Chapter 26:
"Good evening everyone! Are you all having a good time so far?" Mercedes asked the crowd as she stepped on stage.
The patron shouted their responses ranging from yes, to no, to maybe or depends. Mercedes spotted a familiar face in the middle of the club and smiled at his direction.
"Well to start things off slow, I want to sing you guys a song from a favorite artist of mine. Sing along if you know the song. This is Miss Diana Ross' Do you know where you're going to."
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? Do you know?
Mercedes started singing acapella and soon she is accompanied by guitar plucking.
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?
Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds
You knew I loved you, but my spirit was free
Laughing at the question that you once ask me
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? Do you know?
Now, looking back in all we pass
We've let so many dreams just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long before we see
How sad the answers to those questions can be?
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for? Do you know?
The crowd cheered as Mercedes ended the song. She took a sip of water before starting her dialogue for her next song.
"For my next song I want to try out an original song. Don't worry this is the only original song for the night and I promise I'll have you dancing all night with my set. But this is a song I recently wrote, still very raw please bear with me." Mercedes sat herself down on the stool and nodded to the band to start the intro of her song. She closed her eyes and started singing the first verse.
I refused to believe what it could be,
There's no way that it's love what I am feeling,
I reasoned to myself that it's just petty jealousy,
Maybe I must be feeling lonely,
Maybe I just needed something.
I think I love you
My heart says it's so,
'Cause I need you,
To brighten my day
I just cannot hide,
What's always on my mind,
So seeing this,
Then it must be,
I think I'm in love.
Mercedes stood up and walked the stage to connect with her audience. She wanted them to feel the emotion behind the song where she felt confused and denied what her heart was screaming at her.
Your presence found its way deep into my heart.
I said to myself we are not meant to be,
And being friends is the best thing for us.
There's not a single thing we have in common,
So I claimed there's no way we can be lovers,
But I don't want to make excuses anymore.
I think I love you
My heart says it's so,
'Cause I need you,
To brighten my day
I just cannot hide,
What's always on my mind,
So seeing this,
Then it must be,
I think I'm in love.
She smiled looking at some people wiping tears from their eyes as she fought hard not to breakdown herself. This is an emotional song for her, it's like admitting something she doesn't want to say out loud but if she doesn't then her heart will explode.
Why couldn't I admit that it was you,
Why didn't I see it when it was right in front of me,
You were beside me all along,
But now I can see love,
And that love is me and you.
I think I love you
My heart says it's so,
'Cause I need you,
To brighten my day
I just cannot hide,
What's always on my mind,
So seeing this,
Then it must be,
I think I'm in love.
I think I love you…
The crowd applauded and cheered as she ended the song.
"Thank you for the warm applause. Like I said it's still very raw and hopefully when you get to hear it again it'll be polished and with better arrangement! So on with the show, something for people to dance so come on and make your way to the dance floor!"
People were dancing and singing along the entire set. The crowd booed when Mercedes told them it was the last song of the night and chanted "ENCORE!" as her song ended.
"Since you lot are persistent I will sing one more song, but that is it! You can catch me on my next gig if you want to see more of me, but for now I leave you with my girl Beyonce's Love on top!"
The chords of the intro started and Mercedes started swaying to the beat.
Bring the beat in!
Honey, Honey
I can see the stars all the way from here
Can't you see the glow on the window pane?
I can feel the sun whenever you're near
Every time you touch me I just melt away
Now everybody ask me why I'm smiling out from ear to ear.
But I know oh
Nothing's perfect, but it's worth it after fighting through my fears
And finally you put me first
Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only one I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives it all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you make everything stop.
Finally you put my love on top.
Ooo! Come on Baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
You put my love on top.
Ooo Ooo! Come on baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
My love on top.
My love on top.
Baby, baby
I can hear the wind whipping past my face.
As we dance the night away.
Boy your lips taste like a night of champagne.
As I kiss you again, and again, and again and again.
Now everybody ask me why I'm smiling out from ear to ear.
But I know
Nothing's perfect, but it's worth it after fighting through my tears.
And finally you put me first.
Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only one I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives it all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you make everything stop.
Finally you put my love on top.
Ooo! Baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
You put my love on top.
Ooo Ooo! Come on baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
My love on top.
My love on top.
Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only thing I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives it all.
You're the one that always calls.
When I need you baby everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top.
Baby you're the one I love.
Baby you're all I need.
You're the only one I see.
Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives it all.
You're the one I always call.
When I need you everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top
Baby, you're the one that I love.
Baby You're the one that I need.
You're the only man I see
.Baby baby it's you.
You're the one that gives it all.
You're the one that always calls.
When I need you everything stops.
Finally you put my love on top
Baby, you're the one that I love.
Baby You're the one that I need.
You're the only one I see.
Baby baby it's you.
You're the one that gives it all.
You're the one that always calls.
When I need you everything stop.
Finally you put my love on top
Mercedes took one last bow and exited the stage. Mercedes changed back to her street clothes and retouched her makeup. She gathered her things, neatly placing them in the corner of the dressing room nearest the door so she could easily grab it once they left. Mercedes made her way to where Finn was seated.
"Wow! Amazing! I didn't know you can sing like that!" Finn was in total amazement of the girl beside him.
"Thanks Finn, that means a lot coming from a signed artist." Mercedes smiled and playfully nudged Finn.
Finn took a sip of his beer before starting a conversation.
"So, the last time we were alone we talked about Sam. Any update on that?" Finn took another sip of his beer as he waited for Mercedes to response.
"Come on Finn, I know you know about the tabloid. But just to be honest I don't know what it is." Mercedes truthfully answered as she sipped her drink.
"Is the song for him? You know the one you wrote."
"Yes and no." Mercedes lied.
"What do you mean? It's either a yes or a no Cedes." Finn stared at Mercedes.
"Yes that he inspired me to write it, but the emotion behind the song I can't really say it's because of him. I don't know if I love him, we're not even dating and people are already against it, so I don't know if it'll develop into something."
"Ok." Finn took a big gulp of his beer as Mercedes glared at him.
"What do you mean ok?"
"Well I wanted to ask you if you could be my date for the record label launch next month. We are the band fronting the launch and I thought it would be cool if you came with me. Just as friends you know and there will be a lot of producers there so it can help with you know networking and stuff." Mercedes smiled as Finn fiddled with his beer bottle.
"I'd love to go Finn! Thanks for thinking of me." Finn lit up but soon dropped to a curious look.
"Sam wouldn't mind?" Finn asked.
"I told you, we're not dating and I don't think he'll mind at all."
Chapter 27:
"Again we can't leak out that the Evans Empire owns Music Man Records until the launch party, not even to our signed artists. We want to avoid jumping ship once the other record labels find out that we are no independent record label." Sam emphasized his point.
"Yeah man we know. We've been really discreet with our dealings and all our signed artists are really eager to make great music not just for the money. So I think we are on the right track so far." Puck replied.
"I for one can't wait to tell everyone but I know how our industry works so I've kept my mouth shut and avoided social networking sites and you know that's a lot of restraint coming from me!" Artie gave the group a knowing look.
"I know man and I appreciate it! I actually can't believe that you agreed to do this." Sam clapped a hand on Artie's back.
"Well I can't ruin a tried and tested recipe. The three of us together is just unstoppable!" Artie raised a glass and everyone cheered for their upcoming venture launch.
"I hate to break up the party, but if that is all I think we need to end the meeting so the rest of us can go home." Rachel interjected.
"Yes of course Rachel. Thank you everyone for coming, I'll ask Miss Berry to setup another meeting next week to discuss our takeaways and for those who wish to stay please stay there are more drinks to go around."
The lawyers gathered their stuff and bid farewell to Sam, while some of the marketing and sales executives stayed behind to socialize with their boss.
"Sam, is there anything else you need?"
"Are you sure you don't want to stay and have a drink?" Sam asked Rachel.
"No thank you. I'm really tired and I want to catch up with Mercy! I'll see you Monday." Sam turned to Rachel.
"Oh yeah, why is she not here tonight?"
"Didn't she tell you? She has a gig tonight at a club in the lower eastside. I'm meeting her there now and then I'm sleeping over at their apartment." Rachel smiled.
"You need a lift?" Sam flashed Rachel a smile.
"Oh please, you just want to see Mercy! But if you insist I won't stop you!" Rachel laughed.
"You know me too well Miss Berry. Tell the driver I will be out in a minute I just want to talk to Blaine." Rachel left and Sam told Puck and Artie that he needs to go but they can charge anything to his tab.
Sam made his way to Blaine's office when he heard Santana, Tina and Lauren talking as they went out the kitchen.
"You guys wait for me outside, I'll just tell Puck I'm going over to Cedes' gig and I'll see him tomorrow." Lauren left the two and took off towards the VIP rooms.
Sam moved towards Santana and Tina as they put their coats on.
"Excuse me ladies, do you need a lift to the club? I'm going there myself with Rachel."
"Sam! I actually thought you'd lie low for now after the tabloid publicity you got." Santana raised a brow at Sam.
"I'm actually just giving Rachel a lift but it'll be rude if I don't say hi to Mercedes right?" Sam grinned.
"It's a free ride Tana, I'm sure Cedes' wouldn't mind." Tina whispered to Santana.
"Alright, Thanks for the offer. We'll wait for Lauren then we can go."
"Actually you guys go ahead to the car outside when Lauren comes back, I just need to speak to Blaine for just a second." Sam ran towards Blaine's office.
"Sorry to keep you waiting ladies." Sam apologized as he settled in his seat.
The ride was pleasant where everyone seem to be comfortable with each other. They soon found themselves outside the club and made their way inside trying to scan the club for Mercedes and Finn. Santana soon spotted the Finn and lead the group to the table. Mercedes and Finn were laughing hard when the group finally made it to the table.
"What's so funny, besides this guy?" Santana pointing at Finn.
"Tana stop it! Finn was just telling me a really funny story." Mercedes' smile quickly faded when she saw a tall blonde behind the girls.
"Oh yeah, Sam's here with us. Apparently it's rude not to say hi since he's dropping off Rachel." Santana rolled her eyes before sitting down next to Mercedes.
"Hi Cedes, you ready to leave or are we having drinks here?" Rachel smiled at her friend.
"Nuh uh, we're having drinks here I don't want to move somewhere else!" Lauren protested.
"I told Mike and Brittany to meet us here so we can't go until they arrive." Tina added.
Sam remained standing trying to hide the jealousy coursing through his body.
"Hi Mercedes! Rachel I have to go, I'll see you Monday." Sam quickly walked the other way fighting the urge to grab Mercedes away from Finn.
"I'll be back!" Mercedes quickly stood up and ran after Sam while the girls smirked.
Finn felt disappointed but shook the feeling away as she gulped his beer.
"Hey hey easy on the alcohol dude, even if there's 5 of us we can't haul your drunk ass out." Santana warned Finn.
"Finn, I don't think you've met Sam's assistant Rachel. Miss Berry this is Finn, he's one of the valet at the restaurant and an amazing drummer." Tina introduced Finn.
"It's nice to meet you Finn!" Rachel extended a hand and Finn shook her hand as he tipped his bottle towards Rachel.
Rachel stared at Finn who continued drinking his beer not paying attention to their conversation. Rachel finally got fed up of being ignored and directed a question towards Finn.
"So what band do you play drums for?" The holy trinity stopped talking and looked at Rachel before turning their heads to look at Finn.
"Crashing Minds! We're an underground band, hopefully soon recording artists." Finn smiled at the thought of becoming famous. Rachel knew of the band since they are the artist to be launched at the record labels launching party.
"That's amazing! So any ideas when this will come to fruition?"
"Not at liberty to divulge such information, sorry but keep your eyes and ears open." Finn winked at Rachel.
"Sam stop!" Mercedes finally caught up to Sam just as he was about to get in the car.
Sam turned around unable to hide the pout on his face. Mercedes couldn't help but giggle at his adorable face.
"What?" Sam scowled.
"You're cute!" Mercedes smiled and walked closer to Sam.
Sam couldn't help but smile as he stared deep in her eyes.
"Now are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Mercedes asked and Sam's smile faded.
"You were having fun with that… that guy!" Sam managed to blurt out.
"And? So what if I'm having a great time with Finn, am I not allowed to have fun with friends?" Mercedes questioned Sam.
"Friends, no, but guys, yes!" Sam responded.
"Samuel Martin Evans! Let me remind you that pictures in the tabloid doesn't mean we are together. We are not a couple and I am free to have fun with whomever I chose. You haven't even asked me out on a date." Mercedes crossed her arms and glared at Sam.
"I know and that's why I wanted to see you." Sam moved closer to Mercedes and rubbed her arms.
"So you're going to ask me out?" Mercedes softened as a smile appeared on her face.
"Miss Mercedes Jones, would you let me have the honor of taking you out on a date this weekend?" Sam stared at Mercedes with an equally large smile on his face.
"Wait, weekend? Usually a date only last a couple of hours, why do you need a weekend?" Mercedes asked curiously.
"You'll find out as soon as you say yes!"
"I have to ask Blaine first, I'm working this weekend."
"Done it! Talked to Blaine earlier and you are free this weekend including Monday for rest since you'll need it after our date." Mercedes looked at Sam with confusion.
"I'm not sleeping with you Sam if that's what the weekend date is all about. I don't go around sleeping with guys!" Mercedes sassed.
"Shit! I didn't mean it like that I promise. This date is wholesome; I don't want you to feel that I would do this kind of thing to get you into bed with me." Sam explained.
"Ok! As long as there's no hanky-panky, got it?" Mercedes waved her finger at Sam.
"Yes ma'am. So it that a yes?" Sam asked wide-eyed.
"It's a yes Sam!" Sam hugged Mercedes and lifted her off the ground.
"Put me down, you're crazy you know that?" Mercedes smiled at the fool.
"Not until I've met you!" Sam laughed as Mercedes swatted his arm playfully.
"I better get back inside, what time are we meeting tomorrow?"
"I'll text you later for the details." Sam pecked her lips before jumping inside the car.
"You are craaayzee!" Mercedes smiled and walked back in the club.
Chapter 28:
Mike and Brittany were already buzzed by the time the group decided to leave the club.
"See I told you we can catch up with you guys." Mike was starting to slur his words as the group laughed.
"Sorry Mike we lied about the number of drinks we had, but it was fun watching you get drunk." Lauren laughed.
"I can't believe you can drink all of that baby and still be lucid. You are superman!" Tina said before kissing her boyfriend.
"Hey, none of that! And the same goes for you Finnchel." Santana gave Finn and Rachel a death glare as the two were making out.
Mercedes was slightly buzzed as well and she was laughing really loud.
"I guess the BFG has finally moved on. Sorry it didn't work out for you Cedes, but like I said you can do Sam better!" Santana raised a shot to Mercedes before drinking it down.
"Come on guys lets go home. I have a date with my Sam tomorrow and I need my beauty rest." Mercedes stood up and quickly sat back down feeling the room spinning.
"Oh my gosh, I'll be an aunt soon!" Brittany cheered.
"You what? It's just a date how can you be an aunt from my date?" Asked Mercedes.
"Well dates are followed by baby making. Duh! Everyone knows that Cedes." Mercedes looked at Brittany with a confused look.
"Good thing she hasn't figured out that the candy she's been taking since high school stops the baby from coming." Santana whispered to Mercedes.
"I don't want to ask." Mercedes stood up again and this time succeeding to stay upright.
"Rachel! Rachel, come up for air!" Mercedes snapped her fingers to get her friend's attention.
Rachel and Finn looked at Mercedes with dopey grins across their face.
"I'm happy for the both of you, but we need to leave, and I mean now!" Mercedes pointed down to emphasize the urgency of now.
"Ok, I just need to go to the ladies room. Call me Finn!" Rachel handed Finn her business card and left for the ladies room.
Mercedes went to the back of the club to grab her things and made her way back to the table to wait for Rachel. The group split into smaller groups to share a cab. Rachel and Mercedes were in one cab. Mike, Tina and Finn was in another and Santana, Brittany and Lauren in the last one. Rachel and Mercedes walked in the apartment to see Kurt in front of the television eating a tub of ice cream surrounded by scattered tissue paper.
"Honey what's wrong?" Mercedes rushed beside Kurt and rubbed his back while he sniffed.
Rachel plopped herself to the other side of Kurt and waited for him to speak.
"I got fired!" As soon as those words left Kurt's mouth tears flooded his face.
"How? What happened?" Mercedes suddenly sobered up from the news she just heard.
Kurt tried the best he could to explain what happened between sobs.
"You know I would never betray your trust Kurt. I would never tell Sam anything you tell me in confidence." Mercedes reassured her friend.
"I know that Mercy, but circumstantial evidence points to me and it's just not fair!" Kurt teared up again and Mercedes felt her face getting wet.
"We can fight this Kurt; I can talk to Sam and get this straightened out." Rachel reached for Kurt's hand and squeezed it.
"Thanks Rachel, but I don't want Sam to get involved. It will just go out of proportion if the President of Evans Publishing gets involved. The media will feed into that and make a conclusion I was guilty. I'm ruined; no magazine would want me now!" Kurt buried his face in Mercedes' shoulder and cried more.
Mercedes was stunned and hated not being able to do anything for her friend. They tried to comfort Kurt as much they could but how can you make things better for someone who's losing their dream right before their eyes. Kurt finally tired himself out from crying and was curled up in a fetal position with his head resting on Mercedes' lap. Mercedes hummed a song to soothe Kurt as she strokes his hair.
"I can't just sit here and do nothing Cedes. What happened to Kurt is just wrong; we have to make it right!" Rachel whispered not wanting to wake Kurt.
"I know, but what can we do? Kurt is right, if we go to Sam the media will make a big deal out of it and we can't prove anything because we're the only two witnesses during the time that Kurt and Sam met. You honestly think they won't make it a conspiracy? Tell me that this will not go badly and I will force Sam to do it!" Mercedes looked at Rachel as her expression turned to defeat.
"See, there's no good outcome of it. All we can do for now is be here for Kurt and support him." Mercedes reached for Rachel's hand and squeezed it.
The friends were soon asleep on the couch huddled around Kurt. Mercedes slowly stirred as she heard the insistent buzzer of their intercom. She stood up and groggily made her way to the door to answer.
"Yes?" Mercedes said through the intercom.
"Delivery for Ms. Jones!" The person cheerfully replied.
"Come up." Mercedes' head was still spinning as she walked to the kitchen to get a bottle of water.
A few minutes later there was a knock on their door.
"Coming!" Mercedes shouted from the kitchen.
Mercedes slowly made her way back to the door to open it.
"Ms. Jones?" The perky woman asked.
"Yes?" Mercedes winced as the woman's voice made her head hurt.
The woman handed a big white box with smaller boxes stacked on top of it to Mercedes.
"Please sign here!" The woman shoved an electronic clipboard for Mercedes to sign.
"Hold on, I just need to put these down." Mercedes put the boxes on the side table near the door and proceeded to sign.
"Thank you and have a nice day!" The woman smiled and turned around to leave.
"Excuse me!" Mercedes called and the woman quickly turned around.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Could you tell me who sent these? And I haven't given you a tip yet." Mercedes grabbed her purse from the side table and fished for some money.
"No need ma'am. The tip has been taken cared and the sender attached a note! If you don't mind me saying you are one lucky woman!" The woman smiled at Mercedes and left.
Mercedes closed the door curious as to what the boxes contained and who the sender was. Mercedes eyed the white boxes contemplating on whether to open them now or later. Just as she was about to reach for the top box her phone made a sound which signaled an incoming message. She fished for her phone in her purse and cursed as it took her a while. She slid her finger across the screen to open her phone and see a text message from Sam.
Good morning! Be ready at 7pm, I'll pick you up at your place. Can't wait to see you tonight! :)
Mercedes couldn't help but smile as she typed a reply.
Can you tell where you're taking me so that I can get dressed appropriately? =P
Mercedes pressed send and waited for Sam's reply.
You'll soon find out! ;)
Mercedes looked at his reply and decided not to get into the mind games as she put down her phone on the side table. She reached for the card attached to the top box and read the note.
Something for tonight…
I can't wait for our date!
~Sam
Mercedes skeptically opened the top box and gasped as she saw a beautiful pair of Louboutin t-strap satin red shoes. She stopped admiring the shoes and put them back in the box before opening the next box. Mercedes took out a gorgeous lingerie set also in satin red. Mercedes scrunched her face but quickly shook the thought of Sam wanting to see her in her lingerie as she remembered their conversation earlier. She put back the lingerie in the box just like what she did with the shoes before opening the next box. Mercedes once again gasped as she saw what's inside the 3rd box. Inside was a Lieber Glisten floral clutch. She took the clutch out and admired the details. She heard something rattle inside and opened the clutch to see a small box. Mercedes felt nervous of what could be inside the small box and again she gasped as she saw a pair of Harry Winston traffic long drop diamond earrings.
"That man is killing me!" Mercedes thought.
She couldn't help but smile and at the same time thought it was too much. A thought of being bought crossed her mind and she wanted to march to Sam at this moment to let him know that he doesn't have to do it. Mercedes eyed the last box, the biggest of them all. Mercedes slowly took the lid and unwrapped the paper covering what's inside. As with the other surprises she loudly gasped as she saw the most beautiful red dress she has ever seen. She carefully took the dress out of the box and held it against her body. It was a Badgley Mishka red-fitted column dress. She twirled and imagined herself wearing such luxury. Once reality hit her, she carefully placed the dress back in the box and took her phone to call Sam.
"Good morning Constance!" Sam smiled as he answered his phone.
"It's too much Sam! I can't accept it." Mercedes felt tears pricking her eyes.
"It didn't cost me anything; it was a favor from some friends!" Sam explained.
"Doesn't make a difference. I'm not someone that can be bought. I can never afford these things and if I wear them while out on a date with you people would think the tabloids were right. I'm not a gold digger nor am I a social climber. If you wanted someone like this person then you have to find someone else." Mercedes couldn't hold the tears anymore as they slowly stained her face.
"I didn't mean it like that Mercedes. Please just listen to me. I wanted you to feel like a princess on our date. I just thought that's what women want. I've never really planned a date for anyone and I guess I had the wrong ideas. I would never change you, you have to believe me. I just wanted a Cinderella moment for you. If you don't want it I can take it back after our date, just please tell me you'll still go out with me." Sam ran his fingers through his blonde locks as he waited for Mercedes' reply.
Mercedes went silent as she thought about what Sam said. Every girl did want the Cinderella moment and she's no different. She wiped her face clean as she willed herself to stop crying. Sam could hear her sniffling and it broke his heart knowing he did this to her.
"Ok." Mercedes answered.
"Is that ok we're still on for tonight?" Sam confirmed.
"Yes we're still on for tonight, but you have to promise you'll take back all these stuff after the date!"
"I promise! So, I'll see you at 7?" Sam smiled.
"Yes! I'll be ready by 7pm!" Mercedes ended the call and sighed as she thought of returning all of it after tonight.
"Well, at least I can take pictures as a souvenir." Mercedes said to herself as she started taking pictures.
A/N: I'll post the date next week. I can't wait myself. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.