I almost hit him, but I didn’t. Simone would probably be pissed to see Ru come to her with a black eye. I’d already gone off on him about the song credits when I’d promised I would let her handle it.
I gritted my teeth. “I don’t have Jason’s problems. I don’t do drugs. And that’s the last time you say his name.”
He breathed in and out and then looked like he was calming himself down. “She’s a singer.”
“Definitely.”
“She’s beautiful. She’ll make you want things. She’ll make you want to hide her away, but no matter what, she’s talented, she’s powerful and she’s fiercely independent. Have I been slow on getting her to where she needs to be? Yes. That’s because I want it so bad for her. I want her to win and I don’t want to fuck up and give her the wrong deal.”
“I wouldn’t hurt her career.”
“Man, you’re trying to fight me. Are you thinking with your dick or with your head?”
I didn’t respond.
“Let’s start over before she gets rid of the both of us.” He backed up. “We both know she doesn’t need us. She’s going to be a star in the end. All we can do is give her the best chance.”
David appeared in the hallway with a bat. “Excuse me, sir, is everything okay?”
The old man looked fierce as if he were about to beat someone’s ass.
I wanted to high-five him. “We’re fine, David. We just had a disagreement that is...resolved.”
“Will we be having a formal dinner this evening?” David asked.
I sighed and looked at Ru. “How long are you staying?”
He frowned. “Dare I say, a week?”
I groaned.
He pointed at me. “This week is probationary for you. I don’t want to leave Simone here with some sexed-up, drugged-out maniac.”
“That’s not me.”
“I remember your parties.”
“Those weren’t all mine.”
“Doesn’t matter. I stay for a week if that’s okay with you. I just want to make sure she’s safe here and songs are actually being written instead of babies being made.”
I turned to David who remained in the hallway with his bat. “Looks like we’re having a formal dinner.”
“I’m excited.” Ru walked off. “Where will I be staying?”
I looked at David. “Take him far off to the west wing, as west as you can go.”
“Thanks, Gio. You really shouldn’t have.” Ru shook his head and followed David.
Chapter 11
Simone
Music is a higher revelation
than all wisdom and philosophy.
~Ludwig van Beethoven
I’d finally charged my phone. Tons of people had called to wish me a Merry Christmas. I contacted my parents first, asking them about their gifts and how the big family dinner went.
I dialed Yvonne next and she picked up on the first ring.
“Girl, where have you been?” she asked.
“A lot has happened.”
“It better had been an accident or hospital visit because you missed our tradition.”
“I know. I know.”
We always watched a movie together on Christmas night, no matter where we were. For the past few years, we’d been doing it on skype.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Well, the...client I was working for offered me a big contract as his full-time songwriter basically and...” It was hard not to just spill it all.
Fuck it. If I can’t trust her with my secret, then who can I trust?
“Girl.” I smiled. “I’ve been writing songs for Giovanni.”
“Giovanni who? I know damn well you’re not talking about G-fucking-O. My future baby daddy? I know you’re not referring to him, because I’m going to whip your ass for not saying anything weeks ago.”
“G-fucking-O.”
She screamed. I had to pull the phone away from my ear.
“Simone! Are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me? Gio? No way.”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God. We’re going to be rich and famous.”
“Really? We are?”
“Oh, I know I’m going to be the first person in your entourage, living large.”
“Just fuck medical school now?”
“Fuck medical school! I told you in high school that Gio was going to be my future baby daddy. And look what happened. I just manifested it all.”
I shook my head. “Okay stop.”
“Oh my God!”
I giggled. “You are insane.”
I didn’t get a chance to tell her much more. Her family had come to visit so she had to run out with them. However, she demanded that I give her a complete report of everything on him, and to take naked pics. Unfortunately, I hadn’t confessed to her about being in his bedroom. I still wasn’t sure it had actually happened and figured I would be waking from a dream soon.
Later, Gio returned. I’d already finished lunch, grabbed one of my notebooks, and jotted down a few lyrics here and there, not sure what I would do with them.
As he sat on the bed, he glanced at the page and then me. A neutral expression covered his face like a mask. “How was lunch?”
“Excellent.” I closed the notebook. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Ru arrived. I wanted to get his bedroom prepared.”