Cameron … The Cameron Verikas smiles at me. Me! “I’m gonna cut to the chase, kid. I want to sign you and find you a label.”
Harley steps in front of him. “I want to sign you to my label.”
“Together?”
Harley’s pouty bottom lip flattens.
Cameron scoffs. “This guy has no money to give you. And ten percent of nothing is nothing. So no. Not together.”
“I don’t have no money,” Harley says. “I have … little money, which, okay, is next to nothing.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Cameron could get your name in front of some big labels who could write you a big fat check for your first album, that’s true. But I can give you what you want. A label who wants to produce you as you.”
“But you’re both connected to Ryder, so I can’t—”
Harley smiles. “Ryder said you’d say that. I love that man like a brother, but no way would I risk a brand-new label on a favor.”
“I’m looking for a new act,” Cameron says. “I don’t go around throwing offers at mediocre artists because an old client tells me to. We’re businessmen first and foremost. Remember that whenever you believe someone is doing you a favor in this industry, okay? Favors are easy to repay with very little effort. I’ve already done more for you than any favor that’s been asked of me. I sat through an entire set just to hear you sing.”
“People like Cameron Verikas don’t do that,” Harley points out.
They’re right. Both Harley’s and Cameron’s time is valuable. And even if Ryder asked them to come hear me play—which I don’t think he did because we’ve talked about that—they didn’t have to come backstage and offer me anything.
Harley steps forward. “What we’re offering is genuine. He can make you big, but I can make your dreams come true.”
“Hear us both out, and then make your decision,” Cameron says.
“O-okay.”
If someone had told me I would have the chance to sit down with Cameron Verikas and Harley Valentine and that I’d even be contemplating picking Harley over Cameron, I would’ve told them their crystal ball was broken.
Yet, here I am, wanting to hear both of them out.
Cameron could have me shooting to the top of the Billboards in weeks. Months, tops. He’s the type of manager a guy like me could only dream of. Yeah, he managed Eleven, but he’s also been responsible for some Grammy Award–winning acts who aren’t so boy bandy.
Harley, on the other hand, is all boy band. But he wants to change that image, and he wants to give not only me but Ryder his own voice as well.
“The original out there,” Harley says. “Did you write it?”
“Yes. Uh, well, with Ryder’s help. The melody is mine. He helped me with the lyrics.”
Harley seems pleased with my answer. “You two make a great team. I’d want to keep that if I signed you.”
“Keep that how?”
“Get Ryder to produce your music.”
That right there is almost enough for me to yell “Sold” and shake his hand.
Cameron doesn’t let me get that far. “I can have the hottest producers in town gagging over working with you.”
Harley cringes. “Old man, don’t say gagging like you’re a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Cameron ignores him, but his lips twitch. “I have all the contacts in the world.”
“I have what you want,” Harley counters.
Brix clears his throat. “Babe, could you not make it sound so sexual when you say that? Thanks.”
“Aww, jealous, Rambo?”
Cameron seems to know about Harley’s relationship, which is surprising, but it shouldn’t be. He would’ve had to have known about Harley’s sexuality back in the Eleven days. Is he one of the ones who made Harley and Ryder stay closeted throughout their boy band days?
I turn to him. “How do you plan to pitch an out and proud gay artist? I won’t step into a closet like—”
“Like Ryder and I did?” Harley asks.
I don’t answer.
“Those boys came out to me after the fact,” Cameron says. “After the contracts were signed and the label had put their rules in place. Being up-front is a lot easier. Some labels will turn you down because of it, I’m not going to lie, but being out from the beginning is key in this industry.”
Harley sighs. “I really want to debate why I would be a better choice in this area, but I think we both know that’s not the case. Actually, in a lot of areas, Cameron is by far the better choice.”
“That really fills me with confidence,” I say.
Harley shakes his head. “I’m never going to lie to you either. That I can promise. I will work you hard. You and I will fight over songs, over lyrics, and everything in between. But I will always listen to you. I will always work with you.”
I glance at Cameron. “And you won’t?”
“It’s my job to be the go-between for you and the label. I will go to bat for you—”
“But he’ll also bat for the label,” Harley adds.
Cameron can’t deny that.
“Sign with me and I’ll cut out the middleman,” Harley says. “My label is going to be small starting out. Just Eleven and one artist I want to promote the shit out of. Then I’ll think about adding more artists.”
“What about the fact that my sound is so much different than Eleven’s?”
“Not an issue. Eleven will bring in the money. I want different acts. I’m getting bored recreating the same crap over and over again. I need new blood.” Harley’s passionate. There’s no doubt about that. But he’s also a little too excited about the new-blood thing.
I tilt my head in Brix’s direction. “He is still talking about music, isn’t he?”
“I have no idea,” he answers.
“In all honesty,” Harley says, “it’s a risk working with me.”
“I’ll get you signed within a month,” Cameron promises.
My head hurts, and I rub my temples.
“Think about it,” Harley says. “This industry moves fast, so Cameron can’t wait for an answer as long as I can. My label will take months to get off the ground.”
“I’m a little overwhelmed,” I admit. And then something occurs to me. “How did you two know where to find me?”
“Total fluke?” Harley squeaks.
I narrow my eyes.
“Shit, is that the time?” Harley checks an imaginary watch. “It’s way past my bedtime.”
He goes to leave.
“What happened to not lying?”
“Okay, fine. Ryder told me where you might be, but trust me, it was only because I’d been calling him nonstop about you. I even tried to trick him into giving me your demo, which is how Cameron got involved in the first place, but he saw right through it. Now Cameron’s interested in you too, and if I was going to lose you to anyone, I’d be comfortable with it being him. Even if, right now, I really want to tell a guy who is like my dad to fuck off.”
Cameron smiles. “With Harley going to extremes to get your demo, it piqued my interest. It’s business.”