Let me see these fancy props you’ve got to blow the other label managers away. I assure you, they are going to leap at the idea, with or without visuals.” He takes his seat again and I realise the chatter has risen in the room and everyone is looking at me to elaborate.

  I flip the board to reveal the huge cardboard example flyer I’ve had made and I hear another gasp. The words Summer Blow Out 2016 leap from the flyer in bold yellow text. The picture depicts a huge outdoor gathering of people partying at night, facing a huge stage with massive screens on either side with pyrotechnics exploding from the rig. There are fairground rides and food stalls with the thing that everyone is gasping at is the text. At the bottom is a yellow banner with bold indigo text.

  Xtreem/Epic Records/Serious Soundz

  Present

  Summer Blow Out 2016

  Tara Powers B2B Lucy Hart

  Dayton Scott B2B Grotzy

  Jimbo B2B DJ D

  And below that there is a lot of question marks for all other additional DJ’s we book and I already have a list of definite bookings, including Lauren, as well as some very talented up and coming DJ’s that played at our birthday bash. Everyone is staring at the visual when I grin.

  “Okay, so I’m certain we can get a license for this and obviously we will have licensed beer tents, marquees for other genres of music and chill out areas. There is also a huge spec for merchandise sales so I’m looking into new products.” I start and I’m seeing agreeable nods all around. “I plan on playing every Xtreem resident so nobody worry if your name isn’t on this flyer. Although Grotzy I need your green light because for this thing to go ahead I want these three…” I point to the three back to back sets on the flyer. “I want these confirmed.”

  I turn back to Dean and he nods. “No problem, Tara. I think the back to backs are a great idea. Punters are going to going nuts for tickets.” He grins.

  I flick a glance to Dominic and he is sat with his arms crossed across his chest, a huge grin slapped over his gorgeous face. There is no mistaking the pride in his eyes and I can’t help the pride in myself that bubbles up from my tummy. I shake away my thoughts and pull out the next visual. “Which brings me to the logistics and profit projections.”

  I spend the next hour going into all the finer details, including lay out costs for everything from burger stands to fairground rides and even lanyards for VIP clubbers. Nothing has been overlooked. Everyone listens and gives feedback where suitable which I note to re-evaluate later. Pops and Val sit in silence but the whole time I see the smug look of knowing on Pops’ face. When I draw the meeting to a close everyone claps and congratulates me on a brilliant decision.

  Pops joins me at the front again and puts his arm around my shoulders.

  “I think you all agree this is the biggest event we will ever host, it makes the birthday bash look like a walk in the park. I think you have us all sold on it, Tara. Now you have to sell this to Jimmy and Paul.” He winks and I feel my nerves wrack up a notch but I nod.

  “They are gonna jump at the chance,” Dom shouts and comes to stand the other side of me, he too looks massively impressed.

  “Too right they are!” Shazza pipes up and it’s big smiles all round. I think It’s safe to say Team Xtreem are all in. Now to book a meeting with Jimmy and Paul and repeat the whole thing again, only with more flare.

  C hapter 19

  Two weeks later I stand before a very intimidating Jimmy Rayner and a very unsettled looking Paul Martins. Pops joins me for the meeting but stays silent the whole time. Paul looked a little put out when I explained the profits from the pre-recorded CD’s being sold on the day would be split 50/50 between Xtreem and Epic. After I pointed out they weren’t bringing much funding to the lay out costs Paul relented, but only when I pulled out a specifically made visual which highlighted how much more Jimmy and Pops were sinking into the event before tickets even went on sale. I knew that was going to be the deal clincher but I pulled it off. Jimmy and Paul both left on the promise they would run the idea by their DJ’s about the back to back sets and get back to me ASAP.

  I left the room last and leapt into Dominic’s awaiting arms, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I couldn’t help my squeak of excitement. His laugh reverberated through his chest into me.

  “Way to go, midget. You are heading up the biggest EDM festival the UK has ever seen!” He laughs, the excitement rolling from us both in waves. I can’t help but kiss him hard.

  “I couldn’t have done this without you, Goliath.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you could. All I did was support your choice but it was all your idea, your baby.” Dominic smiles and pushes me up against the conference room door, taking my mouth and my ability to breathe. I lose myself in his kiss and tighten my legs around his waist. The excitement, pride and lust between us is almost palpable.

  Someone clearing their throat behind us pulls us apart and I see Shaz stood with a hand on her hip, rolling her eyes. Dominic turns, turning me with him but not putting me down.

  “Do you think you could drop my bitch so I can get a hug too, please, Dominic?” Shazza raises one eyebrow and Dom chuckles.

  “Sorry, Shaz,” he mumbles before stealing one last kiss and lowering me to the floor where Shazza throws her arms around me, pulling me in for a huge hug.

  “I’m so fucking proud of you, babe. You are so damn amazing. You inspire me, you know that?” Shaz grins and I roll my eyes. “I mean it, we need to celebrate. How about we round up the royalty and hit the town, let someone else do the mixing for the change?”

  I brighten at the idea but Dom clears his throat. “Actually, Shaz, I wanted to take Tara for a meal to celebrate…” He trails off and I see them trade a glance. I hate this. Every so often they seem to have these pissing contests over who will get time with me and I hate being torn. “How about we go for a meal then meet you all after? We would be in the club no later than 10 o’clock, I swear.” He offers and I brighten, loving the idea.

  “Sweet, we’ll see you at Wonderlust tonight then? I’ll round up the royalty and you two enjoy your meal. But listen, Dom, no fucking or hotels after the meal. You better bring her to the club and
keep it in your pants until after drinks.” Shaz warns and I playfully slap her arm.

  “We’ll make it to the club, I swear.” Dominic promises and I cuddle into his side, fitting perfectly under his arm and I wrap my arms around his waist.

  “Shit hot. Congrats again, Tara. I’ll see you both later lovers.”

  That evening I’m sat in a fancy Sushi restaurant across from Dominic and I don’t think the smile has left my face all day. The atmosphere in the restaurant is intimate with low lighting and gentle music being piped through the room. Dominic looks dashing in a black shirt and trousers with a white dinner jacket and his top button undone. The solo candle on the table lights his eyes and I’m taken back to our break in Matlock and fire flickering in his green pools as he made love to me. We have ordered and are sipping wine when he lifts his glass.

  “A toast, to my beautiful, talented and incredibly business minded girlfriend. Tara, I speak for everyone at the record label when I tell you we are all totally sold on your trio idea. I couldn’t be prouder.” Dom smiles, clinking his wine glass against mine.

  I blush and thank him before sipping my wine. “I was so nervous today, Dom. It means so much to me that you’re always there, fighting my cause and supporting me. I really appreciate everything you do for me.”

  Dominic’s eyes drink me in and he tips his head to the side, one side of his mouth quirking up. “Sweetheart, there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than by your side. I’m such a lucky bastard to be the one you lean on when you’re nervous and unsure. It’s an honour and a privilege. I am always here for you. No matter what.”

  He takes my hand across the table and I pout, his words melting my heart and his kiss on my knuckles sends an electrical current up my arm and raises goose bumps on my flesh.

  Will that never stop happening when he touches me?

  “You are capable of being so romantic, you know that?”

  “Am I? Well, don’t tell the lads. I do have a reputation to uphold you know,” he laughs and I roll my eyes with a click of my tongue.

  “Yes, as a man whore. I think we are demolishing that reputation just being a couple, are we not?”

  Dominic shakes his head. “Not at all. You are the ultimate prize, Tara. I told you everyone said I couldn’t get within a mile of you, yet here we sit, dining together.”

  “I don’t know what makes me the ultimate prize. Because I was a challenge?”

  “To them, yes, that’s how they saw it. But to me you weren’t a challenge to land. I never set out to get you in bed, Tara. Quite the opposite. I tried to resist the lure of you. But you were impossible not to fall for and that is the most vulnerable I have ever been. So to know you love me, too, that is my biggest accomplishment. You’re my ultimate prize.”

  I can’t resist leaning in for a kiss and when I pull back his eyes glisten and tell me all the naughty things he wants to do to me. Our meals arrive and Dominic wasn’t kidding about the great food. We enjoy a delicious boiled prawn nigiri which is barely cooked though and tastes like heaven on a plate.

  “Melody would devour half of this menu,” I chuckle and Dom agrees.

  “A kitten that will eat fishnet tights will eat anything. I swear she is a pig in a fluffy kittens’ costume.”

  I laugh in agreement before wiping my mouth and sipping my wine. “You think she will know we dined out without her?”

  “Oh, yeah. She knew once you slipped on that sexy black dress you weren’t mixing tonight. No doubt we’ll get back to find she has shredded another one of my jumpers.” He checks his watch. “We better make a move, sweet stuff. If I’m a minute late Shaz may be bringing my bollocks here to serve up. I’m under strict instructions.” He smiles.

  “It doesn’t both you does it? Having to share my time so often. I know we don’t get many opportunities at the weekend to go out, what with work and this big project in the pipeline?”

  I see a look of torment flit across his features but Dom shrugs. “I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t bother me that I can’t steal every spare minute of your time to have you all to myself, because I don’t think I will ever be able to get my fill of you. But that said, I knew who you were when we got into this, Tara. You are in very hide demand and now I see just how hectic your schedule is I can see why you can charge such a wage for your time because your workload is relentless.” He sighs and I meet his eyes with a saddened look. “But I never set out to change you, or ask you to be a different person. I love you exactly as you are and your career makes you the person you are. I love your energy, your zest for life and your music. It’s infectious and I thrive off of that. So yes, I hate sharing you, but when you are up on that stage, in front of thousands of people, I see you under that spotlight and I come to life with you. I’m so proud to call you mine.”

  I bite my lip and I think tears threatens to well in my eyes. I take his hand and bring it to my lips, my throat thick with emotion.

  “I’m proud to be yours. There is no one else I would rather have by my side. I love you, Dominic Clayton.”

  “I love you, too, Tara Powers.” He smiles, leaning in to kiss me softly. He rests his forehead against mine. “Let’s go. I have to share you for another few hours before I can show you how proud of you I am, back home,” he whispers and gives me another chaste kiss.

  Dominic settles the bill and grabs us a taxi to Wonderlust. We jump the queue and make our way to the VIP lounge. We are greeted by whistles and everyone clapping. I’m surprised to see Lauren, Dean, Lucy, Dave, Dayton and Alannah as well as Shazza and others from Serious Soundz.

  “There’s my bitch.” Shaz jumps from her seat to give me a hug. “I give you to you, folks, the brains behind the Summer Blow out 2016.” She announces and I’m met with more whoops and whistles.

  I wobble slightly on the heels of the Jimmy Choos I bought but have never dared wear. It’s fair to say my attire tonight is much more feminine that anyone has ever seen me wear before. I take a playful bow before accepting a glass of champagne from Lucy.

  “You look amazing, Tara. So glam!” Lucy complements me and I lean in to whisper in her ear.

  “I have an idea for our back to back set that is going to blow the crowd away.” I wink and Lucy looks intrigued. “I’ll tell you later.”

  “Great, can’t wait to hear it.”

  We settle into the private booth and Dominic pulls me close, laying his hand on my bare thigh and sets my blood pulsing between my legs.

  “Jimmy couldn’t sound any more eager about this festival, Tara. You really have pulled out all the stops.” Dayton tips his glass at me and I smile.

  “Well, I thought if the trio of labels were going to do it as a one off event it better go with a fucking huge bang. Hence why we needed an outdoor arena and god weather. We may have to wait until summer rather than Christmas, but it will be worth the wait.” I explain and Jimbo nods his head.

  “Well you certainly set up a bang. This is, without a doubt, the biggest event Serious Soundz has ever been a part of. It’s a pleasure to be working with you all.” He raises his glass and we all drink to a toast of a bright and exciting summer.

  We chat about our plans for Christmas just a couple of weeks away as we all slosh our way through bottle after bottle of champagne.

  “We are going to head back to Manchester to be with family.” Alannah smiles at Dayton who nods in agreement.

  “I’ll be spending it with family, too.” Shaz agrees. Lauren has agreed to join Grotzy on a trip to Sheffield to meet his family.

  Things must be getting serious with them.

  “Well, Tara is the only family I need. We’ll be spending Christmas tucked away in a cosy cottage in the middle of the Derbyshire countryside.” Dom smiles and I snuggle in closer to his body. The thoughts of our intimate little Christmas together sounds amazing and it’s the first Christmas eve since my parent’s died that I won’t be in a bar or a club somewhere. I really can’t wait. My only problem is, I haven’t got a
clue what to buy Dominic for Christmas.

  We all hit the dance floor and it seems, like a moth to a flame, clubbers seem to flock to us, taking pictures of us and asking for their picture taken with us. We sign some autographs and indulge in a little banter with the clubbers before security have to stop it turning into a mugging and put a barrier up around one corner of the dancefloor for us just so we can let loose and dance without keep being stopped by punters. The bubbly is flowing and the tunes are blasting and before I know it I am dancing with Shazza and Alannah on one of the leather benches against the back wall. We are popping out our best moves and oblivious to everything and everyone.

  Shazza has her bottom pressed into me and is wriggling her hips when Alannah throws her arms around my shoulders and leans against my back, shouting into my ear.

  “Don’t look now, babes, but those guys over there have not stopped staring at us for the last fifteen minutes.” Alannah points over at Dayton and Dominic who are quite openly sat side by side, watching us with filthy looks in their eyes and longing all over their gorgeous faces. “I think they are about to make their move.”

  I giggle and watch as Dominic leaves his seat, stalking towards me like a predator about to take his prey. Our gaze never breaks and I feel my heart leap in my chest as he comes to a stop before me, silently offering me his hand. I lay my hand in his silky palm and he helps me step down to the floor before I look up at him, towering over me and without warning he spins me under his arm and pulls my back to his chest, his strong arms wrapping around me and he lowers his mouth to my ear.

  “You’re driving me crazy, Tara, I had to touch you,” he whispers and I smile, inhaling his scent and he slowly trails his soft lips from the sensitive spot at the back of my ear down my neck and across my shoulder whilst gently swaying me to the music. I tip my head back and give him better access to my overly sensitive skin which is tingling everywhere his mouth touches.