The Beauty & The Tragedy

Watch Over You

"I know. It's just hard to let go."

"You need to focus on the label anyway. You've got a couple solid artists but you need to sign some more."

"Your contract ends after this next album if I'm not mistaken..." I grinned.

She laughed. "You'll have to contact my management and set up a meeting."

"Mmm." I nodded. "I'll have to do that."

We finished breakfast and went our separate ways. She was right about the fact that I needed to let go of the management firm. It was successful and well established. Turning it over to Val was a complete no brainer. She'd practically been running it anyway. I needed to shift my focus and free up some of my time. I was constantly exhausted.

I arrived at my office and immediately got to work. After my conversation with Demi this morning, I decided it was time to turn the firm over to Val and focus on the label. I was actually relieved with my decision and I knew it was the right one.

I announced the change at the staff meeting that afternoon. I spoke to Val beforehand and she accepted the position without hesitation. I cleared out my office that evening and moved upstairs where the label offices were located. It was time to focus on the label and music. I'd already signed Taylor, and that alone made my label worth millions. There was still a lot of work to be done and now that I could put all my energy into it, I was excited. It felt like everything had finally fallen into place.

I glanced at the clock and smiled. It was almost six. I decided to go downstairs into the studio. Back when I had the new office building built, it was designed to house both the label and the firm. The top floors were dedicated to the label and the bottom floors were for the firm, the exception was the first floor. The studio's and rehearsal spaces were all on the first floor. It made them easier to get to. Producers and artists would often rent them when they weren't in use.

I walked into the studio to find Jamie sitting on the couch watching the band as they recorded. She was watching Lauren as she played. The addition of Lauren to the band was an interesting one. She was a little on the wild side and extremely playful. She also had a thing for Jamie, and Jamie wasn't having it. At least not at first anyway. I thought it was cute, Jamie did not.

"So uh....what's up with you and Lauren?" I asked as I tried not to start laughing hysterically.

"I swear to god..." Jamie glared at me.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"You know what..."

"She's a sweetheart." I defended.

"It's honestly exhausting. Do you have any idea how long it took for me to get her to answer the questions for the press release?" She asked annoyed. "Let me tell you - like two fucking hours. She spent most of the time hitting on me with terrible pick up lines."

I smiled. "It couldn't have been that bad."

"Your daddy must have been a drug dealer..."

"What?" I asked as I scrunched up my face in confusion.

"Because you're dope." She responded.

It took me a couple of seconds to catch on before I responded.

"Shut up!" I laughed. "She did not."

"She did."

"I admire your resolve." I said as I shook my head.

"Well, she's barking up the wrong tree." Jamie shrugged.

"If it weren't for this." I said holding up left hand. "She could bark up my tree." I grinned.