Face the Music (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (12 page)

Of course, Jane was out to lunch.

Her desk was littered with neon sticky notes and little sunflowers toys that danced when sunlight hit them. Jane was free and cool.

It made Jocelyn a little jealous.

She left the office and drove to meet her father.

The restaurant was completely upscale and way too expensive. Her father sat in the back corner of the restaurant, at his usual table. He sat with a music magazine open and a newspaper open next to that. Everything to the great Victor Jacksenne was a business opportunity. Right down to the way he looked up from his newspaper at Jocelyn.

She instantly felt uncomfortable. She knew that her father always had the best intentions for her, but it was always hard to have him stare at her like she was a project or a product and not a person.

“Father,” Jocelyn said.

He leaned back and put his hands up, motioning for Jocelyn to come to him. She did, they hugged, and she kissed his cheek. Jocelyn then took a seat across from her father.

“Have some lemon water,” he said. “Very healthy. Cleanses the palate and soul.”

“Thank you,” Jocelyn said as a waiter brought her a glass of lemon water.

The waiter lingered and her father rattled off some kind of salad to start with. Her father then folded up his newspaper and shut the magazine, putting everything aside.

With his hands folded, he stared at Jocelyn. “How are you?”

That’s the moment Jocelyn knew she was in trouble. Her body stiffened and she smiled, knowing damn well her cheeks were already blushing.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Why?”

“Haven’t seen you…”

“We saw each other the other day,” Jocelyn said. “You caught me outside.”

“That’s right. When you were smoking.”

Jocelyn swallowed hard. “I haven’t since. I promise.”

“Care to talk about that?”

“I’m not sure what to talk about.”

“Jocelyn, I’m your father. I need you to trust me. Trust in what I say. In what I do.”

“I do,” Jocelyn said. “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”

“I’m checking on my daughter,” her father said. “Everything with the business moving along?”

Jocelyn reached for her cloth napkin. She needed something to play with as she grew more and more nervous. “I guess.”

“You guess what?”

“It’s moving along. Chad is making deals. Looking for investors. I, uh, I’m doing my part.”

“That’s great. You seem uncomfortable, Jocelyn.”

“I don’t know. It’s all so different than what I thought.”

Her father chuckled. “That’s how life usually goes, Jocelyn. What did you expect?”

“I mean, it’s amazing that a little project in college is this now. I’m not saying that. But just the stuff we’re making and selling, it’s not what I thought. I have some incredible designs for other lines, but it never seems to get the approval.”

“From who? Chad?”

Jocelyn’s mouth went dry. She could never bad mouth Chad in front of her father. It was the fear, simple as that. And the fear really sucked.

“Just… it is what it is,” Jocelyn said in a low voice. “It’s just so processed sometimes.”

“That’s how it goes,” her father said. “The money is nice.”

Jocelyn smirked.
What money?
That was another major problem of the company. The fact that Chad did his best to keep complete financial control of everything, including the books. At first, Jocelyn didn’t mind, she wasn’t educated in accounting or finance, but now, she wanted to see things and wasn’t allowed to do so.

“Hey,” her father said. “This is why you need a hobby. You need something to make you feel alive. I know what it’s like to put in twenty-hour days. You start to crack. Working with touring companies and record companies and these goddamn rock bands and other bands, it’s madness.”

Jocelyn was tempted to ask her father if he knew Gone by Autumn… or more specifically, Asher.

“I understand,” she said.

The waiter brought two plates of salad. The leaves were different sizes, with weird edges. Some leaves were different colors than others. It looked so intricate and pretty, like a piece of art. Her father quickly dug in while Jocelyn almost didn’t want to eat it.

“I have to watch my cholesterol still,” he said. “So this is a light lunch for me.”

The salad was delicious. The dressing made it amazing.

“You and Chad need something together,” her father said as he ate. “A place to go. Maybe buy a little cabin or something. You can fix it up. Go sailing, I don’t know. It’s your relationship.”

Jocelyn choked for a second and then wiped her mouth. “Relationship? With Chad?”

Her father nodded. “Of course. You two can’t just live for the business. You certainly cannot base a relationship on it.”

“I’m… we’re…”

Her father put his fork down and wiped his own mouth. He then put up a finger, which promptly made Jocelyn close her mouth. He reached to his right and took a folded up piece of paper from his bag.

“Do you know what this is?” he asked.

“No.”

“Well, I’m not happy about it. I’ve had to talk to Chad about it.”

“Chad?”

“I’m right here,” a third voice said.

Jocelyn looked back and saw Chad storming through the restaurant. He was fixing his tie, a different tie from earlier, and then walked right to Jocelyn and touched her shoulder.

“I am so sorry,” Chad said. “Conference call.”

“New York again?” Jocelyn asked.

Chad didn’t even look at her. He looked at Jocelyn’s father. “Did you show her yet?”

“Show me what?” Jocelyn asked.

“Seems like you had a good night,” her father said. He unfolded the paper and slapped it down in front of Jocelyn. He pointed and let out a grunt. “Care to explain?”

Right there, in color, was a picture of Jocelyn in the passenger seat of Asher’s car. Her head turned, looking back. Asher’s head turned, staring at her.

“How…”

“I knew you left last night,” Chad said. “But that…”

Jocelyn felt cornered. She looked at her father, then at Chad. “I… wait a second…”

“I know who that is,” her father said in a stern voice. “What I don’t understand is why you’re in his car.”

“We had an investor meeting,” Chad said. “It didn’t go as planned. I feel perhaps things got out of control from there.”

Jocelyn looked at Chad again.
Out of hand? Are you fucking kidding me?

“That caused my daughter to leave with someone else?” her father asked, his voice growing angry.

“Please stay calm,” Jocelyn said. “I had to leave and Chad wasn’t ready to leave. I left with a friend.”

“That guy is a friend?” her father asked.

“Yes,” Jocelyn said.

Chad scoffed. “Friend. I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“I didn’t say you were,” Jocelyn said. “It’s my…”

“What?” Chad asked. “Your life? What about your business? Instead of being prepared for that meeting, you drank too much and left.”

“You were drinking heavily?” her father asked. “What about smoking?”

“She better not have been smoking,” Chad said. “I didn’t see…”

“Stop this,” Jocelyn said. “This is ridiculous. I left with a friend. I had no ride to leave. I was done with the night.”

“Because it didn’t go your way,” Chad said.

“Chad, hold up a second,” Jocelyn’s father said.

“I’m sorry, Victor,” Chad said. “I’m very frustrated. I feel terrible for my feelings right now. I don’t want to be a babysitter though. I’m so focused on where the company is going and I often feel alone. Not that I mind it…” Chad crouched down and touched Jocelyn’s hand. “If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have you. I can takeover and we can figure something else out for you. If you’ve lost the passion.”

“That’s kind,” Jocelyn’s father said. He stared down Jocelyn. “That’s a kind man right there, Jocelyn. What do you want to do? You can’t be running around at night with bad news people. No. I refuse to let that happen.”

“I’m a grown woman,” Jocelyn said. “I didn’t do anything…”

“This is what I deal with, Victor,” Chad said. “Always a fight.”

“It’s okay, Chad,” her father said. “I’m sure she’s just embarrassed right now.”

Jocelyn wanted to shake her head. She wasn’t embarrassed by anything. Chad had hit her. Hurt her. And Asher had protected her. Saved her. Made her feel like she was alive again.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Chad said.

“I found the article,” her father said. “Christ, do you know who I am? I live for this stuff. And I don’t have time for it.” Her father then stood up. “I’m sorry, Jocelyn, but you need to work out your priorities. I’m afraid to even ask this… but was he drunk when you got in the car with him?”

“Drunk?” Jocelyn asked. “I… why…”

“She doesn’t even know,” Chad said as he stood up. “Christ.”

“That makes me even angrier,” her father said. He grabbed his bag and stood there. He reached into his pocket and pulled out money and put it on the table. “I’m very disappointed right now. I can’t believe I have to see stuff like this printed in the paper. To see a picture of my damn daughter in a car with a guy like this.”

Her father set his sights on Chad and they shook hands. They nodded, didn’t speak a word, and then her father left the restaurant.

That left Jocelyn alone with Chad. He was quick to sit down across from her, his eyes quickly turning from fake caring to intensely mad.

“Feel good about yourself?” he asked.

“Me? Do you?”

“I’m not the one in the car of a deadbeat musician, looking like a fucking whore.”

Jocelyn gasped. “What did you call me?”

“You heard me. Smarten up. I’ll take everything from you. And your father, he’s a pushover. You can tell he’s always wanted a son. I have him eating out of my hand. Who the fuck do you think told him about that picture?”

“You did?”

“I called someone. And that someone showed him. Pretty easy to set him up.”

Chad laughed. He then grabbed the money on the table and counted it. He took two of the twenties and folded it up, putting it into his suit jacket.

“Why does he over give like this? He’ll end up broke.”

Jocelyn couldn’t find her breath. He bottom lip quivered. She then muttered, “I’ll just quit then. You do it.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Chad said. “You’re not going to quit. You’re going to show up, smile, and do whatever the fuck I say. It’s almost time to ask your
Daddy
for an investment. Then we’re good.”

Chad stood and left the restaurant. Jocelyn sat there, numb. The waiter asked if she wanted anything and she simply shook her head. She didn’t answer. She had no voice. There was only one person who understood…

Jocelyn jumped up and stormed outside. She dug in her bag for two things.

A cigarette, because screw everyone. And her cell phone, to call the rockstar she had been photographed with.

If I’m going to be accused, then I’m going to do it the right way…

*

Asher flexed his left hand a few times. His right hand held a glass of whiskey. He sipped when his hand hurt, which was more often than not. He had both feet up on the table and was taking deep breaths. The only band member left in the loft was Blake. He was messing with something on his drum kit.

Sam and a doctor were talking to each other. Sam kept rubbing his face and the doctor, dressed down in slacks and a polo shirt, was talking a language Asher didn’t understand. To him, if his hand could move, then he was good to go.

Finally, Sam and the doctor turned to face Asher. Asher swung his feet from the table and stood up.

“What do you say, doc?” he asked.

“I say you’re crazy,” the doctor said. “I don’t think you’re quite healed for this. But something tells me you’re not going to give a damn what I say.”

Asher grinned and looked at Sam. “I like this doctor. He’s smart.”

“You realize what you’re doing here?” Sam asked. “I mean, you play a few shows and jeopardize your career?”

“I could get hit by a bus when I walk outside,” Asher said. “I’ve never lived by rules. Why start now?”

“This isn’t about being a cool, rockstar rebel, Asher. This is medical.”

“And I don’t care,” Asher said. “I can play guitar. So let me play.”

Sam sighed and rubbed his forehead. “We’re not firing JT.”

“Of course not,” Asher said. “In fact, you’re going to rewrite his offer and pay him more. The band talked about it.”

“You’re insane, Asher.”

Asher clamped his left hand on Sam’s shoulder and squeezed. It hurt, but Asher pretended it didn’t. “I’ve been crazy from the day I met you, Sam. And long before that. Deal with it. I’m not sitting back anymore. I’m a rockstar. I belong on stage.”

“Or is it that the groupies aren’t paying attention to you,” Sam said with a laugh. “You need to be in limelight to get the attention.”

“Nothing like that,” Asher said. “They still line up for me.”

“Yeah, right,” Blake called out. “He took off pretty quick last night.”

“Shut it, man,” Asher yelled. He then looked at the doctor. “Okay, doc, what do you think? Can you get Sam off my back now?”

“No,” the doctor said. “I won’t let him get off your back. I wish I could put you away. You don’t have any drugs or something laying around, do you?”

“Nope,” Asher said. “I get high on rock n’ roll, doc.”

“Wow,” the doctor said. “This guy is off the wall.”

“Well, thanks for coming,” Sam said and shook the doctor’s hand. “I knew there was no way in hell I’d get him to listen, but it was worth a try.”

The doctor left and Sam held the door open, staring at Asher.

“What?” Asher asked.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I am, Sam. I’m playing guitar. Doing my thing with Gone by Autumn. Trust me. It’s all good.”

“I fear trusting you,” Sam said with a smile. “You know that.”

With that, Sam left.

Asher turned and saw Blake sitting at the edge of the practice stage. He looked distant and confused.

“What’s up with you, man?” Asher asked.

“Ever feel like this road is just twisting and turning with no end?”

“Meaning what?”