PREVIOUSLY: Michael Baxter was able to sign the name of Brittany S Peirce, even though she had been the most confusing person that he had ever met. So on the back of her signature, he now had 3 names. He was hoping more were to come.
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And now the continuation:
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PART 5 - A SOUTHERN DIRECTION
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COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI
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LEGENDS NIGHT CLUB
9 P.M.
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Michael Baxter pulled to a stop in a car park of Legends Night Club. He was on the phone to one of his assistants.
"I don't care how much they cost, tell them to triple their efforts, I need at least 11 more to have a strong team..."
"Yes sir," came the reply "I've been told two of them are hot on the trail of Chang, and Cohen-Chang."
"Great," replied Michael "I want those details A.S.A.P!"
"Yes sir... what about your brother?"
"Tell Jack if he's not happy to ring me personally. I'm almost done with the report."
"Okay... sir."
"Is there anything else?" asked Michael
"Yes sir, your other brother, Rick, is here wanting to talk to you."
"Tell him not now, I'm busy,"
"Yes sir..."
Michael hung up. He looked at the Legends Night Club. The only information he had on Sam Evans, was that he performed at this night club every night, and the Detective who had tracked him down, felt he stayed somewhere within the club.
There was a billboard outside the club that said:
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Ladies, want some White Chocolate?
Come early to listen to him sing
Stay later to see him Dance, Erotically.
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Michael shook his head. What a waste of a talent. He was about to get out of the car, when his phone rang. He looked at the caller i.d:
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NICK BAXTER
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Of all people he didn't want to to right now was his brother Nick, the brother who he made the bet with. He had to get him off of his back for now.
He answered the phone "Not now Nick I'm busy."
"You're in the South, it's 9 p.m. there," came Rick's voice
"Why are you checking up on me? I don't check up on you."
"Because I'm not the one gallivanting around the country trying to find his childhood idols."
"I thought you were starting your own group in England or somewhere."
"That's what assistants are for, it's called delegating."
"I prefer to do it myself," replied Michael clearly tired of this conversation already "At least I know it's getting done right."
"And in the mean time your work suffers," replied Rick "Jack needs that report."
"And he will be getting it," said Michael "It's nearly done, I'll be sending it first thing in the morning."
"Well that's good then... Hey I heard congratulations are in order."
"Why?" asked Michael suspicious
"You found a no hoper, a drunk, and a ditz to add to your team. Are you still having trouble finding the real stars?"
"They are stars," replied Michael angrily "Hudson's not a no hoper, he was working for his step-father, Puckerman just need to get his focus back, and as for Pierce, she's very... brainy."
"Defensive much," came Rick's reply sounding like he was smiling "I'm just saying if those top stars want to stay hidden away, then they will stay hidden away. It's as simple as that little brother."
"Thanks for the heads up," replied Michael agitated now "Unfortunately you don't need to worry, my team will wipe your team off the stage at worlds."
Michael heard Rick laughing "Gone one little brother, good one. Those Directions of yours will have too much baggage together, to get that far, let alone past sectionals."
"As always brother," replied Michael "Talking to you has been a blast."
Michael hung up. He sat there for a few minutes fuming and wondering if this was all worth it. Just being in the company of royalty like Finn Hudson, Noah Puckerman, even though he was a drunk, and Brittany S Pierce, even though she was very confusing, was all the confirmation he needed to continue.
He was about to see Sam Evans, then there was William Schuester who was like the patriarch of the group. They were hot on the tail of Mike and Tina, so even though they were like the entree, they all still part of the successful New Directions, no matter what his brother said. The real stars shine only because of the performers who back them up.
He was sure that they'd be found sooner rather than later, he would be at their side, within hours before the trails would go cold.
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Michael got out of the car re-focused, and headed for the legends Night Club. He hated Night Clubs, they were not his scene. They were loud, hot, and too crowded. He was glad he was rich. He worked hard for that chance. He had showed his brothers that he was entitled to be rich just like them.
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Michael walked through the front doors of the night club, and heard the unmistakably dulcet tones of the one, Sam Evans. He was just finishing a song.
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There he was, sitting on a stool on stage, the girls were going nuts, they were standing as far as they can by the stage, looking up at him..
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Michael stood there looking at Sam. He wasn't the same blonde haired boy back in his school days, but he was instead a blonde haired man who looked like he worked out.
"Thank you girls," spoke Sam in his elder voice "I'm taking a break, but you over 18's can catch me out the back in 15 minutes."
There were boos from the younger girls, and wahoo's from the older ones. Sam got up with his guitar and walked to the back of the stage.
Michael walked over to the bar. The bar tender walked over.
"Hi I'm Stefan, your bartender, what will it be?"
"A glass of lemonade with ice please," smiled Michael
"Sober driving?" asked Stefan
Michael nodded
"Coming right up then,"
"Is there any way of having a chat with Mr Evans?" Michael asked out of the blue as Stefan walked off to get the lemonade
"Um," replied Stefan looking over to the stage as well as pouring a drink "It depends on what you want him for?"
"That's between Mr Evans and myself," replied Michael "It's personal,"
Before the bartender could answer, Michael saw Sam sitting down on some of the stairs beside the stage, untying his shoes, Michael saw his window of opportunity and he sped walked over to Sam.
"Mr Evans," said Michael walking up "May I have a word?"
Sam looked up, and looked at the stranger who was wearing a suit.
"Whatever she said, I didn't do it!"
"What?" asked Michael before thinking Sam must have thought he was a lawyer "No I'm not a lawyer."
"That's good then, said Sam looking relieved. "Dude, I can't talk to you now, try me later."
"But it's important,"
"Like I said, Dude, try me later, I have a show."
Sam got up, and walked off towards the other room. Michael walked back to the bar, where the barman placed the glass of lemonade down in front of him.
"That will be $10,"
"Thanks," replied Michael passing Stefan a $100 note, "Keep the change,"
"Wow, thanks," replied Stefan
Michael contemplated something for a few minutes, while drinking his drink. He then heard music starting from the other room. Then he heard an announcement.
"Ladies, please would you make welcome for the first time tonight, and certainly not the last, WHITE CHOCOLATE."
Stripping music started, and girls started screaming. Michael tapped his fingers on the bar. There several ways he could do this. He drank the rest of his drink down, and headed to the other area.
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Michael pushed the curtains aside, and walked through into the room of screaming females. Sam had already stripped everything bar his shorts off.
Michael made his next decision very quickly and walked towards the rows of screaming girls, and pushed through them quickly. Sam was just gyrating on stage and was about to focus on taking off his shorts, when Michael pushed his way to the front, holding a $100 note.
"Dude," said Sam looking down at Michael "What the hell?"
"I told you," started Michael "I needed to speak with you."
"And I told you... later."
"I'm busy later, and I'm prepared to offer you ten of these."
Michael handed Sam the $100 note. Sam looked at it, and then grabbed a microphone from the stand nearby. The music had stopped already.
"Sorry girls, I have a personal situation to take care of."
The whole room full of girls let off a massive "oooooooooohhhhh."
"Don't worry," continued Sam "This kind sir here, is going to shout you all a round of drinks. Isn't that right sir?"
"Yes," replied Michael nodding. These New Directions were going to cost a lot of extra money, but it would be well worth it in the end.
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Michael was shown into a room, where he was told to wait. A few minutes later a fully clothed Sam walked into the room.
"Again Dude," started Sam "You should have just waited."
"And like I said, I don't have the time to wait around, as it is, it's already late enough."
"So who the hell are you then?" asked Sam "And what the hell do you want with me?"
"My name is Michael Baxter. I am part of the Baxter Family who is running..."
"The World Championship of Show Choirs," finished off Sam
"The very one," smiled Michael
"So what do you want with me?"
"I'm building my own team, so I am a fan of yours!"
"Hang on back up a second. Is that ethical?
"Is what?"
"Your family is funding that competition, yet you're building your own team."
"Of course it's ethical, and I can do what ever I want."
"Just checking," smiled Sam "So if you're a fan of mine how come I've never seen you before?"
Michael thought this had been going well. The moment he was to mentioned that he had been a fan of the New Directions then he was sure, it was going to take a change for the worse.
"I grew up watching you perform."
"You don't seem too much younger than me, probably 5 years?"
"Correct."
Sam didn't need to think too hard "Let me guess, you saw me in the New Directions?"
Michael smiled and waited for the backlash. But it didn't come, in fact Sam just sat there staring at him. Michael dared not speak.
"You must have spent a lot of money on finding me?" started Sam "So if that's the case, you would know that the New Directions haven't spoken to one another in like 10 years. You probably also found out too that most haven't sung anything since then either. Which is a shame. I'm probably the only one still singing which is why you're recruiting me. Is that correct?"
Michael couldn't believe it. Sam was so way off the trail that he didn't even know the real situation.
"That is correct," lied Michael
"So let's hear the details?" asked Sam "I mean I'm happy where I am at the moment. Doing this thing at night, and up until two weeks ago I was working in a diner. But like most things that's fallen through. Oh and I'm a $1000 richer after your little interruption earlier. You still owe me $900 though, don't forget."
Michael smiled and pulled out his wallet, he handed over the remaining $900 in $100 notes. Sam took the money and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. Michael then opened his briefcase and took out a contract, and passed it over to Sam.
"I'm offering you $1 Million to join my team, Sam. $100,000 of which you will receive straight away once you signed the contract."
Sam wolf whistled "So if I do this, I'll be $101,000 richer tonight."
"That would be right," replied Michael "So you will receive $100,000 first. Then next month I'm holding the first group meeting at my place in Dallas, Texas. There you will receive the remaining $900,000."
"Is Dallas going to be where we are based?" asked Sam
"I'm still thinking about it, but that's the initial meeting point."
Sam got up and walked over to the door and looked out "This place has been good to me... When I was at my lowest they hired me... housed me... and let me get back on my feet... But staying here has it's drawbacks."
"Are you locked into a contract here?" asked Michael
"No not really," replied Sam "They just pay me what I bring in for them, I pay my rent out of that."
"So there's nothing holding you here Mr Evans, except for your sense of loyalty, which is a great thing to have. I admire you for it."
Sam walked back over to his chair, and was clearly conflicted. He looked down at the contract.
"I need the money," said Sam tearing up "And I so miss performing and teaching. I thought I could never go back, I hated it, but now the money is tempting."
Sam sat down, and grabbed the contract and the pen and starts signing his name. Michael smiled and pulled out his phone and started typing a text to a number. Sam finished and gave the contract back to Michael.
"You now have $100,000 in your bank account, Mr Evans, and I have no doubt that you have done the right thing."
Sam smiled "I could always come back here, if we don't make it to the finals."
"You could, or you could do a lot more things," said Michael giving Sam a card. "These are my details for when you arrive in Dallas next month. One of my people, will pick you up from the airport."
"Nice," replied Sam looking at the card
Michael stood up and held out his hand, Sam took it and they shook hands.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Evans. I'm looking forward to seeing you in Dallas next month."
"Likewise," replied Sam "I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of my team that you manage to get. I'm sure it will be an awesome team."
"I have no doubts that the team will be strong," smiled Michael "And having you makes it stronger."
Sam smiled from that comment. Michael then grabbed his briefcase and left.