Author's Note: Here's the first chapter guys. Don't be afraid to share what you think and thank you so much for the support on the idea. I mean, wow! We were floored--literally. Hope you enjoy. Lots of smiles and hugs. Lots of love. Angel422 and Undiscovered91
Tommy…
Tom Quincy leaned against the back wall of the room casually—surveying the crowds that gathered within it like a hawk sighting its prey. That's what he was doing, wasn't it? Sizing up the competition. He grinned a grin of satisfaction as he saw Darius glance over at him suspiciously from across the lobby of the venue where the charity auction and concerts were being held. Hmmm…so Tommy had him worried did he? Hah! The feeling made him stand up straighter as he shoved his sunglasses down over his eyes. Let Darius squirm. He had every right to be afraid.
Music started beating wildly from the stage as the crowd went wild—filling the place with screams as 'she' entered stage right—waving to her fans before winking at the guys of her band. She knew how to play a crowd.
"She's one of a kind, isn't she?" A male voice asked with mild amusement as Tommy shrugged. No need to look too interested—studios depended on knowing how to school your features.
"Are you afraid that I'm interested or just looking up an old friend, Kwest?" Tom asked sardonically as Kwest chuckled.
"It's been a long time, Quincy, but I think I've known you long enough to know when you're interested. I'm guessing that G Majors should watch their backs?" Kwest replied as Tommy glanced over at him—pulling his glasses down low enough to let him see the calculating gleam in his eyes. Kwest may work for G Majors, but he had issues with Darius too.
"She's her own artist, isn't she?" Tom asked as Kwest shook his head slowly before looking up at the stage. He suddenly laughed.
"She is definitely that. I just hope you know what you may be getting yourself into by scouting her. She's good, but she plays by her own rules." Kwest commented as the song ended on a bang. The crowd went wild as Tommy narrowed his eyes at the exiting artist.
"Never let it be said that Tommy Quincy didn't know how to wrangle a lady." Tom remarked in a low tone as Kwest shook with immediate, animated laughter. Yeah, right.
"That's no lady, Tom. That's one hell of a force to be reckoned with." Kwest proclaimed as he nodded at some people he knew before turning to walk away without another comment to the owner of Galaxy Studios. 'A force huh?' Tommy thought to himself as he quickly glanced away from Kwest's retreating back to Jude's distant figure among the throngs of people. Darius was venting about something against the wall, and Tom took his distraction as a cue to narrow in on his victim. He wasn't standing here for his health.
Tom cringed as he shoved his way through the crowds—keeping his mind focused on the object of his immediate attention as she smiled warmly at a few fans, signed a few autographs, and politely pushed her way over to a table set up with refreshments. She leaned over and grabbed a bottle of Dasani water, and Tom raised a brow as he leaned a hip against the end of the table upon approach. Water huh?
"Is that an empty calories option or you just have a thing against soda?" Tommy asked as the blonde-headed rocker whirled around cautiously to face him. She squinted her eyes at Tommy suspiciously as she glanced down at the bottle of water in her hands. A smile flitted across her features—a wry one at that.
"If you were here to talk about my calorie intake, then I'd probably point out that water has a hell of a lot less tendency to make me need to take consistent bathroom breaks during a set than soda, but since I'm assuming that's not the topic of conversation you're aiming for—or I hope not—then I'm going to decline answering that remark." She stated sassily as Tom raised a surprised brow in her general direction. Damn, she had a nasty bite! She was also smarter than she appeared. He could tell that she recognized him as the owner of Toronto's second major studio. One didn't get over-looked when you were also the former member of a boy band. Tom picked up a bottled water and balanced it on his palm as he shrugged nonchalantly at Jude Harrison.
"We could talk about calorie intake or we could talk about a record deal." Tom remarked decisively as Jude laughed in disbelief.
"Boy, you record people move fast, don't you?" She asked as she narrowed her eyes at the bottle of water still balanced in Tom's hand.
"Try drinking it. It does a body good." She muttered as Tommy chuckled.
"Should I take that as an insult, imp, or view it as a way of telling me to back off. You should do some research, sweetheart, because Galaxy Studios can offer you much more freedom with your music than G Majors." Tommy stated slowly as he looked up into Jude's inquisitive face. He knew he had hit a sore spot. Everyone knew how tight fisted Darius was, and Tommy planned on using it to his advantage. Jude shook her head.
"What would a boy bander know about music?" Jude asked as Tommy uncapped the water and took a long swallow—letting it wet the back of his throat as he focused on keeping his temper. She was beginning to irk him.
"Enough to own two Grammies sitting on a table in my living room. How many does G Majors boast, Jude, except for yours? You should think about that. The option is there. I'm just giving you one." Tommy stated as he pulled a business card out of his back pocket. She took it from him warily.
"Try dialing the numbers on the front. If you have problems, there's always the operator." Tom replied with a snide smile as he pushed away from the table. He had done his part by planting the seed in her head. It was time to watch it grow,
"Smart ass." He heard her mutter as he turned to walk away. He almost laughed as he continued on. She was a wild one alright. But weeds, although a nuisance, always seemed to grow the most abundantly and with the most determination—as if they needed to choke the life out of a flower. Jude was a weed that Tommy intended to keep alive. She had potential and the fame to go with it. He glanced over his shoulder one more time to see her perusing the card. And he couldn't help his thoughts.
"Come a little closer, said the spider to the fly." He mumbled as he faded into the crowd.