Chapter 4

The flight home allowed me time to admire a relaxed, content, happy Alicia. She looked the part and admitted it to both Cindy and me in different ways. She spent most of the trip in the seats with her assistant but spent some time in the cockpit with me as well.

She glowed. Even Cindy said she glowed. When Alicia was in the little girls’ room, she approached the cockpit. “Yes, Charlie, it’s none of my business, as she said, “Nunya”, but I’m happy for her just the same.”

“Thanks, Cindy. I appreciate that. I hope I can be what she wants.”

“Me too, Charlie, and I’ll bet you are. She deserves it.” She smiled at me and returned to her seat in the cabin.

It’s a good sign when the people closest to you at work can tolerate you. It’s even better when they like you and even more so when they look out for you. Cindy was a gem, yes, but Alicia was a decent human being and proved it through Cindy. At least to me. It was a little late at this point to turn back, but still, I think I hit pay dirt with the young woman I’d fallen head over heels in love with.

Back from the loo, she caught me off guard, asking me, “What was that all about Charlie? I heard Cindy’s voice. It’s a bit distinct.”

“Oh, that. I asked her if you were always a ‘B’ word or if today was just a bad day for you.” I grinned at her getting a head shake in return. “Seriously, she told me she was happy for you. I think your attitude is on your sleeve for all to see.”

“No, it’s on my face. My cheeks are beginning to ache from smiling so much. I realize that for you last night may not have been the best sex in the world...” I interrupted her.

“Yes, Ali, it was. So far, anyway.”

“I fell asleep on you. And today in the shower, my timing was a bit off...”

“Yes, it was. Nonetheless, so far, anyway, you eclipse any experience I remember. You are an angel. A very sexy angel. You are everything I’ve been wanting in my life. Don’t overthink our first twelve hours together. After that, do you have any idea what we can get up to in the future?”

“I can read. Maybe I should say, ‘I have read’.”

“OK, then. Let’s see if I can meet your expectations over the years.”

“Years? That is, so far, a yet undiscussed timeframe.”

“Sorry. I just thought that since we’d...” She interrupted me.

“Just teasing. You thought right, and one of us had to say it, sooner or later. I’m glad it was you. You are probably the more stable of the two of us. My thoughts are you and me without a timetable. Over the years, as you say, sounds pretty darned good to me, too.”

“Cool. We’re on the same page,” I told her.

“Goodie.”

I loved some of the way too cute mannerisms of hers. All I could do after that last word of hers was chuckle and grin at her. She saw that and raised me with a kiss on my forehead as she got out of her seat and went back with Cindy.

I told them to buckle up so we could land, then after we landed, I let them chat for a bit, then asked how we were going to get Cindy home. There was no rush, though, as she was spending a couple of days with Elaine out at the ranch, just catching up and kibitzing about the songbird herself.

That meant I just had to drop the two of them off and after getting ready for the formal soiree, pick Alicia up for our evening at Music City Center and the hospital fundraiser.

I got a hello hug from Elaine, then a goodbye hug from Cindy, as they went into the house together, Cindy pulling her bag along with her.

Alicia turned to me as I closed the trunk and got ready to leave. “Charlie, thank you. I know we’re going to be together tonight, but please understand, this is one of the few times I want to see you leave me. Seriously. We’ll talk about it later, but I want to be close to you. Not clingy, just close. Think about it. Now,” she said as she pulled me down to kiss me, “go away. I need some time to get ready to sing. And look good. Mostly the last one. Lots of time. I’m so tired, but I feel so much better now. You did that, by the way.” She was looking up and smiling.

I kissed her forehead. “Yes, we’ll talk. I want that, too, since I love your mother’s cooking.” She actually hit me. I couldn’t understand why!

“Kiss me again and get the hell out of my driveway before I change my mind.” She was almost laughing.

I did. I also hugged her. “See you in a few hours, sweetie.” Another kiss on her lips, and off I went.

The first thing I did when I got home was to check the clock. Five hours. OK. Three-hour nap, a snack, get dressed, and go back to get her. Easy. I did forget one little item, so I texted Elaine with a question. ‘Any idea what we’re wearing tonight?’

It took a few minutes, but I got a response. A response I was happy for, to be sure. ‘Blue. Her in Royal and me in Navy. Why?’

‘Don’t want to look like a thug’

‘Oh. OK.’

I didn’t want to show up wearing a green tie if she was going to be in purple. You know, the same problem all men have. Am I right?

Nap time.

The alarm startled me a bit, and it took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but as I lie there working on it, a smile came to me. The thought of the future with my songbird just made it wider. Shaking it off, I took care of some personal necessities, shaved, showered, and all that, then digging through my closet, found a tuxedo with blue accessories. Royal blue. I wasn’t wooing the mother-in-law, after all. Checking myself in the mirror on the way out the door, I saw a happy man. A very happy man.

As planned, I was to pick up Alicia at seven. When I got my text, I found that there were two women accompanying me, then when I arrived at the house, and Consuela answered the door, I was led to the sitting room to find not one, not two, but three gorgeous women waiting for a ride to the ball. Elaine was primped up and looking half her age. Alicia was just beyond sexy and beautiful both, in her short blue shirt dress and silver high-heeled sandals. The kicker was Cindy. They had her dressed in a little yellow, above the knee oriental flair cocktail dress, slit up the side so far it was apparent she was wearing sheer to waist hose of some sort or another. With the hair and makeup, it was almost impossible to recognize her, but I could. Her smile was very recognizable. She was a cute lady, until this. Now she was an elegant, beautiful, erotic, cute lady.

Consuela dropped my hand once she had led me into the room. “Mr. Charlie, I give you to the women of the house. Miss Elaine, he is yours now. I’m going to go watch my soaps.” She grinned at me as she was leaving.

Cindy yelled, “Thank you, Consuela! You are amazing. I feel like Cinderella!”

She hollered back over her shoulder, “Stay away from the Tequila, and keep your shoes on, Cindy ... Rella. HAHA!”

All four of the women could be heard laughing at that. There must be a story there. I’d have to get to the bottom of it, as it sounded like a doozy.

I approached Alicia and got a hug and a little kiss. “You, Ali, are truly a wonder. So gorgeous. Elaine, you look amazing, and whatever you all did with Miss Cindy, there, oh my! Ain’t she a doll.” That drew a blush from the wonder secretary.

She looked down at the floor, shyly. “Thank you, Charlie.”

“Sounds like you should thank Consuela. Wow, though, you look amazing. All three of you do. Really. Is everyone ready? The ball awaits us.”

It was quite a drive into the city to the Music City Center, but once there, we dropped the car off with the valet and I was able to take the three princesses into the venue. Once inside, Alicia had to check with the management about her performance, but except for that, she was free to wander about with me. Her mother had already begun to mingle, with Cindy in tow, checking in with all the usual suspects and friends she had cultivated over the years.

I asked Alicia what the schedule looked like, and basically, after cocktails, then dinner and some awards being given out and large donors acknowledged, she was supposed to sing a song she wrote about childhood and growing up. It was meant to give a bit of support and hope to some kids, the hospital’s patients, who might not otherwise have much. In any case, after that, there was to be a bit of ballroom dancing and more cocktails and the like.

With a few exceptions, that’s about how the evening went. I ran into an old flame from a few years back, but instead of being catty, as I thought she would, she introduced me to a man she called her husband and told me quite sincerely how happy they were. I was happy for her, as well. As long as she was happy with someone else, I was happy. Not knowing the guy, I had no idea how much money she had found, but I was happy for her, nonetheless.

“You know him?” Ali asked me.

“Her, not him.”

“Oh? Mind sharing?”

“Not at all. Three years ago? Four? About that, anyway, she tried to pin me down. Gold digger. Looks like she landed happiness.” I thought that was what I saw. “Why, you know him?”

“Yeah. Noel Grainger. Investment banker to the stars. She hit the grand prize if she was looking for money. Only problem is, he isn’t the one in charge. He serves at the pleasure, as it were, of the biggies. The real money. Oh well, maybe he’ll keep doing well. With his demeanor, he’d make a better bank teller than a Big Wig, but that’s for her to find out. He made a play for me once, but I just couldn’t see me being around him and his type. If she’s hard core, she’ll find ... I’m so sorry. That’s really none of my business.”

“Nor is it mine. Anymore, that is. Let’s find something more fun to talk about. Better yet, how about we get a drink, and we catch up with your mother.”

“One. Only one, until after. I’ve gotta sing in a bit, and although I like to be happy, the world does not want me tipsy on stage.” She giggled a cute little giggle and squeezed my hand. “Hey, Charlie, any chance you’ll offer to take me home with you tonight?”

“I don’t need to. You just asked.” I used my best pervert leer and got another giggle. She nodded.

After we got our drinks from the bar in the banquet room, we found her mother, and Cindy, talking with a group of party goers. There were five of them, three men and two women. I was almost floored when I realized who they were. The Malones and Monica Edwards were three of them. Then there was an older man and a much younger woman.

“Oh, Mom, I see you found the jackals.”

“Yes, Dear. Geoffrey was just explaining to me the need to get your contract signed and start the new term off right with an album and a PR tour. You know, the morning shows, video channels, and all of that. I told him you might want a break, but he’s questioning that.”

Cindy turned to me so that the suits couldn’t see her and made a fish face, obviously making fun of Monica’s gaunt appearance. “Charlie, Charles Connor, I’m sure you remember the Malones. This man is Geoffrey Upton. He is the president of Starlit Media Group, the company that owns Miss Broderick’s recording label.” She was proffering her hand toward Upton.

I reached out to shake his hand and was instantly rebuffed. I’d seen this guy around but had no idea who he really was.

“Your mother thinks you want to take an extended time away from your work, Alicia. Any truth to that, considering we still have a bit of time and another single under contract?”

“Yes, Geoff, I plan on taking some time to myself. Well, not really to myself, but...”

“That’s too bad. I didn’t want to pressure you, as I know you artist types don’t take well to anyone of authority holding you to your commitments. I may just have to reconsider...” She cut him off mid-sentence.

“Oh, Geoff, you always know just what to say to a woman, don’t you?” Alicia was glaring at him. The harpy on his arm looked like she was about to get caught up in a fight between a lion and a tiger. Unsafe, regardless of the outcome. “I just finished a tour that brought the company in well over ten million dollars spending money. I need a break. How about this? You record my performance tonight on your phone. You and Monica can play it for your talent board and if they like it, I’ll let you release it as my single. As for the time,” her attitude came out in all its glory, “Bucko, I ain’t doin’ shit for you until I’m rested and feeling like it. You can take that to the bank.”

“You are trying my patience, Alicia Broderick.”

“I don’t really care, Upton. I’d rather gargle with Drano and end my career than kneel to you and your stupid henchmen. I can’t believe that one,” she nodded toward the elder Malone, “isn’t in jail for rape or some such.”

“You impetuous brat. We can sue now for breach of contract. Your contract specifically states that if you are seen romantically with or have a personal relationship with any public figure, you are to notify our Public Relations, Communications and Press people so that they can work with you on that information.”

“Charlie is not a public figure, Geoffrey baby.” She wasn’t happy with the way this was going.

“Google him, Miss Broderick. He is, in fact, and you should have let our press people know.”

She looked down at her phone. She was hitting the little keyboard and scrolling quite rapidly. “I didn’t know.” As we sat there, she googled me, going through several pages of information before she looked at me. “I didn’t know.”

“Does that change anything, Ali?” I asked her.

“Yes. Yes, it does.” She turned to the asshat in the suit. “Geoffrey, I need to speak to the Public Relations Department about my relationship with Charlie. I think that would be a good thing. Then I think I’m going to talk to them about me going underground, no publicity, nothing, and leaving and starting my own label. I think that would be a good thing, too.” She looked at me. “Charlie, you obviously have management experience. Wanna have some fun?” She grinned at me.

“Yes. Yes, I do,” I said, using the same tone as Alicia did. The little harpy with Upton giggled at the play on words. Everyone else in the conversation gasped, knowing that if Alicia did just that, they would lose a cash cow worth millions upon millions of dollars.

“As I was saying, Geoff,” he cringed more every time she used his shortened name, “I’m taking some time off. Deal with it. Cindy, I need your help with something. Please say goodbye, Mother, and leave them to their own devices.”

Cindy said, “Goodbye, mother,” laughed, took Elaine’s hand as Alicia turned and walked away, followed by me, then our companions.

“You’ll be sorry, you stuck up bitch,” I heard Jackson Malone say as we were leaving. I turned, but Elaine and Cindy both grabbed my arms, turned me around and delivered me to Alicia who had also turned toward us.

“Charlie, that’s what they want. A scene. Publicity. Negative or positive, they are like bad kids. They just want the attention they can get from it. Let it go. I am a stuck-up bitch as far as they are concerned. No lies were told. Cindy, please take him to the bar. Mom, chaperone. Cindy might develop a crush on Prince Charming, and I don’t know him well enough to know whether he might run off with her to the castle and plunder her young and tender body. I need to talk to the band’s people.”