Page 21 of Without You

“Which is the reason why your business is going to blow up bigger than you ever imagined.”

“It already has,” I tell him.

“I get that. But…” he sighs. “I want you ready.”

“Ready?”

“Prepared for what’s to come. It’s going to happen, Brody. It would have anyway once people discovered you on their own but with your name associated with these artists, people will notice and start calling. There’s nothing like star power to make a business sky rocket.”

I’m a big enough man to admit he’s making me a little — actually a lot — nervous. I’m not looking for fame. Heck, I wasn’t even looking for fortune. I was perfectly happy just being me. “What if we leave the contract as it is?”

“What do you mean?”

“I love what I do and I know it won’t change who I am, the money, I mean, but I’m not sure I’m ready for what you’re suggesting.”

“Your business to explode?”

“Right. I don’t need my name in lights, Eric. That’s not who I am and I’m not ready for my life to change.”

“Well, ready for it or not, it’s gonna happen. You know this, though. What’s the big deal now? Don’t tell me you don’t think you can do the work.”

“Shit, Eric. The work isn’t the issue. I don’t like attention, that’s all.”

He blows out a breath and chuckles. I’m sure I sound like a complete idiot to him. He’s surrounded by people in the limelight, so I’m sure he can’t fathom a guy not wanting attention. “You’re something else, Redding. Look, if it’s going to be a problem tell me now so we can work around this. It’s not like you need to advertise your association with the projects and we can do our best to keep your name hidden as much as possible. But we give credit where credit’s due, and you deserve this credit, my man. You’re the best in the business and don’t even realize it, which is part of what makes you the best.”

“Best in the business, huh?”

“I said what I said.”

Johnny pokes his head in. “Mikey needs… crap, sorry, boss. Didn’t know you were on the phone.”

Into the phone I say, “Hang on a second, Eric.”

“No problem.”

“What’s up?”

“That the producer?”

“Yeah, we’re going over everything now. Give me five minutes, yeah?”

“You got it.”

He shuts the door behind him as he leaves and I get back to work.

“Sorry about that.”

“You’re working, I interrupted. It’s not a problem. We’re pretty well done anyway.”

“So listen. I might freak out a tad a time or two and I apologize in advance for that but you’ve met me, I wear Levi’s and boots and not just when I’m working. I’m a common guy.”

“You don’t say?” he teases. “Also, you’re far from common.”

“Agree to disagree on that one?”

He chuckles again and then goes on, “I get it. I do. But nothing is going to change for you unless you want it to. You want your life to stay private? It will.”

“Easy as that, huh?”

“It is.”

For some reason I believe him. Something I will later learn was a mistake.

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