I woke up at 1 o'clock on Friday, thinking it was Wednesday night. The days were running together, but it was my own fault, because I refused to take a break. Zeke had to force me out of his studio and room just so I could get some rest.
After a shower and hygiene care, I grabbed my phone and sat on my bed to check all my missed calls and text messages. I was not at all surprised at seeing Monica's name fifty-million times, but it's nice to have family checking on me.
Before I could give her a callback, my phone rang. I instantly recognized my former employer's store number. "Hello," I answered the call.
"Good afternoon, Jamie. This is A.B. How are you?"
I definitely wasn't expecting to hear his voice. "A.B.? I'm doing good. How are you?"
"I can't complain. Do you have time to talk?" He asked me.
"Yeah. Of course." I crossed my legs as I sat in bed.
A.B. continued, "Great. First, it's good to hear that you're doing good. I've been praying for you and your career."
"That's so sweet. Thank you, A.B."
"You're welcome. I was calling, because we have your last paycheck, and I wanted to know if you want it mailed or deposited in your bank account."
I shrugged, "It doesn't matter. I can't believe I forgot about my last check."
"You really are doing good," A.B. chuckled.
"Let's just say I'm not worried about bills," I admitted.
We both laughed.
"So, are you officially the new manager?" I asked him.
"No. My uncle is still the owner and manager, but he finally took a vacation for two weeks."
"Wait-a-minute. He's taking a 2-week vacation? The longest I've ever known Mr. Dave to take vacation was two days and the time you filled in for him."
"Exactly," A.B. stated matter-of-factly.
Laughter followed. Immediately, I thought about my last week at work. A.B. was a lot of fun.
I asked him, "Are you staying with your uncle now or...?"
"Oh-no. He lives too far away from the store. I'm still across the street at the hotel."
"You're still at the hotel?" Light bulb moment! "A.B., please don't think I'm crazy or anything, but my lease is up in a couple months, and it's already been paid up. If you're interested, you can stay there until you find a permanent spot, because... like, I would hate for my apartment to be unoccupied with the rent already paid for. You know?"
"How much is your rent?" He asked me.
"One full check."
"That's not bad," A.B. commented.
I added, "They're old, but it's really safe. The neighbors mind their business, but if they ask you anything - you're a friend checking on a friend." I know Paulette and Joey, well, Paulette for sure would be the only one questioning him.
A.B. said, "Sounds like your mind is made up."
I smiled, "I just see this as a great opportunity. I get a security guard for my property or what's left in it, and you get a place to stay, rent-free for a few months. It's a win-win situation."
"Okay. I accept your offer. That gives me plenty of time to look around for a place to stay. Do I need to go to the main office for the key or anything?"
I shook my head, "No. You shouldn't have any reason to go to the main office. My cousin is checking my mailbox every few days until my mail is forwarded to my parents' house, but I'll ask her to bring you the key to the apartment. What time do you get off work today?"
"I'll be here until seven."
"Okay! She should be able to give you the key before then. Her name is Monica. She's hard to mistake for anyone else." I smiled at how this was all coming together. The bonus was introducing Monica and A.B. to one another. He would be perfect for her, and she would be... she would be Monica for him. Look at me making love connections.
"Cool. You can give her my number, too."
Oh, I sure will. "What's your phone number?" I asked A.B.
"I just sent it to you," he told me. "Would it be okay to give her your check?"
"Actually, that's a good idea. You can give her my check, and she'll give you the key to my apartment."
A.B. said, "Thank you, Jamie. You didn't have to offer me your place, but I appreciate it. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me."
"It's not a problem at all, but I'll call you if I ever need anything." Little did he know, he just brought an unremovable smile to my face. I wonder if he has any photos that I could send to Monica.
Once we got off the phone, I called my cousin.
"Niccaaaaaa!" I shouted with excitement.
"Hold up! You ain't called me Nica in forever! What happened? Tell me!" Monica sounded like she was going down a waterslide - that's the only thing I could think of to describe the noise in the background.
"Where are you?" I got up from my bed and walked over to the window. There were two unfamiliar men standing outside by the pool. Then, I saw Zack walk out the house to greet them. They all shook hands and sat down at a table.
Monica replied, "Girl, I just got in the house. It's raining cats, dogs, alligators, lions, tigers, and bears outside."
Zack wore a tank top, joggers, and slides with socks on. The two men wore colorful shirts almost Hawaiian style with heavy-looking chains, jeans, and Nikes. The taller one wore a hat. The shorter one wore sunglasses. I wasn't for certain, but they looked like V.C. Penman and Maxville.
"Hello? Jamie, can you hear me?" Monica asked.
"Uh, yeah... Quick question. You remember that video you reacted to a year or so ago about the top behind-the-scenes people in the music industry?"
Monica answered, "My video about ghostwriters? Yeah."
"I think two of them are here at Zeke's house." I was just two jumps away from zealous.
Monica gasped, "Are you serious? Let me guess! Is it Royalty Rights and... Davie Flemming?"
I shook my head as if she could see me. "No way. I'm looking at ghostwriters for rappers."
"Zeke ain't no rapper. Wait. Is he going to rap on your songs?" Monica asked me.
Zack laughed with the two guests. Then, he pulled out a black bag. It was similar to the bag that the music store would use to put money in for making bank deposits.
"No. They're meeting with his brother, the actual rapper in the family."
Monica chuckled, "Makes sense. So, how's recording been? I haven't talked to you in days. I almost bought a plane ticket to LA to make sure you hadn't been kidnapped."
I playfully rolled my eyes as I left the window to go to the bathroom. "Anyway, I have a small favor to ask of you." I told her all about A.B., my apartment key, and my last paycheck. Hopefully, she doesn't catch onto my matchmaking drift.
After leaving the bathroom, I went back to the window. Zack and the two ghostwriters were still outside, talking by the pool.
"I got you, cousin. If the rain doesn't let up in an hour or two, I'll definitely go over there."
"I can give you his number just in case. That way--"
Monica cut me off, "I don't need it. Just as long as he knows I'll be there. Oh, my goodness! Cousin, I'll call you back. My mama has called me three times in a row. Let me see what she wants."
"That's funny. I thought you always answered your mom's calls," I teased her.
"Don't act like you don't know who my mama is, Jamie. I'll call you back. Bye!" She hung up.
Oop! Did I hit a nerve? I smiled as I tossed my phone on the bed. I looked back out the window and Zack was looking at me. Too late to pretend as if I wasn't watching them. He pointed at me and waved. I waved back. He waved. I waved back confusingly. Zack shook his head and motioned with his finger in a "come here" movement. Oh! He wants me to go down there.
I nodded my head and gave him a thumbs up to let him know that I understood. I stepped away from the window only to panic. What does he want? Why does he want me to go down there? Why was I standing so noticeably by the window? I need to ask Bridgette about getting some blinds.
I took a deep breath before walking over to my bedroom door. I grabbed the knob, and I opened the door. The corridor seemed to extend past it's usual length. My eyes were playing tricks on me. I ran to the full-length mirror, checking my face and attire. I used my hair to cover my cheeks. The thought of cutting my hair into bangs didn't sound too bad at the moment.
I took a step back from the mirror to analyze my clothes: black shirt, gray leggings, and purple fur sandals. I need to change! After getting into a pair of ballerina flats and jeans, I walked out of my bedroom. Just put one foot in front of the other, Jamie. Somehow, I made it down the hall, downstairs, and to the pool party of three.
Zack stood up and turned around as if on queue. "What's up, gorgeous?" He smiled at me.
"Hey!"
He pulled me into a hug at the same time walked me over to the two men.
"Max... V.C.... This is the beautiful woman I was telling you about. She can sing like nobody out today. And Jae, this is Maxville and V.C. Penman, the writers behind a lot of the hits you've heard and continue to hear on the radio. They wrote a song I was featured on back in the day," Zack introduced us.
Maxville stood up and his height threw me way off. He was a lot taller in-person.
"H-hi, I'm umm... call me Jae." I held out my hand.
He took it and kissed it.
"He's old school," Zack told me.
"You are absolutely beautiful. It's nice to meet you, Jae," Maxville took his seat at the table.
V.C. Penman threw up two fingers. "What's up, Jae? Nice to meet you."
"You, too," I waved at him.
V.C. Penman stood up and walked towards me. "Dude, you looking more like your dad than your brother these days."
Huh? Then, I felt a hand grab my waist. I looked to my right to see Zeke.
"That's 'cause he trying so hard not to be like him," Zack teased him.
Zeke ignored his brother and spoke to V.C. Penman, "And you looking older than you dress."
Haaaa! Haaaa! I was laughing on the inside, trying my best to keep a straight face.
Maxville chuckled, "True."
Zack cleared his throat, "I'm gonna get back to bid-ness, but it was good catching up, fellas. We'll talk later." Zack shook hands with Maxville and V.C. Penman before going inside the house.
"I thought your schedule was tight. Y'all are two hours early," Zeke began.
V.C. Penman said, "What's funny is Zack called us, and it worked out perfectly since y'all were both at the same address."
Maxville added, "We can get down to business now. You said you were interested in making a few radio hits."
"And you know we make nothing but hits," V.C. Penman bragged.
I glanced at Zeke.
"If I knew y'all would be here this early, I would've saved y'all a trip, because I've decided to stay focused on my new reality show," Zeke informed them. "If y'all would excuse us, my girl and I are late for our date. C'mon, baby." He took my hand and guided me towards the front of the house.
Umm... what is happening? As if it was planned, Maximo was standing by the car with the back door opened. I got in first, then Zeke got in and closed the back door. He cursed.
I looked out the window, fidgeting with my fingers.
"Did they ask you anything? Did you tell them anything about..." Zeke lowered his voice, "the music?"
I took a deep breath before looking at Zeke. "No, but could you please explain to me what's going on. I am so lost, right now."
"I should've known this was going to happen." Zeke balled up his fist.
I swallowed my saliva.
Zeke sighed, "I called them earlier, because I wanted their input. You are the singer, but we still need some influence, some marketing, and those two were our easy way in. Unfortunately, my brother knows just about everybody in the music industry. I was hoping that I could work with them. You know?" Zeke put his fist to his mouth. "I don't know how he knew I contacted them."
I took a deep breath. Guilty conscious activated in 3... 2... 1. "Zack invited me to his studio, and he asked me to sing a little bit. It was only a couple ohhs and ahhs - nothing more than that." I felt like a cheater confessing my wrongs.
Zeke looked at me with narrowed eyes. "That's not enough to get my brother to meet up with V.C. and Maxville. Have you been singing around the house? Mention the real reason why you're here... by accident?"
I shook my head. "No. I only sing in my room."
Zeke took a deep breath. "Has he been to your room?
"It doesn't sound as bad as it sounds, but he did come in my room. I asked for his autograph, and I let him sign my... Oh!" I smacked my forehead. "I was wondering why he started acting so strange, because the first day I met him, I told him I was a fan of his music. I asked for his autograph, and he signed my notebook. The day that you came back home, he invited me to his studio to listen to some music he just wrote. I think it's because he somehow saw the songs I wrote in my notebook." I wish I could hide for a couple days.
Zeke said, "Change of plans. We're done recording music until it's time to make your album. I'm gonna have to find someone else, someone with just as much or even more power than V.C. and Max."
I asked, "Aren't they just ghostwriters?"
Zeke took my hand in his. "My dad left his group, because you can only make so much money in a band. He signed a deal that allowed him to use some of his own resources. Once the hits started to capitalize, he got into acting, commercials, sponsors, and he signed multiple acts including my brother. My dad owns his masters and many other things. Unlike my brother, I don't want my family's success to be the reason that people pay attention to you."
"You don't have to do all of this, Zeke. I'm not complaining. If people want to attach me to your family to say that I wouldn't have the success without The Rivers, let them say that... because it's kinda true," I admitted.
Zeke smirked, "Everything that I've done is so that I remain independent from my family's name. I got anything I wanted when I was a kid, because of who my dad and my brother is. Nobody knew what I did besides hang out with other rich kids."
He ain't lying.
"This has to go my way, Jamie. You said you would help me."
I squeezed his hand. "I am, and I will. You chose me, remember?"
Zeke caressed my hand. "I'm glad I did."
"So umm... Where is Maximo taking us?" I inquired.
Zeke lightly laughed, "He's been doing this for years. When I'm angry, he just drives around until I tell him I'm good."
My brows met, "Must be nice."
"One of the perks of being a Rivers," Zeke licked his lips. "Since we're done recording music, how about we have some playtime."
"Like what?"
"You'll see when we get there." Zeke pinched my chin.
"I'm gonna start taking advantage of this fake relationship." I pinched his chin.
"That's what you're supposed to do. Might as well work on your acting, because that could be an option," Zeke stated.
He got one more time to bring up acting. Little did he know, I was far from acting. I am living out my teenage love story.
If only little Jamie knew that the boy she watched on TV and semi-stalked online would be the same boy she was looking at, right now, little Jamie would never know sadness, failure, or regret. Zeke, you messed up when you let me in.