Sing Your Pleasure

Charlene’s powerful voice had brought back memories. Some painful and some happy—some that just need to be addressed once and for all.

Dialing the number, he sat back on his bed, leaning forward so that his elbows rested against his knees. Looking down to the floor as he held the phone to his ear waiting for the call to connect, he wiggled his toes in the ultra-soft dark blue carpet. It lined the entire length of his master suite until it opened up to the deck, which was tiled with black marble speckled with a blue similar to the carpet. His walls were painted a subtle gray, his furniture, sparse, sleek and expensive. The entertainment center that spanned the entire left wall was state-of-the-art with Dolby sound and a sixty-inch mounted plasma. Music was his life and so it surrounded him wherever he went. Even in his bathroom there was a sound system, designed to match the black-and-blue color scheme in there, as well.

He’d arrived, he thought as the overseas connection had finally been made and the line rang in his ear. He’d arrived at rich and famous, just as he’d always planned. And he liked it here, or so he thought.

His childhood hadn’t been easy and neither had hers. But he’d made them both a promise, to get them out and to make them both happy. He succeeded in one area and drastically failed in the other.

She hated him, had told him as much more times than he could count. Yet, he still loved her, still held a place for her in his heart.

Charlene reminded him of that place. She reminded him of Lauren.

“Centro di riabilitazione del Seminary di buona mattina,” a female voice answered speaking quick Italian that Akil struggled to understand.

“Ah, buona mattina,” he said, clearing his throat and sitting up straight as if the person on the other end of the phone could see him. “Lauren Jackson, please?”

He hated that name, hated the way it rolled off his tongue with complete bitterness and contempt.

“Chi è questo?”

“Akil Hutton.”

The line went quiet and he waited, heart pounding against his chest, palms sweating. He hadn’t spoken to her in more than three years. Not necessarily all his fault. He’d written to her a couple of times but had only recently found a number where she could be reached.

“Ms. Jackson non è disponibile. Non denomini ancora,” she said and hung up without another word.

From traveling all over the world on business Akil had picked up a basic understanding of most languages like Italian, French, hell, he even knew a little German because one of his artists was a big hit in Germany. From the woman’s clipped words he gathered two things: (1) that Lauren was definitely a patient at the Seminary Rehabilitation Hospital and (2) that she did not want to speak to him. The words not available and the stern do not call again sort of tipped him off.

Lauren was in Milan and she was in a rehab center. That meant she was safe and she was getting the help she so desperately needed. That should have been enough for him.

And he shouldn’t still be plagued with guilt. Yet he was and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chapter Six

“So how’s it going?” Rachel asked the moment Charlene answered her cell phone at a little after ten the next morning.

“It’s going,” she replied, falling back onto the bed. She’d already showered and was dressed. They were starting at ten-thirty this morning and every other morning unless Akil said otherwise, that’s what Jason had told her yesterday. She’d had another restless night, unable to get the contrary man and his beguiling eyes out of her mind. But with the rising of the sun she’d tried to shield herself from that negativity, embracing the new day ahead. Hopefully it would work.

“Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good.”

Rachel knew her too well, just as well as Candis did, and that was too well for both of them, Charlene thought suddenly.

“What’s going on? You don’t like the songs? You know, if you call Sofia she can pull some strings, maybe get you another producer or something.”

“No, it’s not that. I just mean that we got right down to business. Akil’s every bit as focused as we’d heard. I got a firsthand look at how much of a perfectionist he really is.”

“Again, that doesn’t sound good. You don’t like him?”

Afraid that the answer to that question was the real problem, Charlene closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I didn’t say that. He’s just different.”

“Okay,” Rachel said, exaggerating the word. “So he’s different from all the other superproducers who wanted to work with you on your debut CD?”

“No. I didn’t say it like that. You know I’m grateful for this opportunity. Hell, I wouldn’t even be in this position without your pushing me up onto that stage.”

Rachel chuckled. “Now why doesn’t that sound grateful to me?”

“I am grateful, really. Jeez, you and Candis are really ganging up on me this week.”

“You talked to Candis? Where is she this week?”

“Paris.”

“Lucky girl.”

“You’re sort of lucky yourself with that hunky actor you’ve got feelin’ you,” Charlene countered.

“I so do not want to talk about Ethan right now. This call is about you and how you’re making out. I think I might need to fly out there.”

Charlene was shaking her head as she sat straight up on the bed. She knew that Rachel was in Hollywood on the set of Paging the Doctor, where she was makeup artist and wardrobe designer. The show was in its final weeks of taping for the season but Rachel had already taken a two-week hiatus when the story of her affair with Ethan Chambers had hit the press. She was almost positive her friend couldn’t just hop on a plane and come to Miami. But that wasn’t saying much. When Rachel put her mind to doing something there was usually no stopping her.

“You definitely do not need to do that. I’m fine. The situation is fine. I don’t need you or Sofia getting involved.”

“Good, because Sofia’s got enough on her plate. I swear, if that girl doesn’t slow down and start to enjoy life I don’t know what’s going to happen to her.”

Sofia was Rachel’s older sister and Charlene’s agent. She’d known Sofia for as long as she’d known Rachel, but since Sofia was older by nine years they’d rarely hung out together. But the moment Rachel heard of Jason’s interest she’d volunteered Sofia as her agent. Sofia hadn’t minded at all; she loved her job as an entertainment agent and was waiting for the day she could take full charge of Limelight Entertainment. At the moment she was second in charge to Jacob Wellesley, the uncle that raised her and Sofia after their parents’ untimely deaths.

“She’s still working twenty-five hours a day, eight days a week.” That was a joke between her and Rachel. Sofia worked so much they’d started to believe that there were extra hours and days created just for her hectic schedule.

“Is she? I’m almost ready to run in that house and tie her to the bed for a full month.”

They both chuckled but Charlene could hear the concern in Rachel’s voice. She knew her friend was really worried about her sister. For that matter, so was she. Besides being her agent, Sofia was just like family to Charlene. “Let’s pray she comes to her senses soon. I definitely don’t want to see you and her going at it as you try to tie her down.”

“You know you’re coming along for backup so don’t even try to get out of it.”

Again Charlene found herself laughing, which was a good thing. She needed to be in as positive a mood as possible to deal with Akil today. Oh, dang it, Akil!

“Girl, I am so late. I’ve gotta get going. Akil’s going to have a fit.”

“Damn, he’s clocking you?”

“Not like that. You know this is a job. I was supposed to be in the studio at ten-thirty. Talking to you, it’s now ten minutes to eleven.”

Rachel was laughing. “Okay, go on. But I really don’t think he’s going to dock your pay.”

“It’s about professionalism, Rachel.”

“Girl, you don’t have to tell me. You know I live by those same rules. Tell Akil it was my fault and apologize profusely on my behalf. If that doesn’t work then maybe I really will have to fly out there.”

“No, you stay right where you are. I’ll handle Mr. Akil just fine on my own.”