by Antara Mann
“Julia, how are you?” Stephan Georgepolous smiled at me as I came closer. “Congratulations on your story! You’ve discovered a young rapper – what was his name?” He started fishing for something in the papers in front of him.
“It was something like ‘rich’… Something Rich…” Sara Lancer suggested.
“Yes, Roscoe Ritch is the newest rising star,” I agreed. “Did you like his song?”
“I tried playing it to my daughters and they really liked it,” Stephan said.
“And yet, I don’t understand how that poor boy’s song gained such popularity with no label, no adequate video, and no marketing behind it.” Roberta turned to me. “Julia, aren’t you, as a reporter, baffled as well?”
“Oh yes, definitely.”
“Why do you think it’s so strange, Roberta?” Georgepolous chimed in, interrupting me. “I don’t think that nowadays a performer needs a contract with a music company in order to record a hit single. As James Altucher would have said, ‘We are living in the “Choose Yourself” era.’”
After five minutes, we were already live. Rogers introduced the viewers to the new sensation Roscoe Ritch and after a short excerpt of his video was played she asked me, “Julia, how did you discover that boy? Did anyone refer him to you or you just came across his video and decided to watch it? How did you decide to interview him?”
“A very good question, Roberta, since I don’t know how it happened, myself. I learned about Roscoe Ritch from my GChat where he’d sent me a message along with a link to his song on YouTube.”
“Do you mean it was sheer curiosity that made you click that video?” Rogers asked.
“That’s incredible, Julia. Every day I receive tons, perhaps hundreds, of emails with requests for reviewing books or music albums and I don’t even take a look at them!” Georgepolous was marveling.
“I don’t pay attention to most of my messages or tweets containing ads, too, but…this time it was different. The fact that the video had gathered over two million views intrigued me and I couldn’t help but just click on it.”
“Julia, a few minutes ago, we were discussing artists and creative people’s independence; do you think that artists no longer need a producer or label in order to succeed?”
“I think everything’s highly individual and it’s a matter of inner perception. I can name a lot of people who wouldn’t have been successful if it hadn’t been for the big label or producer behind them. On the other hand, indie musicians like Macklemore, Lorde, and the Swedish duo Ylvis have managed to establish their names and are now known by everyone. We are witnessing the tendency of more and more artists to choose the independent model because big companies don’t facilitate their development and don’t even support them financially. What’s more, if they release their works on their own, they ensure themselves full control and, of course, bigger royalties. I think each artist should ask themselves: Do I want to develop on the basis of the old model or am I ready to embrace the new one? As they say, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’”
“I’ll quote Macklemore, who you, Julia, said was a successful indie musician: ‘One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up,’” Georgepolous added.
“Stephan, have you ever thought about getting into the rap business?” Sara Lancer asked him. “I think you’ll be really good.”
“Is there some catch here?” He looked at her mischievously.
She laughed and clapped her hands.
“I want to hear you rap! Please! Just a few lines,” she insisted and finally Georgepolous gave up.
“I will surely regret this later,” He fixed his tie and began singing: “Yo-yoo, man…”
I couldn’t resist and laughed out loud.
“Guess who’s the best!
“That’s right, it’s GMU!
“I am Stephan and here are Lancer and Rogers, u-ughh…”
“It’s awesome to hear your name in a song, isn’t it, Julia?” Rogers interrupted Georgepolous’s performance and looked at me. “After we aired your story about Roscoe Ritch, his debut single skyrocketed to the Top 3 Best-selling hip hop singles in Amazon and iTunes, outrunning Iggy Azalea, Jeremih and even Pharrell Williams. Could you have unknowingly turned yourself into the producer of a new talent? Do you regard yourself as some kind of a producer?”
“Honestly, it has never crossed my mind.”
“You know why I’m asking you? I have friends whose hobby is making art, and all the time I hear them saying, ‘If this or that producer liked me and showed my artwork to the world, maybe I would succeed.’ How would you comment on the importance of networking with the right people at the right time?”
“Undoubtedly, networking is a very important prerequisite but one shouldn’t solely rely on somebody else. I think what Roscoe did was amazing and unique. He somehow managed to fuel my interest in his song and made me present him on national TV. Unfortunately, there is neither a straight recipe nor a university degree that teaches you how exactly to network with people. It’s all a matter of gut feeling.”
“It’s all a matter of gut feeling,” Lancer repeated. “I think it’s the right time for us to move on with Sarah Moulton and the daily dose of delicious recipes she’s prepared for us. Thank you, Julia, for your detailed answers and for being our interlocutor here on GMU.”
That was the end of my taking part in a TV show and the beginning of a new era in my career. The success of the report exceeded all my expectations. Roscoe Ritch became the new media sensation. The rest of the TV channels and shows were racing to invite him as a guest; some of the biggest radio stations were already playing his song, and even Rolling Stone had prepared an article about the poor white rapper from the Bronx for their following issue. Several days later, Carter Phillips invited me to his office again. I’d been expecting the good news. After the standard congratulations for the success of my last report he said, “I wasn’t thinking of choosing you as a host, especially when it comes to The Screw, but your teenage rapper report changed my mind and… You’re officially the host of The Screw along with Jennifer Bailey.”
“Really?” The joy of being chosen as a host was partially marred by the fact I had to share my position with Jennifer.
“What’s wrong, aren’t you happy?” Carter asked, startled. He obviously expected me to be brimming with happiness.
“Oh, I am. Of course I’m happy, I’m on cloud nine.” I forced a smile.
“For now, both of you will be hosts. Later, one of you will be ousted. Do your best and… who knows? Pretty soon you might become The Screw’s new face.”
***
“It happened just like that?” Emily asked me in Starbucks. I was telling her my version of the success story while we were having coffee and tea.
“Yes, it did. I don’t see anything incredible in that.” Hardly had I said this when I realized I didn’t really believe it myself. I took a sip of tea through the straw.
“Well, there isn’t. Just…” She thought for a second, “Every time I hear about overnight success I wonder how it’s possible, and now you’re serving me your story, too… I just can’t believe it can be so easy.”
“And why does it have to be hard? According to Daoism, everything in life should happen easily.”
“Yes, I had forgotten how spiritual you are. Perhaps that’s the secret behind your instant success?”
“I have no secrets,” I retorted firmly.
“Honey, everybody has secrets. Everybody…” She took a prolonged look at me. “So, what are your future plans?”
“Well, of course I am planning to be the only host of The Screw and I think it’s high time my ex and I made up, too.”
“Made up? Hold on, who are you talking about? Lewis?”
“Great guess! Yes, precisely about him.”
“Have you forgotten that he’s with Jennifer, with whom you will co-host the show?”
“I haven’t. This only makes me hate her even more.”
> Emily took a long stare at me, as if it was the first time she had really seen me, and finally muttered, “Julia, I don’t know if you’re aware but you’re beginning to turn into a bitch.”
I grinned at her words and went on chewing my muffin.
“I’m not joking! Look at how you treat the others around you! You think only about your well-being and success and you don’t feel even a shred of mercy or pity for the other people.”
“Em, that’s not right! And do I need to remind you I have a goal?”
“So what? Does it mean your way to the top must be paved with corpses?”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“That’s right, I don’t get it, and I don’t even wanna try. For God’s sake, Julia, can you be just a bit more considerate?”
I smiled, gazing at the residue on the bottom of my teacup – it was too late now. I had already wished for Lewis and me to make up. Unbelievable as it sounds, the wishing coin really did work. It was the coin that had caused me to interview that rapper, and thanks to it I had gotten a co-hosting job on The Screw. The test had been successful, and I knew that every wish I made would come true.
Everything, absolutely everything I decided to wish for was already able to become a reality. For me, limitations simply didn’t exist anymore.
Chapter 5
The following week felt surreal to me – for the first time, I was having my own show. True, I shared it with Jennifer Bailey, but it was better than nothing, anyway. Apart from that, I was still presenting my reports on GMU. Carter had told me that if he chose me I would only host The Screw, and Miracles – How I Did It would be out. I hoped that I would be able to keep the feature in my new show, albeit unofficially. There, you see, once again I was thinking of this show as if it was my own. According to Carter, the competition between me and Jennifer would take several months.
I had no idea what she herself was up to, but I was ready for the challenge and, what’s more, I had the magic coin with me.
Things with Lewis improved even more easily than becoming the host of The Screw. After the news of my success had reached him, he called me to congratulate me and offered that we see each other. We met in our place – an alley in the west nineties by the Park. We took a long walk and talked a lot. It turned out he wasn’t as happy with Jennifer as I had thought. According to him, she had some strange sexual preferences. I didn’t ask for details on that, but the numerous cuts on his neck and arms gave me a clue as to what those preferences could have been. We remembered the time we’d been together and soon we both found ourselves stuck in the past. It was as if we had never parted, as if all that time we had been together. Jennifer, on the other hand, became distant and unreal, as if she was an event that had happened long before in our past. In the end, he leaned forward to kiss me goodbye. I didn’t reject his kiss, and I spontaneously put my hands around his neck. He groaned and immediately touched the cuts.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to –”
“Shhh, it’s okay.” He put his thumb on my lips. “It’s my fault and it’s me who has to deal with the consequences.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and kissed me again.
Soon after that, we found ourselves in his apartment in Upper West Side. While he was taking off his clothes I noticed that his whole body was covered with small scratches that looked like they were made with a razor. I hesitated for a second, wondering if I would cause him pain if I touched him. Apparently he had read my thoughts because he said, “These are old.” He wrapped his hands around my waist.
“You must’ve been a pretty bad boy to have been maimed like this.”
“At least from now on I’ll be dating good girls only.”
“I hate to break it to you, but who told you I was a good girl?”
“Yes, you are.” He threw me on the bed.
***
While the makeup artist was touching up my mascara before the shoot of the new episode, I heard Jennifer’s hurried steps, and then she stormed into the studio. There were just a few minutes left before the start of the show, so I looked at her worriedly.
“Where have you been? You’re late!”
“Please, don’t play the caring friend to me! How dare you first steal my boyfriend and then act as if you are worried about me?”
“I told you they would lock horns.” The cameraman took the headphones off his head and looked at the sound engineer. “You owe me fifty bucks.”
“I don’t think I stole Lewis from you. We’re mature enough, aren’t we? He made his own choice to –”
I didn’t finish my sentence because Jennifer interrupted me spitefully. “You’ve become a disgusting bitch! Yes, that’s who you are – a bitch in capital letters! And you don’t even realize how monstrous you are!”
“I’ll pass your last remark. I hope you realize that this is not the best start of our mutual work.”
“You’ll never work here! The producers hired you just to tease me and motivate me to give my best. You’re losing, Julia, and we haven’t even started yet.”
I remained silent, biting my lip. I saw the sound engineer take out a hundred dollar bill and give it to the cameraman.
“It’s interesting that you’re calling me a bitch. I wonder what you call those women who cut their partners with razors.”
“Powerful,” she replied without hesitation.
Her eyes flashed and I could see some eerie little flames inside them. Before I had the chance to reply to her, the cameraman stepped in.
“Girls, please, don’t make a scene. There’s less than a minute before we’re live. Get ready!”
“Don’t meddle with my life unless you want to cut yourself, too,” Jennifer hissed while smiling at the camera.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Take it as you will,” she growled.
“5…4…3…2…1… Action!”
“Good afternoon, I’m Jennifer Bailey and you’re watching The Screw.”
“Good afternoon, I’m Julia Preston. For today’s episode, we’ve prepared an interview with the actor Derek Williams and the singer Cynthia Perry as well as a special surprise in the end. What will it be? Stay tuned!”
In an hour and a half, the show was over. I was on my way out of the studio when Lewis came and hugged me. Jennifer, who was walking out at the same moment, demonstratively hurried her steps and swept past us.
“How are you dealing with her?” Lewis asked me, looking at Jennifer’s back as she was leaving.
“Well, it’s hard to tell. I think I’m not,” I chuckled. “She’s angry and bitter, which is normal, I guess.” I started playing with one of the buttons of his jacket.
“I hope she gets over it soon and you two start hosting your show in a normal way.”
“Yes, the most unpleasant thing is that we have to work together and should find a way to come to terms with each other. What should I do if I…” I hadn’t even ended my question when the thought of the wishing coin hit me. How hadn’t I thought about this earlier? I had to make just one wish, and I would get rid of Jennifer and keep her hands off Lewis forever. I had to be careful what I’d wish for, though.
“I don’t think Jennifer is a problem at all,” I added overconfidently.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, but it sounds intriguing.” Lewis kissed me. “Prepare for a party tonight. Joe, the News Correspondent, will pay for drinks at the Dead Poet.”
***
As soon as I came home from work, even before changing or checking my email, I went straight to the kitchen and to the coin. I was staring at it intently while I was pronouncing loud and clearly:
“I want Jennifer to be relocated to LA.”
She had to be as far as possible from New York, Lewis, and The Screw. LA was a good choice – before she was made The Screw’s host, she would regularly take interviews from that city’s local celebrities.
“May she go to LA and never come back.” I was smiling happily as I was pronouncing
those words. I left the coin on the table and half-closed my eyes.
This piece of crap had turned out to be a gold mine. I had paid just 500 bucks for it but it was actually worth millions.
I didn’t even think about the possibility that a coin that grants all wishes could exist. I had that secret weapon and the only thing that mattered was what I wanted. I quickly went to the closet and took out one of my prettiest dresses. I was going to a party and everything had to be perfect. I had other reasons to celebrate, too – I was a host of my own show, Lewis and I were a couple again, and Jennifer would be relocated anytime now. What could have been better than this?
The very next day, my colleagues informed me that the producers had unexpectedly offered Jennifer to become a full-time reporter in LA. I was officially the only host. Later, while Carter and I were alone in his office, he admitted that they’d made that decision because of the tense feelings between me and Jennifer and because they had agreed that I was better. My work with AEC and GMU contributed to their decision, too.
Just a few weeks before, Carter hadn’t chosen me, and then all of a sudden I had become highly suitable for the role. The only explanation could have been the magic coin and the wishes I’d been making.
For the first time in my life I was getting exactly what I wanted – a dream job and a wonderful boyfriend. But the greatest thing was I was able to control everything, and all the time, I was wishing more and more new things. The world had turned into one huge Disneyland. However, apart from everything else, this coin was also giving me power which I would soon discover was addictive. I wonder, if I had put an end to it there in that moment, whether I would have gone on being happy.
Chapter 6
The following weeks were some of the happiest in my life – I was hosting my own show, I moved in with Lewis, and every day my role at AEC was becoming more and more respectable. During the show I was mainly interviewing celebrities, actors, and singers but I’d dedicate at least ten minutes from each episode to ordinary people and the miracles they had done. I had developed a new, updated version of Miracle – How I Did It.