A/N: Ok hi everyone! This is the sequel to 'I'm sorry, I'm not Will Horton'! This sequel is heavily-inspired by 'Empire'. So Things are about to get slightly musical.
Oh just in case you do not know here's a legend for musical wordings…
Words underlined in italics are either sung by background singers or duet partners
Words underlined in bold italics are sung by lead vocals
Ok here we go...
CHAPTER ONE
-Several Months later-
"Thank you all for coming" Philip Kiriakis shook hands with various corporate partners. "I am truly grateful that you have given us this opportunity to showcase the finest musical talents Meridian Records has to offer." He showed them to their VIP seats.
"Everyone has been raving about the first ever Salem Music Festival!" The middle-aged man informed. "Aside from Chloe Lane, I heard that you also have some rising stars signed to your label!"
"Yes, I actually do!" Phillip nodded his head. "Every single artist has been specifically handpicked by me." He boasted. "Meridian may be a small label but we are definitely not lacking in talent!"
"Chloe Lane just won 'Best New Artist' at this year's Grammys and her debut album has been certified Gold." Another redhead lady interjected. "Not only does the talent exist, you have proven that our investment has made profit!"
"You know whose performance I'm looking forward to the most? Liam Horton!" A brunette lady exclaimed. "That man can sing, can cook and is incredibly sexy in a chef uniform!" She said suggestively.
"That's my nephew you're talking about! Yuck!" Phillip shot her down in disgust while the other partners laughed at him.
Liam Horton sat in his dressing room in front of a mirror. He leaned back on the chair, massaging the bridge of his nose.
"I'm one of the highlights of the festival," The blonde sighed. "Uncle Phillip is placing a lot on this to take the label to the next level. I can't let everything that had just happen get to me."
"Liam!" He heard a voice greeting him. He turned around.
"Mom! What are you doing here?" Liam asked, surprised. "Don't you know you aren't allowed inside here?"
Sami waved the VIP pass she was wearing around her neck. "Your dad convinced your Uncle Phillip to give us two backstage passes! Now onto what I'm really here for." Sami dragged a chair and took a seat right beside him. "Okay now, let's talk about your love life." Sami took out her iPad and began scrolling through.
"Mom, I told you!" Liam whined, "Relationships are the last thing on my mind now! Right now, music and the kids are the only thing I can afford to think of!"
"Excuse me! You may think I'm meddling into your love life, but that's not the only thing I'm interested in!" Sami justified, "Ever since you came out as bi, you have gone viral! You now have men AND women chasing after you. You are a public figure!"
"Mom, no one is chasing after me!" Liam argued.
"Really?" Sami rolled her eyes, "Five years in New York and you still have no idea when people are hitting on you? Come on!" She continued to scroll through her iPad before finding some photos and details. "Anyway, take a look at…"
"Mom," Liam glared.
"Just check out two of them. Look, now that you have made quite a name for yourself what's the harm of a girlfriend or a boyfriend? If anything, it may boost your reputation!" Sami enticed.
"Mom, I'm just a regular guy doing a favour for his uncle by performing at his festival… I'm not trying to be a celeb…"
"Okay, look at this girl." Sami shoved the iPad in front of Liam, cutting him off. "Her name is Sonya Barlas. Her grandfather owns Barlas Airways. Though she helps out at the company, she owns an online business selling skincare products."
"Wait a minute," Liam stopped his mother. "Barlas Airways? Do you actually know what they do?"
"What do you mean? They own a huge airline company!" Sami said.
"Barlas Airways runs an ILLEGAL PROSTITUTION RING all over the country!" Liam waved his hands frantically in the air. "On the surface they may look like another airline company but in reality, they fly escorts in from all over the world! And her name is Sonya!" he added.
"Ok, fine then." Sami swiped across the iPad. "How about this lady?"
Liam saw the lady on the screen and gave his mother the side-eye. "Really? Asian?"
"Half-asian!" Sami justified, "Look, her name is Paulina Kwon." She went on, "She was an Olympic Volleyball player! But she pulled her ankle muscle and then she retired. Her long-lost mother is a former FBI undercover agent…"
"Really Mom?" Liam interrupted, "Can you be more original? Paulina? Really?"
"Honey, I just want you to get over Sonny." Sami patted his shoulder.
"I told you Mom. Music and the kids are now top priorities. Mom, I'm about to perform in slightly over an hour. And I need to rest my voice before I perform."
"Mr Horton," A member of the crew entered the dressing room, "Here's the hot water you requested for."
Liam nodded at the lady before turning his head back to Sami. "Mom, I think it's time for you to go. I need to get ready."
Sami let out a reluctant sigh and placed the iPad back into her handbag before taking off.
"Look, I just want to see him." Paul Black pleaded.
"I'm sorry, but tonight is a big night for Meridian Records." Claire Brady shook his head. "Did you know how it took for Phillip to get him to finally agree to perform tonight?"
"Come on Claire! I'm your favourite Uncle!" Paul placed his two hands together, begging her.
"I'm sorry Paul but you can't just sneak in like this!" Claire pointed forward, indicating for Paul to turn back. "Liam is going on in an hour's time. If you want to talk to him, do it after."
Paul turned around reluctantly, back slouching as he left backstage.
"You aren't welcome here!" Sami Brady raised her voice, "Just because I don't know what you did doesn't mean I don't know you hurt Liam again."
"Where is he?" Sonny demanded.
"Excuse me!" Sami raised her hand when she saw the bouncers. "There's a trespasser here!"
Sonny turned his head back and panicked when the two tall, burly men in black tees step forward, grabbed him by the armpits and lifted him up.
"You can't do this to me!" Sonny shouted, kicking his legs in the air. "My Uncle Philip is the CEO of Merdian Records! Get off me!"
"Sorry, no backstage pass, no entry!" One of the bouncers informed.
"I will have you two fired!" Sonny warned.
"Good Evening Salem!" Phillip Kiriakis greeted with a mic in his hand. The huge crowd cheered. "Are you guys ready for our next act?" The crowd cheered even louder. "Okay, this man," He grinned, "is better known as a Youtube culinary sensation." The crowd cheered. "But then his cover of La Roux's 'Bulletproof' went viral with over 25 million views!" Some members of the crowd became screaming. "Together with his other videos, He has a total of 90 million views on Youtube!"
The crowd cheered at their loudest.
"I'm very proud to call this man, my nephew!" Philip said, "Everyone please give it up for LIAM HORTON!"
Sonny Kiriakis tried to weave through the crowd when a lady accidentally screamed into his ear.
"Jesus Christ!" Sonny shoved the lady, "Are you trying to make me deaf?"
"I'm sorry I can't hear you!" The lady asked to repeat his question.
"You screamed in my ear!" Sonny tried to compete with the noise.
"Sorry," The lady apologized. "Just really excited for Liam Horton! I travelled from Oregon just to watch him perform!"
Sonny looked at the stage. He saw a sliding door in the middle of the stage with the logo of Meridian Records. On the right of the sliding door was the keyboardist and the drummer. On the other side of the stage, he could see 3 backup singers and twos guitarists. One with an electric guitar and the other holding a bass guitar.
The music intro started playing.
Paul Black looked around the outdoor stadium. Thousands had come all the way from out of town just to see Liam Horton. He even heard some of the people raving about how excited they were to see him perform. He felt insignificant, forgotten and worthless. He recalled a question from a particular blonde six years ago.
"Why would Sonny want me when he can have you?" Will asked with tears in his eyes.
Paul finally understood why Will Horton would ask that. Back when he was Paul Narita, baseball superstar, thousands would come to see him at stadiums from all over the country just to throw a ball. Similarly, thousands gathered here tonight just to hear the blonde's powerhouse voice.
"Was this how Will felt back then?" Paul asked himself.
"Our boy is going to perform!" Lucas grabbed Sami excitedly, leaning in for a prolonged kiss.
"I know right! I mean he obviously didn't get his musical talents from either of us!" Sami squealed in excitement.
"It must be God-given then!" Lucas concluded.
"Ok Li… you can do this." Liam tried to calm himself down. "Just think of it as church. Even though you will be rapping for the first time ever in public." His hands began trembling. "Get it together."
"And five, four, three, two!" He heard the backstage crew giving the signal.
Sonny, Paul, Sami and Lucas were now waiting for the music intro to end. It was then the background singers started.
Don't wanna play house no more…
The sliding doors in the middle of the stage parted open like the red sea and smoke emitted on stage.
They saw a man taking a few steps forward. As the smoke cleared and his face became visible, the crowd ballistic.
Liam turned towards his background singers, "You ready?"
Sonny was surprised, by how the audience were so affected by his presence.
Paul couldn't help but notice how hot he looked. He was wearing a white V-neck tee and a silver necklace under a leather jacket. He couldn't stop staring at those blue jeans accentuating his bulge.
Cause the…
Sex was good you had my mind, and I
Let you come back everytime
You would…
violate and cross the line and you
knew that I would be the type to
Always wait so patiently
Thinking…
You was coming home to me
Well…
Damn, I never heard the keys or
Felt your tap saying are you asleep
Don't wanna play house no more
You so dumb to think that you gon marry me
Sami and Lucas raised their eyebrows as they noticed the swag in his walk.
"Are you sure that's our son?" Sami questioned. "Since when was he able to walk like that?"
I got to be out my mind to think I
Need someone to carry me
I've done enough cryin', cryin', cry-yyy…
It's time to say bye, bye, bye yeah… yeah… yeah…
Don't wanna play house no more
You trippin' more
I'm tired of you playing
I'm tired of you playing me…
NO MORE!
So don't be blaming me…
No more… no more-hore!
Done enough cryin… yeah… yeah…
"Ok here it comes…" Liam took in a deep breath, preparing himself for the rap solo.
Break it down Li!
You turned your back, and back I came running
But the simple fact is that you ain't want me
Done enough lying and crying to myself
NOTHING LEFT TO DO BUT MOVE!
The crowd screamed.
Sami's mouth opened when she saw her son spitting out bars, bouncing his body up and down. If she didn't know better, she would have think Eminem has possessed him.
"Did you know our boy could rap?" Lucas raised his voice so Sami could hear him beyond the noise.
"This is my first time watching him perform live!" Sami replied in shock.
What else can I do but leave?
I believed that you what Will need, but now I gotta breeze
I be's with DV when you come to your senses
But then it's too late
That's always how it be
Catch me with the B's on the wheels, Doctor Marten's on the heels
Shoulda Calvin Klein, Zegna suit me up and have me
Next dude will gladly pick up where you left off
Ice me, hitch me, you ain't gonna have me cryin…
Nuh-uh, Uh-uh, Uh-uh
Liam let out a sarcastic laughter through the mic before going back to singing.
It's time to say bye bye, BYE BYE! Yeah…
Don't wanna play house no more…
To think that you would marry me-ee..
Oh...
I've done enough cry-yyyyy-yyyy-yyyy
Bye bye bye, BYE BYE BYE!
Liam stared at the crowd as the outro was playing. The audience were standing, some jumping on their feet up and down while other sang along with him. He finally understood the adrenalin rush Chloe was talking about when she goes on stage.
"Listen up, I dedicate this song," He said between breaths, "To anyone who's going through a tough time in their relationship."
Sonny felt as if a knife was stabbing into him.
"I want you to know that if that person is not giving you any form of security be it emotionally or mentally. I want you to end it now. It may be tough at first but I can guarantee you, it will get better!" Liam assured.
The crowd cheered on as guilt crept through Paul's veins.
-Present Day-
"We thank you for the safe return of our boy, Liam. We now thank you for the food that has been laid upon the table. In Jesus name we pray Amen!" Ernest said his grace.
"Amen." The rest of the table echoed.
"Liam! I am so glad that you are back with all of us!" Tamela said gleefully.
"Yeah! Mom and Dad have been so excited for your return!" Zeke said, "Mom had prepared all your favourite foods!"
"There's truly no place like home!" Liam greedily shoved down a biscuit into his mouth. "Tamela, you still make the best biscuits and gravy!" He said while chomping on the biscuit.
"I'm glad that you love Mom's cooking… But you need to chillax. You eating way to fast." Emoni laughed.
"He's like a child!" Tamela laughed along.
Liam tried to swallow all his food down. "I'm sorry, but you have no idea how glad I am to be back here!" He took Tamela's hand. "Do you know how much I have missed you guys?"
Liam Robertson felt the weight he had been carrying on his chest has been lifted. This is his family, the people who love him.
"This is where I should be! With you guys!" Liam asserted, "I'm never leaving you guys ever again!"
A/N: Ok, that's it for the first chapter! :D Blessed Christmas and a happy new year to all of you! :D
This fanfic is heavily inspired by 'Empire'. Since I'm also a singer myself I figured why not turn Will/Liam into one. Chandler Massey is also a singer too lol…
Be prepared for smut and a shitload of angst and war in this sequel!
Anyway, thanks for reading! PLEASE REVIEW! :D
Oh... before I forget, song is 'Enough Cryin' by Mary J Blige. I changed up the lyrics of course. Not to worry, They can still be sung in synchronization! :D