Chart Toppers (Star Maker Book 3) (8 page)

She giggled
and hugged Sully tightly, giving him a long kiss on the lips.
 
“I knew it!
 
Always been a closet business
tycoon!
 
You’re a suit in rocker’s
clothing!”

Sully
laughed loudly and shook his head as Donna returned to the table.
 
He glanced at Kit and shook his
head.
 
“Hardly.
 
I’m an apprentice in training.
 
I’ve learned what I know from you,
Spence and Wes.”

Spencer
took a sip of his drink and chuckled.
 
“Well, you’re a damn quick study for sure.”
 
He grinned.
 
“Not too surprised.
 
Seems anything you put your mind to
turns into money.”

Sully
snickered and shook his head.
 
“Not
always.”
 
He exchanged a knowing
glance with Kit.
 
“Just ask your
sister, here.
 
She remembers the
lean days all too well.”

She
grinned.
 
“I do, but I agree with
Spence.
 
Always knew you had it in
you.”
 
She shifted her attention to
Spencer.
 
“Ok, so revenues are
up.
 
That’s good.
 
Do you want me to step in while you’re
out visiting Nana or do you think Sean and Danny are up to it?”

He
shrugged his shoulders.
 
“They’re
good.
 
Although, I think you should
pop by now that you have some extra time on your hands.
 
What’s going on with Diamond?”

She
sighed.
 
“I’m not sure.
 
Hopefully I’ll know something soon.
 
Right now, my focus is on GT and the new
album.”

Spencer
nodded sensing Kit’s situation with Diamond influx was not sitting well with
her.
 
“Ok.
 
So, are we done with business?
 
Can we get to social hour?”

She
chuckled and raised her drink.
 
“Yes.
 
Let’s.”

The
conversation and general sentiment of the table turned fun and jovial in a
matter of minutes.
 
When the evening
finally concluded, Kit and Sully waved to Spencer and his date as they headed
off in his car.
 
She glanced over at
Sully as the valet pulled up in his red Ferrari.

She
whispered breathlessly into his ear.
 
“Hearing about you bringing all that business into KMK got me a little
riled up.”

He
snickered and glanced over at her.
 
“Oh really?
 
Wanna show me
how much when we get home?”

She
leaned in and kissed his neck slowly.
 
“Uh-huh.
 
I think it’s well
deserving of at least a strip tease.”

He
laughed evilly as they started walking toward his car that sat idling.
 
“So glad that valet was quick.”

They
got into the car and sped off toward their home in the hills.

A week
had passed slowly, and Kit was feeling increasingly apprehensive since she
still had no feedback from Diamond on her new post or duties. The band was in
the beginning stages of writing for the new album.
 
She thought now was as good a time as
any to address some questions that Sully had presented earlier in the week
spurred from their visit to her hometown.
 

He plopped
down next to her on the sofa where she was reading a magazine—something
she rarely could slow down enough to do.
 
“Ok, so you said you wanted to talk.”

She
nodded and glanced over at him. “Yes.
 
You had some questions for me.
 
I’m willing to answer them.
 
I have a feeling this has to do with music.
 
You were talking to Nana and probably
conspiring, right?”

He
chuckled.
 
“You know her well, don’t
you?
 
Yes, I did learn some
information and it lined up with what I’ve always believed.”

She was
uninterested now.
 
She turned her
attention back to the magazine.
 
“Which is?”

He
grinned and gently guided her face to his.
 
“You could be an amazing multi-platinum songwriter and producer.”
 
He stroked her cheek and gazed into her
eyes.
 
He could see the fear
instantly come alive in her emerald eyes at his declaration.
 
“Baby, why are you resisting this so
much?
 
Just go with it.”

She
shook her head.
 
“It’s not what I’m
meant to do, Sull.
 
I have a
brilliant legal mind, and I’m one hell of a manager.
 
I’m a biz whiz.” She looked down at her
magazine and flipped a page.

He
nodded, wanting to engage her again.
 
“All true.
 
I don’t deny
that, babe.
 
But do those things
really light you up?
 
You are a
different person in the studio than when you’re doing your contracts or
managing shit for us.
 
Don’t get me
wrong.
 
We appreciate everything you
do for us.
 
It’s just… I see
something in you that wants to get out, and it’s something really good,
babe.
 
You need to write more with
us.
 
Maybe you should try some
writing on your own or with other artists?”

She
refused to look at him.
 
Her tone
was vehement.
 
“No.”
 
She flipped another page angrily.

He let
out a frustrated sigh.
 
He was
desperate to understand her. “Kit, what are you afraid of?”

She
gave him an intent stare now, warning him with her blazing emerald eyes.
 
“Stop pushing me, Sull.
 
Fucking drop it.”

He
stared deeply into her eyes, more defiant and determined than before.
 
“No, I won’t fucking drop it.
 
If you had mediocre talent, I would, but
I can’t.
 
There’s a brilliance
inside you that wants to come out, and I can’t sit back on the sidelines and
watch it die.
 

“It
showed itself on our last album with three songs that went to number one.
 
Number one on the
Billboard
Hot 100
, for
chrissakes!
 
That’s no coincidence,
Kit, ok?
 
People work their entire
careers in music as songwriters and never even chart, much less hit number one
with a bullet multiple times.
 
You
did that out of the gate.”

She
sighed and shook her head.
 
“With
you and Jimmy, I did.
 
And that’s
after years of me doing it on my own.
 
Years and years that you never saw before I met you.”
 
She swallowed hard as her mind went back
to those days when she lived in Philadelphia, and her heart started to hurt.
The memories weren’t pleasant and were littered with shards of shattered
dreams.

He
nodded, hopeful he was starting to break through with her.
 
“Yeah, that’s what I’m sayin.’ You’re
still on the bill, and I can point out the parts you wrote.
 
We’re a good team, babe.
 
In the studio, you’re like a giddy,
happy little girl—like a kid in a candy store.
 
That’s where you should be living
more.
 
Do more with this album.
 
Produce it.
 
I’m not talking co-produce, I’m talking
the whole enchilada—all you, baby.
 
Go for the brass ring.”

She
shook her head and buried her head in her hands.
 
“No.
 
Hell no, Sully!”

He
tilted his head to the side.
 
“Why
not?”

She
looked at him, her eyes wide and wild.
 
“Are you crazy?
 
It’s a huge
risk!
 
You guys are on top right now.
 
I don’t want to be the producer that
messed up royally and gives you a shitty album that’s barely charting.”

He
burst out laughing.
 
“Right.
 
Like that would happen.
 
Gimme a break, Kit.
 
You co-produced the last album with me,
and we went platinum.
 
The only
difference is that I’m stepping out of the way this time and giving you full
reign.
 
I trust your decisions.
 
I think they’re good ones, and I know
the band would agree.
 
It’s time for
you to step up, baby.
 
Since when
have you backed down from a challenge?
 
Hmm?”

She
glared at him.
 
“I don’t like you
much right now.
 
It’s like you and
Nana plotted when we were there, and now you’re ganging up on me.”
    

He
laughed and joked.
 
“Uh-huh.
 
That was our whole angle.
 
Busted.
 
Seriously, Kit, give it some thought,
ok?
 
I think it’s a good time to
shift your career in this direction.
 
I know you’re not entirely happy with what’s going on at Diamond.”

She
rolled her eyes.
 
“Oh please, let’s
not go there tonight.
 
You know
that’s a sensitive issue with me.”

He kissed
her hand.
 
“Just think about things,
ok.
 
Promise you’ll do that at the
very least.”

She
slowly grinned.
 
“Ok, I’ll think
about it.
 
And we’ll talk about it
again soon.
 
Does that work for
you?”

He
smiled.
 
“It does, but you have to
incur a small penalty.”

Kit
giggled and finally felt herself relax.
 
He looked at her with such acceptance; she couldn’t stay angry any
longer.
 
“Uh-oh.
 
What would that be?”

“Tickle
fight.” He grinned deviously and started tickling her.
 

She
started laughing and tried to fend him off unsuccessfully.
 
Her mind started reeling.
 
If this was how it was going to be until
she made up her mind, she might have to come up with a decision sooner.
 
He was merciless.

The
past few days were riddled with soul searching and disappointment for Kit.
 
She had received consulting calls from
Daniel at Diamond and also from Jonathan, but there was no further request to
meet with her or any hints about next steps.
 
She wanted more than anything to
approach Pete Lundy and inquire about that A&R superstar they were bringing
in but elected not to.
 

Her
thoughts since the talk with Sully were all pointing in one direction that
shook her to her core.
 
All she
could see were three desirable paths in front of her.
 
Continuing to manage Gypsy Tango, taking
the leap of being a producer and delving deeper into artist development at KMK,
knowing she would have to create her title.
 
She felt uneasy about all of it.

Sully
was getting ready for bed and noticed her deep in her thoughts.
 
He shook his head.
 
“Whatever it is, baby, let it go.
 
Let’s just lay here.
 
Don’t start thinking about things.”

She
realized he had a point, but there was a nagging thought that wouldn’t let her
rest.
 
It had been burning a hole in
her gut ever since they left Lake Forest.
 
Now was the perfect opportunity to start
the conversation, and she knew Sully would be all for it.
 
Although initially apprehensive, she
decided to take the plunge.
 

She
sighed and sat up.
 
“I need your
opinion.
 
I’ve got something that’s
been bugging me, and I want to talk about it with you.”

He
propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her.
 
“What’s up?”

She
folded her legs in front of her and stared at him intently.
 
“I came to a decision on something.”

He gave
her an encouraging nod.
 
“Ok.”

She took
a deep breath and let it out evenly.
 
“I’ll be the producer on GT’s new album.”

He
smiled.
 
“That’s great, babe!”
 
He leaned forward and hugged her, giving
her a long kiss on the lips.
 
He pulled
back and gently took her face into his hands, gazing into her eyes.
 
“If you want my opinion, I think you’re
making the right choice. I cannot begin to tell you how happy your decision has
made me.
 
I’m ecstatic!
 
This is going to be great for the band
and you.”