Chapter 1
A Day at the Office
One month has passed since Ba Nee left Starlight Mansion after being reunited with her long lost father. Still feeling the void left by Ba Nee's departure, Jerrica Benton has been working longer hours and, on her days off, organizing so many events for the other Starlight Girls that there hasn't been any time dwell on the emptiness.
On this day, one month passed exactly, Jerrica is at Starlight Music working on promotion contracts for their hottest act, Jem and the Holograms, when there is a knock on her office door.
Looking up, she calls out "Come In".
Standing at the door, Jerrica's sister Kimber pokes her head in.
"You got a moment sis?"
With a stretch of her stiff shoulders, Jerrica looked at her clock, noticing that she's been working for nine hours without a break. Stifling a yawn and turning her attention back to the door, Jerrica's gaze fell upon a picture on her desk; a picture of the Starlight Girls' surprise birthday party for Ba Nee. Completely forgetting her sister was waiting at the door to be acknowledged, Jerrica picked up the picture, a half smile touching her lips.
"Still missing Ba Nee huh?" Kimber asked, now standing in front of Jerrica's desk, a look of concern on her face.
Wiping away an unshed tear, Jerrica looked to Kimber with what she hoped to be a neutral expression.
She failed completely.
"Oh sis," Kimber said, a note of sympathy creeping into her voice "you know Ba Nee is so much happier now right? I mean," she hastily added "she's happy having her father, right?"
"I know she's happy Kimber," Jerrica replied with a quiver in her voice "but I miss her terribly. I know it's a selfish feeling, but I can't help it. For years Ba Nee was my little girl, and I guess I thought that would never change."
Walking around the desk and embracing Jerrica, Kimber replied "Sis, it's not selfish at all!" Wiping away the tears she was now shedding, Kimber added "You feel like that because you truly love Ba Nee. She was part of our world for so long, there was no reason to believe she would ever be gone. And," Kimber added "it was because you loved her so much that you went out there and found her father for her. You gave up your wants to give her what she needed"
Checking her sobs, Jerrica hastily wiped away her tears and tried to compose herself. Once she believed she was back in control, Jerrica asked "So what's up Kimber? You needed something?"
With her usual giddiness, and relived at the change in subject; Kimber excitedly replied "Yeah, Sean's flying in tonight. He's coming by tonight with Anthony and Rio. They say they have something exciting planned and want us all there. Aja's gone to get Shana from the fabric store, and Raya's heading in from her father's nursery."
Smiling, Jerrica said "A little excitement would be a welcome change, but I'm afraid I have too much to do here. I've got all these promotion contracts to look through, phone calls to makeā¦"
"Ooohhhhh," Kimber interrupted, frustrated "all that can wait a day! You need a break! Seriously Jerrica, I'm getting worried about you." Her note of frustration quickly changing to one of concern "We all know you haven't been sleeping well. You toss and turn; we've even caught you pacing the hallways at night. One night you even sleep walked,"
"What's wrong with sleepwalking?" Jerrica interjected, confused.
Quickly closing the door to the office, Kimber told her sister quietly "Jerrica, you walked straight into Synergy's room! What would happen if one of the girls woke up and saw you sleep walking, let alone walk right through the hologram of the wall!"
With a look of disbelief on her face, Jerrica sat back down in her chair. "Why haven't you told me about this before Kimber?"
"Because," Kimber replied, unsure how to proceed "well, we weren't sure you would believe us. Each time we get you awake enough to get you back to your room, but you never remember what's happened."
"It is a pretty unbelievable story," Jerrica told her sister, trying unsuccessfully to hide her amused grin "but that would explain why I've been waking up feeling more tired than when I went to bed." Noticing how intense Kimber's concern was, Jerrica relented. "I guess a little R and R wouldn't hurt. It has been a while since I've gotten to spend some time with Rio."
"OUTRAGEOUS!" Kimber exclaimed, clasping her hands together and leaping with joy. "We're gonna have a blast sis, I just know it!"
Looping her arm with Jerrica's, Kimber excitedly led her sister from the office. "What do you think this mysterious surprise they have for us is sis?" asked Kimber.
With a look of bewilderment, Jerrica replied "I honestly have no clue. It seems kind of odd though." Continuing with a hint of amusement in her voice, Jerrica added "You know how Rio is about keeping secrets. If he can keep quiet this long about it, it really must be good."
Reaching the elevator, Kimber and Jerrica were just about to enter when a voice down the hall calls out "Ms. Benton, please wait a moment!"
Recognizing the voice of her assistant, Joanie, Jerrica tells Kimber she'll be down in a moment. Turning to Joanie, she asks "Something happening?"
"There's a phone call for you." Joanie answered. "It's the owner from the Le Klub Kool. He said there's something urgent he needs to speak to you about."
With a sigh, Jerrica turns back toward her office. "Please send the call to my office Joanie. Oh!" Remembering Kimber was waiting downstairs, she quickly added "Could you please go to the parking garage and let Kimber know I'll be a few more moments? She's waiting for me."
"Sure thing Ms. Benton" Replied her trusty assistant. "Let me know if you need anything else."
"Will do Joanie," Jerrica said, adding with a smile "and please, call me Jerrica."
Returning to her office, Jerrica pulled her executive chair back to her desk after having left it half way across the room when Kimber led her away. Sitting down and turning her attention toward the phone, Jerrica's gaze fell once again upon the picture of Ba Nee. With a sincere smile of joy, Jerrica kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the image of Ba Nee's cheek. Straightening her posture and clearing her throat, Jerrica answered her phone.
"Starlight Music, this is Jerrica."
"Hello Ms. Benton, this is Jeff Warren, owner of Le Klub Kool." The voice on the line said. "I needed to speak with you about a performance contract I sent over a few days ago."
Shuffling through the mound of paperwork on her desk, Jerrica found the paperwork in question. It was regarding an upcoming performance specially scheduled for the clubs regular customers and stake holders. Apparently the proposal was more like a bid sheet to see who would give the club the best deal. The amount the club was offering for the proposal was enough to cover the bands expenses and have extra to place into Starlight Music's profits.
"Ms. Benton?" Mr. Warren asked "Are you still on the line?"
Snapping back to herself, Jerrica quickly replied "Yes, I'm sorry; I was just reviewing the documents you sent over." Thinking to herself that she really needed to take Kimber's advice and rest, Jerrica turned her full attention to the business at hand. "What can I help you with?"
With a tone of reluctance, Mr. Warren informed Jerrica "We have accepted a contract for the upcoming performance. I wanted to take a moment and let you know."
"Oh, well thank you for the call Mr. Warren." replied Jerrica, obviously disheartened at the news. "Might I ask who will be performing for your show?"
"Yes, we have accepted an offer from The Misfits." Mr. Warren informed her with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Their bid was actually the first one I received from them that was reasonable."
Bewildered, Jerrica states "Just please be cautious of Eric Raymond, Mr. Warren. He's extremely sneaky and underhanded. If he's offering reasonable bids, he got to have another plan up his sleeve"
Now it was Mr. Warrens turn to sound confused. "Eric Raymond? No, no my dear, the offer was signed by a Mary Phillips."
"Stormer?" Jerrica exclaimed without thinking. "Why would Stormer, I mean, Mary; be signing contracts for The Misfits?"
"I honestly couldn't answer that Ms. Benton," Mr. Warren replied "but I honestly cannot give out any more information. We will be keeping you in mind, as always, for any upcoming performance's we need to fill. Thank you for your time Ms. Benton."
"Thank you Mr. Warren" Jerrica added, still confused "Have a great day."
"You do the same Ms. Benton." Mr. Warren replied, before hanging up the line.
Hanging up her own phone, Jerrica sat back lost in thought. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out just what The Misfits could be planning by underbidding the other groups, Jem included. True, it's just like The Misfits to try and out do and upstage Jem and the Holograms, but they never try to do it without guarantee of fanfare and recognition. This seemed so out of character for them.
"What could it mean?" Jerrica quietly asked herself.
"What happened sis?" Kimber asked, once again standing in the doorway to Jerrica's office. "Joanie said you had to take a quick call, and you would be down in a moment, but that was half an hour ago"
Shocked, Jerrica looked at her watch. Noticing that it has been a half of an hour she left Kimber waiting, she quickly added "I'm sorry for leaving you hanging Kimber. That was the manager of Le Klub Kool. He called about the performance contract he sent for Jem and the Holograms."
"Outrageous! When are we going to perform?" Kimber excitedly asked her sister.
"We're not. We've been outbid." Replied Jerrica, once again confused at the turn of events.
"What? Who outbid us?" Kimber asked with a hint of anger in her voice. "What kind of lousy group did they pick just to keep the payment low?"
"That's the thing, Kimber," the now quiet Jerrica answered "it's not a "lousy" group. It was The Misfits"
"Who did they blackmail this time to worm their way in?" Kimber asked, her anger obviously rising.
"Nobody, and that's what I don't get" said Jerrica "according to what Mr. Warren told me, they actually played this one fair, but what I don't understand is why the contract wasn't signed by Eric."
"Then, if Eric's not behind this, then who is?" Kimber asked, her anger gone, traded for confusion.
With an amused smile, Jerrica looked at Kimber, ready to gauge her reaction. Answering, Jerrica simply said "Stormer."
Her eyes widening and jaw dropping, Kimber was too stunned to reply.
Giggling, Jerrica said "that's the same reaction I had. It makes sense that the only honest deal The Misfits have made yet would come from her." Feeling the exhaustion of the day creeping up on her, Jerrica stood up from her desk and gave a long, luxurious yawn as she stretched all her muscles. Turning to Kimber, seeing the disappointment in her sisters face, Jerrica cheerfully added "think of the bright side Kimber, now we will have more time for that R and R you suggested."
Despite her disappointment, Kimber started laughing. Feeling her disappointment ease, Kimber walked up behind Jerrica. Placing her hands on her sister's shoulders, Kimber started walking, ensuring that Jerrica left the office this time.
