Author's note: Okay out there. Hopefully those of you reading will love where I am going with this chapter and give me a little feedback at the end. I desperately need to know what you think. Please R&R.
Tommy, Kwest, and Darius sitting in Darius's hotel room.
Darius fiddled absent-mindedly with a letter he had been reading over and over for almost an hour now. It had been a hard decision to make, especially considering the consequences, but now remembering how well the pros outnumbered the cons, he knew without a doubt he had made the right choice. Jude was becoming a rising sensation, and he was finally going to give her the chance to really prove herself away from the studio doing her own main-lining concert tour. A loud tapping noise broke into his reverie as Darius glanced up to see Kwest beating his foot impatiently against the floor while Tom tried his damndest to look bored and disconnected from the whole situation. So, without preamble, Darius decided to put the two men out of their anticipatory misery.
"Rolling Stone magazine was highly impressed with Jude the other day at her interview and has presented G Major Studio with a very interesting offer." Darius said solemnly as Tommy and Kwest leaned forward almost simultaneously, eagerly awaiting what Darius was about to say. Jude had become more than just their job and project over the past year, but a close friend as well—what happened to her mattered greatly to them both. In other words, it had gotten personal. Darius leaned back in his chair and twirled his pencil above his head as he glanced once more at the missive in his hand.
"They want to sponsor Jude in her own concert tour. No starting for another name like Shay, instead they want one of our other artists to open for her." Darius continued as Tommy and Kwest grinned widely—almost giddy with the desire to run and tell Jude. But Darius placed the paper on the hotel desk almost ominously—looking from one to the other with an expression that didn't brook any argument.
"They want her to do a European Tour first—open there, get a feel for the hype and the audience. Build a following there so that when she opens in America next, it will be with a huge line of interviews and international acclaim." Darius said with finality as he shrugged and looked up at the two men. Tommy nodded in agreement.
"It sounds like a plan. Most artists start there. Jude's definitely ready for it. Should we start planning the concert schedule—maybe get Jude prepared for the trip? Her ankle should have just enough time to heal before the final preparations are made. I could check with Portia about wardrobe and with Liam about getting us scheduled for an early flight out in order to prepare." Tommy said while writing down anything he was sure to forget in the excitement. Darius looked pointedly at him as he sighed before leaning forward in his chair slowly.
"Tommy, I want to send Kwest on this trip with Jude. I think it's time to see how she does without her producer." Darius remarked quietly peeking from underneath his lashes as Tommy's face contorted first in rage and then in disbelief.
"You can't be serious, Darius." But even as he said it, Tommy knew without a doubt that he was.
"Don't get me wrong, Tommy. We'll need you to fly over from time to time for a week here or there to help with mixes, help Jude with lyrics, and to keep up to date where we are sitting with sales and publicity. But, no, I don't expect you to be in Europe for her entire tour." Darius remarked quickly.
"I'll need to meet with 'Rolling Stones' to finalize some things, and I'll get back to you about dates and times. Now, go tell Jude the big news." Darius said as he waved his hand ceremoniously signaling that it was time for them to take their leave. Tommy and Kwest stood up silently moving toward the door with their thoughts racing—dwelling on what could certainly be considered a hollow victory now. Tom only got to the end of the hall before he stopped and leaned against the wall behind him, sagging against it as if the weight of the world had fallen onto his shoulders. What was he doing? He just didn't know anymore. No, he didn't regret what had happened between him and Jude, and he wasn't going to pretend that it didn't happen. But he was beginning to wonder if he knew how to deal with it period. She was seventeen, but he had met women his own age a lot less mature than Jude had ever been. Jude wasn't the prettiest girl he had ever been with for he had dated super models during his Boyz Attack days before his marriage with Portia had taught him the consequences of rushing head long into a marriage while you're wrapped up in the business. But Jude was the one girl that no other woman had ever been for him. She was the first that had ever caused him to question himself as a man—to think about the kinds of consequences his choices created. She made him want to be better. Maybe it was time for him to let her show him how.
Footnote: Here is my quandary. I am coming up to the conclusion of this part of my story and I am trying to decide if I should continue Part 2 (The European Tour) in this story or if I should break away and write a sequel to Note to Self. Leaning towards continuing it here so everyone will know what happened in L.A. and Toronto before thetour but also don't want people to get lost in all the chapters. Also, let me know what you would like to happen to Jude in Europe. I love feedback and I really like playing with all sorts of ideas. Who do you think should open for Jude? What happens when Jude gets embroiled in the lives of some European nobility? What will happen when Jude and the boys are robbed and have to back pack their way to a concert site? Let me know what you think? Smiles.