In Tune

by JN Welsh

  The insult rolled off Leona. She had long been immune to such digs. It was, however, her turn to enlighten Luke that he wasn’t dealing with a thin-skinned novice. “I’m curious, Luke. This Ted guy left you in the lurch. Why did he leave? Did it have something to do with your former manager, Ivy Nichols?”

  The atmosphere in the room changed dramatically and Luke’s team shifted in their seats.

  Anger spread across Luke’s face and his green-gray eyes burned steel gray with fury—all of it directed at her. “That’s not your concern. You would do well to focus your energy on managing my tour, Miss Sable.”

  Leona was getting tired of Luke’s not so veiled irritation toward her. “Please, call me Leo,” she said with forced cheer. “If we’re going to work together, then I should be briefed on what has occurred.”

  Tommy put his hand up. “Leave it alone, Leo.” His expression confirmed this was something more than a management issue. This was personal.

  “Okay.” Surprised by Tommy’s gesture, Leona put this one in the file cabinet for re-visitation along with the information she had learned when researching Luke. Based on how the mere mention of Ivy amped everyone’s emotions, there had to be much more to the story.

  “So...” Abe’s words didn’t quite cut the tension in the room, but they did draw everyone’s focus from Luke and Leona’s standoff. “Leo, I will make sure you have every resource, including Tracy.” Abe tilted his head toward the woman sitting across from him.

  Tracy Ruiz was the best lawyer Wallace Entertainment had on retainer and Leona loved working with her. Regardless of the support she’d receive, Leona was none too thrilled to pack up and go on tour with Luke and his attitude.

  “Abe, why don’t you do the tour and I’ll do all other management aspects. It may work out better that way. Plus, you know I can’t leave Peaches.” She might be antagonizing the situation, but she had to make one last-ditch effort to extricate herself from going on tour with Luke. She could help Luke, Abe, and the company right here at home.

  “Leo.” Abe’s voice took on a tone of tried patience. He was right to be annoyed. Taking over Luke’s tour wasn’t an unreasonable request. In fact, it made the most sense.

  Asking Abe to go on tour, on the other hand, was not only ludicrous because of his responsibilities to the company, but also a bad idea. He hadn’t run a tour in seven years.

  “Who’s Peaches?” Tommy’s eyebrows raised in intrigue.

  Both Leona and Abe were silent.

  Abe cleared his throat. “Her Platy fish.”

  Leona exaggerated a wink at Tommy. At least she attempted to lighten the mood.

  Tommy’s chest rumbled in humor.

  Patrick and Tracy sniggered.

  The comedy fairy, however, passed over Luke, who intertwined his fingers and placed them on the table. His movements were as restless as a pot about to boil over.

  “We’re putting my tour in her hands?” Luke scoffed so loud it nearly blew her out of her seat.

  Tracy and Patrick exchanged glances.

  Tommy frowned at his client. “She was joking.”

  “Luke, I’m not your tour manager until we actually sign.” Leona gestured in the air with a pen.

  Tommy interjected, but Abe stopped him. “Let them work it out.”

  “Considering your reputation, I’m amazed you lack the seriousness I need in a manager. Tour or otherwise.” Luke’s knuckles whitened and he was motionless.

  “Because I made a joke? If you hadn’t noticed, Luke, we don’t quite get along. Part of my job is to allocate resources appropriately. This includes myself. Being on tour together, though an apparent mandate by your team and one that on paper makes sense, may not be the best solution. Forgive me for trying to lighten the mood.”

  The room was as still as a post.

  “I don’t need you to lighten the mood. I just want to get through this meeting,” Luke seethed.

  “You’re a DJ. You play happy music. Why are you so angry? I only met you a few days ago and despite your attitude, I’m still willing to help you.”

  An array of emotions played on Luke’s face and color returned to his knuckles. “Look, no one likes these negotiations. The quicker we get through it, the less painful it will be.”

  “I like this part.” Leona’s plastic smile dared Luke to say something negative.

  Patrick rustled his papers. “Shall we get to the contract and the list of conditions?” He pulled out a few additional documents from his briefcase. “Your legal team sent over a redline agreement adjusting for our boilerplate, but this addendum outlines additional conditions from Luke. Failure to adhere to these conditions renders the contract null and void. Though you’ll be paid for services rendered up till that point.”

  Patrick handed out copies and Leona read the document to herself.

  Tour management must be handled solely by Leona Sable, who will accompany the artist to every on and off tour appearance, including but not limited to concerts, club/lounge, awards, marketing and publicity events and any other occasion where said artist is scheduled to perform and/or interact with media and fans within the terms of the contract.He hates me, yet he needs me so close? She’d accepted this assignment with the assumption that she’d be Luke’s personal manager and be able to keep some distance from the DJ. Now apparently she would have to be glued to his fine ass and his miserabldom. Yeah, no.

  Wallace Entertainment and Leona Sable guarantee sellout performances at the largest concert venues in both Los Angeles and New York. Wallace Entertainment also guarantees to secure a Las Vegas residency at the new premier Xcelsior Hotel.Guarantee? Really? Cameras were sure to pop out any minute now and tell her this was all a prank. Even if she did accept this agreement she’d clobber it with revisions. Buh-bye.

  Tour manager Leona Sable is strictly prohibited from any intimate relations with staff or fans while on the tour (excluding spouse or committed partner) at any tour hotel, transport, or venue.

  What the actual fuck! Heat radiated from Leona and she pressed on her ear. She observed Tommy, who loosened his tie as his cheeks reddened.

  Luke nestled in his chair and watched her.

  Leona consumed a breath so deep it shuddered upon exhale. Her heartbeat thudded in her chest and she chewed the inside of her lower lip to stop herself from letting fly every profane word she had in her vocabulary. She picked up a pen in one hand and twirled it with acrobatic agility around her fingers.

  “I can’t agree to this.” Leona’s voice was low with strained control that commanded everyone’s attention.

  “To which part?” Patrick readied a pen.

  “Any of it.” Leona’s lips quivered as she enunciated each word.

  Tracy interjected. “I have to agree. Some of the conditions put the onus solely on Leo and could potentially ruin Wallace Entertainment’s reputation and financial support to its other interests. There may also be a women’s rights issue, here.”

  The men across from her stared at each other.

  “My client has the right to his preferences, and to request all of these conditions,” Patrick stated.

  Abe put a hand on Leona’s clenched fist.

  Leona expected to see disappointment and anger on Abe’s face, but his eyes shot lasers of disdain at the men before him.

  “We’re open to discussion.” Tommy’s voice of reason came through. “What are your concerns, Leo?”

  “Besides the fact that the first condition binds me to Luke’s hip, it also impedes me from doing my job. As tour manager, I have to be everywhere. Now I have to be his shadow for one-off performances, as well? Publicity? Marketing? Do you want a successful tour or a buddy?”

  “You’ve proven you can be creative. I’m sure you can use your skills to satisfy this condition,” Luke argued.

  “I suggest it say, unless the tour ma
nager is unable to do so because it is in the best interest of the artist and/or the tour.”

  Patrick scribbled on the document. “That’s reasonable. Luke, would you agree?”

  Luke squinted at her. “Slight correction to, it is agreed upon between the artist and tour manager that it is in the best interest of the artist, et cetera.”

  Leona rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.

  “Leo?” Patrick awaited any additional changes.

  “Agreed,” both Leona and Abe responded.

  Leona knitted her brows at Abe, and then concentrated on the bane of her existence. “Luke, other than obvious monetary reasons for the second condition, why do you want to sell out the biggest venues in New York and LA?”

  Luke seemed taken aback by the question, but recovered. “Because it’s never been done by a DJ before.”

  Leona liked his answer. It confirmed his passion and ambition, but she had a feeling there might be more to that goal than he let on.

  “That’s a team effort. Everyone in this room, and many others, are a part of the team. We all need to put some skin in the game. If the language reflects that I’ll make best efforts to secure sellout performances and secure a Las Vegas residency at a premier hotel, then I have no doubt that together we can make it happen.”

  Patrick smiled and made notes. “Luke?”

  “Why not specify the Xcelsior?” Luke’s eyes stayed on Leona.

  “Because there might be a better premier hotel,” she offered, as if it was the most obvious answer.

  “Agreed.” For the first time Luke’s eyes weren’t filled with some version of fury. If she didn’t know any better she would have sworn he appreciated her response.

  “Ms. Ruiz and I can work on the correct language.” Patrick swallowed and expelled so much air it fanned at the papers he held. “And we’re down to the final condition.”

  “I want that last condition out. We don’t work in an industry where anyone needs to dictate to me where or who I can fu...” Leona paused. “...who I am sleeping with.”

  All eyes in the room focused on her.

  Abe wiped his face with his hand. “Leo?”

  “No!” Leona’s exclamation echoed against the conference room walls and the force with which her fists hit the table was aggressive, but this condition crossed the line. She breathed to steady herself but the action only proved to soften her voice to an almost threatening tone. “We can send an all staff about fraternizing, but no one will prohibit me from getting laid should I so choose. That’s beyond idiotic.”

  Patrick shifted in his seat. “This condition is non-negotiable, Leo. Luke and I have spoken extensively on the language. I can’t make any further changes.”

  “Non-negotiable? Patrick, I don’t want you to change it. I want it out. Period.”

  Luke rubbed his finger over his lower lip. “Do you lack that much sexual restraint, Leona?”

  She smirked. She hadn’t had sex in over a year. She was pretty sure she had more sexual restraint than he had in his pinky toe. “That’s not the point. The truth is you’re the real control freak for wanting to dictate whether or not I, alone—” Leona pressed her palm hard against her chest “—have sex while on tour. It’s exclusive and archaic.”

  “The condition stays.” Luke’s delivery was so low Leona had to strain to hear him.

  “Then someone else can manage your tour.” Leona was up and out of her seat in seconds.

  Abe addressed the room. “Give us a few minutes, please.” He motioned for her and Tracy to follow him out of the room.

  Before they even closed the door, Leona began.

  “A morality clause! Take me off the tour. Better yet, get someone else and Luke can dick around with them. This is humiliating.” But the thought of putting someone else in Luke’s line of fire didn’t thrill her.

  “Are you done?” His parental question irritated her already fried nerves.

  “No,” she said. “I’m not a whore that needs to be controlled by a contract. I don’t give a shit what anyone says, this condition is not legal.”

  “Abe, I have to advise against this. It could have adverse effects on future dealings with this client.” Tracy was all business with her delivery and Leona was grateful that one of them kept it together.

  “Tracy—” Abe pinched the bridge of his nose “—I’m going to ask you to be really lax with this one. If we can protect our interests another way, then we’ll do that, but this is a deal we can’t afford to go sour.”

  Tracy sighed. “You don’t employ me to be lax, Abe.”

  Abe pressed his palms together. “Please.”

  “So long as my objections have been noted,” Tracy said.

  Abe turned to Leona. “Pride aside, Leo, can you adhere to the conditions?”

  “Of course, but—”

  “Then, agree to them. When the tour is over and successful, we’ll have won.”

  Leona was still shaking her head and resisted the urge to worry her earlobe. Abe took her hand to stop her from pacing.

  “Darlin’, I know I’m asking you to surrender quite a bit here but I need your help.”

  Leona groaned. When things had gone south with Paul, Abe had not only given her the time off she needed to recover but had exerted some influence with the legitimate press to release articles to help her reputation. “Abe.”

  “I’m begging you, Leo. Do you need me to get on bended knee, darlin’?”

  Leona thought long and hard about that one. When Abe actually started to go down, she stopped him. “Oh, get up, old man.”

  Tracy snickered.

  “You’ll agree to the conditions?” Abe asked.

  She nodded.

  “Thank you, darlin’. I knew I could count on you.” Abe then faced Tracy. “Not a word of this to anyone, Ms. Ruiz.”

  Clearly, Abe understood what he was asking of her, but defeat still slumped her shoulders. Even worse, she felt handled by Luke and shackled to a situation that would only go from bad to worse. “You have to admit that someone who has to put a condition in an addendum that bans his tour manager from having sex has some deep-seated issues.”

  “It’s an unconventional request, but you’re surviving now, aren’t you, darlin’?”

  Leona blushed. “Not that it’s anyone’s business.”

  Tracy chortled.

  Abe patted her shoulder. “Let’s close this out.”

  The trio reconvened with Luke and team.

  Leona avoided Luke. She refrained from spitting a snarky comment his way and focused on conceding to don a chastity belt to appease the DJ. “I’ll agree to the last condition—” she stopped and tapped her pen to her lips “—but only if the condition also applies to Luke.”

  Everyone in the room, except Leona, froze in place. Neither a breath was released, nor a word spoken. The room was so quiet she heard the sound of the vent humming overhead for the first time since the meeting started.

  Sunshine broke through Tracy’s steel visage and she began to write extensive notes. “I can have those papers drawn up right away. As you said earlier, Patrick, my client also has a right to her conditions and preferences.”

  “That’s not happening,” Luke said.

  Leona sat more erect in her seat. “No sexual restraint, Mr. Anderson? It’s only about four months.”

  “Luke?” Patrick awaited Luke’s final answer.

  Luke read the conditions and when he raised his head, Leona was prepared to meet his contempt, but he appeared relaxed, even nonchalant.

  “Agreed,” he declared with a slanted smile.

  Tommy and Luke exchanged glances.

  Leona wouldn’t have noticed had Tommy’s face not displayed such disapproval. Something was up, but she couldn’t figure out what.

  “Well done, everyone. All we need to do is sig
n and then we can all move on to the next phase,” Patrick announced, and then chatted with Tracy.

  “Leo, I have a packet of information for you. I also forwarded some electronic documents and emails. We can discuss it further when you’re up to speed,” Tommy said.

  “We’ll schedule something before you head out.” Leona didn’t feel quite victorious, but she felt better now that Luke had to abide by one of the conditions. “This is going to be a great tour.”

  She rested her chin in her palm. Poor Peaches would have to be subjected to Aunt Izzy for four months.

  Chapter Six

  Luke crammed into the backseat of a New York City yellow cab with Tommy and Patrick. He was glad the contract negotiations were over. Leona had reacted better to the conditions than he expected, but she still put up one hell of a fight. With Patrick’s help, he’d protected himself on all levels, and it had almost worked.

  “Don’t think that I don’t know what you’re doing,” Tommy said to him. “Patrick, why did you let him put that condition in there?”

  Patrick shrugged his shoulders. “He has his reasons and he pays me.”

  Luke leaned forward in his seat to see Tommy cleaning his glasses on his jacket before putting them on again.

  “It’s very unlike you to agree so quickly, especially given this condition,” Tommy noted.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Luke tried to restrain the curl of his lips.

  “All right, but you’re playing with fire and her name is Leona Sable.”

  Luke pushed a button to roll down the window. They stopped at a traffic light where two teenage girls stood to cross the street. He was about to respond to Tommy when high-pitched screams all but shattered his eardrum.

  “Look! It’s Prophet!” one of the girls yelled before rushing over to the taxi.

  “Ladies.” Luke doubted his greeting was audible through their excitement.

  The younger of the two girls rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pen. “Can you sign this for me?” She thrust the pen and a crumpled fashion magazine at him.

  “Sure.” He autographed the magazine and returned it and the pen to the girl.