Page 52 of Behind the Bars

“But I’m five eight,” Iargued.

“You’re right—get her to droptwenty.”

“What does any of this have to do with my career?” I asked,annoyed.

“This is the music industry, sweetheart—it has everything to do with your career.” Mickey pulled out a pack of cigarettes and placed one between his lips. He offered Trevor one, and he took it.God, I hated cigarettesmoke.

“So, describe her genre for me,” Mickeycontinued.

This went on and on. The two talked about my flaws and my talent, the direction they each believed I could take, etc. I grew tired of it all, and every now and then I’d steal a glance at my cell phone to see if I had a new email fromElliott.

Of coursenot.

He’s stillsleeping.

“And she dances?” Mickeyquestioned.

“Don’t you want to hear me sing?” I cut in, growing tired of their talk. Mickey gave me a hardlook.

“Excuse me, missy. Two grown men are having a conversationhere.”

“About me,” Iargued.

Trevor gave me a shut-up-right-now look, but I didn’tcare.

“You’re talking about me and my career and my this and that, but you haven’t even asked me to sing foryou.”

“What does your voice have to do withanything?”

“That’s the whole reason I’m here—for mysinging.”

Mickey laughed. “This is the music industry—that has nothing to do with yourcareer.”

Trevor leaned toward me and slightly shook his head. “Just let me handle this, kid. I got yourback.”

I didn’t believehim.

They went back to their conversation, and I went back to refreshing my email. My heart jumped when I saw EAdams pop up in myinbox.

Subject: Three A.M.

Jazz,

I woke up to go to the bathroom and 3:33AM was flashing on my alarm clock, and then I thought of you. What time does that make it there? Nine in the morning? You have that meeting with the big producer, right? It’s going to go perfect. They’d be crazy not to signyou.

I missyou.

-Eli

Subject: Re: Three A.M.

Eli,

I’m in the meeting now. It’s almost ten in the morning here. The guy doesn’t care about me as a person at all, he’s only interested in how to sell mybrand.

I didn’t know I had abrand.

I just wanted to sing soulmusic.

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