Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [32]
“It looks like the better judgment of the public ain’t what it used to be and you might really make it big. You need someone to look out for your interests, and who better than me,” Ava said.
“I already have a team in place,” I said.
“But they’re not family. I got some time. I need to make sure you don’t make any mistakes.”
“Ava, listen to me. I don’t need your help. Stay out in Cali with your latest husband.”
“Don’t worry about my husband. You should be grateful to have a mother who knows the show biz ropes,” Ava said.
“As long as you don’t use those ropes to try and hang me,” I said before putting down the phone.
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
Yancey was on my mind, and I was seeing her everywhere. Posters promoting her song were plastered all over the city. Every time I turned on the radio I heard her voice.
Today as I looked out the window, I could tell there was nothing good about this cold, gray Wednesday morning, so I might as well make it worse by calling Yancey again. It was a little after eight, so I knew Yancey was still enjoying her beauty sleep. I knew putting the call off wasn’t going to solve my problems, so I picked up the phone and dialed Yancey’s number.
After a couple of rings, Yancey picked up the phone. “Hello.” The sleep made her voice sound deep and sexy.
“Yancey,” I said softly.
“Basil?” Yancey said.
“Yep, it’s me. So I guess you haven’t forgotten my voice. How’s Windsor doing?”
“What do you want? I know you didn’t call over here to check on Windsor’s health.” The sexy voice was gone, replaced with a cool bitterness.
“I need to talk to you,” I said.
“Why?”
“Yancey, will you just give me five minutes?” I asked.
“Tell me now,” Yancey demanded.
“Yancey, just give me five minutes face-to-face. Can I come by around noon?”
“I won’t be here,” Yancey said.
“What about this evening, around seven?”
“I don’t know. Let me call you. Is your office number still the same?”
“Yeah, do you still have it?”
“Why else would I ask you if it was the same, Basil? Have you gotten dumb all of a sudden?”
I didn’t answer her question and decided I would try and lay on some charm. “Your song sounds great, and I’ve been seeing your posters everywhere. I guess you’ve made the big time,” I said, choosing my words very carefully.
“Was there ever any doubt?”
“No, I guess not,” I said, remembering that Yancey’s extreme confidence was one of the things that attracted me to her.
“What do you want to talk about? My song?” Yancey asked. I guess she still knew me well. Same old Yancey.
“Just wait until you see me. I promise you, I only need five minutes.”
“If I decide to see you, then that’s all you’re getting. I think we need to meet at a neutral site,” Yancey said.
“What? Are you afraid to be alone with me?” I asked with my normal cocky tone.
“Not hardly,” Yancey said coldly.
“Okay, I’ll wait for your call, and if I’m on the phone, please tell my assistant to put you through,” I said.
“That’s if I call. Don’t hold your breath,” Yancey said as she slammed down the phone.
• • •
I’d just finished an intensive staff meeting, when Kendra walked into my office and said, “There’s a Bart Dunbar on the phone. He says it’s real important, and it’s the fourth time he’s called in the last two days.”
“Thanks, Kendra, ask him to hold on,” I said as I looked at the clock and realized that it was almost 7:30 P.M. Brison, Nico and I were trying to decide what to do about an offer made by PMK to purchase XJI. PMK was the largest sports management company in the USA. The financial package would make the three of us independently wealthy. Nico was in favor of selling, while Brison and I were wavering because we thought it would set a bad example if we sold out to the big boys just when we were making a dent in their business. PMK was offering us executive positions and we’d be able to keep our individual clients, but the thought of working for somebody just didn’t sit well with Brison and me. We thought we’d left those days behind when we left professional sports.
Before I picked up the