Page 29 of Release
Chapter 10
ALEXANDRA was satisfiedafter wrapping up another recording session, then poring over online catalogues for hours. Working with Gerry for a third evening, she came up with the perfect combination of dapper and dainty for her wardrobe. She had also popped by the photographer’s set again, for just under four hours this time to wrap up another few looks for the album. It had been a long day. Now all that was left was to drop by her office to wrap up a few loose ends.
There were a couple of times over the past few days that she wondered if taking over the label was sustainable, but overall, she secretly reveled in the opportunity to demonstrate her true business savvy. There were far too many times where people who didn’t know her would automatically underestimate her ability, simply because she was a rock star. Now, not so much.
Ultimately, her goal with Purple Blaze Entertainment was to transition it from a traditional record label to a twenty-first century online entertainment brand. Of course, having billions in a nest egg to pull from allowed her to take some risks, sign new artists, and smartly fund projects that might otherwise not be given a chance.
She took the elevator to the top floor where her corner office sat. From the landing, looking down through the glass walls to the main lobby gave her a sense of hope. There was much to accomplish, and she was certain she could make it happen.
Her smartphone buzzed in her purse when she stepped inside her office. It was Bash.
Strange that he would call this late.
She took the call anyway, glad to get him even for a few minutes at the end of a packed day.
“Hi Bash.”
“Alexandra.”
“You’re up late.”
“Yes. I meant to wait until tomorrow, but…do you have a few minutes?” There was something not quite right in his voice. He was nervous. She wondered why.
“Of course. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Listen…there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Okay.”
“I thought I’d wait until I see you, but…I just wanted to get it off my chest. It’s going to come off as premature, I know, and you don’t have to answer right away, but…after you get your album released, what I’m asking Alexandra is, will you move in with me?”
Alexandra was speechless. The question came from left field, at a time when she didn’t think Bash was that ready to commit, and gosh, how exactly was that supposed to happen with her in Los Angeles and him out in Tucson?
She wasn’t sure what to say. When no words would come, Bash went on. “I’m not asking you to leave everything in Los Angeles. I know you’ll always be needed out there. What I’m asking is that when you don’t need to be out there, I want you here with me. I’ll also do what I can to get out there when I can…which can end up being a lot depending on what happens with this knee. I’m not asking you to give me an answer now. I just had to make sure you know what I’d like for us. I don’t ever want you guessing or wondering. All right, I think I’ll stop now. Think about it, okay?”
Alexandra couldn’t think straight. If this was Bash’s idea of a proposal, it may not be the most romantic thing she had ever heard, but the sound of his voice as he said the wordsI want you hereandwhat I’d like for us,it was like music to her soul. There was no fanfare, or exaggeration, or even the three words she thought she might have heard from him by now, but every word from Bash was honest, authentic and real. God, she loved the sound of being with him more than a few days here and there. His proposal took all the guesswork out of any questions she had, not that he ever left her guessing since that night she admitted she was Lexxi Rock and he had told her she’d never want to be with anyone else.
“Wow. Bash…you’re right. I wasn’t expecting this, and I’ll be honest and say I have no idea how to make it work, but…”
Suddenly she didn’t want to wait to tell him what she had been feeling since that night. He had taken a leap of faith in telling her his intentions, and she was ready to do the same. Maybe it was sitting in this office that gave her the guts, or maybe it was how Wilkes has been pursuing her with his single-minded focus and determination, even when she told him she didn’t want to be with him. Wilkes was misguided, but she admired how sure he was about it, and his persistence. Now it was time for her to take a step forward with the man she wanted. Just as she did with Purple Blaze, she was ready to claim what was hers and work her ass off to make it happen.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Yes. I want the same thing, Bash.”
“Really? Wow…That’s great! God, I didn’t think you’d have an answer for me right away, but that’s just incredible. I’m going to take good care of you, Alexandra.”
“I know, Bash. You’ve been doing that for some time, and it means so much to me…and Bash?”
“Yes?”
“There’s something else.”
“What’s that, hun?”
“I love you.”
