The Grammy Awards
Jake woke up rested the other day in the morning, this was going to be a lively day for him and he was too excited to go to the Grammys at night, Jake called his mom to talk to her about the latest games and also to talk about the Grammys.
Eva was very fond of music but did not understand very well about the awards they had, Jake had given all the CDs he had of Kate and Eva had also watched Kate sing in the game that Jake organized.
After that Eva also really liked the way Kate sang, Jake had already told his mother that Kate was going to run for this year's Grammy and with Jake reminding her, Eva said she would watch Kate's show.
"I think it's cool that you go to the Grammy this year to cheer for your girlfriend, being there with her can support her a lot on that day that she must be nervous."
"Yes, I think so too, mom, but I won't be able to be with her, yet she knows that I'm going to be rooting for her."
"Why can't you be with her, Jake? Aren't you going to Grammy with Kate?"
"No, I'm going alone with a ticket I got from a friend, Kate's manager thinks that revealing our relationship can hurt her career, which is undergoing a change right now."
"At the beginning of next year we will reveal about our dating to everyone and say that we have been dating since the end of 1998, so the media will not be able to say that it is not a serious relationship."
"I don't know how to reveal that Kate is dating a successful man like you can hurt her career, you two are famous and make a beautiful couple."
"I don't care about that, mom, the important thing is that Kate and I are dating, I don't need everyone to know about it, her manager knows what she does."
"If you don't mind I'm not going to say anything, I'm glad you are well together."
When Jake called his mom the topic was often Kate and it wasn't Jake's games, Eva just needed to know that Jake was happy and that his team was winning to be happy about it.
Jake tried to talk to Kate after talking to his mother, but Lily had taken her phone so Kate wouldn't be too anxious on the day of the awards, Jake had the whole day to rest because Coach Harris had dismissed him.
During the afternoon, his housekeeper brought Jake the newspaper that had important news about the Los Angeles Lakers team, the news that he already knew that Robert Horry was almost recovered and could already play in the next game and the news that the Los team Angeles Lakers had hired Dennis Rodman.
Jake already hoped that these two things would happen and he also knew that Dennis Rodman would also be at the Grammys that night along with his wife Carmen Electra, if Rodman wanted to talk to him Jake would talk to him, but he wanted to remain discreet so as not to have rumors about him and Kate.
The other news was something Jake expected, but he didn't want it to happen, it was the news that Coach Del Harris had been fired, Jake hoped it didn't happen because the Los Angeles Lakers team managers had said in his past life that reason for the dismissal of Coach Harris had been the bad start to the season with 6 wins and 6 losses in 12 games.
This time the Los Angeles Lakers team had won 11 games and lost only 1 of the games, even if he had been fired it was because the Los Angeles Lakers team should have already started talking to coach Phil Jackson so he could be the coach of the team since the beginning of next season.
For that, the team directors were willing to abandon the Los Angeles Lakers' chances of winning the NBA title this season, interim coach Bill Bertka would take over the team in the next game, but Jake knew it would be for just one game and then coach Kurt Rambis would lead the team until the end of the season.
Of course, Jake still intended to help the team try to win the NBA title this season, but without coach Del Harris it would be more difficult, it would depend much more on the players than on the team's strategy.
After hearing this news about his team Jake went to a hairdresser that one of his Hollywood friends had indicated, Jake had also ordered a suit, pants, and a set of social clothes so he could go to the Grammy Awards.
The hairdresser made only a few adjustments to his hair, the suit and set of clothes to go to the Grammy was from the Armani brand, to the hairdresser and to the Armani store Jake said who he was so he could get the best treatment.
Of course Jake intended to pay for everything, but with him saying he was an NBA player and an actor who would go to the Grammy, the hairdresser and Armani store would do their best to make Jake look great.
For the suit and the social clothes Jake asked for a set of black color that was the color he liked most for suits, it was also a safe color to make him look good at the Grammy, as the people at the Armani store knew Jake they had already prepared a set of social clothes and just needed to make adjustments with Jake in the store.
Jake was as handsome as the models and had an athlete's body, so it was not so difficult to make the adjustments so that the clothes fit perfectly with Jake, the store attendants couldn't help looking at Jake intensely after he put on the clothes and the suit.
This was normal because in the media there was no news that Jake was dating Kate or anyone, so several women fantasized about having a loving relationship with Jake who was handsome, rich, and famous.
After a few hours Jake left the Armani store ready to go to the Grammy, he went back to his house before to wait there until the Grammy start time, when the time came Jake put on his dress clothes and suit and got in the car that he had rented for that night.
Jake didn't want to go in the cars he had because it would get a lot of attention, so he chose a black executive car that was elegant, but not so flashy, Jake arrived at the Grammy and entered the Shrine Auditorium through an entrance that didn't draw much attention.
Jake arrived very early at the Shrine Auditorium, shortly after people were allowed in, but Jake's place at the Shrine Auditorium was not so modest and was close to the front in the place for spectators and competitors to sit.
Even though Jake didn't want to attract attention, he attracted the attention of the officials who were organizing the Grammy, Keanu Reeves just said to those who gave him the invitations that a friend of his would go to the Grammy in his place but did not say that this person was Jake.
After a long time everyone entered the Shrine Auditorium and sat down waiting for the Grammy to start, Jake was trying to be discreet so he didn't look for Kate, this Grammy Kate hadn't been invited to sing any songs, so only if she won she could see Jake.
If she were to receive the award she would find Jake who was in the front rows and was one of the tallest in the entire Shrine Auditorium, Jake remembered few things about that Grammy he had attended.
Jake remembered that Rosie O'Donnell would present this year's Grammy, she also remembered that women would win most of the awards deservedly, Jake also remembered that Madonna would win more than 3 awards, Celine Dion would win 2 awards for the song My Heart Will Go On that would win 4 awards in this Grammy.
Jake also remembered that Lauryn Hill would win 5 awards at this Grammy, so he thought that if Kate won one of those awards it wouldn't affect Lauryn Hill so much, they were all amazing singers and so Jake and Kate were nervous because they didn't know if she could win.
At the beginning of the Grammy, Jake heard the song Nothing Really Matters that was sung by Madonna, Jake was not a fan of Madonna, but he knew she was an excellent singer and paid close attention to the show.
Jake always watched these awards on his home television in his past life, he watched almost all the most important awards, it was really different to be in person at the awards venue.
Before the awards started, Jake had already observed all the decoration of the place, the stage was prepared for a show and Jake knew that the Grammy team would set the stage for the different presentations of the singers like the presentation of Madonna in the beginning.
The Grammy went on and Jake really liked almost everything that was going on, the Grammy was hosted by Rosie O'Donnell and she showed up several times to speak, Jake also liked her and found it very fun and different to see everything this time at the awards venue.
At the beginning of the awards Madonna won one of the awards that would be just 1 of the 4 awards she would win, then the song Heart Will Go On which became very well known after the success of the movie Titanic, won the Song of the year award and the songwriters Will Jennings and James Horner went to receive the award.
Then the Grammy had the rock performance of "There Goes The Neighborhood" by Sheryl Crow, which The Globe Sessions took home for Best Rock Album, then Alanis Morissette for "Uninvited" on the City of soundtrack Angels who won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song.
Shania Twain also won two awards that night, but Jake who was a fan of hers thought she should have won four awards that night, she won the Best Female Country Vocal Performance award and the Best Country Song award.
But Jake thought she should also have won the Album of the Year and Best Country Album awards, after all, much thought that her Album was one of the best of all time in Country music.
Jake was enjoying the Grammy a lot, but he couldn't help but be worried about the prize that Kate was competing for, the Grammy continued and Ricky Martin performed with a performance singing "The Cup Of Life", which would make him even more recognized in the world of music.
Afterward, Ricky Martin also won the Best Latin Pop Performance award for "Vuelve", Celine Dion of whom Jake was also a fan won the Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance awards and sang along with Andrea Bocelli the song "The Prayer".
Lauryn Hill who was the great Grammy star sang the song "To Zion" with Carlos Santana, Lauryn Hill also won Best Female Ru0026B Vocal Performance, Best Rhythm u0026 Blues Music and Best Ru0026B Album, with the album The Miseducation.
At the end of the Grammy, she would still win the Album of the Year award, being the first hip-hop singer to achieve that, but Jake was more interested in the Best New Artist award, so Kate could compete for that award, Natalie Imbruglia had left the contest for that Jake remembered.
So the contestants for this award were the country music band Dixie Chicks that had won 2 awards that night, the group Backstreet Boys, Andrea Bocelli, Lauryn Hill and Kate, reason why Lily had spoken the Album and Kate's music could compete with others awards that night, but the record company decided to put all its efforts into winning it.
Jake was waiting for that moment and started to get anxious, soon the contestants were introduced, when Kate's name was called, people at the Shrine Auditorium applauded quite like the favorite singers.
"And the Best New Artist is Kate Annesley."
When the presenter of the award spoke Kate's name, Jake couldn't resist and stood up to applaud, with Jake standing up to applaud some other people also stood up to applaud him.
With Jake standing up to applaud first it was natural for Kate to see him, she was really beautiful in a white dress as she liked to wear with some parts of the dress is blue which made her even more beautiful.
Jake didn't want to stand out, but he ended up standing out too much to applaud, as Lauryn Hill would win 4 Grammy awards nobody would complain about if she didn't win the Best New Artist award, Kate was very happy when she received the award and went to give a speech fast.
"I'm really happy to have won this award, I didn't expect it even if I really wanted to win, Lauryn Hill is really an excellent singer and deserves all the awards she won and I hoped she would win this one too."
"I want to thank my fans who have always supported me at all times in my career, I also want to thank my manager Lily, and thank everyone who has supported me until today."
"I wanted to thank my label, the musicians and producers who participated in my music and my albums."
"I wanted to dedicate this award to my parents who cannot be here, thank you."
While giving the thank you speech Kate looked several times at where Jake was, so if someone was watching them see if they were dating after this award they would be pretty sure.
Jake was embarrassed because he was sure Lily would be mad at him, so at the end of the Grammy when Lauryn Hill won the Album of the Year award Jake was the first to get up again to applaud and again several people stood up as he did.
The Grammy ended and Jake was very happy that Kate had won the award, Jake thought he was lucky that he didn't know many people and he was one of the first to leave the Shrine Auditorium, some people would come looking for him to go to one of the parties he had after the Grammy, but Jake was not interested in participating.
After all, besides having to be discreet, Jake had to rest because he had a game the next day, besides, he couldn't drink even then he would have to stay at the whole party refusing the gifts of the other guests.
When Jake got home he changed his clothes and called his mother to tell the good news, Eva was also watching the Grammy on television so she already knew that Kate had won, she also celebrated a lot like Jake and was very happy for Kate have won.
"I hoped she really won, Jake, you know how talented Kate is and she deserved to win this award, I hope she still wins many awards like that in her singing career."
"I expected it too, mom, but the other artists who were competing with Kate were so good that I was worried and anxious, even Kate wasn't sure she could win."
"I understand that I saw how anxious you were as you were the first to get up to applaud when they announced that Kate had won, Hahaha, you were filmed on camera and everyone saw it."
Jake didn't expect him to be filmed, now he was sure that Lily would be irritated with him, Jake didn't care if they found out he was dating Kate, and with Kate winning this award they would have less trouble taking over the relationship that they had.
Jake talked a little more with his mother and then went to watch some movies at the cinema he had at his house, Jake would wait a few hours because he wanted to try to talk to Kate on the phone.
But Jake knew that Kate should have gone to one of the parties as most artists also had to go, she should have to go to her label's party or the party of some more well-known artists.
After a few hours Jake watched 2 movies and called Kate if she couldn't answer he would have to go to sleep because he would have a game the next day, Jake waited awhile and luckily Kate can answer the phone.
"Hi, Jake, I'm glad you called me."
"I didn't know if you were busy after Grammy, so I waited a few hours before I called you, I wanted to congratulate you for winning the Grammy, you deserved it, Kate, for your hard work."
"Thanks, Jake, I was very happy to see you when I won the Grammy, I really wanted to say your name in my speech, but know that I spoke of you indirectly when I made my speech."
"I understand, then, that this will be a motivation for you to win another Grammy in the coming years, so you can say my name in your thank you speech."
"Hahaha, I will try to win another Grammy to say your name, but next time I want you by my side at the awards."
"I will be there, I hope Lily is not too angry with me for what I did at the Grammy, I tried to be discreet, but I couldn't do it when I heard that you won the award."
"She was a little upset, but Lily knows the great effort you had and the understanding you had to not disrupt my career if everyone knows it can be better this way because we won't have to hide it from anyone else."
"I also don't like to hide it, but I understand that it is the best for your career, don't worry, at the beginning of next year Lily said that we can announce that we are dating, it won't be that long."
Jake talked a few more hours with Kate before he had to hang up because he had to sleep, Jake was very happy with everything that had happened that day, so if the Los Angeles Lakers team managed to win the next day he would be very happy.
The next day Jake woke up very early and ate well to prepare for the game he would have later, the game would be in Los Angeles so the other players were also able to return home after Jake asked for a day off to go to the Grammy.
The housekeeper Mary brought Jake back to the newspaper from the previous day's news, Jake searched the newspaper and saw the news about the Grammy that happened the day before, in the newspaper it said "The Night of Divas", it talked about Lauryn Hill, Madonna, Celine Dion and also talked just a little bit about Kate.
Even so Jake was happy that Kate won the award and so maybe she could get even more fans, in the newspapers that Jake read nothing spoke about him, so he was happy that there were not many rumors about him.
After that Grammy, Kate would go back to doing her shows and would be very busy for the rest of the year, Jake would also be busy with the NBA and they could just meet up and talk over the phone.
Jake went to training with the Los Angeles Lakers team, when Jake arrived at the training place he saw that Dennis Rodman had already arrived, he would not play in that game, but would start training with the team because the next day he would play.
Coach Bill Bertka was not annoyed that Jake missed training the day before because he was around when Jake asked the former team coach for permission to have a rest day, Coach Bertka didn't imagine Jake already knew Coach Harris could be fired.
Even if Coach Bertka knew that he still wouldn't care because he knew that Jake was in great physical condition playing the 48 minutes in every game, so missing a day of training wouldn't be a bad thing.
Jake went to where Robert Horry was, Jake could imagine how bad it was to have a health problem and have to stay several games without being able to play, of course, Horry appeared sometimes in training and the players talked to him, but in games as a visitor that the team had they could not talk.
"How are you, Robert? He recovered from his illness."
"Not completely, I'm not in my best shape yet either, but I can go back to playing for a few minutes in that game."
"It's good to hear that, I hope you recover completely soon, the team needs you."