Limelight

Chapter Thirty-Two

"They're both right," Blair said with a sigh. Aaliyah tried to hide her discomfort from Blair speaking for her. "Aaliyah isn't entitled to answer questions regarding Weekly Hot Topics. Aaliyah can say that she doesn't plan on working with them again and that this has definitely been a learning experience for her."

Aaliyah wanted to scoff. Malcolm nodded gravely, looking over at Blair, "At least that way, she can redeem herself in their eyes. And remind the world that she is human, liable to make mistakes," He said and then he looked at Aaliyah with a meaningful gaze. She knew that he was being apologetic, but again reminding her that this was how the world worked as unfortunate as it was, she needed to learn to make do with it. She wished she could scream sometimes, "Is that okay, Aaliyah?"

Suddenly the whole room was looking at her as though she held the world in her hands. Even when she knew and they knew that she really had no choice in the matter, it was either that or get the label sued for X amount of money and ultimately get dropped. She sighed sagging her shoulders, "I guess so."

          She could leave, she thought, and just as quick as it teased her mind, did she jerk back, rejecting it. She couldn't do that to Malcolm, he had given her this opportunity when he was in no such position to do so, abandoning him, felt selfish, despite herself, she couldn't do it. He sacrificed so much for her, he gave her food and shelter and all the faith in the world. And some things frustrated her, and got under her skin, and made her want to leave sometimes, but she would find those things everywhere she went. Leaving wasn't always the best option, she thought of Xavier. Everyone loved him, or at the very least respected him, even Uriah did. They would listen to him. She wanted to be like that, someone people listened to, and not just by her singing, but her words too. Maybe, leaving wasn't an option, but changing things definitely could be.

        She thought of Blair and Jenny and Xavier and Malcolm and she knew that no matter what she had against the label, she couldn't abandon any of them. It wasn't in her, she didn't want to.

Uriah clapped his hands together, shaking her out of her thoughts and smiling like he had accomplished something. "Good, we will revisit the guest list and send out last-minute invites to the right reporters" He announced, "Now next we should probably discuss a setlist, and set up meetings with the opening acts—"

"Sorry we're late," Said a voice, and Aaliyah turned her head to the door as Madison with her manager sauntered in. Her bright red hair was tied up in two mini-buns accentuating her porcelain skin and sharp cheekbones, "We got tied up at this cute little restaurant nearby. Fan related, of course."

Uriah grinned letting out a laugh. "Of course," He said as she and Oliver took their seats on the other end of the table. Aaliyah watched as she did, almost flouncing carefree her skirt floating around her ankles. She found herself remembering the night of the Winter Showcase, and she had been in tears, confiding in Aaliyah about her deepest shame. She couldn't help but feel weird now, and a little annoyed at how perfect everyone sees her as, "You're just in time anyway, we were about to start discussing you."

"No, you weren't," Blair replied in a cool voice, and when everyone looked to her, she returned the glares with a dry look of her own, "You might as well all own up to your double standard, you just look like idiots otherwise."

Madison made a sweet noise meeting Blair's gaze across the table. "Does your bitterness leave a sour taste behind?"

Blair rolled her eyes. "Does your ego leave you enough room in your queen-sized bed?"

Madison narrowed her eyes, already irritated. Malcolm sighed tiredly. "Blair—"

"It's whatever," Aaliyah said and then looked over to Madison with an easy smile, "So is there a reason your highness is taking a seat at my meeting?" She asked, ignoring the slightly shocked look on Malcolm's face.