“I fold,” I shake my head. I gotta hand it to him, the guy is nothing if not poetic. It’s the reason I insist to my father, Hiram Hardin, CEO of Hardin records, and Avery, that he comes on every business trip, especially if we are scouting new artists. While I am head of that department, overseeing agents, writers and signing new people, Noah is my front man. Even though I have a nose for what will sell, Noah has a heart for what people will love. I guess you could say we complement each other– that is when we aren’t in Vegas and he’s not trying to get me to loosen my tie.
“I know the kid is good,” I agree. “And that’s why I signed the papers today. But I do miss the old days…”
“Ah yes, the days when music was about music and not people promoting the idea of music. I agree with you, but thisis a tiring conversation. The industry is all controlled by a man behind the curtain. And you know who that man is?”
I know where he is going with this, but I don’t have the energy to entertain it. I pinch the bridge of my nose and check the time. Two more hours.
“Your father. And you know who can change that once Hiram Hardin is dethroned?”
“I can’t change the world, Noah. No matter how much we want it to change.”
“Maybe not the world. But the face of music we do have some say in.”
“I need another drink,” I mutter.
“That’s the spirit!” Noah waves down the stewardess.
“No spirit. Just a migraine.”
“You mean a hangover. How good was this night of yours? She was a cute thing. That red dress was…” Noah bites his lip and makes an “okay” sign with his hand.
Oh, you know. I just got drunk and got married to a girl because she had a cute laugh…
“I couldn’t tell you. I can’t remember half of it,” I lie.
“Damn brother. You really are old.”
And stupid.
Chapter 7
Callum
“Nothing like nailing it in Vegas!” Hiram Hardin slams his hand down on the table with a shit eating grin as he looks around the table before his eyes lock on Avery and I sitting at the other end.
He’s happy about the signing of Lil Chaos. Not because he likes the music or even the kid for that matter. I am sure his choppy, bleached hair and face tattoo pissed the old man off. But he is happy about the dollar signs this kid promises and both Avery and I know that.
“So, what’s next?” he asks us.
I sit up straight in my chair. “We piggyback him on the Diversity tour along with Moxie Hazel–”
“Who?” he asks.
“The artist we signed last month,” I drill out impatiently.
Nothing. The man’s face is an unused whiteboard.
“The girl with the space buns and the black lipstick,” Avery adds, taking a sip of coffee that smells like it’s more than coffee. Sounds about right for an AM meeting with our father. He used to rule with an iron fist, but that fist has gotten softer over the years, and a lot of the authority has slid to us. As long as the artists we sign eventually top charts and our name is behind it,he couldn’t care less who they are. The man doesn’t listen to anyone but Bob Dylan anyways.
“If my sons think we’re heading in the right direction, I trust your judgement. After all, Callum and Avery are the future face of Hardin records.”
Jesus Christ, here we go again. Mind you, these are not the words of a proud father. As oblivious as he seems now, our father was once a god in this industry. But time, the evolution of his ear for a good song has slipped between the cracks. He’s not necessarily senile, but his health has definitely declined in the past five years. And with that downward slope, he’s made moves in other directions on the chessboard that is Hardin Records. In short, he’s preparing to hand it off.
But the passing of the baton can’t be a simple process. Where Hiram Hardin is concerned, nothing is ever, and I meanevera simple process.
Once the meeting has dispersed, Avery and I stay put. The room empties and our father makes his way to the liquor cabinet. One thing can be said about Hardin men– they like their alcohol. I appreciate the poison, but I haven’t made a habit of adding whiskey to my morning coffee. Or in my father’s case, Schnapps.
“So how do we really feel about this new kid?” he asks, making his way back to the table that Avery hasn’t moved from. I am pacing the room behind him. I can’t hold still. I have a new writer starting today and I’m really hoping to get right into it. Lil Chaos and Moxy are great artists, but their current song lists leave something to be desired.
