Page 37 of Until the End

“I needed to hear that. I’m a little gun-shy because of Cecelia. I’m scared I’ll fall into the same trap I did before.”

“That’s understandable. What Cecelia did was beyond unprofessional. It would be weird if you weren’t hesitant to take on a new manager so soon.”

“I need someone, though, and I think she could be the right person.”

“Then make sure to ask a lot of questions, and don’t back down if she gives you vague answers.”

I huff a laugh. “I don’t think Mariana is one for vagueness.”

“Even better.”

“Thank you for talking me off the ledge.”

“Of course. I’m glad you called when you needed me.”

“I’ll always call when I need you.”

“Good. Let me know how it goes.”

“I will.” I reluctantly hang up, wishing I could spend the whole day talking to Carson. His unwavering belief in me has always allowed me to push myself past my comfort zone. If he believes I can do it, I know I can. It’s probably codependent of me to rely on my best friend to give me a boost, but I don’t particularly care. He’s never been wrong about what I canachieve. Hell, I wouldn’t have made it this far in my career if it weren’t for Carson believing I could do it.

All those late nights in Nashville when I wasn’t sure I could keep putting myself out there, I thought about what Carson would tell me if he were by my side. Sometimes I’d even text him when I couldn’t sleep. It never mattered what time it was; he would always respond with the reminder that if I wanted to quit, my family would be there to support me, but we both knew that I’d regret giving up too soon.

In fact, his reminder is the reason I got signed. I’d been contemplating giving up before the gig that night, and I called Carson for advice. He told me I should give my all during that last performance, and if I was truly done afterward, he’d pick me up at the airport the next day.

I went out there and sang my heart out. It was the first gig I’d felt great about since arriving in town two years before. The crowd was amazing, and the venue was even better. It reminded me why I was doing it in the first place.

Then, to my utter amazement, a guy from Muse Records approached me and asked if I’d be interested in signing with them. I said yes, of course. Things snowballed from there, but I never forgot about Carson’s push to give that gig my all.

I move back to my desk and pull up a blank document to write out my questions. I want to know what her expectations will be for me, and I type out the things I expect from her. Once I’m done, I feel way more confident going into this meeting. I’ve been in the music industry for six years. I might’ve been beaten down and had my confidence shaken, but that doesn’t mean I’m that naive twenty-year-old who knows nothing about the business. I’ve had three successful albums, two of which I wrote myself. I know my worth and what I bring to the table. If Mariana doesn’t acknowledge that, then she’s not the agent for me.

“Virginia.I’m glad we were able to meet.” Mariana’s face fills my computer screen. Her sleek dark brown hair hangs to her shoulders, framing a blindingly large diamond necklace. She’s got a pleasant smile on her face, though I’m not sure it reaches her almond-shaped brown eyes. She’s in her early fifties but doesn’t look any older than forty-five, and I find her incredibly intimidating.

“Please, call me Ginny.” I’m proud of myself for keeping my tone mild instead of mousy. “It’s good to meet you, too.”

“How are you holding up with all the noise?”

I breathe out a humorless laugh. “Fine, since I’m hiding out at my house in my hometown.”

“I would’ve counseled you to do the same. The vultures needed time to find a juicier story, and now they have.”

“Yes, it seems Wesley has given them plenty to report on.”

Mariana snorts. “Idiot. Your statement to the press was spot-on. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to reach out. You’ve handled this whole thing with grace.”

My eyebrows wing up. “Uh, thank you. That was mostly Tanya. She handles my social media.”

“Do whatever it takes to keep her, then.”

“Way ahead of you there. She’s gotten a sizable bonus for fielding this mess.”

“I knew you were smart.” Mariana’s smirk softens her features, and the humor finally reaches her eyes. It changes her entire demeanor. “Look, I’ll cut to the chase. You need a new manager, and I want to be it. I’ve been following your career for some time now, and I believe you have a shot at being a major name in the music industry. I want to help you get there.”

“I’m… It’s honestly hard to believe you want to work with me. I’ve had some decent success, sure, but I never thought I could go beyond where I am now. I’m not entirely sure I even want to… It’s a lot for me. Growing in popularity scares me a little.”

“And that’s exactly why I want to work with you. You’re not too full of yourself to believe you deserve it all and then some. There are ways to get around the celebrity thing. I’ve been in the business long enough to learn some tricks so you can have a relatively normal life despite being a big name.”

“I don’t want to tour the way I did before. Two straight years of being on tour was too much. I’m only just now writing again.”

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