“That’s a lot to remember.”
“I’m going to get you a copy of the tour schedule with the dates so we can plan visits.”
“Okay. Did you finish filming the video yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“How did it go?”
“It was a blast. We finished a little ahead of schedule.”
“I love how you say the word schedule.”
“Really?”
“Hey, did Drake fly here to do the video?”
“Yea, he had time in his schedule.” I laughed. There, I’d said it again. “We had dinner last night and he had to fly to California to shoot another video with Nicki Minaj.”
“I wish I could’ve been at the video shoot.
Never, my sweet. “I want to move forward with us having a baby. You have eggs.”
“I do. This is a big decision.”
“It is. Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, its just there’s this process. I have a lot to do.”
“I know and I’m sorry I can’t be around for the entire process.”
“I understand, I do.”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up. I don’t have many eggs.”
“It’ll be okay. You only need one to take. You can freeze some if you like.”
“I can’t believe how much you know about this stuff. It feels weird.”
“Why, why does it feel weird?”
“Because of the money. Paying someone to carry a baby is just a lot to wrap my head around.”
“You have a pretty head. I’m sure it will wrap soon enough.”
She rolled her eyes at my cheekiness.
“Pregnancy is hard. Some stranger walking around with my baby in their stomach is harder. Is she going to drink or smoke or whatever? It’s not her child so why would she care.”
“I will pay her to give a fuck. Money isn’t the issue. I have a few contracts that my attorney drew up.” I pulled a manila folder out of the top desk drawer. “I want you to look then over when you go back to the states.” I placed the folder in her hands. If you want to get another lawyer to look it over just contact my attorney and he will overnight the same contract to you to present but my name will be redacted. If you want to amend the contract in any way call my attorney and he’ll draw up a new contract.”
She opened the folder to peek inside. I closed the flap before I could read one sentence.
“No, this is for later. I’m in this part of the world for about forty days. I want us to just be together without that bloody business stuff on your mind. Please, put it away in your carryon.”
“Okay.”
“It’s just a lot of legal stuff. But if you sign then we start the process. You have to look for a suitable surrogate. When I come back to the states you will start the fertility drugs to stimulate your ovaries. The doctors take your golden eggs. I give my platinum sperm and we hope and pray it happens.”
“You make it sound so simple. But I’m sure it’s not.”
“Well, I’m willing to bet it will be a fairytale.”
“Youth and optimism may be why I love you.”
“I thought it was my huge cock. Huh.”
My mobile phone rang. I pulled it from my back pocket.
“Glynn.”
“Roddy Ricch is here in town performing. He cleared his schedule for a few hours to do the remix on Bad Boy Toy .”
“Roddy Rich is in London?”
“Yes, I need you to come down to the Abbey.”
“When?”
“Right now.”
“That’s no warning at all.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Come to the Abbey right now.”
“Is he there?”
“He’s on his way.”
“Did you send an engineer?”
“Yes.”
“What about my mates?”
“Just you, a quick simple gig. Roddy’s already written his verse. I heard it and its fire.”
“Really, did you even understand the lyrics?”
“No but that’s why I need you there to make sure, there are no overt references to bitches, hoes, drugs, guns, violence or politics.”
“Without that stuff, the verse would be rubbish.”
“Very funny. We only need you for ad-libs.”
“Only ad-libs.”
“Yes, just Migos it up. You know that weird random shit they do. We’re trying to get one of these singles to reach an urban demographic.”
“Fine, I will be there within the hour.”
“I will text you the details. Make it soulful.”
I ended the call. Make it soulful, he says.
I turned to Kat a few feet away.
“Babe.” I didn’t want to leave her. She’d just gotten here.
“You have to go record.”
“Yes, but it won’t take long. I’m doing some adlibs on a previously recorded track. Just a few hours tops.”
Her eyes looked disappointed. “You have to work.”
“I promise I will be in and out.”
“Don’t rush. I can entertain myself for a while.”
I kissed her in the forehead and left her standing in the bedroom. I needed to gather a few things and call Matt so he could call security. I needed to ride to the studio. I’d never met Roddy Rich but he was a hot new rapper. I hoped this would be a drug-free studio session. I didn’t want the smoke on me. I didn't want any reason for Kat to question my sobriety.
KATRINA
Jagger left me alone in the hotel room. This wasn’t the first time. I thought he’d be finished with work but things seemed to always pop up last minute. It was out of his control. He was in demand. He was the lead singer of the most famous boy band in the world. There was a K-Pop band that was coming in a close second but Jagger didn’t seem to care. He knew this wasn’t going to last forever. Toxic Shock might only have one more album in them before the group disbanded. He hoped it would just be a hiatus while they all went and pursued their solo dreams. Toxic Shock had been together for five years. After seeing how this operation worked even I thought that was a long time.
Jagger had to turn down a lot of movie scripts because of his band obligations. He started as an actor and he had a fondness for it. He had a lot on his shoulders
