Strings (16 page)

             
Jay-Den worked very closely with them initially, providing them with the best studios and producers. He also had a say on which songs they would release, and in what order. But Luke was also very vocal on that subject. It had caused a stand-off at one point during the negotiation stages because Luke was very protective of his material and could be very stubborn if he didn’t get his way. But Jay-Den and his colleagues were well used to dealing with artistic types and the situation was soon resolved amicably.

             
‘I have a say too, Jay-Den. It's my work and I don't sit around writing for you to come along and tell me what is or isn't good enough. I know what’s best for my band.’ As always, the other three backed him up, although they didn’t want to push Jay-Den too far, recognising that he was in total control over whether they hit the big time or not. Jay-Den agreed they could be involved and have their say, but ultimately if he really didn't think something would work, his word was final. They agreed that was fair enough and privately knew it was the best they could expect in the circumstances.

             
They’d been given an advance of £50,000 once they had signed the deal, but they knew they had to be sensible. Jay-Den had drummed that into them. It wasn’t free money; it was more like a loan. They just had to hope that they made plenty of sales when the single and album were released. But the real key was making a success of the follow-up tour. Jay-Den had explained that these days the real money was in touring, because music sales were not what they used to be.

             
They’d spent the past few days appearing on as many UK TV shows as possible to promote the single. It was an exciting novelty at first, but the interviews became repetitive and annoying very quickly.

             
Today was their first day off in two weeks. Last night they’d been on
Breakout
, a music show for up and coming acts, along with their friends, Echo.

             
Echo’s single ‘Run and Hide’ had already been released and was climbing the download charts steadily. Their album, ‘
Finally Found’,
was also doing well. It had taken them nearly three years of hard work and plenty of rejections to get where they were now, a similar journey to the Eagles in many ways. They would be heading out on their first tour in a few weeks. 

             
For the Eagles, the meetings had been endless recently. Being the songwriter, Luke would earn a greater share of the band’s income from the pot of royalties, which wasn't a problem with the rest of the band. Melissa didn't understand a lot of it, but as Luke pointed out, she didn't really need to. She still couldn’t help worrying that their cut was small in comparison to the amount Sky Storm would make.

             
‘Babe, don't worry about it. That’s just how it works. Besides, it costs a lot of money to put a single or album out and do all the promo stuff,’ he tried to explain.              

             
Melissa wrinkled her nose and frowned. ‘I still think it sucks.’ She wasn’t sure he fully understood it either.

             
‘Quit complaining. We’ve already got more money than we’ve ever dreamed about earning before!’

             
Melissa realised she shouldn’t pick holes, but instead be grateful for what they now had. After all, she was now officially dating the front man of a band with a record deal – something Luke still hadn’t got bored of reminding her about.

             
‘Sorry – it is pretty cool.’

             
He kissed the top of her head. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry you can't come with me, and don’t worry about the press. I’ll take care of you,’ he promised.

*****

There had been so much speculation flying around about who Luke was dating, that Stan, the band’s publicist, thought that Luke should be seen with Melissa more often. Just to calm the rumours a bit, for their own benefit. For a record company, whose usual attitude was ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’, this was a turn-up for the books.

             
Luke didn’t like all the media and gossip side of things. He didn’t see why it mattered who he was dating, but apparently it was important to some people. ‘Stan, I couldn’t care less what people think,’ he had said during one of their phone calls.

             
‘You might not, but unfortunately, son, the public do. Your fans want to know, so you just have to play the game a bit. Unless you’re happy with people thinking you’re dating Cassie or Jessie J? That can be arranged.’ That last name made him spit out his coffee. Stan could keep these stories going if it suited him, or he could make them disappear. It was his choice.

             
‘What? I’ve never even met Jessie J.’

             
‘Doesn’t matter,’ was Stan’s predictable response. There were a million and one stories flying around about each member of the band, mostly groundless rumours started by bloggers or fans speculating on Twitter and Facebook. In the age of social networking, these sources routinely fed the media with material to report about celebrities, regardless of facts. Tom was being linked in various places with Ellie Goulding, half of The Saturdays, and more predictably with Jo-Jo from Echo. Of course, the latter was more likely than the others to happen, but it still wasn’t true. Toby seemed to be linked with practically everyone in a skirt in the music business, but he wasn’t bothered in the slightest.

             
‘Cheryl Cole … boom! If only it were true. Hey, Stan, can you get in touch with her and see if I’m entitled to a bit of action because the papers say so?’ Toby laughed at another of the many gossip column stories about him. ‘I wish I
was
dating Cheryl Cole … that Ashley Cole must have a screw loose to let a hottie like her get away!’

             
Dale and Beth had made it very clear from the start that they were a couple. Beth had tweeted, ‘We are together, end of story.’ She’d said she wasn’t allowing the gossip to even begin. Beth was becoming noticed by fans and the media for her upfront, no-nonsense attitude, and most people seemed to respect her for it. There was a recent rumour that Dale had been seen out with Leona Lewis. Her response on Twitter was: ‘Leona wishes it was true … whoever made that up is an idiot.’

             
Luke thought about it from Melissa’s point of view. She claimed to be OK with any gossip because she knew it was all rubbish, but it still wasn’t nice to hear. The decision was made with Stan that they would make it obvious that Melissa was his girlfriend. They didn’t need to act – they behaved the same way they always did, but they just did it in public a bit more. He didn’t want to be fake – he promised himself that he wouldn’t lower himself to that level. When he kissed her, it was because he wanted to. When he hugged her, it was because he wanted to. And when they laughed together, it was because they found something funny. They wouldn’t put things on ‘for show’. It wasn’t easy for Melissa, but she realised that their worlds were changing and Luke would have to do as he was told for the benefit of his career. Within reason of course.

             
‘It’s fine. I want people to know I’m with you. You’re mine, not bloody Jessie J’s.’ She looked fierce for a second as she said this.

******

              Melissa and Beth were both miffed that they couldn't go to New York. But Ray, their new manager, was not changing his mind. He was a short, slightly chubby man. Life on the road hadn’t been kind to him, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. He was nearly fifty, but always wore a shirt and jeans more befitting someone in their twenties, and always looked like he needed a shave. He had a genuine ‘music business’ look about him.

Ray knew how to handle the guys and stood no nonsense from them. He understood they were young and new to fame and fortune, and tried to nag them only when it was need
ed. But he was well practised in exercising his brief from the record company, which was to look after them and make sure they were in a fit state to appear, perform and make money whenever it was required. Most importantly, the boys had felt comfortable with him almost straight away. He had spent some time with them at the beginning, both as a band and individually, to get to know them and understand them, and to gain their respect. This was important because it would make them much more cooperative later, when he needed them to be. Ray had quickly decided that his front man was easily distracted by one thing (person) in his life. He had always had a ‘no girlfriend’ policy when it came to touring, and he made it clear that it was definitely remaining – no exceptions. He made this point to try to set out where the boundaries would lie. The guys all joked that Melissa was the only person in the world who could demand Luke’s attention without even asking for it, and that Ray would struggle to keep them apart. Ray told them that he hadn’t met anyone yet he couldn’t handle. But when Ray met her and saw them together, he understood what the others meant, and he realised he would have his work cut out.

             
Jay-Den was throwing everything their way – clothes, new phones and iPads, booze. He told them he would get them whatever they needed, within reason. But he wasn't a pushover, and in return he made it clear that he expected hard work and commitment. Just a few days before, the girls had been allowed to go and take a look around the studio where Jay-Den had lectured them about ‘real life in the music business’. Melissa remembered it well.

             
‘You do understand that those boys have to focus, and you’ll need to take a back seat at times, OK?’ He’d told them they had to occupy the ‘back seat’ several times and they’d nodded dutifully each time Jay-Den reiterated the point. But as the message started to sink in, Beth was starting to find it difficult to accept and Melissa wasn’t sure if it was being told what to do that was annoying her, or being told she’d have to stay away from Dale. Both, she decided.

             
Beth worked hard to come across as someone who did what she wanted and answered to no-one. So the idea of obeying Jay-Den ‘The Boss’ Lake was alien to her. ‘I’ll see him when I damn well like, and Jay-Den can swivel on it
,’
she was thinking.

             
But Jay-Den was reading her expression like a book. ‘I mean it – no tantrums. You can't be with them twenty-four hours a day, not if you want them to be successful. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them, and I’m sure neither of you want to be responsible for it going tits up.’ Beth had pulled a face. ‘Right there!’ He snapped his fingers and pointed to her moody expression.

             
‘OK! Jeez … am I allowed to go for a fag or is that against the rules too?’ Beth asked sarcastically, then got up and left without giving him a chance to answer. In a rare rational moment, she had realised that this would not be a good fight to get into, and knew she needed to leave the room to avoid saying something that would get them into trouble. She’d had to give him a small dig before she left though – having the last word was absolutely essential.

             
‘Melissa, you do understand why I’m saying this?’ Jay-Den asked softly once Beth had left the room. He could see that she would respond better to a friendly approach, and he was far more concerned about protecting Luke than the others, so Melissa was important. Indeed, she was also part of his plans. She noticed he was more casual than usual, wearing black cords and a blue shirt. She didn’t know why that mattered, but it was her habit to observe people’s fashion choices and use that to read something about their character. She still wasn’t sure what to make of Jay-Den though, and she thought it was a lot to do with her preconceptions from him on TV and at Amplified playing the pantomime villain. He didn’t seem that bad when you met him, but she hadn’t decided which was the real Jay-Den.

             
‘Yes, I know. I understand.’

             
‘I haven’t been this excited about a band in a long time; they are gold. We mustn’t let them waste an ounce of their potential.’ He shifted forward in his chair making Melissa feel slightly uncomfortable as he rested his hand on her leg. He was enjoying having a few minutes with Melissa – she was easier to talk to than Beth, who always seemed ready for a row. Melissa seemed to want to do what was best for Luke and in his business that made life so much easier. Plus, she was very easy on the eyes.

             
‘How are you coping with the female attention he’s getting?’

             
‘I trust him.’

             
‘That's good. Just be prepared – some fans can be a handful, so trust is important.’

             
‘I know. I don't have any worries with that.’ 

             
Jay-Den raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’ He was surprised by how comfortable she seemed to be about it.

             
‘He’s given me no reason to worry, so I won't until there’s a need to,’ she said, shrugging. She knew he loved her.

             
‘Good girl. But you need to start growing a thicker skin. The fame world is a completely different game and you’ll need to learn the rules. You have to be able to handle negative comments about him, about the band and about you. You’ll get attention purely because of who you’re dating, or you could be completely ignored for the same reason. And you need to have other interests apart from him and his music.’ He reached over and patted her leg. He’d seen it all before, couples just like them, broken up because they didn’t listen to him.