Chapter 31: Meeting with the Keller
Walking through the galleries he was adjusting his shirt and tie. Looking over to his left side he made sure his messenger bag was there. Not even being in town for twenty-four hours, he already had a meeting.
Tucker Baker pulled his hair back out of his eyes and tried to tie it back. His hair was too short, and it would look like a bad man bun. He sighed and looked over to three people coming down the gallery.
"Hi Mom," Tucker said.
"Off to your meeting with Kayla?" Brooke asked as she walked up to him, with Nomi and Ellis.
"Yeah, if I can get my hair to look right," Tucker said.
Brooke smiled, "Come here, let Momma fix you up," she said.
Tucker turned around and got low enough for Brooke to easily reach his hair.
"Hi Uncle Tucker, we're looking for Sassy and Keni, so we can get ice cream," Ellis said.
"I think they're upstairs Sawyer might be streaming now," Tucker said.
"Oh, she's playing her game again," Nomi said.
"Nomi, your Dad plays that game too," Tucker said.
"So?" Nomi asked.
"Tucker, stay still, I'm trying to get your hair straight," Brooke said, "Your hair is going through the awkward stage of its growth."
"I didn't plan on having a surprise Sunday meeting with Kayla," Tucker said.
"Well you are doing the tour documentary for her," Brooke said.
"The daily files are loaded up on the cloud, and I have several rough cuts, so I can't see why she wants a meeting," Tucker said.
Brooke nodded, "You know Kayla," she said.
Tucker nodded, "Yeah, a bit OCD," she said, "I wanted to take a few days and fly out to California and see Alix," he said.
Brooke laughed. Nomi and Ellis looked at her.
"What?" Tucker asked.
"What is it with you and blondes, Kayla, Alix, Kat?" Brooke asked.
"Funny Mom," Tucker said, "I'm only working with Kayla and Kat."
"I try," Brooke said, "You're all set, Tucker."
"Thanks, Mom," Tucker said and stood up and kissed her on the cheek. After that, he was off. Tucker grabbed his coat and pulled it on. He ran out to his car.
It was cold, he noted as he started up the car. After waiting for a few minutes for the car to warm up. With a quick prayer, he put the car in gear and was off.
A few minutes later he pulled into the Scott Building. He got out of the car and reached into his bag for his badge. Tucker had done so much work for Red Bedroom Records that they gave him a badge. Walking into the lobby he saw the guard behind the desk.
"Hello, and Good Sunday Afternoon Mister Baker," The Guard said.
"Hello Caden, I have a meeting with Mrs. Drake," Tucker said.
"Yes, she called that down, you're all set, Mister Baker," Caden said.
"Thanks, Caden," Tucker said.
"You're welcome, Mister Baker," Caden said.
Tucker took the elevator up to the floor that Kayla's office was on, the third. He got out and looked around the empty office. The business office was closed on Sunday, so no one was here. With the way Kayla worked though, it was easy to forget it was Sunday.
He walked by two dark executive offices. One was a corner office. Finally, he came to Kayla's office, which was between the two corner offices. Tucker knocked on the open-door jam. Kayla looked up from her desk.
"Come in, Tucker," Kayla said.
Tucker walked in and looked over to see her children sitting at the conference table. That meant Tucker had to watch his language. Also sitting by the desk was someone else.
Kayla stood up and signaled Tucker to take a seat. Tucker nodded and took a seat, he adjusted his messenger bag, so it was on his lap. Kayla sat back down behind her desk.
"Thanks for coming in today," Kayla said.
"You're welcome, I have some flash drives of the footage I've been editing together for the tour video," Tucker said.
Kayla shook her head, "No, no need, Tucker, I've seen what you've filmed off the cloud. I'm pleased so far," Kayla said.
"That's good, I aim to please," Tucker said.
Kayla nodded, "You're good and work efficiently, that's why I called you in for the tour video. Which is again why you're here," she said.
"Okay," Tucker said, "I was planning on my few free days to visit Alix in California."
Kayla sighed, "Do you want to back out before you hear the offer," she said.
"No, not at all," Tucker said.
"Good," Kayla said, "Chris, have you met Tucker Baker."
"No, Chris Keller hasn't met Tucker Baker," The Person sitting next to Tucker said.
Tucker nodded and looked over to him, "I've not met Mister Keller, but I've heard of him," he said.
"Most of what you have heard about Chris Keller is not true," Chris said.
"Chris, speak like a human," Kayla said.
"Okay, Kayla," Chris said.
Kayla sighed, "Well Chris has this contract and we have to release a music video to support his new album," she said.
Tucker nodded, "So, what do you need me to do?" he asked.
"The music video," Kayla said.
"What part?" Tucker asked.
"The whole deal," Kayla said.
Tucker nodded, "How long do I have?" he asked.
"Well if you can get this in the can by Friday, RBR will fly you out to spend time with Alix," Kayla said.
"No strings attached with the flight," Tucker said.
"No strings, you won't have to work," Kayla said.
"And double my normal rate," Tucker said.
"What? That's robbery," Kayla said.
"Kayla, I'm worth it, Chris Keller is worth it," Chris said.
"Chris, stay out of this," Kayla said.
"One, it's short notice. Two, I'm doing everything. Finally, three, It's a tight deadline. So, I think it should cover it," Tucker said.
Kayla nodded and pushed over a flash drive, "The track is on that drive. I'll check the budget and make a formal offer sheet," Kayla said, "I can't do it today for, well reasons."
Tucker nodded, "No, problem, you know where I'll be," he said and grabbed the flash drive, "Is there anything else?"
"No, thanks for hearing me out, Tucker," Kayla said.
"You're welcome," Tucker said, got up and left. As he walked out of the office, he slipped the flash drive into his messenger bag. Tucker smiled as he walked towards the elevator. He's good, he thought.