“Got it,” Ry said, trying to get out of the meeting.He wanted nothing more than to go home and rest.To do nothing for a couple of days.
“We need our lead singer in tip-top shape for the next leg.”Arend smiled and stood up.“The band is doing very well, you know.There are so many fans who just love your work.We want to make sure that they are happy.Perhaps if you aren’t too tired, we can schedule some interviews on local stations this week.They can even be conference calls so you can rest up.How does that sound, eh?”
“That’s fine.”
“I’m sure your fans would love nothing more.”Arend looked out over the city before turning back to him.“Anyway,” he said, walking him to the door.He put an arm on Ry’s lower back.“Go get some rest.If there is anything else, I’ll call.”
Ry nodded, relief sagging his muscles as he walked to the elevator.Once in the parking lot, he hurried to his car, ready to be out of this place.The trip to his apartment building took too long with traffic.
He parked the car in the underground garage and headed to the elevators up to his place.One of the most private apartment buildings in Los Angeles.The air was stale and warm, even with the blinds down, so he turned on the AC and the lights.The gentle hum filled the otherwise silent apartment as he headed to his wine rack, preferring to keep the windows dark for now.
He plucked a bottle of red and poured himself a generous glass, then took a deep drink.Soft warmth spread through him.Leaving the bottle, he headed to his room to watch some of his favorite shows.Before he sat down, his phone alarm buzzed, reminding him to take his anti-anxiety meds that his doctor prescribed.They’d been a godsend the last few months, and maybe the only reason he’d been able to survive the tour.
In the bathroom, he measured out two pills and drank them down with wine.He looked at his reflection.A gaunt man stared back at him with deep shadows under his eyes, stark and bruised against his pale skin.Over the course of the tour, he learned how to apply makeup to cover those purple marks.He drank from his wine and toasted his reflection.For the next few days, he could eat and sleep as much as he wanted.
Less jittery, he reclined on his bed, propping himself up with pillows and hit play.Over the course of a couple of episodes, he fell asleep, lulled by the wine and familiar voices.
CHAPTER 19: PRESENT
Sunlight danced off the silverware and water glasses, casting tiny rainbows across the table.A few people spoke in indistinct murmurs, the clinking of distant plates a soft counterpoint, even though the hotel restaurant felt quiet and spacious at this hour.Ry waited for the lawyer, his hands clasped in his lap, the texture of his slacks a subtle sensation against his fingers.Though they’d meet in her office for their first negotiation meeting, she had suggested the outing.Today, he’d chosen a black button-down, the top buttons open, revealing a sliver of skin.
Sania Patel breezed in, her large, ebony-rimmed glasses obscuring her eyes.A perfectly tailored verdant sari encased her petite frame.Her long, thick hair, dark as polished obsidian, tumbled in waves from a slightly askew bun.She strode to the table, the click of her heels sharp on the marble floor, setting her leather briefcase down with a soft thud.
“Hi.”He stood and shook his lawyer’s hand, then sat back down.
“Thanks for meeting me here.”She settled on her chair and drank some water.“I’m starving.”
“Of course,” he said, reviewing the choices.“It’s been a while since I ate here.”
She flipped through the pages and then set the menu down.They exchanged pleasantries until the server arrived and took their order.
“Well,” she said, her brown eyes bright.“I’ve been doing some research on the case and I’m brewing up a strategy.”
“I need some good news.”
She opened her briefcase and rummaged around for a few minutes.She then pulled out a stack of papers.“Interns.”She sighed.“But at least they got the notes in the correct spot this time.This is the nasty piece of work you signed for the label, right?”
Ry took the proffered document and scanned the first couple of pages.“Yeah, this looks like it.Did you find anything about what I mentioned?”
She shook her head.“No, and the signatures look authentic.Not saying I don’t believe you.It’s difficult to tamper with documents, but not impossible.Especially if someone knows what they are doing.”
“Fuck,” he said under his breath.
She held up a hand.“Though the team will continue searching for evidence of tampering.We’ve got a couple of experts looking into this, but I want to have a comprehensive approach.”
His heart caught up with his breath.There was another way.With that, his chest expanded; the vice-grip released.
“Damn, I know I’m not making it up.”He shook his head, trying to crack his neck, and played with his napkin on his lap.What could he have missed?“Okay, what’s the plan?I need to get out of this nightmare.”
She took a deep breath and examined the notes.“Check page eighteen under the footnotes and then flip over to page twenty-three.”
Ry flipped to those sheets, taking a sip of water.He scanned the document, his heart racing.
“Are these contradictions?”he muttered.“So, what happens now?”He hit the back of his chair, the cushion supportive beneath him.Relief swept through him, and he let out a shaky breath.His shoulders dropped, and a strange, effervescent feeling bubbled up in his stomach.
“Yes, and the entire document has a few.With these, we can show that the requirements are impossible to fulfill.I’ve reviewed the other contracts from Alexander, Lon, and Brand, and they have enough similarity.I can negotiate termination for the band.”
“How on earth did you find this?”Ry said after he’d finished reading it a second time.He floated.“I didn’t have my dad review it like I should have, but I’ve looked over more agreements than most people.Never saw this.”
