Face the Music (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (11 page)

“Honestly? Because I love the music. I love playing. I’ve been in a few bands here and there. A couple of the bands were offered small record deals and stuff. Nothing that took off and made me rich. But I like staying on the road. I like playing guitar and shows. I don’t need to be famous… to feel it. You know?”

Asher smiled. “Yeah, I know. Look, I wanted you to come here today to help me with something.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I want to play some solos again.”

“Nice. Are you… allowed to?”

“No,” Asher said. “But what the fuck do I care? I can’t be on the sideline forever.”

“Okay,” JT said with a laugh. “What do you need from me?”

“I need you to play rhythm to my lead. I just want to see what I can and can’t do. And maybe you and I can work on some stuff. So if I’m up on stage and I can’t get to one of the fast parts, you can take over.”

JT grabbed his guitar case and walked it to the stage. “You’re the boss.”

Asher reached and grabbed JT. “No, man, I’m not the boss. I’m not
a
boss. I’m Asher. I’m a guitarist, just like you. I’m asking you for help, man, because you’re good at what you do. I respect you a lot.”

“Christ, that’s pretty crazy to hear from a guy I idolize.”

“Well, if the time comes and you’re ready to go bigger, you let me know. I… we… the band… we’ll help you. But for now, let’s work on these solos.”

JT hurried to set up his guitar, using Tanner’s amp. He tuned up, hit a few chords and notes, then stood there, so causal and cool with his guitar, ready to jam.

“Natural on you,” Asher said. “When did you start playing?”

“Ten. Broke my leg during football practice and needed something to do. Never looked back. What about you?”

“Six,” Asher said. “Only thing I could do to keep down the noise in my house. Not a good thing at home, you know?”

“Yeah, I know it. Ready to play, man?”

Asher laughed. “Born ready.”

Asher gave the calls and the two started to play a song together. They worked through the lead riffs, the chorus, and bridge. At the first solo, Asher called for JT. He played it beautifully. For the second solo, Asher nodded to take it himself. For the first time in a while, he was nervous playing guitar. His fingers were very stiff but Asher went for it. His fingers slid up the neck and he put his head back and let it all flow back to him. His fingers moved, not quite as smooth as he’d like. The first few licks were more of an old, choppy guitar player, but it was something. It was noise. It was music. It was beautiful.

When Asher stopped playing and looked at JT, the young guy was smiling ear to ear. He kept playing the song, even after Asher stopped to flex his hand.

Then came the sound of cheering.

JT stopped playing and both he and Asher looked to see Ryan and Blake standing in the doorway to the loft.

Asher let the guitar go and put his hands up. It hung from his shoulders like it was meant to be.

“What the hell is this?” Ryan asked as he slowed his clapping.

“This is rock n’ roll, man,” Blake said with wide eyes. “Fuck yeah. Asher tearing it up on a six string.”

“I sound like shit,” Asher said. “JT was carrying me.”

“Are you even allowed to do this?” Ryan asked.

“Am I allowed to do half the things I do?” Asher asked.

“Good point.”

“Just like banging all the backup singers,” Blake said and laughed.

“Not all,” Asher said. “I respect Tanner and Jules.”

“What do you think, JT?” Ryan asked.

“Whoa, guys…”

“No, be honest,” Asher said.

“You were in a car accident,” JT said. “You’re not medically clear to play guitar. And you just ripped through a solo. That’s pretty cool, man. Was it perfect? No. But I can see right where your hand is tensing up. Will that work itself out?”

“I hope so,” Asher said.

“Me too,” Ryan said. “We’re booked for a benefit show in two nights.”

“Really?” Asher asked, grinning.

“Yeah,” Blake said. “Sam has us hooking up with Willow Son for a preview of our upcoming tour.”

“JT is coming on the road then,” Asher said. “We need him.”

“I agree,” Ryan said.

“Wait a second,” JT said. “Sam told me it was a few gigs.”

“Now it’s a few more,” Asher said. “That a problem?”

“No…”

“Whatever you and Sam talked about,” Ryan said. “As far as a rate goes… don’t listen to him. We’ll lump sum it for you, man. Trust me. This will be worth your time.”

“I’m just happy to play guitar,” JT said.

“Good,” Blake said. “Then I’ll take the money.”

They all laughed.

Asher stepped toward JT and put a fist out. The bumped together and Asher nodded. “Thanks, man. Let’s run through some more.”

“You got it,” JT said.

Blake jumped up on stage and tore a pair of sunglasses off his face. He threw them behind him and said, “You need some drums.”

“Ryan?” Asher asked.

“Just stopping by,” he said. “Raine and I…”

“Oh, here we go,” Blake said. “This romance shit going through the band is like a disease.”

“You should talk,” Asher said. “How’s Maya?”

Blake sat behind his kit and reached up and adjusted a cymbal. “She went out with that guy again. You know… it’s… whatever…”

Asher grinned and looked at Ryan.

Ryan worked his way out of the room and Asher stood there, thinking about Jocelyn. There were many shitty diseases out there in the world, but if love was one, at least it felt good.

“Let’s fucking do this!” Blake called out and smashed his sticks together.

A fire lit deep within Asher… and it wasn’t just rock n’ roll doing it.

*

Jocelyn snuck into the office through the backdoor. She was dressed a little casual, blushing, and feel bad but oh so damn good. She also was a little pissed off that had to be sneaking around like this at her own business.

One of the secretaries, Jane, stopped her in the hall with a big smile. “You look gorgeous today.”

“Thanks,” Jocelyn said. “I… uh…”

“Hey, I have some files from Chad. He insisted I give them to you right now. He’s been looking for you all morning.”

Jocelyn groaned. “Yeah, thanks.”

“Hey, whatever happened to those designs? That big meeting?”

“We decided a different direction,” Jocelyn said. “You know this business, right? You think it looks good but the reaction…”

“Seriously? Those were good, Jocelyn. I mean, to get into that younger market. The cooler, hipper kind of stuff. Something other than black.” Jane stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes.

Jocelyn loved Jane. She was in her mid-forties, still celebrated each birthday with a new tattoo, and owned ten different pairs of glasses that were each different colors. She was the epitome of cool style and almost like an extra right arm to Jocelyn. Well, until Chad stepped in and ruined everything.

“I know,” Jocelyn said. “It’s not dead, just… not funded.”

“So… dead?”

Jocelyn snorted and shook her head. “Where’s Chad now?”

“Some conference call with someone in New York.”

New York? Conference call…?

Jocelyn snuck through the office some more towards Chad’s office. She stopped at the closed door and tried to listen. He was in there alright. And he was on the damn phone. With the speaker turned on.

“… our share of equity, Chad…”

“Not just a share, Tommy. It’s the concept. We can liquidate at anytime. Cash in, cash out. Move assets as needed. Take on debt. I mean, just look at the bigger opportunity here with this. We have a proven idea that’s working. I can keep Jocelyn wrapped around my finger…”

“I’m not worried about her. She can keep drawing her pretty pictures.”

“Exactly, Tommy. Exactly. Let her do her thing. She doesn’t know shit about business. We have this thing to ourselves. We filter what we want, when we want it…”

Jocelyn backed away. She wasn’t sure what she just heard, but it sounded shady.

Back in her own office, Jocelyn sat and turned on her computer. She checked her email, sorted through the mass of junk, and began looking into design and production. They were always so far ahead of schedule that any changes would throw things for a loop. But she desperately wanted a change. The new designs would work. They’d sell like crazy, too. Maybe not to the current customer base, but it’d be something new.

After fielding a few ordering calls, Jocelyn dropped her cell on the desk and looked around her office. She needed more color. To liven it up. To make it feel cozy and cool.

Her cell beeped and she looked down.

Show in two nights. You promised to be front row.

Jocelyn’s jaw almost hit the desk. She quickly text back to Asher, who she did not give her cell number to.

How did you get this number?

Jocelyn stared at the screen, waiting for a mess to pop up.

I’m a rockstar. I get what I want. Plus… you have it right on your site. You want customers to call you directly if they need anything. And I need something.

Smiling, Jocelyn wrote back.

Are you a customer?

She waited again, each second feeling like an hour.

Sure. Bring me a shirt when you come to the show. I don’t care what kind either. I’ll wear a hot pink lacy shirt and show off my belly button if it means I get you front row at our show.

Jocelyn felt the color rushing to her face. She was hot and turned on through text messages.

Her thumbs were about to touch the screen when she heard a voice say, “Well, look who came to work today.”

Jocelyn dropped her phone and looked up to see Chad standing in her office. He adjusted his tie and folded his arms.

“Chad,” she said.

Someone in the recess of her mind she promised herself she’d be tall and strong today. She’d be ten feet tall, made of steel, and she’d crush Chad like the slimy bug he was. But the second she saw him, she felt ten inches tall and as helpless as a bird with clipped wings.

No escape.

No Asher here either to help her.

The bottom left side of Chad's lip was swollen from Asher’s punch.

“What are you trying to prove? Trying to get back at me for something?” he asked as he pulled the door shut. “By not coming in on time?”

“What’s on time?” Jocelyn asked. “It’s my business, right?”

“No, it’s not. It’s
the business
. You have a responsibility to everyone here.”

“I’m fulfilling it,” Jocelyn said, her voice cracking. “I have designs. I answered emails and took some calls.”

Chad clapped. “Bra-fucking-vo. Where were you?”

“Home.”

“No you weren’t. I went there looking for you. Demanded to be let into your apartment.”

“Are you serious?” Jocelyn asked. She stood up. “You broke into my apartment?”

“Not broke in. Demanded to be let in. To check on you. I thought maybe you hurt yourself.”

“There’s only one person here who hurt me.”

“Oh, give it a fucking rest, Jocelyn. You want to get into it? I’m the one running this show. Keeping things alive.”

“What was with that call then? I heard you. What about this business? I just draw pretty pictures? Assets and debts…”

Chad’s lip curled. He approached the desk slowly. Jocelyn tried to move back but she hit the chair and the chair hit the wall. She was terrified right now. She felt her head turning, showing Chad her cheek. It was easier to take there than in the face.

“What I plan for this business is my concern,” Chad said. “You want to get mad at me and run off? Go ahead. I’ll find a way to get rid of you then. You’re here on a favor. An image. A name. And because I have no choice but to respect your goddamn father.”

Chad reached for Jocelyn. She pulled back even more and shook her head. “Don’t touch me.”

“Oh, is that how it is? What’s wrong? Where’s your friend from last night? That rockstar guy? Huh? He take you home? Fuck you? Is that what you are? Who you are now? Christ. Maybe you take a shower and get tested for diseases before coming back to me.”

Chad slowly made a fist. He then slammed it to Jocelyn’s desk, his eyes locked to hers. And he stood there in silence.

“What do you want?” Jocelyn managed to ask.

“To become fucking rich,” Chad said with wide eyes. “To run this company the way I want and the way it’s supposed to be done. Not with you trying to undermine me each time I make a decision.”

Jocelyn had a lot to say right then. Oh, a whole lot.

For starters…

Fuck you, Chad.

You think I’m undermining you? Then take the company and do what you want. I’ll start another one.

Maybe I should tell my father what you did to me last night. Or what you’ve done before.

Oh, guess what? I did go home with Asher last night. Yeah, he’s the rockstar. And do you want me to tell you - in detail - what we did? First, he made me come so hard, I almost cried. Nothing like you ever could do to me.

And you think we’re in a relationship? Please, asshole, please.

The thoughts raced and circled around in Jocelyn’s mind. But by the time she shook her head and tried to decide what to say first, Chad was already gone.

That’s when Jocelyn lost her cool and started to cry. She fell to her chair and sat there, weeping like a fool. This wasn’t the life she wanted. Or asked for. It was supposed to be a college project and now look at it…

(10)

Jocelyn took the phone call from her father’s cell and it wasn’t her father. This came as no surprise when one of his perky assistants squeaked into the phone about meeting her father for lunch. There was a
pressing matter
at hand.

Jocelyn agreed to the lunch and then walked through the office. Chad was long gone now. But gone wasn’t always gone for Chad. He always seemed to be lingering, popping up at the worst possible moments. Right now, Jocelyn felt a little bold. She was on a path to find Jane right now, wanting to talk about the designs that Chad quickly rejected. They were good designs and would sell great. Jane wondered what would happen if put everyone to work on the designs anyway. What would the time be? The costs? All the variables? What about marketing and budgets? All of that Jane would have ready to go for Jocelyn to analyze.