Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“Laina, you’re on speakerphone. Coy Mason is here.”
“Hey, Laina. How are you?” he asks.
“I’m good, Coy. You?”
“I’m good. Thank you for asking.”
“Laina,” Anjelica says, “may I fill Coy in on our conversation?”
I nod. “Sure,” I say without hesitation.
Coy Mason was the biggest name in country music until a couple of years ago. He still performs under his stage name, Kelvin McCoy, from time to time. But much of his effort is spent running Mason Music. For someone so big in the music world, Coy is as down-to-earth as they get. His boutique label quickly became one of the most powerful labels in music, and I’m honored to be one of their first recording artists.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“Laina is making a couple of management decisions, namely, firing her current manager.”
Coy pauses. “Your father manages you right now, correct?”
“Yes.”
He blows out a breath. “I won’t act like this isn’t tricky, and many emotions are involved when we work with family. Trust me. I see Boone every day.”
I laugh.
He laughs, too. “How can we help you facilitate this? What do you need from us?”
“Coy, I don’t even know. I’ve just pressed pause long enough to know that I can’t keep doing things as they were. I need to build a team who cares about me.”
“I absolutely agree,” he says. “Do you have any thoughts about who you might bring on as your business manager?”
“No. I probably should have an idea before I fire my father, huh?”
“Not necessarily,” Anjelica says.
“Actually, once you decide something like this, you’re better off executing it immediately. I’ve seen stuff happen where people realize what’s going down and intentionally try to sink the ship, so to speak.”
My heartbeat begins to settle. “What will happen to everything he handled if I don’t have a replacement?”
“I want you to hire someone you’re comfortable with, obviously,” Coy says. “But have you met Hollis Hudson?”
“The songwriter?”
“Yes,” Coy says.
“No. I’ve just heard his name. Why?”
Anjelica gasps. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Hollis has been working with a few of our artists and doing one hell of a job,” Coy says. “He’s smart. Tough as nails for his clients. But a teddy bear under all that muscle. Every artist we’ve sent his way has had the same thing to say. He listens. He’s a go-getter. And he respects their wishes.”
I laugh. Does that really exist?
“I’d keep him in mind, if I were you,” Coy says. “I’d be happy to set up a meeting. And I know he’d be thrilled to support you.”
“Wow,” I say, stunned.
I’ve admired Hollis Hudson for years. And if Coy believes we’d be a good fit, then how can I refuse to consider him? I want someone who listens to me, who’ll fight for me, and who respects my wishes. Combine that with someone who knows the ins and outs of this business? Yes, please.
“If you think we’d work well together, then yes, I’d really appreciate a conversation,” I say.
“Great. If you need anything, call me,” Coy says. “But I gotta run. My wife is trying to make homemade jam today, of all things, and I promised her I’d be there to taste test them all.” He laughs. “Today is supposed to be my day off, Laina.”
“I see. Go have fun jam-tasting,” I say, laughing.
A door shuts in the distance.
“He’s always a wave of energy,” Anjelica says, chuckling. “The man is brilliant, but it takes a lot to keep up with him.”
“Sounds like it.”
“All right. I’ll get your attorneys to work, but you’ll need to touch base with them before they’ll do too much. And no one will be alerted until you give the signal. Then I’ll set up a meeting between us on Monday, as we discussed, and I’ll get Hollis on your calendar as early as possible next week. Does that sound good?”
“Perfect.”
She pauses. “And Laina?”
“Yeah?”
“It makes me really proud that you’re doing this. It’s been a long time coming.”
I sink back into the chair and grin. Yes, it most certainly has.
“I appreciate that, Anjelica. Thank you for having my back.”
“Always. Talk soon.”
“Goodbye.”
I turn the phone off and take a deep breath.
“It makes me really proud that you’re doing this. It’s been a long time coming.”
It makes me proud of me, too, Anjelica.
I can do this. I won’t be alone. And I can move forward with far more control over my life. And my father? Time will tell if he loves me for me or for what I bring him. Kudos. Wealth. Control.
That’s about to be taken away from you, Dad. I hope we survive the fallout.
I look out the window. What a beautiful day. I find Kennedy’s boots and head to the barn. It’s time to do some mucking. And then maybe later, when Luke gets home, it’ll be time to do something that rhymes with that.
Chapter Nineteen
Luke
I burst out laughing. “What the hell is this?”