AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter four
Maryam Carey's POV
I blew it.
We stood in silence inside the elevator as it took us down. My body could feel Carmen radiating with rage next to me. Why did I say that last part? Was there a need to go back and forth with him? He acted like an asshole and kind of deserved someone snapping at him, but did that person have to be me? I could have just kept quiet and taken it. Something about him annoyed me beyond just him being cocky. Perhaps, because he looked like a James Bond character. His black tuxedo conveyed an elite status, and God only knew how expensive that watch was. Looked like a Rolex to me, but what do I know about watches at that level? I could only guess. Ronald Razor’s wavy hair had also been shaped to perfection. Everything about the man’s appearance screamed regality and professionalism. I had seen him in pictures, but in person, he looked even better. Ronald Razor also had an aura to him where you could tell that he was the man, the leader, the core. People like that tended to be magnetic, drawing others to them with their confidence.
So, when I first saw him enter the room, I tried to be as nice as possible. He could care less, and that partially hurt my feelings.
But that was fine. I didn't come here to be friends with him. I came here to discuss what a deal with his company would entail. I did that with Drew who, unlike his boss, acted professional and nice. The weird part, however, was that I wanted Ronald to react to me, not Drew. I even noticed the time when I said something funny, and he purposefully tried not to laugh. Rather, he forced himself to keep a stoic veneer. What kind of pretentious person does that?
Also, this goes without saying, but he was one of the most prideful people I had ever met. I thought about glancing at him but didn't dare to do it.
Even though this was my career, I knew Carmen invested a lot into me, relative to how much I paid her. We were friends and liked each other's company, which played a part in that. I love Carmen’s level-headed demeanor, contrasting my more expressive personality. That was also how I knew she wouldn’t cause a scene now. We had to leave the office first if she would say anything.
After leaving the building and getting in the car, Carmen still didn't say a word. I didn't know if we were going to her place or mine, so I saw that as a good opportunity to start a conversation amid this awkward silence.
“So, are you taking me to my place or yours?” We had decided to come in her car, not mine.
Carmen glared at me in response.
“What was that?” she finally spoke. Her tone still conveyed calmness, but I knew that couldn't be further from the truth.
“I'm sorry, but it just kept adding up and adding up until I couldn't take it anymore. He's an arrogant prick.”
“He's also the CEO of one of the most successful record labels in America,” Carmen retorted. “He can afford to be an arrogant prick.”
I shook my head; that was where I disagreed. Because she understood and engaged in the business side for years, I got why Carmen would think that way. However, I didn't believe being successful and being a dick were not mutually exclusive.
“Do you think we're going to get an opportunity like this again? We had our chance, and we blew it. You blew it.”
“I'm sorry, but not about what I said. I'm sorry that it cost you this.”
“It's not my career, Maryam, it's yours.”
“And maybe I've made my peace with the fact that I don't want to be in a business like this where people act that way to new talent or talent not as big as them. Do you ever think of that?”
“You were the one who wanted this life. Nobody forced you.” Carmen countered. Yeah, she had a point.
“Fair enough,” I conceded.
“Look, I understand the guy's a piece of work. Even I was surprised when he was asking you about being a people pleaser, then all the other passive-aggressive stuff. His mood seemed a little sour. Honestly, I don’t care what went through his mind. Sure, he didn't act in the best way. He's probably stressed from the whole Frank situation. That's still not an excuse, but he can afford to do that. You can't afford to respond like that. The only hope we have now to get into this deal is Drew, the COO. Maybe he can talk to Ronald and get him to see your value.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
My mind had already moved on and resigned to the fact that Los Angeles might not be for me.
It annoyed me that a man as handsome and charismatic as Ronald Razor gets consumed by his ego. He probably had an environment filled with ‘Yes men.’
We drove in silence until we reached my place. Carmen dropped me off, and we said our goodbyes. I didn’t feel much until I got inside my house, closed and locked the door, got to my bedroom, and buried my head in my pillow. Then the pain started setting in.What had I just done?I asked myself. After everything I had worked for to get this opportunity, one mistake and moment of annoyance … and poof! It’s gone. My heart sank and I could barely contain the emotions that burned inside of me. Mom and Dad won’t mind me back home, and they’d be even happier if I told them what happened. Standing up for myself had been one of the tenets of their teachings. Still, though, right now, I felt like a failure.
In one long outburst of frustration, I screamed like a maniac into my pillow. Trying to let out all the negative emotions couldn’t be easy, but I was certainly going to try. At this point, perhaps I needed to call it quits. What would be the point of all of this? Really? RRR was probably the best I would get. People spend their entire lifetimes to reach that moment. Yet, thanks to that asshole, I blew it.
“No, no, no,” I scolded myself. He might have said things that he shouldn’t have, but I still got unnecessarily upset.That’s why you don’t try to impress people, Maryam, I told myself. The word 'people-pleaser' pretty much sums me up. I liked getting along with everyone and would make concessions here and there to keep the peace and good vibes, but that didn’t mean I’d let them walk over me. Seeing a man as handsome and successful as Ronald Razor in the flesh, I got too excited and treated him like I would a normal person. But that guy wasn’t normal; he had an inflated ego. That caused me to get progressively annoyed…leading me to this predicament.
I remained in my bed, head faced down, for a while until my phone rang. At first, I didn’t move an inch to answer, but when the person called again, I knew the person wouldn’t give up.
“Who the heck is that?” My murmurs preceded the answering of the call without even checking the caller's I.D. “Look, I d-”
