Page 10 of Conquest

Evan lifted his sunglasses and set them atop his head. “Has it been three years? I thought it was more like two.”

Greg shook his head. “It’s been three. The last time I saw you was when your mother got remarried, and you weren’t in the best of moods that day. You drank more than you spoke and left without saying goodbye to anyone.”

“Then I guess it has been three years,” Evan grumbled. He walked across Greg’s office to the large windows overlooking the Chicago River.

Greg gazed at him in sympathy. He moved to his side and placed his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you. I can’t believe you’re really here, but then, you always were full of surprises. How long do you plan on staying in town?”

Evan looked at him, a soft smile on his lips. “A while.”

“That’s wonderful. We’re going out to dinner tonight and I’m not taking no for an answer. Crystal will to go through the roof when I tell her you’re back.”

“How is the old lady these days?”

Greg laughed and sat on the corner of his desk closest to Evan. “Good, but whatever you do, don’t call her that when you see her. She’s been going through an age crisis ever since Krista started college a couple years ago.”

A teasing grin crossed Evan’s lips at the mention of Greg’s daughter. “Krista’s in college now? Then she finally broke the eighteen-year mark. You think she’s still got a crush on me?”

Greg’s smile faded as a withering scowl took its place.

Evan laughed, holding up both hands in innocence. “You know I’m joking! Put the look of death away!” His eyes fell on the posters of himself, the records, and awards. “You still have all that crap I see.”

“Someone has to keep it.”

“Better you than me.” Evan pointed to the mini refrigerator in the opposite corner. “You got any water in there?”

“Help yourself.”

Evan went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He faced around while drinking and walked across Greg’s office to the black leather couch. He lay down on his back and put his sunglasses on again to block the fluorescent lights from seeping through his eyelids. “I’m beat. I drove all night from New York to get back home today.”

Greg turned on his desk, his eyebrows furrowed closer together. “Home?”

Evan yawned and nodded. “Yeah, I bought a house up by Evanston. Oh, and about dinner tonight, we can do that, but you have to go somewhere with me after.”

“Wait a second, you bought a house? Here? You’ve been in town long enough to buy a house, but you couldn’t pick up the phone to give me a call?”

A drowsy chuckle lifted from Evan’s throat. “Sorry. Do you know what a pain in the ass it is finding a decent house? Then I had to buy at least a couple pieces of furniture, you know I gave damn near everything away before I left, and I had to go to New York and get the few things I do have out of storage. I’ve been in town about a month, but I only got possession of the house last week. I’ve been going nonstop. I haven’t even had time to get my hair cut. Which reminds me, I was out shopping the other day and went in a media store to get a new iPod, and I saw a funny thing.”

Greg winced inside. “Really? What was that?”

“Well,” Evan continued in an offhanded manner, “I came face to face with a double life-sized banner of myself with a never released picture of me from a photo shoot I had done four years ago. Now, if it was just that, I would’ve shrugged it off, but the funny thing was what was written on the banner in big, bold letters. I believe it was something along the lines of, ‘Available now! The digitally enhanced edition of Evan Arden’s masterpiece album, One More Time, with two never before released bonus tracks and new liner art. Experience the elegance of Evan Arden, one more time!’ That’s pretty funny, don’t you think? I mean, how in the world could something like that happen when I own all the rights to my songs and no one is to touch my material without my explicit, unambiguous, unequivocal, precise, permission.”

Greg noticed how Evan’s tone sharpened as the speech wore on. He held his breath, trying to think of the best way to proceed without instigating Evan’s rage. “You have to admit, Evan, getting your permission was more than a challenge when no one knew where in the world you were.”

Evan bolted upright on the couch and tore off his sunglasses. “Since you couldn’t get it, you shouldn’t have done it!” He lay back down. “And you would choose two of my lamest ballads. Honestly Greg, ‘Far Away’ and ‘No Longer Mine’? What were you thinking?”

“They’re good songs. Nothing you’ve ever done is lame.”

Evan let out a snort expressing he thought otherwise. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s just going to ruin my good mood.”

Greg nodded, glad to let the matter go. If that was the worst scolding Evan gave him for releasing his material without his consent, then he would count this among his luckiest of days. “So where is it you want me to go with you tonight?”

A smile rose to Evan’s lips. “To see a band. They’re called Conquest. As a whole they’re a little rough, but the guitarist is slick as hell, and the singer, he’s got a voice that will knock you on your ass. His name is Jesse Alexander, the guitarist is Kenny Cooper. I don’t know much about the drummer and keyboardist, they’re not worth my time, but you’ve got to see Jesse perform.”

Greg stared at Evan. He took a breath to pull himself out of his shock. “If he’s getting an endorsement like that from you, he must be good.”

“He’s amazing.” Evan stood and walked to Greg. “I’m going to head home so I can take a nap and be fresh for tonight.” Reaching around Greg, he grabbed a pen and a piece of paper off the desk. “Here’s my cell and house number. I’ll leave making dinner reservations up to you, just call and let me know when and where. Conquest takes the stage at ten and they’re playing at a little joint down south of The Loop. I’d like to be there when they start.”

“Okay. I’ll call you later then.”