“Stop.”
She giggles. “Google him, and you’ll see what I mean. Honestly, Reed wouldn’t need to promise me the sun and moon in exchange for my V-card. Just an Uber ride home. Actually, not even that. I’d demand nothing from him. Take my virginity, Reed Rivers! Please!”
I can’t help giggling with her. “How old is he?”
“Mid-thirties, I think. No older than forty.”
Oh, my sweet Alessandra. The girl’s got daddy issues, that’s for sure, every bit as much as I’ve got mommy issues. When our parents got together, Alessandra had just lost her father in a hit and run, and I’d just lost my mother in a car accident. And both our parents wrongly thought they could find comfort and solace and a fresh start in marrying another grieving person.
Unfortunately, they quickly found out that was a bad idea. That marriage in the midst of deep grief, especially to a person with whom they had nothing in common, actually made both of them feel ten times worse in their times of need. But, whatever. As confusing and chaotic, and short-lived, as the marriage of my father and Alessandra’s mother turned out to be, I wouldn’t undo it, even if I could. Because it brought me my beloved sister, Alessandra.
By the time I reach the lecture hall for the music event, my breathing is slightly elevated from jogging across campus, so I take a nearby seat on a bench to finish my phone call. “So, which three songs of yours do you want me to load onto a flash drive to give to the record label guy? I’m going to get you signed to River Records, baby. Absolutely no selling your virginity required.”
Alessandra sighs. “Oh, Georgie. You’re so sweet. But getting me signed to River Records, especially at an event like this, would be like hitting a golf ball on Earth and landing a hole-in-one on the moon. Last year, the most amazing singer-songwriter at my school won a contest where the grand prize was having Reed personally listen to her music. And guess what? He listened and turned her down.”
“That’s because she’s notyou.”
“She’s better than me.”
“Impossible. But for the sake of argument, let’s say she’sas good asyou, then the reason she got turned down was she didn’t have a hype-woman, like me, singing her praises.”
“The odds are miniscule you’ll get the chance to talk to him at all. And, if you do, it’ll be four seconds where you won’t have the chance to dazzle him with your patented Georgina Ricci magic. If the situation were different—if you were going to be meeting him one-on-one, I’d put money on you being able to charm him, like you do everyone else. It’s awell-known fact he loves beautiful women, so I’m positive you’d be able to grab his attention. But, as it is, this event is going to be packed with hundreds of music students, all of them toting flash drives in their pockets.”
My shoulders droop. “Maybe, but there’s no harm in me at least trying, right?”
“Wrong. I don’t want you speeding through a conversation with CeeCee because you’re preoccupied with trying to talk to Reed for me. I’ve got twoyearsbefore graduation. You’ve got a week. Just this once, kick my dreams to the curb and look out for number one, girl.”
I watch a group of students enter the lecture hall and glance at my watch. “Ally, I hear what you’re saying. But I can’t be in the same building as a man who couldliterallymake your dreams come true, and not?—”
“Stop,” Alessandra says firmly. “You need a good-paying journalism job, Georgie. Not just for yourself, but for your dad, too. Now, stop arguing with me about this and go in there and get CeeCee Rafael to take your writing samples and make all your dreams come true.”
3
REED
As I park my car in a structure at UCLA, I continue grumbling on the phone to my longtime attorney, Leonard. The entire drive here, we’ve been talking about the latest batch of frivolous lawsuits and settlement demands leveled against my various businesses—my record label, real estate holdings, nightclubs, and more—and I’m beyond annoyed.
“It’s the way of the world when you’ve got extra-deep pockets,” Leonard says. “These plaintiffs’ attorneys are hoping you’ll settle their bogus claims quickly for a nominal sum, rather than paying me quadruple the amount to fight them.”
“Well, they can suck my dick. I don’t settle meritless claims, Leonard.”
“Yes, I know. And as your attorney, may I say it’s the thing I like best about you.”
“Not my sparkling personality?”
“That’s a distant second.” I hear papers rustling on Leonard’s end of the call. “Okay, let’s talk about that copyright infringement suit against Red Card Riot for a second. Also bullshit?”
“Total and complete. That same chord progression can be found in everything from Mozart to Bruno Mars.”
“Well, then, it should be easy to get the case dismissed on a motion.I’ll just need to attach a declaration by a musicologist, explaining what you just said. Know anyone?”
“Angela McGavin. She’s the head of UCLA’s music school. Coincidentally, I’ll be seeing her at an event on-campus in about a half-hour. I’ll chat with her about it then.”
“Perfect. Lemme know. What’s the event?”
“I’ll be speaking on a panel, telling wide-eyed music students about the business side of the industry.”
“Look at you, giving back to the college kiddies who are hoping to follow in your illustrious footsteps.”
