I don't own anything.
A/N: First off I'm sorry about last week, I ran into a bit of writer's block. So I'm very happy to have this chapter finished and right now I want to thank my reviewers from last week; Quizas, ice94cj, HeartsWereNeverMeantToRace, traylorlove, lilmissmonique, Erieaud, chaylorXtraylorlover and tina. Thank you guys for the kind review and I hope everyone enjoys this new chapter and please remember to Review.
Baby S
Chapter Fifteen
Troy barely looked up as the front door to his office opened up and Julius strolled in his arms full of magazines which had run the story that Darius had paid them to put out. "Have you seen these?" Julius exclaimed as he took a seat in the chair that faced Troy's desk while tossing the magazines onto his desk. Troy who had been busy typing away on his computer since Julius' arrival stepped back and sighed for a moment as he looked at the pile on his desk and then back at Julius who now had his arms across his chest waiting for the outrage that he was sure would come. Picking up one magazine, Troy quickly looked it over before sighing.
"So I've been lying to Taylor and I'm using her," he muttered as he read the top magazine headline, "Really, and could someone explain to me just how I'm using her." Troy asked out loud not really expecting an answer. Frowning, he tossed the magazine back down onto the table and released a tortured sigh.
"You know you have to do something about this." Julius replied, his voice becoming quite enraged as he thought about all the underhanded things that Darius was trying to do to Troy and Taylor for leaving the label. Troy raised an eyebrow at his words and just shook his head.
"I'm not guilty of anything and if I were to come out and 'do something,' everyone would think I'm just trying to cover it up. I'm going to go about this the way I want. I'm going to show Darius and the public that I'm not using Taylor...that I actually love her." Julius sighed for a moment, as he looked at the man he had come to consider as his friend.
"Well, how are you going to do?" Troy pushed himself back away from the desk and shrugged his shoulders.
"Now that I don't know...come on you've been in this business for a while what should I do...what should I do to counteract all of this." Troy asked curiously as he picked up another magazine and read the headline. "What should I do about, being jealous of Darius' success while experiencing sexual with Taylor." he asked again tossing down the magazine with disgust. Julius looked up at him in shock for a moment before frowning.
"You mean to tell me you haven't thought about it." he asked in disbelief, Troy just smiled and shook his head for before replying.
"I've thought about it...and I've come up with the perfect solution...ignore it."
"Excuse me." Julius asked once again, not believing what Troy was actually telling him. He couldn't imagine just ignoring all the harsh things that Darius was putting out for anyone to pick up and read about. People were forming opinions about this whole incident and Troy just wanted to ignore it.
"Look, man I like how you're trying to act above it all but."
"I'm not acting above it all." Troy snapped out, his blue eyes flashing with fury. His look instantly letting Julius know that the words and ideas that Darius was producing for the media were indeed hitting the so called spot. "Look, of course I'm angry...pissed to be more exact but I know this," he paused and slammed his hands down on the stack of magazines on his desk. "This...the media is his arena...it's what he's good at. No...I just have to find a way to show him that I'm better than him in a different way. I have to find a way to display it to everything that I'm better than him but not in the way that he obviously wants me too." Julius looked at him as if he had lost his mind before saying.
"So you're suggesting that you do what exactly?"
"Make an album...an album that will say all that needs to be said, and I'll allow my actions to dictate the rest." he replied smoothly as he looked at him with a bright smile obviously very happy with his new plan. Julius just nodded his head wondering what exactly Troy had planned, he knew the younger man was smart but he had to admit he didn't know about this plan."
"Okay so do you need me to do anything."
"Make sure that everyone comes in tomorrow...I want everyone in on this album. I'm thinking this can be a group project for everything." Julius tilted his head to side as if mauling over what he had just been told, before smiling and standing up.
"I like what I'm hearing...okay when do you want all of us here."
"Tomorrow is a good time to get started." Troy replied back calmly as he looked at Julius who just stood there watching him. "What do you think?"
"What's wrong with tonight?"
"I want to spend time with Taylor...and I can't really do that if I'm here at night and working during the day. Spending time with Taylor is my number one priority especially since she's pregnant," Troy replied while looking at the other man for understanding. "I'm not going to be the guy that puts his job before his family...I want Taylor to know that she and our family will always be number one." he replied as he walked around his desk. "So just get everyone here tomorrow and we'll discuss some things and hopefully get ready for this album release. Think of it as a brainstorming session...everyone here except for you is a music person first...if we want to strike back at Darius we'll do through that or not at all. I don't want to be talking back and forth between papers or magazines."
"Alright I'll let everyone know...I just hope you have a plan."
"I do...don't worry." he replied, Julius nodded and then turned to leave. Once Troy was alone, he looked down at his desk again and frowned at the magazines that still laid on his desk. He seriously hoped what he was thinking worked out just how he wanted it too. Darius wouldn't drag him through a dirty media war. He wasn't going to subject Taylor, their unborn child or himself and then people who followed him to his label through that. No he was going to go about his business and hopefully through his music and actions he'll show Darius and the public just how wrong Darius Combs really is. Reaching out he picked up the magazines and dropped them all into the trashcan by his desk. He studied the pill of garbage for a moment before turning around and walking out of the office.
"Oh my goodness, he sounds completely adorable." Taylor gushed as she listened to Sharpay tell her about her son with Zeke. She'd been lonely every since Sharpay and Gabriella returned back to New Mexico, but luckily she had kept in touch with them via phone and email. They were just starting to get to know one another again and Taylor couldn't be happier. She never realized just how much she had lost listening to Darius and allowing him to have complete control over her life. Every time she thought about that she always became quite angry. She allowed him to play on her fears and insecurities and which allowed her to make the decision to push them all out of her life, just thank God for Troy and him having the sense to want to be there for her, and love her through it all. Even when she hurt him, like on Christmas day.
"I'm sure he would love that...he wants to meet the person that kept his mother away." she replied with a laugh as she thought about all the questions her son had thrown at her the moment she walked through the front door after coming from the airport. He seriously wanted to meet this Taylor McKessie that had kept his mother away from him for some of the holidays.
"Well, I'm going to have to talk to Troy...and maybe we can plan a trip to New Mexico...I haven't been there in years." she replied softly as she picked at the linen sheets that covered her legs. She heard Sharpay sigh, before speaking up.
"You guys do that...I'm sure Zeke wants to see you as well as."
"Okay then...we'll have to make plans," Taylor stated as she looked over towards the bedroom door as Troy walked in. "Alright girl I'll talk to you later." she replied after a few moments hung up the phone and looked at Troy who was watching her silently from the threshold of the doorway.
"What exactly are we making plans for? Are is there another man I should be worried about?" he asked playfully as he walked fully into the room and closed the door behind himself. She smiled over at him and just shook her head.
"You and I are going to make plans to head back to New Mexico." she answered with a smile as she watched him crawl onto the bed and laid down beside her. He glanced up at her and just smiled for a moment before saying.
"You and I huh...and were you going to tell me about this or just surprise me with tickets."he asked playful. "Even though, I would go anywhere you wanted you still need to ask me from time to time." he continued. "Just to let me feel like I'm involved."
"Oh would you stop it...Sharpay and I just came up with the idea."
"Sharpay, huh...you and her are already plotting, I'm have to talk to Zeke about his wife." he replied with a smirk as he imagined what Sharpay would actually do to him if she in fact found out about him going to her husband about her supposed bad behavior. Oh his eyes were bleeding already. Taylor watched him and just shook her head.
"It's funny how even when things change some of the little things remain the same." He raised an eyebrow at her words and pushed himself up so he could looked at her in the eyes while also putting on this innocent face that screamed anything but innocent.
"Do you mind telling me what you meant by that little saying?" he asked brightly as he looked at her as if she held some secret plan to overthrow the government. Taylor rolled her eyes at his act and stated.
"Nothing, much except I remember how after we graduated you started messing with Sharpay...playfully of course but you never missed a chance to bother her as she always puts it." Troy grinned at her words and shrugged his shoulders.
"Old habits die hard." he replied with a smirk. "So what gave me away."
"That devilish smirk you had on your face when you were thinking about telling Zeke on her." Taylor pointed out with a laugh. "That was very telling." he sighed then and just shook his head for a moment as she laid back on the bed and watched him for a moment before sighing.
"So how was work?" Troy looked away for a moment, before sighing and lifting a hand to place behind his head.
"It was fine." he replied softly as he looked over at her. "Nothing much to do today." he stated at ease with his decision to keep what had happened away from her. He didn't want her to get upset about what Darius was running around saying to any magazine that would listen. He wanted to pull her away from that nonsense because he knew stress wouldn't be good for her or the baby. Taylor gave him a look and then just shook her head.
"Are you telling me the truth? Cause, baby I'm not sure if you're aware but there is this cable channel called E! and well they've been running the story all day. You know the one where Darius was the victim in your evil scheme and I'm just stupid and going along with the ride...while you experiment with me." she replied as she looked over at him patiently. Troy sighed and looked over at the television before muttering.
"You know I've always said there's to much media centered on what the stars do."
"Still doesn't change the fact that it's there." she whispered softly, as she reached out and touched his hand. "Troy, why were you trying to keep things from me."
"I didn't want to stress you out." he whispered back softly as he looked at her. "I didn't want to do that to you. You're already on bed rest...I worry about you and I didn't want to bring what Darius did to you, to your attention."
"Troy, I'm pass the point of caring...what really upsets me is when you keep things from me. Don't do that."
"I won't...," he paused and looked down for a moment. "I won't make that mistake again baby I promise you." Taylor smiled then and looked him over before saying.
"So seeing as how you've seen or rather heard what he's been saying...what exactly are you going to do." she asked, as she turned to watch him. Troy frowned for a moment before shaking his head from side to side.
"I'm not really sure what it is that I'm going to do." Troy muttered with a shake of his head. "But I guarantee you I won't be running out to the nearest magazine for them to listen to my story." he stated strongly as he looked over at Taylor, the woman he was already viewing as his wife as well as the mother to his unborn child. "So no I don't have any ideas but I'll tell you when I think of anything." Troy replied softly.
"Don't let all this stress you out, Troy." Taylor stated softly as she looked over at him. "I mean it's Darius and if people are believing his lies, then that's on them. I really don't care...my true fans will know the truth and act accordingly."
"That's right...but you have to understand I really don't like having people think his thoughts about us...I mean seriously even though it's none of their business I really don't like the idea of people thinking those things about you and me." Troy stated softly.
"Well what are you going to do, write them open letter about what is really going on." she asked with a shake of her head. "Some people can't be reasoned with, and they'll believe anything the media tells them." she replied continuing on, not really noticing the look that appeared on Troy's face at her words. "Media drones is what I call them...if the media said was a training to go into space well they would believe it full out."
"Um hmm." Troy replied deep in thought, Taylor gave him a look then reached out and hit him across the arm. "What?" he asked in surprise, while looking over at her. Crossing her arms over her chest she looked at him and frowned.
"You weren't paying me attention."
"Sorry, baby...just thinking about something you said." he replied back honestly as he wanted her for a moment. "Look, let's stop talking about this...I'm home and believe me I seriously don't want to be bringing work home with me every night. I just want to relax with you and hopefully by the time I leave tomorrow I will have thought of a plan to shut Darius up for good."
"But you won't do it by going to a magazine or a television reporter." Troy sighed and just shook his head.
"No I won't I'll do it my way." he stated before sighing. "Now that we have that out of the way, how about we go downstairs, Maria cooked this lovely meal for us before she left and I really would like to eat it with you while it's fresh." she smiled as he quickly jumped back off the bed and strolled over to her side before lifting her up into his arms. Use this form of travel by now, Taylor easily slipped her arms behind his head and held on as he walked out of the bedroom and headed downstairs towards the kitchen.
Troy sighed for a moment as he pulled up outside of his office building, he seriously hoped that Julius was able to get everyone to come because he was going to need them all to be on board. Strolling into the office building he spied Julius seated in the waiting area obviously waiting on him. Walking over, Troy paused and rocked back on his heels. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, man everyone's in there wondering what in the world is going on." Troy nodded his head for a moment and then looked at Julius.
"Did you pick up some more magazines?" Julius nodded his head and tilted it to the side for a moment before speaking.
"I do have them...not really sure why you want them though...especially after you pitched a bitch yesterday when I showed them to you." Troy gave him a look before sighing.
"It's nothing much...it's just that well I'm going to use them to hopefully get everyone on board." Julius raised an eyebrow at his words but didn't say anything to him. They quickly walked to the meeting room and Troy saw that everyone was there. Closing the door, he quickly greeted them with a small smile. "Thank you guys for coming." he replied as he received a brief flashback on how it felt back when he had broken away from Darius' label.
"Troy do you mind telling us what's going on?" Carlos asked, his statement receive several nods from everyone else in the room. Turning to Julius, Troy took the stack of magazines that Julius had been holding and tossed them on the table. Stepping back quickly, he watched as they looked over the magazines. Troy knew that there were some articles in there about Carlos and his wife as well as Jamal. He patiently waited and then spoke up.
"I asked you guys to come here today, because well I want to make Darius look foolish for all the things he is doing and I want to show him that he's messed with the wrong group of people." Troy started putting it all out there.
"Um, what exactly are we going to do, Troy...we don't even have a name for this label and if you want to make him look foolish just go to a magazine tell your side of things and-."
"That's what he wants...I'm a musician...I do most things through that. Make money...make statements in my songs...I'm not a media type of person. I mean I'll deal with it because of what I want to do but that's about as far as I'm willing to go."
"So what do you suggest than?" Oliver asked. Troy paused for a moment forming his statement carefully in his mind. He wanted it to sound appealing and not like he was using them, but he knew in order for this to go well he would need each and every one of them.
"I...I want to release an album?" Troy replied and held up his hands as the people before him started talking seemingly all at once. "Look, I think if we can do this right...we can show not only Darius that he's wrong about a lot of things but the album can be used as a platform for the rest of you guys. It won't just be my album it will be all of ours and I think we if we pull this off it will a great album, an instant classic."
"Are you serious?" Jamal asked with a shake of his head. "We don't even have a name for our label and-."
"Ideal records." Troy replied back with a sigh. "We can set the tone for other labels...set the tone for what artist look for in record labels. We will strive to be perfect, we'll work as an unit...and produce great material not based off the agenda of the boss man but mostly off of what we consider good music. It doesn't matter what you want to do...you do it here."
"What about record sells." Jamal asked
"There are fans out there for literally everyone...I mean seriously want would make you guys happy doing things just to make money or doing things that make you happy while you make money."
"And what about this album this...launching pad...what will be the purpose of this album?" Alisha asked as she looked at Troy for a moment.
"The purpose would be for me...to show Taylor that I love her." Troy replied softly. "To show the world that I love her and to prove to Darius that music...doesn't have to be made a certain way to sell...and that maybe expressing something other than sex can generate record sells." Troy stated with hope sounding in his voice. He watched as they looked at him for a moment before nodding their heads in unison.
"Sounds good count me in." Jamal replied starting off the rounds of 'me toos,' from those gathered. Troy smiled then and clasped his hands in front of him before grinning for a moment and looking over at Julius who also stood there with a small smile on his face.
"Alright then let's get started." Troy replied with a grin, happy that they were backing him up. He really didn't know how to express his thankfulness towards them but he was sure that he'd find a way.
They all sat in the studio for a talking over ideas for the album, Troy sat silently still thinking over what Taylor had told him last night after he came home. Open letter...he could do that in the form of an album right. He suddenly looked up as everyone focused them eyes on him. "Yes?"
"You alright man?" Jamal asked for his perch near the end of the table. When Troy shook his head in the negative, Jamal continued. "Good, because well I thinking...what if I made a song to get everyone's attention." Troy squinted at him for a moment trying to wrap his mind around what the other man was telling him.
"A song to get everyone's attention...I'm sorry I'm not following." Jamal rolled his eyes and then spoke up.
"It won't be on the album, but I think you need to build excitement you know. Get people to talk about this new album coming out. I know it'll pissed Darius off, cause I know he wants everything to remain on him and his label, if we do this it will get their attention on us." Troy rubbed the bottom of his chin before speaking again.
"And what exactly are you thinking about?"
"Well, I need a band...and I know I have one...and just time to record a small song, but I'm quite positive it will get the point across." He replied with a pleased smile. Troy looked over at Julius who just shrugged his shoulders.
"And the name of his this song?" Jamal grinned then and rubbed his hands together before saying.
"Love Hater." Troy looked back over at Julius who was chuckled at the name of the song while shaking his head.
"I like it." the other man replied as the other occupants in the room laughed as well. Troy then looked back at Jamal and spoke up.
"So it's a rap song."
"Nope...I was thinking I would sing it."
"Can you sing?" Troy asked. He just had to ask it, because Jamal was really surprising him. He remember on some occasions when he would talk to Darius, Darius would constantly comment on how Jamal really had no talent outside of rap. He could see now that Darius was trying to control Jamal as well.
"Yeah, man...and I think I sing quite well."
"Alright...talk to your people and let's record it...let's try to release it by Friday." Troy replied with a grin as he pushed back from the table. "Well let's get started."
It was the next day when Troy arrived at the studio to hear the song that Jamal was planning to release. Sitting down besides Carlos, he leaned over and spoke low. "So how does it sound?" Carlos grinned widely and just shook his head.
"I like it...it certainly makes a statement." Troy smirked then and looked over at Julius who just nodded his head. Carlos, Jamal, and several others had stayed the night to work on the song. All of them excited about the direction that the label was taking. Julius had stayed over night as well, allowing Troy to head back home.
"It's good...funny, the man has a sense of humor."
"Look then let's hear it." Troy replied with a smile as he nodded his head at Jamal who just smiled and looked at Carlos who started the music over the speakers. The sound of an electric guitar sounded, and Troy had to admit it sounded incredible once it's riff was over Jamal started in on the song with what sounded like a jazz band playing in the background.
Everybody needs a glass of water today
to chase the hate away.
You know you've got company coming over,
so you scrub extra hard.
Chorus
And everybody needs somebody to love
before it's too late... it's too late
Don't nobody wanna grow old & alone
Everybody needs someone to rub their shoulders,
scratch their dandruff.
And everybody needs to quit actin' hard and shit,
before you get your ass whooped (I'll slap the fuck out ya!)
Chorus
Love hater, Love hater, hater of love (3x)
love hater
Everybody needs somebody to love (3x)
Once the song was over, Troy stood up and clapped with a bright smile on his face, the sound certainly did set a tone. Jamal walked out of the recording booth with a grin on his face. Closing the door he walked over to the men. "So how was it?" he asked curiously. Troy just shook his head still chuckling while looking at the other man.
"Funny as hell...but I'm sure Darius won't see it like that."
"Oh he definitely won't." Julius replied around a laugh as he just shook his head. "How's that for a start. I think Jamal get's the point across and that will certainly have people looking out for the album." he pointed out around his laughter.
"Oh yeah it most certainly does do the job." Troy replied with a smile as he reached out and slapped a hand on Jamal's shoulder. "I think that's going to be a wrap...I like it and it sounds quite genuine."
"I wanted to come off like that, Troy." Jamal replied back with a smirk. "Now all I need to know is what the name of this album is so I can tell people to look out for it at the end of the song." Troy paused and looked around at the three men who were looking at him waiting for him to drop the name of the album. He wanted this album to do several things, but one of the most important things he wanted the album to be was just show the world and Taylor...just how much he loved her and enjoyed her being in his life. Everyone song had to be written just for her, so in a way they were like...with a small smile he spoke up.
"The album name is Letters to McKessie."