Page 98 of Just My Type of wrong guy

“I came to the U.S. under the wings of one of the biggest music producers in the world, Big D.” I say, and her eyes lightup. Any artist worth their salt has heard of him. “He discovered me because of Always Us, we released the official version, and it blew up worldwide, then the pandemic hit. It was a shock for everyone, I was supposed to open for Ed Sheeran, but those shows got postponed, and I found myself locked in one of Big D.’s apartments, with two other guys I was competing with for everything.”

“Like new songs?”

“That too, but events, women, guys, podcasts… everything was something only one of us would get. And that just made us hate each other.” I drink half of my beer at once because this subject always hurts. “Back then, I wanted to go home, it was clear I wasn’t going to have a career coming out of there. But I couldn’t, my parents had warned me, and I chose not to listen.”

“Did you try to talk to them?”

“Never.” I laugh nervously just thinking about it. “I didn’t speak to my parents after I left home, like, never again... To be fair, they tried to keep in touch when I moved, but I was too rebellious, and after a while, I changed my number, so…” I shrug, the weight of regret pressing on my heart. “But then there was that day, the fateful day when the label managed to get a song written by Shawn Mendes, and that was big, because his songs were the best compositions on the market.”

“He’s awesome, but he’ll never have a decent career, he lives off Camila Cabello, poor guy,” Alexandra says, making me laugh. “But what about the song, didn’t it work out?”

“I, my roommates, and a few other Big D. clients recorded a demo. To be honest, mine wasn’t the best. After eleven months away from home, living in a dump, eating like a homeless person with food restrictions and getting peanuts forAlways Us– because most of the money for the song I wrote went to Big D. and the label, I wasn’t in my best. But I really wanted that song…” I bite the inside of my lower lip, trying notto break down. “I promised Big D. I’d record it again and again until it was good. I had already made a hit, so it would be easier for the label to invest in me.”

“You know, A.J., you’re an amazing guy and all… but you don’t have to talk about this,” Her fingers trace along my forearm before she cups my cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against my skin. “I can see it hurts you. I don’t want you to feel this way because of me.”

“It’s not because of you,” I retort holding her hand in mine, because it’s true. “It’s just weird remembering how that blonde guy in the gray suit, who had everyone’s life in the studio in his hands, just agreed. Without me needing to say it twice. That surprised me, that guy loved being pampered… We went to the office to talk about the details, but he asked the other singers to stay in the studio. I remember exactly how he closed the door behind him, slow, with no snap, like he was giving me time to understand what was coming next. But I didn’t understand.”

“How so?” Alexandra asks, confused. “He had already agreed to work with you, what else would come besides a contract offering you the minimum of the profits from your work?”

“There are a lot of options in this market, Alex. Exploitation isn’t the worst of them.”

You want this song?

“He asked, rubbing his right eyebrow with his thumb, one of those automatic gestures that had always been part of the character. I was already tense, but that question caught me off guard.”

Of course, I want the song, I just begged you for it.

“I said, he didn’t sit down. He never sat when he talked to me. He preferred standing, leaning on the table, or slowly walking around the room, reminding me that the space was his, and I was just passing through. Then he asked:”

But do you want it to boost your career, or do you actually like it?

“I frowned. Didn’t know where he was going with that.”

It’s good, I want it, I feel like we’re gonna do great together, “I answeredstraightforwardly.I knew being confident was essential, especially in front of him. So I added”:And there’s the fact that the songwriter is the most successful Canadian of recent times. This nationality bridge is definitely going to be good marketing.

“He nodded slowly, evaluating me, then continued:”

You’re right.

“Then he took off his jacket and leaned on the table, arms crossed. I should have noticed then. The look rose to meet me and shone with something I couldn’t immediately identify.”

And how far are you willing to go to get it?

That was the next question, and I felt a cold pang in my stomach so agonizing.

“A.J. he just… he didn’t…” Alexandra murmurs squeezing my hand. I shake my head and continue:

You’re not going to ask me to win this song by beating up the guys downstairs, are you?

“I tried to ease it, pretending it was just a joke, but my own voice didn’t help. I took a step to the side, moving, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling that was spreading across my skin.”

Of course not.

“He laughed too, but without humor, and the smile was… predatory.”

I just want to know how far we’re in this together.

What the hell is this, Big D.?

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