Jesus. Get on with it. Why are you really here?
“I’m focused.” I stood near the door, hoping to open it and send him on his way. “This over-working is temporary.”
“Until what?”
I winked at him. “Until I get that Grammy.”
“Well...” He sighed and leaned back into the couch. “That Grammy may be coming faster than you think.”
My curiosity peaked. “What do you mean?”
“Giovanni Ferraro wants you to fly up to Utah and record the album with him.”
I leaned against the wall. “W-what?”
“Sit down so you don’t pass out.”
I slid down to the carpeted floor. “What?”
“Apparently, he’s hoping you’ll replace Jason Beals’s position.”
“He wants me to be his sole songwriter?” Excitement rushed through me. “Are you sure? Are you joking? This isn’t a joke, right?”
Ru kept that frown on his face. “He wants you.”
“Why are you looking like that?”
“These are all expressed wants from his manager, but there has been no official contract. Sure, he sent a massive retainer. You keep the money whether it works out or not, but he has you on a sixty-day probationary period. No signed contract yet.”
“O-kay.”
“Midnight didn’t say what was up with that, but he hinted that Gio wants to see if you could work out.”
I leaned my head to the side. “Why are you saying it that way?”
“Because the way he said it sounded suspicious.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Ferraro has power. This is the entertainment industry. Big guys like him see a sweet thing and they go after her, promising her dreams.”
“Oh my God!” I laughed and held my chest. “You think he’s doing all of this to sleep with me?”
Ru nodded.
“In all fairness, Gio doesn’t have to do all of that to sleep with me. He would just need to say please.”
Ru’s frown deepened. “Gio is not the man you should be messing with right now. You’re almost there and working hard. You don’t need to get into bed with a man like Gio.”
“Relax, Ru. You just said I needed a boyfriend and I work too hard. Now you’re saying—”
“To stay away from Gio on a romantic level. Yes. That’s what I’m saying. Work and write for him. If he tries anything, I’ll deal with him.”
“Listen. It’s not that serious.” I gestured to my pillows and comforter on the floor. “As you can see, I don’t get into my own bed, so there should be no worry of my getting into his.”
“Good.” He rose and straightened his jacket. “He wants you at his house whenever it’s convenient.”
“Shoot. I can be there tonight.” I jumped up from the floor.
“No. I told him that it would have to be next week.”
“What? No way. I can go now.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, Simmy.”
“I have a calendar. I know what day it is.”
“You should be with your family.”
“I want to work.”
Silence sat between us. I didn’t know what Ru’s problem was. People called him a slave driver, but with me, it seemed he couldn’t keep up.
He worries about me too much.
“Ru, please let him know that I will be there.”
“Simmy—”
“I am not a fragile doll. I won’t break.”
“I don’t want him to dangle Jason’s job over your head so that you could eventually give him your panties.”
“It’s not happening.”
“I know it won’t.” He stepped close to me. “Because I’m coming with you.”
“O-kay. You don’t think that’s weird?”
“I told your parents I would protect and keep you safe.”
“I’m twenty-five.”
“And I have twenty-five years in entertainment. It’s a wicked world. Trust me.”
I thought about that and nodded. “Okay.”
“I’ll show up after Christmas. I’ve got my kids this year.” He’d had children with several women.
“Okay.”
“Maybe you want to wait until after the holidays?” he asked
“No way. It’s freaking Gio. What’s a better way to spend Christmas?”
He rolled his eyes. “Jason and Gio were considered two of the biggest dogs in the industry. Women were toys to them and drugs were their path to fun. Keep it business only and if he tries anything funny, call me immediately.”
“I will.”
“I’ll make arrangements for you to get to his place.”
“I can do it.” Knowing Ru, he would have his assistant ‘mess up’ and have me arriving weeks later.
“It’s my job.”
“I can do it.” I guided him to the door. “Thanks for the gift and have a Merry Christmas.”
Holy shit!!
Once Ru left, I rushed to my bedroom and threw several bags of luggage together. It barely took me half an hour. I pretty much slung everything into each bag without trying to organize outfits or think too much. This wasn’t a fashion event. It was work and lots of amazing life-changing music.
He wants me to take Jason’s place. Can I even do that? I mean...fuck! Jason was a legend!
As far as I was concerned, I should’ve already been in Utah. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. My heart boomed in my ears.
I sat down in front of my computer, checked my bank account, and fell out the chair. I actually fucking fell out of the damn chair.