superstar: sings for everybody

He arrived on a rainy night, as the day faded with the last bit of warmth ebbing in the wind, brushing against his sun-kissed skin. He was exhausted, and the change in scenery was more disappointing than he'd anticipated, catching his breath entirely off guard. He yawned lazily after such a long trip, following a huge party.

-Billy, man, we need to hurry. Someone leaked the news, and we're swarmed with paparazzi; more could show up any second, - murmured Jerry, as London loomed under a dark sky.

Next to him stood Alessandra, with her usual elegance. Cameras flashed from every angle as soon as they stepped into the public area, with Billy pushing forward, undeterred by the crowd that blocked his path.

-I thought you'd come alone, - Jerry commented, adjusting his glasses, unable to scold Billy's knack for stirring up a scene—at least she was beautiful.

-I thought so too. I guess I was wrong. Turns out I'm irresistible, - Billy replied.

Alessandra heard him, knowing that, in every instance, Billy's nature was always a little wild. That night he'd sung, played guitar, and made love to her. After two days with him, she'd be back in the States, flying first class—a detail arranged by Michael Ocklas, who was always part of why she kept following him.

-Your new album's selling like crazy. We can almost call you one of the top-selling artists of the era, - Jerry commented, weighing the stats. -Tomorrow we've got a meeting that might be a bit uncomfortable, maybe more than usual, but I hope you understand where I'm coming from. For now, all I want is for you to enjoy the night. We'll be back to work tomorrow. Your tattoo artist has scheduled the first of two four-hour sessions to outline and fill in some details I honestly didn't get, - he added.

Billy nodded. They arrived at the house; it was night, and a chill was in the air. Waiting for them was a woman in an apron and Mrs. Greenwood, his housekeeper, who managed everything in Billy's home and was one of his most trusted people. At present, he only had two residences, one in New York and this highly secure home within an elegant gated community, valued at 900,000 pounds—a deal facilitated by Warner. Politicians, a few business families, and other families lived here, all under strict rules on noise, pets, and community upkeep, which Billy found surprising. It explained why people might find places like this boring.

-How did you land a place like this? - Billy asked, surprised by how well everything seemed to function, seeing it as the perfect way for Jerry to address matters with a single throw of the dice.

They stepped out, and Alessandra held Billy's hand, gazing around. It felt like a small villa, shaded by buildings no taller than three stories, separated by a low fence and adorned with pine flowers.

-Some contacts, - Jerry replied.

-How did the community feel about a rock star moving in, causing chaos? I suppose I can follow the rules as long as people here can vibe with my tastes. That should keep things normal…or at least friendly, - Billy said.

-I have some soup and a delicious spinach and meat pie, - Mrs. Greenwood chimed in, alongside Mrs. Stuart.

-Thanks, we'll be down in a moment, - Billy replied, noticing how every part of the house was arranged: large, sophisticated sofas and various details tailored for Billy—music posters, replicas, a huge screen, and his gaming console. The music room was the largest space, which appeared to be a lounge, with a grand piano, an array of electric and acoustic guitars, and an area for mixing sound and practicing vocals.

-What do you think of our love nest? - Billy asked, giving Alessandra a lingering kiss that she accepted.

-Liar, who knows what nonsense you'll get into. Don't waste your breath on me, filling me with lies, - she teased, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, giving him a long, pleasure-filled kiss.

They teased each other with passionate kisses—a common thing with Billy—as he held her close and lifted her, making her softly gasp as he pressed her against the piano and kissed her again. He loved how she would sigh,

-We've got soup downstairs, menino, - she joked, her lips swollen.

***

-Yes, sir, I spoke with Billy, and he's in London, though he arrived with a woman, - Jerry reported to Warner Music's CEO, one of the key people in Billy's career and in arranging Billy's work schedule. Billy was close to signing a contract renewal, and with his four-album deal fulfilled, Warner was likely to extend it for another eight years through 2015. This time, they included a non-compete clause with contractual penalties exceeding 500 million, a figure reflecting Warner's substantial profit from his work.

-Ahhh, that's fantastic. We'll make a killing if we keep the industry complexities in check. Tell the boy this is essential—several studios felt sidelined by our Grammy wins, - said Roger Ames.

-He'll do it, for the money and for the chance to act. Maybe you could help with that—talk to people at the top or at Sony; they've been pushing for it. As long as he enjoys it and has time for acting, he doesn't mind passing on or skipping the Grammys, - Jerry replied.

The boy loves awards and having fun, but winning so many has left some in the industry a bit unsettled. Yet his songs, and the way his albums reach the public, drive industry insiders to vote for him. It's a strong influence, although Warner's and Billy's leverage isn't making it any easier. Now they're asking to buy Warner's power to sideline these campaigns. The price is steep, enough to keep Billy happy, but more so for Warner. Only if he gets a role in other films might he be satisfied.

-I like what I'm hearing, - Roger Ames remarked.

It wasn't taken very seriously that the boy might turn down Jerry's suggestion.

-Remember, Roger, the role, for next year—I hope it's something significant, - Jerry said.

-Don't worry. As long as the kid keeps up with his acting practice and auditions, he'll land a role. We'll discuss it when the time is right. We have favors to call in if he decides to skip the awards season, - Roger replied. Billy was sweeping the Billboard, MTV, and Grammy awards.

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