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Jade’s face turns crimson and she quickly slaps a hand over my mouth, her eyes going wide. Oh, Little Star. She just played right into my trap, now everyone really is watching us. I take her fingers with mine and pry them off my lips, my grin as devilish as my plan. Lights flash and we’re all called into the room. Jade is still stunned and it makes it easier when I take her hand in mine and lead her to the press table. I can hear the murmurs about our close proximity. The press has been curious about my love life or lack thereof since I started. I never bring a date to events if I attend, and until today, I’ve never been photographed with a woman.
We all take a seat and the questions start. Most of them are directed first at Ocean and her decision to change labels. They want to know if she regrets it now. Then Rise Above answers questions about the scandal and how it affects their newly famous status. I scoff and the noise is picked up on the mics.
“Is there something you want to add, Kid?” a woman in the front asks, her eyes are narrowed with malice.
“Ocean Heart and the members of Rise Above are where they are today on talent alone. To say they have lost their appeal due to a scandal that has nothing to do with the entertainment business is idiotic at best. The issue that Ms. Rosen is facing has no effect on how her business is run or the entertainers on her label.”
The room erupts in chaos. Terrance raises his hand and everyone calms again. He points to another journalist. The man stands. “Kid, you proclaim that the scandal has not affected your work; yet, it’s known that your ticket sales have been dropping steadily the last few years and you recently fired your long-time stage manager. What can you say about that?”
I grin and nod my head. “Sure. Recently I was made aware how the design and the effects of my stage presence has decreased my fans’ willingness to come to concerts. A few studies were done on the safety, satisfaction, and overall planning of the concert. With the audience in mind, I decided to make a change. Starting with changing my stage manager.”
More clicks sound and the same man raises his hand. I know what his follow-up question will be, so I allow it. “Who is your new stage manager and have they been in the industry long?”
I glance at Jade and level a smile at her. “This woman here is Jade Lennon. She’s my new stage manager.”
The crowd buzzes and everyone at the table tries to hide their shock. Jade’s mouth opens and then she remembers where we are. She flashes a strong smile, even though her hand is shaking in mine under the table. Terrance calls an end to the interview. We all stand and wave before exiting the stage. Part one of the plan is complete. Today was just a minor scratch off the surface of the iceberg of the mess we’re in.
* * *
“Are you insane?How could you say that?” Jade meets me on the practice stage the next morning. After the press conference, she ignored me and stayed the night with Ocean. I held back, knowing she would need to process her new role, but also knowing she could rise to the challenge. She’s the only person for the job. The only one I trust.
“It’s true. If you had been here yesterday before the conference, I could have told you.” I shrug.
“Onyx, that is a huge responsibility. How do you know I wouldn’t fuck it up more for you?” She glares and her arms cross over her chest.
My head tilts as I consider her words. It's a warning but also she's all steam. “Jade, you called the show what it was from the beginning. You told me exactly how you felt. If you didn’t care about it, you would have kept your mouth shut and Narissa would still be ruining things.”
Jade glances away from me and her teeth dig into her plump as fuck bottom lip. “It’s a lot of attention on me. And what if I mess it up?”
I move toward her and my hands frame her face, forcing her to look at me. Even though she’s mad at me now, she knows I won’t do anything to jeopardize my music. “You won’t mess up. You care about my music and you’re fucking talented, Little Star. You have been since the day I met you. That is why I trust you with this. Go crazy. Have fun. Give The Kid the stage he deserves.”
Her eyes spark and the fight I used to see in them flickers to life. “What if I’m more expensive than your last manger?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’m still dancing too. I’m not getting out of my contract to help you,” she warns me and her lips finally curve into a smile.
I place a kiss on her forehead and feel the tension leave her body. “I was hoping you would.”
I let her go and turn to walk away. Like most of my interactions with Jade, my creativity is now flowing. I need a studio.
“Onyx!” she calls, and I turn instantly. My brow quirks. “Any requests? Since you’re the artist and all.”
I smirk. “My tour colors are black and green. And at every concert, I want the audience to have white glow sticks.”
Her brow wrinkles in confusion, but she shrugs and laughs it off. I leave her in the room with complete trust in her abilities. I have a record to complete.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Jade
The air seizes in my lungs and my stomach swoops. I breathe through it, making my body accustomed to the free fall feeling of gliding through silken ropes. The muscles in my arms burn and my toes cramp from pointing so hard. My legs ache, but I dance through it. I’ve always been a fan of aerial dance and now I have the opportunity to bring it to Onyx’s stage, I’m going to. His new setup is anything but cookie cutter, and more importantly, it highlights him, his voice, and the lyrics.
With one last twist, my body rolls down the fabric and right to the stage. I catch myself on my knees right as the intro to Onyx’s latest song bleeds into the first verse. The small crowd on the side of the stage claps and whistles. The dancers are more than willing to follow my lead on the new design concept and dances I came up with. It's only been two weeks since Onyx made me the manager and I’ve turned his stage around. The dancing pandas with the sunglasses were the first to go.
“You’re a freaking genius! And you look hot.” Ocean is the first to slide up to me. Her fingers touch the strap on my black top that matches the black booty shorts. The material looks boring to me, but it makes it easier to slide in silk ropes rather than having it snag on glitter or beads.
I give her a side hug and she embraces me even through the sweat. “Thanks. I hope this goes okay.”
