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Another reason why she needed the deal with Genesis. Signingthe contract would make her financially independent and thenshecould decide when and how she would step away from performing. She’d be damned if she’d leave that up to another person.
Especially Cash!
“Four months ago, they invited me to perform. Two months ago, they asked if I’d also present Album of the Year. What the fuck happened between then and now to make them withdraw their invitation?”
“No one will go on the record, but word is Cash told the producers if you participated in the ceremony, he’d pull his acts. Dirty Junkie is up for Best Video as well as Album and two of his other acts are performing. It was a numbers decision.”
The scalding heat of tears burned behind her eyes. Yeah, being excluded from the Hip-Hop Awards hurt, but it was a physical indication of the disconnection she’d been feeling.
Since her arrival she’d had very little interaction with people who looked like her and shared her cultural touchstones. She was certain she could find a version of that community here, but the Company kept everyone so isolated. The only people she consistently saw on a daily basis were Jameson and certain members of the family and the staff, and attempting to venture out on her own involved so much red tape, she’d stopped bothering.
Dani found she not only missed being around her people, she missed the multiculturalism of her world. She missed seeing different skin tones, hearing different voices and accents, learning new fashions and hairstyles. She missed making a reference and knowingsomeonearound her would get it. And she missed engaging in hip-hop with others who loved and appreciated it.
The deficiency was affecting her more than she’d ever imagined it would.
But what she wasn’t going to do was roll over and let Cash believe he’d gotten the best of her. “Can we change their minds?”
“I’ll keep working on it and I’ll get back to you. I got a few aces up my sleeve.”
“Thanks, Bennie.” Once again, Dani was grateful to have the other woman on her team.
“You’re welcome. Switching gears, it looks like everything is going well with your main mission.”
Despite herself, Dani laughed. “My ‘main mission’? What am I, double oh seven?”
“You could be. Just say the word. I know some people at the company that produces the films.”
“There are many reasons that’s probably a nonstarter, but I think you’d agree I have enough on my plate at the moment.”
“Okay. But in my mind there’s no limit to what you can do. Remember that. Anyway, Andrea and I talked, and she said Parcellum has been happy with your performance so far.”
Dani pursed her lips. That was before last Friday.
As if she’d read Dani’s mind, or facial expression, Bennie said, “That was one misstep. At least you brought attention to an attack many in the world hadn’t been aware of. I read some schools in the U.S. are setting up fundraisers to send money and supplies to the kids injured in the bombing.”
It was true. One of the positives that had come out of the whole debacle.
The doorbell chimed.
“I gotta go. I’ll talk to you soon,” Dani told her agent as she rose from the couch.
“Yes, you will. You keep your focus on what you need to do over there and I’ll deal with Cash and the awards show.”
Dani disconnected the call and headed out to answer the door.
The first time she’d attempted such a feat at Jameson’s Kensington Palace apartment, she’d thought she’d been locked inside! There was no door handle! She’d spent several minutes looking for one until Jameson had come by, taken pity on her, and explained the high knob on the mounted lock was used to pull the door open. It made zero sense to her, but Brits tended to get touchy when one pointed out those discrepancies, so she’d kept her opinion to herself.
A divot appeared between Louisa’s brows. “Why are you answering the door? Where’s Townsend?”
Dani stood back and allowed Louisa to enter. “The butler? I don’t know but it seemed ridiculous to sit there and wait for him to let you in when I was closer. I’m sure he’ll rat me out to Jay anyway. Come on.”
She led Louisa from the large elaborately decorated foyer through a curved doorway into the adjacent drawing room. They’d found that when they had back-to-back events, staying at the apartment in London was more convenient and it had the added bonus of being a quick walk to Jameson’s mother, who lived one courtyard over.
“Is His Royal Highness here?” Louisa asked, lovely in a sky-blue dress and pearls, her usual composure in place.
“No, he’s practicing for the regatta.”
Dani hadn’t even known what a regatta was before yesterday, but the Royal Regatta was the most famous rowing event in the world. For five days, thousands of spectators came and watched as crews from all over the globe battled it out on the Thames. There were competitions for all ages and experience levels, from school teams to Olympic champions. The highlight of opening day was a racefeaturing selected rowers and a member of the royal family acting as the umpire. This year, that privilege had been assigned to Julian.
