Chapter 35
Thank you for all the reviews here and comments on FB. Sometimes these GRs get me riled up and y'all talk me down from catching a charge. I appreciate you all. Thank you to Team Harpy- Dawn, May, Cheryl and Mandy. This chapter would not exist without you.
I keep my promises one way or another...
***B***
"See, I told you!" I shriek as I pound Jasper on the back in excitement. "Number 22 in Country on iTunes and number 52 for all genres! And this is just day 3."
Jasper sits there looking overwhelmed as he tends to do while Ali is doing her best to calm him. "I told you TikTok was the way to go." She's smug but I'll let her be. She was right.
"And here I thought that was just a catchy tune by Kesha. What do I know?"
"You'd know more if you'd get with the times."
"Yeah, yeah." I wave her off. "So we will drop the entire album in two days with Tennessee Whiskey as the lead-in. We will cover all the songs plus a few covers at the Foundation Nightclub which is in three weeks. Ali, do you have your list?"
"Yeah. I have to get the promotional posters to them this week along with some merch for presale. The shirts will be here Wednesday and of course, we have a few free downloads they will be giving away for us leading up to the show. They are advertising on their Facebook and Instagram pages. John called today and said interest has certainly heightened since I dropped that TikTok yesterday. It doesn't hurt that Jasper is hot."
"Doesn't hurt at all." I grin as he blushes and sinks ever further into the couch.
"Also, KEXP has agreed to give us airtime Anything for the locals, they said. They also said for me to send over Masen's song once it's dropped."
I squeal. "Okay girlfriend, I want you on advertising and all social media accounts several times a day. Post a few more whatevers- anything to get these numbers up. Now, Masen's album is hot on Jasper's heels to be released but until he gives me his full attention, I'm at a loss for promotion."
"I was listening to it last night. It's certainly darker than the last one." Jasper mentions.
"I said the same thing." I chew on the cap of my pen. "I think he's going through something but he's not confiding in me." I shrug.
"Doesn't that bother you?" Ali asks.
"Not really. I grew up around tortured musicians. Music has a way of healing the soul. If he wants to talk about it, he knows I'm here."
Ali looks like she wants to say more but drops it.
"Have you picked a title yet for Masen's?"
"Yes, Apocalypse. His idea. But it fits with the tone of the songs so I went with it. Oh! You should see the album cover." I pass it to her.
"Wow."
I smile at it. "Yeah, I know. Anyway back to Jasper. We will have four rehearsals a week leading up to this show with an appearance at Mac's in between. That place is good for the ego. I think that's it for now. Any questions?"
"No. I can't thank you enough for this. It's like I'm finally living my dream."
"Thank my husband's sudden case of laryngitis or else I wouldn't have ever heard that golden voice of yours, which in between gigs and rehearsals you should be resting."
"Okay, guys, I have to go to my other job for a few hours. Something about the new assistant messing up the files." Ali shakes her head as she gets up and kisses Jasper before heading out.
"What is it with the people in my lives burning the candle out on both ends?" I ask.
"Well speaking of jobs, I also have to head to mine." I wave him off and settle in with the playlist Ali made for me filled with Masen and Jasper's music. I'm hitting my groove when I notice Ali left her purse. I always tell her that not putting her keys in her purse every time will have her forgetting something. I notice she didn't forget that iPhone though she doesn't answer it when I call. I decide to take it to her and maybe peek in at my hubs while I'm there. I've never seen his office. Of course, according to Ali, they recently moved into the Murano instead of their previous dwelling. Something about being more convenient since they subcontract for them or some hooey.
Half an hour later I enter the front entrance. Oh good, the nice receptionist is here today.
"I need to see Alice Brandon please."
She smiles and presses three keys on the phone, waits for a beat then hangs it back up. "She must be on another call."
"Bella?"
I turn around. "Hello, Emmett."
He leans over and kisses my cheek. "What brings you here? You decide to leave your husband and run away with me?"
"Maybe one day but today is not that day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either." I grin. "Check with me next week."
"A guy's gotta try."
"No, Ali forgot her purse and I thought I'd bring it to her but she's not answering. Do you mind taking it to her?"
"I can do you one better. I'll take you up there myself."
"That'd be great. Thank you." I follow him to the elevator and we ride smoothly up to the 12th floor.
"I'm hoping to see my husband while I'm here."
"Your husband works here?"
"Yeah. His office just moved here. Why do you look like that?" He has a weird look on his face.
"I've never run into him but I manage the hotel itself, not the businesses stationed here. I can't keep track of Edward's hires."
"Ah yes, the Elusive Mr. Cullen."
"You still haven't met him?"
"No, but I've met his wife." I make a face. "That's enough for me, thank you very much."
He laughs. "Yeah, Angela is something else."
"I'll say." The elevator dings and I follow Emmett as he goes to the right, peeking into the offices along the way hoping to see Masen.
***A***
"Anything new from Mac?" I ask.
"You ask this every day and every day I tell you no. When are you going to stop asking?"
"When Mac has something and this shit is over." I hiss.
"Aren't you supposed to be filing?"
"Aren't you supposed to be monogamous?"
"I am monogamous."
"Says the bigamist."
"Says the accessory to the bigamist."
"Eat shit and die." I give him a withering glare.
"Yo Alice."
I look back and see Emmett coming up the hall. "Hey Em. What brings you up here?" I notice Edward rolling his eyes.
"Bella needed an escort."
Edward and I look at each other in horror. I spin around and rush to my desk. I hear a thud and know Edward has hit the floor and like a coward is hiding under his desk. I will definitely be getting the security footage on that later.
"Bella! Is something wrong?"
"No, you forgot your purse and I figured if you were done with filing we could grab some lunch downstairs."
"Yes, I am almost done actually. Lunch sounds great." I notice her looking around. "Interested in artwork all of a sudden?"
"What? No, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of my hubby. Maybe he can join us. Is he here?"
"No, he's out on assignment." She looks disappointed but hides it well.
"Alice when did we hire her husband?" Emmett asks. Oh shit.
"A while back. He's a subcontractor for the real estate scouting department."
"Emmett, he's her boss. Which office is his?"
"He's just using a conference room at the moment while his is being painted."
"How exciting. Maybe you can print him off some of our wedding photos for when it's finished." She suggests.
"That's a great idea! We can go do that before we head back to BAR." I make a show of logging off of my computer and walk around my desk to join her. "Emmett do you want to join us?"
He holds out both of his arms gallantly and we take them letting him escort us back downstairs. I chance a peek behind me and see Edward hidden by the door frame pushing his hand through his hair and cursing.
That was a close call and I have a feeling our luck is about to run out.
When we get to BITE, we see Rosalie is being seated. Bella runs over to join her and Rosalie makes a face when Emmett sits across from her.
"Long time, no see, Rosie." He remarks, his face smug.
Bella gasps. "You slept with him." She accuses.
"Will you keep your voice down." Rosalie hisses. "I don't need everyone to know all the mistakes I make."
"Oh, it went bad huh? That's disappointing. He looks like he'd be good." Bella teases Emmett.
"It was fantastic. Rosie here just has this wall up made primarily of electric barbed wire and fifty padlocks."
"You would too if you'd lived my life instead of the cushy one you were given." She shoots back.
This continues on with Bella and I looking on like we were watching Wimbledon until Emmett storms off and Rosalie excuses herself to the restroom.
"They're about to hook up again, aren't they?" Bella asks.
"Oh yeah. I mean the sexual tension is off the charts."
We giggle and order lunch, chatting and gossiping like we tend to do until she heads back to the cottage and I head to Walmart to get that photograph she asked me to. Hopefully, when this all blows over she'll still want him to have it.
She's on the phone when I get there and I assume by the sound of it she's talking to Renee. I shout a 'hello' and then Bella gets off the phone. I check the stats on iTunes and we celebrate some more progress; 19 and 46 respectively.
"I'll have to tell Masen to join this app so he can promote his music too."
I stifle my laugh at the thought of my buttoned-up boss on TikTok. "I'll help him get started."
"You know we really need a female artist." Bella muses. "Maybe after Jasper's show, we can hold auditions."
"That's a great idea! Some more estrogen around here would be a good thing. With all these artists and musicians in and out, we are outnumbered. What kind of sound are we looking for?"
"I'll know it when I see it."
I decide to go see Jasper at work and I ask Bella if she wants to join me but she says no so I hug her goodbye and leave.
My smile falls as I get into my car.
Just a few more days.
***B***
The days pass quickly. We received the merch and Ali took them to John at the venue. He told her that interest was at an all-time high which I like to hear. Masen's new track, Someone You Loved, dropped yesterday and is holding its own. Not as good as Jasper's as Masen refused to do TikTok saying he was a grown man and he had no place on an app like that. I'm still workin' on him.
Alice took the day off so Rose is hanging around. I personally think she just wants to catch a glimpse of Masen. You and me both, Honey. I saw him briefly this morning when he stopped by before a meeting. I show her all the progress and share the plans for Jasper's future shows. We have booked four more shows for the next few weeks. I'm thrilled but a little sad that Masen is still lagging behind Jasper. He's just as talented but nowhere near as committed. I'm workin' on that too.
Rose is just about to leave when I remember I need the iTunes stats as I haven't been able to check them today. Rose shoots me a look but logs on and figures out where to go. She turns the monitor towards me and I write down Jasper's first; 8 and 18. Woot! We are almost there. Masen's are 28 for the Singer-Songwriter genre and 76 for All genres. Wow, that's a huge upgrade from yesterday. The air of mystery must be a selling point. I know it was for me personally. I do a little dance. Rose looks pleased. "Now if we could just promote the man."
"I'm right on top of that, Rose." She rolls her eyes at my movie reference.
"I have complete faith in you, Bella. But you have to learn how to use the computer. Alice isn't always here and I'm Mama Warbucks not the day-to-day operations manager."
Rose's tone is huffy but I just smile.
"Just google something. Anything." She pleads. "Then when I show up next time, you can show me your new party trick."
She grabs her clutch and I laugh and wave her out the door.
I don't know why she is so adamant I work this thing. Alice is more than eager to google anything I need to know. I turn back to my paperwork but keep glancing back at the desk. I tap my pen against my notepad.
"What could it hurt? I mean, it's just a search engine. How scary can it be?" I muse.
I abandon my project and have a seat in front of the computer where Google is already up.
"What to search for…"
Suddenly, the possibilities are endless.
So, I start with my name.
A few hits. Some that belong to Facebook profiles that are obviously not mine. Wonder if they are relatives. I make a mental note to ask my Ma. I smile proudly at the 'manager of the Idle Rich' mention. Okay, this ain't so bad.
Ooh, Masen Whitlock. I type it in and there are fewer hits on him than on me. Mostly about his album and his new song. Some buzz about who this man is. There are a few headlines about a Whitlock Industries that used to own hotels but apparently, they were bought out by Cullen, Inc a few years back. Interesting...
Ooh! Ooh!
Edward Cullen. I precariously type his name which is difficult with these nails then hit enter and wow, at all the information that pops up on this guy. Popular, huh?
He took over this. He took over that. CEO, blah, blah, blah. Married Angela Weber in July. Poor guy. Net worth… wow. Not such a poor guy. I scroll down to see if there is a picture but all I see are articles.
Oh! Images. Let's click there. I want to see what all the fuss is about.
There are so many to choose from so I click on the first one of the many thumb-size photos and instantly my blood runs cold, and everything I think I know instantly shifts.
The one thing I do instinctively know is that nothing from here on out will ever be the same.
Playlist- Never Be the Same - Camilla Cabello
Here we go... y'all buckled in?
