Beautiful Noise

Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

E zren.

“Are you working on anything new?”

The woman standing before me was beautiful but she didn’t hold my attention. I was almost amused because she was my type. Sexy, eager, and willing to be whatever I wanted. Unfortunately, for her , my type had recently changed.

My eyes flicked over her left shoulder and landed briefly on the brown skinned beauty who had my attention before I focused on the task at hand—share a few words, take a couple pictures, and move to the next person.

“Yeah, I’m in the lab,” I responded casually, knowing that on the surface her question was simple. One posed to almost every artist at one point or another but because of my history with writing and women, she wanted to know who was I fucking and if she could be next.

Her smile deepened into a salacious grin and she adjusted her stance to further define her curvy physique, subtly inching closer to me. “If you need some inspiration…”

I smiled charmingly, as to not offend. “I’m good, sweetheart. We can get that picture now, if you want.”

Her eyes flickered with disappointment and her smile dropped briefly but it was back in a matter of seconds. She removed a phone from her purse, eased next to me, and began a series of shots followed by a quick video. She promised to tag me and I offered a nod, knowing I would never see the tag and focused on the next woman in line. Half an hour later I had been propositioned four times, posed for countless pictures, and exceeded my limit for dealing with fans.

The one woman I craved had kept her distance since we’d arrived at the VIP meet and greet. I understood her reluctance to remain in my proximity but I was being fucking selfish and wanted her close.

All night I watched her giving smiles that belonged to me to others in the room. The only thing that saved her from me showing my ass was that those smiles were mostly focused on Leijah. The two had been engaged in a deep exchange between fans who wanted conversation and pictures from the rising star.

I wasn’t surprised that her crowd mirrored mine. Tonight, she impressed me. Leijah had talent, which I was already aware of, but the difference between those who possessed talent and those whose talents would propel them into a stratosphere of success was that thing which couldn’t always be described but was well understood. A stage presence, an energy that transcended beyond voices and lyrics. Leijah was the total package and if she trusted Clay with her career, she would be as successful as she craved.

“I see it now.”

“See what?” I turned to find Clay standing next to me, drink in hand, watching the two women who had my attention.

“The reason you’re breaking all your rules.”

My rules…

No attachments.

My career is my priority

Under no circumstances whatsoever will I blur the lines between my personal life and professional career.

Kori had demolished each and every one of those by simply existing.

I smirked and shrugged nonchalantly. “I could say the same for you.”

“I don’t have rules and I’m damn sure not sleeping with Leijah.” He cut a narrowed stare my way and I smirked again.

“You have rules, Clay, even if they’re unspoken. I’ve known you since I was eighteen and you’ve never once taken a personal investment in anyone’s career.”

“I was personally invested in yours.”

“Okay, aside from mine.”

He shrugged the same way I had. “She’s good and no one will touch her. The industry is changing for the worse, not better.”

“Not changing, changed .”

“You get my point. Talent is overshadowed by image and marketability. I refuse to watch her fail. She deserves this.”

“She does.” I nodded to agree.

“Does that mean you changed your mind about writing for her?”

“No, that’s not my thing.”

“You believe she deserves this but you refuse to help?” His tone was tinged with frustration which came from his belief in wanting Leijah to make it. Clay was one of the best producers in the business. He cared about the process, the artist, about ensuring that they had the right sound. Most producers only cared about the check clearing. There was no check when it came to Leijah, and if there was, it would barely cover his weekly food budget. He was personally invested.

“The music doesn’t come to me that way. Throwing a few lines together for a hook or feature is one thing, but entire songs don’t flow through me if I’m not personally connected. I’m not a songwriter…” I pointed across the room. “But she is.”

“Your girl writes songs?”

“No, but she can.”

“What the fuck, Ess?” Clay laughed sarcastically. “She has you so caught up that you’re trying to pass her off in the industry?”

Clay was a longtime friend, hell pretty much family at this point in our journey, but that didn’t prevent me from issuing a warning glare for him to tread lightly. Regardless of me understanding why he would question my motives, co-signing Kori as a songwriter was blurring the fuck out of the lines between my personal life and career. I had never done this before.

I removed my phone and pulled up Kori’s site. Once Clay had the device in hand, I waited for him to understand what I already knew. She was a natural with words and song lyrics were words. She would need some guidance with a few things but Clay was more than capable. He had worked with the best, polishing and refining what they delivered.

“This is your girl?”

“Lei didn’t tell you?”

He frowned, shaking his head while he continued moving through her site. “Nah, she didn’t bring this to me.”

I chuckled, glancing at Leijah and Kori. “That means her mind is made up and she doesn’t want your input.” He groaned and I made sure to clarify, “But this was all Lei’s decision. I didn’t bring the idea to her. Clips ended up online of Ri on stage at SipLicity last night. She was performing one of her pieces. Shit went viral and Lei saw the performance.”

“You trying to get her a deal?”

“No, Ri couldn’t carry a gotdamn tune with the entire transportation department at her disposal but she can write.”

“Poems. I admit these are good…”

“Better than good,” I asserted and he nodded.

“But still poems. She has no track record with songwriting, no voice in the industry, and no connections unless you’re offering yours.”

“I will if that’s what it takes to get her on this, but she’ll refuse knowing I had to co-sign to make this happen.”

He handed my phone over and lifted his drink, tossing it back. “You sure about that?”

“Very fucking sure. She’s not like the rest. The only thing she wants is me, but it wouldn’t matter. If she was gaming me, I would let her.”

He laughed, lightly shaking his head. “What the hell did she do to you, Ess?”

“Every fucking thing you can imagine.”

“I can work with her but that doesn’t change the reality. She’s a nobody. Leijah needs names.”

“She needs songs. She’s already a name but you know what she’s capable of, which is why you’ve made her your priority and why you called in a favor you knew I wouldn’t turn down. You had other calls you could’ve made, Clay, but I’m the one you hit up.”

I needed this to be all Kori, but if putting my name on it meant she could have hers attached, then I’d do that shit in a heartbeat.

“Plus, you love shit like this.”

“Like what?”

“Being responsible for proving the world wrong. You want Leijah to be the female version of me. You want her to do it with just her raw talent the same way I did. Consider it two for one. You make her a success while issuing a proverbial fuck you to the systematic way the industry works now.”

We both glanced at the ladies and Clay smiled arrogantly, brushing a hand over his head. “I’ll see what she can do but my priority is Lei. I can’t fuck this up, not even to help you win the girl.”

I smirked and shrugged. “I don’t need your help winning the girl. She’s already mine.” I extended a closed fist to Clay which he met with his and walked away. It was time for us to head out, but before I reached my intended stop, someone was calling my name as they approached. The guy had a determined look on his face and clutched an acoustic guitar.

He wanted my time, but I wanted hers. However, the guitar had my attention. It was the exact one my father had purchased for me when I was fifteen years old. The guitar I still kept but refused to play because the memories attached were too fucking hard to deal with.

“I know you’re probably done for the night but I was wondering if you’d mind signing this for me.”

I pushed the memories back into their respective places and accepted the guitar he all but shoved into my chest.

“Yeah, I can do that. You sure you want my name on here.” I flashed a smile and he nodded.

“You got it. What’s your name?”

“Jones. Jefferson Jones but I go by Jones.” He removed a marker from his pocket, yanked the cap off, and held it up.

I accepted, scribbled out a short message and my name, then handed the marker back so I could fully examine the guitar. “This is clean. You play?”

“For a couple years now. Nothing major. I play with a band. I just got this one a couple months ago.”

“I started my career with one of these.”

“I know, it’s why I got this one. I’m a huge fan. Cost me more than I could afford but it felt right.”

I nodded and strummed my fingers across the strings. He was likely gonna sell this now that my name was on it but he wouldn’t be the first or the last. I was used to the process. I gripped the neck and extended the guitar back in his direction but he didn’t move. His eyes bounced around briefly while his shoulders tensed and I sensed the bullshit coming.

“Would you mind, I know I probably shouldn’t ask, but if you could play something on this, you know like blessing me with your skilled hands… You know what, never mind. Thanks for signing.” He reached to accept the guitar but I pulled back. Something in me shifted and I felt my father’s presence.

Never allow yourself to be bigger than the music or out of touch with those that appreciate the music.

The memory of his words made my heart clench but I received his message.

“I can do that. It’s been a minute since I’ve had my hands on one of these.” The kid’s face lit up.

I positioned the sleek wood in my arms and flexed my fingers a few times before I began a random melody. I let inspiration guide me and within seconds we had an audience. Leijah ended up beside me and Kori across from me while lyrics blended with the melody I was playing.

Every laugh, every sigh, pulls me deeper still,

Like a river, I’m flowing, against my own will.

Thought I had it planned, but you turned the tide,

Now I’m falling into you, can’t run, can’t hide .

Her eyes narrowed and her lips parted like she was seconds from shutting me down but then a soft smile surfaced and her eyes darted around the room, no doubt gauging the reactions to her words. When Leijah joined in, adding her soft, soulful voice, Kori’s smile took over her entire face.

Leijah winked just before we fell into a harmony then I faded into the background, allowing Leijah’s voice to take the lead. There were phones in hands which meant the moment was going to go viral. Anyone familiar with Kori’s site would know Leijah and I were singing her words. The assumptions would begin flying.

This hadn’t been my intention but by the time the song was done, two things were certain, not only was Leijah convinced that she’d made the right decision about Kori but Kori was buying into it too.

The applause and shouts of appreciation were deafening, from the hundred or so people here, but I had tuned them out with my eyes on the woman in question until I heard the kid next to me.

“Do you know what you just did for me?”

“Yeah I do and you better not sell this.” I returned the guitar to its rightful owner and this time he accepted.

“There’s no way I’m selling this. Hell, I’m gonna marry the damn thing after what you just did.”

I chuckled and offered a nod of appreciation. “You have big shoes to fill. Don’t fuck this up.”

“No pressure, right?”

“Nah, none at all.” The kid left and I grabbed Kori’s hand, then paused to address Leijah. “We’re going to head out. If that’s alright with you?”

“You can do whatever you want after that little performance. I think you just made me and that guitar famous.”

“Maybe that guitar, but you already had your shine, Lei. I’ll see you in Dallas.”

We were on our way to the door when Clay stopped me. “You can’t go saying you don’t want songwriting credits, then pull shit like that, Ess. You gon’ let Lei have that one?”

“You’ll have to ask the person who wrote it. It’s not mine to give.”

He frowned, then his eyes slowly shifted to Kori. “That’s yours?”

“A poem, yes.”

He smiled smugly, shaking his head. “Fucking brilliant. Nah baby, that’s not just a poem. That was your official introduction to the industry. We’ll talk later though. Looks like my guy is not trying to hold up long enough for me to officially lock you down.”

“Perception is key, family,” I stated and tossed my chin to Clay before taking Kori with me through the entrance. After we were in the back seat of our awaiting SUV, she turned my way with the biggest smile.

“You performed my poem.”

“Yeah…” I grazed the pads of my finger down the side of her face before gripping her chin and guiding her toward me for a kiss. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“If I did, you wouldn’t be able to undo the performance, but I’m sure you’ve already considered the obvious. Everyone in there had phones out. I bet the clips are already live.”

“Probably.” I smiled seconds before my mouth crashed against hers. “But it wasn’t planned,” I added when I pulled back. “And I can get it taken down if you…”

“Absolutely not. You performed my work. You made my verses a song, which means I’m a songwriter.”

“Yeah you are, but again, that wasn’t my intention. It just kinda happened.”

Her smile expanded, then her eyes softened. “You okay?”

I frowned and she added, “The guitar. It’s a replica of the one your father gave you. The exact one. I’ve seen it in your studio.”

She noticed.

“I haven’t touched mine since I wrote Stoned Heart .”

“Why tonight?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t know. It just felt right. I looked at that kid and saw a version of myself. I just…”

She kissed me again and cut off my thoughts. I pulled her closer, damn near dragging her into my lap. When I ended the kiss, she smiled. “And for the record, you made his night and mine.”

“Not yet but I planned to.”

The next morning I was up before the sun, putting words on page to the songs that had been in my head all night. By eight I was six songs in, all inspired by the woman currently tangled in the sheets of my hotel suite, sleeping peacefully no doubt thanks to keeping my promise to make her night.

I eventually put my pen down and decided to order breakfast so we could prepare for our day. Our flight to Dallas left at one and Leijah had already hit me up asking if we could add Kori’s poem turned song to the lineup. She wanted to run through the arrangement, which I agreed to since the melody had been impromptu. I had no doubt we could pull off another stellar performance, but wanted to refine a few things before we hit the stage tomorrow night.

After room service arrived with our meal, I gently nudged Kori awake. After groaning through her reluctance, she got up, showered, and joined me at the small table on the balcony of our suite.

Watching her cling to the mug of coffee for dear life brought a smile to my face. “You don’t fuck with mornings, do you?”

“It’s early as hell. No sane person does.”

I chuckled. “It’s almost nine-thirty, not exactly early. I’ve been up since five.”

“You’re proving my point,” she muttered. “No sane person.”

“I won’t argue. I usually function off a few hours of sleep. My lifestyle has me programmed this way.”

“I’m not,” she groaned just as her phone vibrated with a call. She hit ignore but repeated the same process multiple times before she eventually lifted from the table and stepped inside. Somebody really wanted her attention. I kept my eyes on her but decided to stay put to give her privacy until I heard the stress and frustration in her voice.

“I haven’t spoken to you in months and the last time I reached out you pretty much told me I didn’t exist in your world. Why would I let you know I was in town? How do you even know I’m in Houston?”

I lifted from my seat and walked back in the suite until I was standing in front of Kori. Her face was angled to the floor, body stiff and tone elevated.

She had gone viral twice since being here. First at SipLicity and last night at Leijah’s VIP meet and greet. Whoever was on her line could have easily seen either of those clips to know she was in town. My issue was, who the fuck was on her line. If it was an ex, then she needed to shut that shit down but I got my answer before my mind could begin plotting on who I was going to step to.

“So I’m your daughter now…”

One of her parents.

“I’m not coming to see you. We’re leaving in a few hours.” She went quiet and her expression tensed more. “Why would I? Again, you pretty much said fuck you, Kori, or did you forget?”

She snorted through a laugh of irritation. “Yeah, you did, but if you want to place the burden on my shoulders, then do whatever makes you happy. Add this to the ongoing list of things I do that disappoint you.”

She ended the call and slowly lifted her eyes, but she didn’t say a word, just forced a smile, walked back to the balcony, and returned to her seat. I followed, settling into mine.

“Your parents?”

“Mmhm. My mom.”

“You didn’t tell them you were in town?”

Her eyes narrowed and her hand paused briefly before her fingers gripped the handle of her coffee mug. “We don’t talk. Why would I tell them I was here?”

I nodded and kept my eyes on hers. “What did she want?”

“Dinner.”

“Would you like to go?”

“Absolutely not.”

After a long pause, she exhaled a sigh. “One of her friends sent the clips of you performing my poem with a message asking if that was her daughter you were singing to. I’ve already embarrassed them with the Cleaning Lady Kori thing and now this. She’s pissed because I didn’t reach out to let her know I was here so she could lecture me on what a total clusterfuck my life currently is. She demanded that I come to dinner because my father needs to talk to me, and by talking to me , he wants to remind me that I’m their biggest disappointment. I have no interest in seeing either of them.”

“Do you love your parents?” I asked calmly, with a stoic expression.

“Of course I do but I can’t say they feel the same.”

“You honestly believe they don’t love you, Ri?”

She gently shook her head. “No, but regardless of whether or not they love me, they don’t accept me. I don’t owe them anything. They feel like I do.”

“Dinner won’t work. Call your mom back to see if they can make lunch happen instead.”

She frowned but I ignored the argument surely brewing in her head and lifted my phone, dialing Stew who handled my travel arrangements. As soon as he was on the line I let him know what I needed.

“I have to push my flight back a few hours.”

“What are you doing?” Her eyes flared with panic, but I ignored the reaction and finished my call, giving Stew the necessary details.

“I can make it work no later than four if you can move things around.”

Once he agreed, I let him know I appreciated his efforts, apologized for the last minute change, and ended the call, placing my phone on the table. She opened her mouth to object but I cut her off.

“We’re here. You might as well see them and I’d like to meet your parents.”

Her brows pinched as she silently stared at me for a minute like she was confused ,which made sense when she spoke. “You want to meet my parents?”

I smiled, sinfully slow. “You’ve had the luxury of meeting my mother. Shouldn’t I have the same privilege?”

“I…she…that wasn’t intentional and meeting your mother wasn’t at my request. We just kinda happened.”

“Agreed but it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve met her and the two of you are more or less friends.”

“You’re not going to be friends with my parents, Ezren. They’re nothing like your mother.”

“So I’ve heard, but I still want to meet them.”

“Why?”

“For starters, I’m dating their daughter.”

She was seconds from debating the point, but I remained firm and she relented. “You can’t blame me if this goes terribly wrong.”

“I have no intention of blaming you for their actions, now call them and see if we can do an early lunch instead of dinner.”

Begrudgingly she complied and no matter how this ended, at the very least Kori’s parents would know she was in good hands. I couldn’t make them care if they truly had no intention of placing their daughter’s needs ahead of their own, but I would do my part and walk away from this with a good conscience.

I had no idea what the future held for me, but what I did know was Kori would be a permanent fixture. Her peace would also be a direct connection to mine. My responsibility as her man was to employ all my efforts in bringing the same peace into her life that she brought into mine. Fixing shit with her parents would be part of that.