"My lawyer was able to rescind your contract with Moshpit Music." He leaned back in his chair and grinned.
"Seriously? How? When?" I braced my elbows on the table and stared at him, unable to form any other coherent question. Jay's father had assured me I belonged to Moshpit and there was nothing I could do about it. The amount of money I would've had to pay by breaking the contract was enormous, more than I made in a year.
"Let's just say that label isn't the only one who knows how to play dirty." He picked at his nails and raised an eyebrow. "Know what I mean?"
"Thank you." A lump formed in my throat. "I thought I was stuck with them for several more years." The label wasn't so bad, but knowing I'd still have to deal with Jay's dad had been the real kicker since I'd fired his son.
"You're free and clear, including your back catalog. Now, Idohave a proposal, though."
Most new musicians would kill to be picked up by a medium-sized label, but they had no idea how much backstabbing and distrust came with signing. And all the strings that could be pulled to make the musicians nothing more than glorified puppets.
"What kind of proposal?" I frowned.What’s in this for him?
After getting my head clear and my body clean, I'd been hoping to go back to playing smaller crowds and experimenting with my music, possibly even going for a more alternative style of rock with less angst.
"I'm starting my own label and would love to sign you. I'd be more than generous with the royalties, and you'd have complete control over the music. I would just ask that you take my advice and suggestions when needed." He retrieved his cell from a pocket, glanced at the screen, then stuffed it back into his pants. "I'm sick of being pushed around by the big guys, so I'm going out on my own. But I'm only signing those I believe in."
I tried not to give him an incredulous stare. "I’m a recovering junkie. What makes you think I'm a safe bet?"
"You've got steel deep inside your bones. But you're right—I don't know for certain you're a safe bet."
My stomach dropped a fraction, already feeling as if I'd disappointed him somehow. I lowered my eyes to the table's surface and scratched at a worn spot.
"However." He rapped his knuckles on the table, drawing my attention to his face. "Part of the deal will be that I continue to be your sponsor and your music mentor after you're recovered. I also want to collaborate with you on a song if you're willing."
My jaw fell open.Pairing up with Viktor, one of the biggest names in the music world, would be a dream come true.
"But why me? I don't understand."
"Because I like you, kid. Plus..." He raised an eyebrow. "You deserve a second chance, like everyone else. I know what you're going through." Viktor opened his hand to reveal a coin. "I've been where you are. I know firsthand how hard it is escaping the temptation to drown the past in drugs and booze."
I swallowed. The look in CC's eyes when she saw me at that afterparty...
Clearing my throat, I forced myself to face my shame. Between individual counseling and group therapy, I was beginning to understand I could come out stronger. If only I could admit my failures and try to do better.
Viktor held out a hand and moved the coin like a see-saw. "But when you begin looking at life from the other side of the bottle, you'll find there's beauty and learning sprinkled in amongst the pain and suffering. If you can be stronger than the temptation, stronger than the pain, you'll get through life's test one minute, one hour, then one day at a time."
At the next table, a resident—John Trovelar, a multimillionaire tech giant—pushed back his chair. The brush of the wooden legs against the hardwood floor became a dissonant scrape against the natural music and serenity of the speakers. A slight tremor shook the older man's hand. When his gaze landed on me, a glint of desperation shone deep within his irises.
"Well, I definitely don't want to have to come back to rehab." Once had been enough for me.
"That's the spirit. So, what do you say about being my first official signed musician?" Viktor grinned, showing a dimple.
"Sounds like a good deal, but I might need to take some time off when I get out of here." I needed to recoup and strategize my future whilenotunder the influence of drugs.
"That isn't an issue. I was going to suggest you take a breather. Why don't we revisit everything after you've completed treatment? Besides, I have another surprise."
I stared at my unlikely friend and mentor, overcome with gratitude for having someone like him to rely on during the darkest period of my adult life.
"Ah, yes. There she is." Viktor tipped his chin upward as he stared at a point somewhere behind my shoulder.
Twisting to see who it was he was talking about, my jaw dropped for the second time that day. My heart hammered in my chest and my palms began to sweat.
Can it really be her?
Terri Kingston smiled boldly as her eyes met mine.
"CC?" I stood up, knocking back the chair, which crashed to the floor. The noise echoed in the airy cafeteria and several heads turned my way, but I couldn't care less. The shame of lying to CC about my drug use, of what she'd seen, and of where I was flooded into me. Blood rushed to my cheeks and the saliva in my mouth disappeared.
