Scolded like a child, humiliated in front of his class.
I shrug my shoulders, refusing to take my gaze from his.
This is not how this conversation is going to end. Not on my watch. Not this time.
“You’re telling me the label can secure all that promo for tomorrow in the space of a couple of hours, but their lawyers and mine can’t knock up a standard one-page side agreement?”
The room falls eerily silent.
Check.
“It’s not as easy as that, there’s terms to discuss,” Paul says, breaking the silence and rolling his eyes.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me,” I say. My nostrils are flaring like a dragon ready to unleash fire. “Like the terms we agreed to for doing the promo tomorrow, on the condition I get to recordStolen Momentsand include it on the live album?”
How dare he try and make me look a fool.
This is my career he’s messing with here. Not his.
The fire is no longer swirling in my stomach but is rising into my throat.
“Let’s call up the UK label boss. Let’s tell her tomorrow’s promo is off, because you and Nathan couldn’t get the promodown. In fact, better yet,” my attention turns to Nathan, “let’s get Nathan’s boss on the phone right now, and tell him we’ve decided not to renew my record deal with them. That we’ll be going with Sony instead.”
Check. Mate.
A look of terror washes over Nathan’s face as I return my gaze to Paul.
Paul looks at me, as if to call my bluff, but I reach into my pocket for my phone, bring up the CEO’s number and wave it at him.
I don’t care if everyone in this room thinks I’m a petulant child throwing a temper tantrum. I’ll be damned if I continue to march to the beat of Paul’s drum.
“Let me chase up the lawyers now,” Paul says, turning and heading for the door.
Nathan gets up out of the chair to follow him, but I’m not done yet.
I need something to take the edge off this rage.
There’s no gym here. I can’t go out for a run with all the work there is left to do. And I can’t see Christopher to do the only other thing that settles this swirling mixture of emotions. Which leaves only one other option.
“Nathan. A quick word.” I motion him toward me.
He looks back and forth between me and Paul and starts to step slightly toward Paul, but my stare intensifies, and he reconsiders. Paul shakes his head, closing the door behind him.
“You want me to renew this deal, right?” My voice lowers, as I sling my arm over his shoulder.
“Of course I do,” he says, his voice wobbling.
“Well, I’m going to need you to do me a favor. I’m going to need you to get me a couple bottles of Belvedere.”
“But…” Nathan stops me, turning his head to face me.
Nathan knows I’m in recovery, but I hold all the power right now.
And I am going to take advantage of it.
“It’s just for this week. You know the deal with the pressure. I’m just taking the edge off of things. If anyone can understand that, it’s you.” I rub my nose for effect to acknowledge his habit, which these days seems more like an addiction than a bump here or there.
“I don’t know, Alex. You got yourself into pretty bad shape last time. Do you really think it’s a good idea to open that box again?”
