Seven Nights of Sin - Lacey Alexander [3]
“You may not realize this, Brenna, but you probably know the ins and outs of this company better than most people in this office. I hear you on the phone with everyone from our artists to our distributors, and you know what you’re doing. To a degree that I think it’s a sin to keep you in your current position.”
At this, Brenna blinked. This wasn’t just a raise?
“I want to groom you to be Blue Night’s next A&R rep,” Jenkins said—and she struggled not to let her jaw drop.
He wanted to give her—little Brenna Cayton from Centerville, Ohio—the most coveted position at the label? Most of the people who worked there, from the mailroom guy on up, had taken jobs at Blue Night with the aspiration of someday advancing to the glamorous post of artist and repertoire representative, scouting for and signing new talent. She, on the other hand, had not. She’d simply needed a job, gone on an interview. She found it fulfilling enough just to work at a cool record label. But to be that cool label’s A&R person—wow, talk about a head rush.
Then it hit her. “Is Damon leaving? Going to one of the majors?”
Damon Andros was Blue Night Records to the industry—and the paparazzi. His heart-stopping sex appeal combined with his rock star persona to make him deliciously photo-worthy, especially when out partying with rock bands or on the arm of the latest female pop sensation. He was also Blue Night’s sole A&R rep—so successful and well-known in the biz that there was no need for anyone else. Brenna attributed the label’s accomplishments just as much to Damon Andros as she did to Jenkins.
Whose smile stayed in place but stiffened. “That’s where the secret comes in.”
“Oh?” Brenna held her breath, waiting.
“It’s like this,” her boss said, tilting his head. “Despite Damon’s obvious success, over time he’s started to…become a liability. If you don’t believe me, just ask Kelly—she takes the calls from the reporters, fields the rumors. But I’m sure you don’t have to ask her—because everyone knows.”
Brenna nodded shortly, sighing. There were rumors. That Damon Andros ran a modern-day casting couch—signing women only after they’d slept with him. That he partied illicitly hard with the musicians he hung out with. He was the L.A. music scene’s official bad boy. “I just didn’t realize Damon’s behavior had any significant impact on Blue Night’s business.” After all, it was a rock-n-roll lifestyle and this was La La Land.
“Fortunately, it’s been a slow-coming thing. But now I’ve got Claire Starr threatening to sue us, claiming he wouldn’t give her a contract until she had sex with him.” Starr was a recent Blue Night one-hit wonder whose bad attitude had gotten her ousted from a label that usually nurtured performers and stuck with them through ups and downs. “Could be sour grapes since we dropped her, but on the other hand, it’s the kind of publicity that could kill us, and whether or not it’s true, his general behavior makes it plausible.” A hopeful smile slid back onto Jenkins’ face. “So, would you like to hear my proposition?”
Sadly, despite how exciting it was, this whole thing was suddenly making Brenna break out into a sweat. Still, she said, “Sure.”
“I want to announce that we’re adding you as an A&R rep due to our growth over the last couple of years, and I want Damon to begin training you—starting on his scouting trip to Vegas next week. You’ll shadow his every move. He’ll show you the ropes, introduce you around, teach you how to spot a star as opposed to a flash in the pan.
“As for Damon’s fate, I’m holding steady until we see what happens with Claire. But the minute she sues, he’s gone. That might be next week, next month, or never—we’ll have to let it play out. Either way, I want you ready to take over. And…if it works out that Damon can clean up his act and put a more professional face on Blue Night, I won’t leave you out in the cold. If I end up keeping Damon on the payroll, it’s safe to say we’ll continue making good money, and I