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“I guess that’s it.” Derrik shrugs. “I’ve never been there, but maybe we crossed paths at a press junket or something.”
It’s entirely plausible. With as many events as I’ve been to, I’ve definitely been in the room with musicians, actors, producers, and others. I honestly don’t remember meeting him, but that doesn’t do anything to calm the jitters. If he does know me, then he knows who my father is. I need to tell her already.
Jade turns to me, taking my hand again. “Did you want to hang out in the mixing studio? I don’t know how long we’re going to be, but sometimes it can run long. If you want, I can call you when we’re done.”
“That sounds good. Nice to meet you guys,” I tell the others, waving to them.
Leaving the building, I head back to Rich Records since I haven’t been around the offices for the last few days. I walk into the lobby, and Shawn greets me in his usual position, his feet up on the desk.
“If my dad ever comes in here and sees you like that, you know he’ll fire you.”
He grins. “I keep my eyes open. Speaking of, you tell her yet?”
Slumping over the desk, I shake my head.
“Dude, if you don’t say something soon, this could all end very, very badly.”
“I know! She hates him, though. Every time I think I’m close to saying it, she mentions some other thing that she’s disgusted with simply by being in contact with my dad.”
“Austin, if you don’t say anything and she finds out through someone else, you won’t even have the chance to explain. Then it really will seem like you were hiding it. It’s better if it comes from you.”
I cringe, finally looking up at him. “You’re right.” Nodding, I try to build confidence and determination. “Yeah, you’re right. I need to do this. She’s gonna text me after she’s done working with her band. I’ll tell her tonight.”
“What are you gonna say?”
A wide-eyed stare falls over me, gazing aimlessly at the desk his feet are on. “I have no idea. I’ll just be honest, I guess. That’s the only thing I can do. Tell her I should’ve said who I was from the beginning, but I didn’t know how. Especially after learning how horrid of a person she thinks my father is.” I let out a defeated chuckle. “Not that she’s wrong.”
Getting his feet off the desk, he shoves my hands, laughing. “Come on, man. He can’t be that bad.”
“Shawn, you don’t know my father.”
“No, but I know a lot of people have jobs because of him. And some of the artists he signs make millions.”
“While he makes hundreds of millions. Every deal he’s ever made has been for his own benefit, not that of the talent he signs. And it sucks, because I know he started out in the business with good intentions. Remember The Lancasters?”
Shawn nods hesitantly. “Kind of.”
“I know it was decades ago, but he produced their first record. It made millions, but it also got him and the band six Grammy nominations. He started out with a love for music. That same love I have. But now …” I shake my head, letting out a defeated sigh. “Sometimes, I wish people knew that guy, instead of the man he’s become.”
“Sounds like you want to know him, too.”
I take a deep breath, hearing Shawn’s words. I did want to know that man. Especially when I was just beginning to learn how the music industry worked. I think I was eleven or twelve. I remember finding articles and interviews of my dad long before I was born. He had a spark in his eyes. At one point in time, it wasn’t all about the money. But that’s not the man he is anymore.
“I did. But those days are long gone.”
* * *
After hanging around the offices, I finally had to go to a night class, and then I went home. By the time I got home, my nerves were shot, thinking that Derrik remembered who I am and told Jade, who in turn, decided to shun any and all thoughts of me. I let out a sigh of relief when I finally received a text message from her telling me the band got caught up in writing some new stuff. She said she’d call me today but wasn’t sure when because the band wanted to keep working since they were on a roll of sorts before they called it a night last night.
But today is the day. It has to be. I don’t care if the next time I see her, she comes to me venting about all the frustrations of Rich Records and Bret and everything else. She could tell me Jimmy Richards is a dirtbag that kills kittens, and anyone even remotely close to him should be ashamed of themselves. No matter what, I’m telling her.
After a morning class, I head to my weekly lunch meeting with said imagined kitten killer. As is the case most days, he’s late, so that doesn’t help my nerves for when I’ll eventually tell Jade about myself today. What kind of man can’t ever be on time for lunch with family? But I guess I’ve always known that.
I’ve already got a burger at my table, and I take another bite when he sits down next to me. I glance over at him, then at the two chairs in front of us, on the other side of the table.
“Same side of the table, Dad? I don’t know that we’re there in our relationship yet.”
“Very funny,” he replies without an ounce of humor. Staring at me, his eyes jump from my hair to my face. “Still no haircut. Austin, what kind of—”
