Chapter 10
Harry ''s POV
"I am heading home," I announced as I adjusted the coat on my shoulder.
"Anything important you want to inform?"
"No, I mean, I was informed about some reporter wanting to interview and,.." we both stepped out of the elevator.
"Tina! She called me several time.I assume you didn't answer her." he looked at me from the corner of his eye.
"Yes, did you?"
"Nope," he said, popping the 'P'.
"I just don't have time to deal with her sh*t," I explained.
"Yeah, how things went with Mr.Backer?" he asked as we walked out of the lobby.
"It's fine, I want you to call a meeting tomorrow. Choose wisely, I want something new for this track. Try newbies too." he nodded.
We were in the parking lot now.
We parted our ways to our cars. His car was parked on the left side of mine. I stopped as I opened the door, I was hesitant to talk about her, because the way he perceived my attention back then, made me uncomfortable.
"Uhh-did you talk to her?" The truth is I didn't know myself what I wanted to know.
He was struggling with his keys, when he heard me.
"Her? You mean Sarah ?" he lifted his head. Without waiting for my answer, thankfully, he informed me, "Not like I talked to her, but I did appreciate her and send her the money."
"Did she answer?" was what I said.
'Did she tell you that she was okay or if anyone recognized her if she was in trouble' was something I wanted to say.
"Just thanks," he answered. But his eyes were a bit stunned.
"What has happened to you? By some reason do you-"
"Don't start this. I was asking because she is our employee now, technically." I said before I got myself seated.. I started the engine. I did see his amused grin from the side mirror, when I was about to leave the parking lobby.
Three black BMWs joined as soon as my car was outside. It was for safety. Besides the fact I always hated them being with me like a shadow. It was necessary. My rivals could go any length to get me out of the spotlight. Although I never told anyone, it was scary. To stand this high above, like you are on the top of the world and even once if you stumble you will be straight on the ground.
Today, I decided to cook for myself. I rolled up my sleeves as I stepped into the house. I washed my hands and started cutting all the raw vegetables. I was trying something new today. Mashed potatoes but with some special sauce. I remember my grandma cooking this for me. And all of my friends used to love it.
Friends.
I used to have a lot of friends. But it was very, very long ago.
The smell of french tomato puree cooking in the sauce pan lingered in the kitchen. It felt nostalgic. My parents died when I was very young. My grandma was the one who raised me, she was my only family. No parents. No siblings.
It was good and way too nostalgic. All those memories with my grandma flashed back into my mind as I tasted it for the first time. It was creamy and soft. But not like hers. Something was missing, maybe I was missing her. My life had become so busy that it was almost impossible to visit her whenever I wanted.
When I started chasing my dream. I had no connections. I was alone. A boy from a small town. It felt like another world to me. I used to feel like I was in another world, not belonging to all of this. This was nothing as I expected. This world of glamour was dark, so dark inside. The lightning of fame had made the hearts black. No ethics, no values were there. Everyone was lusting over fame. An urge to be known. Clubs, alcohol, smokes of cigarettes, this was the glamour. Even if you don't like it, your fate was decided there. I was disappointed in the start. And left it. Came back to my town. My grandma was there to embrace me, I was eighteen years old back then.
'You will make your own kingdom there. You'll be its only owner. You'll be the king, just as your name.' were the words that convinced me to go back to London.
I stood up, as I finished my dinner, leaving the dirty dishes on the table.
I checked my phone as I got out of the shower. It was grandma. I had missed her calls. I called her, which she picked after a moment.
"Hey!! Harry !!. My baby!!," she said, enthusiastic as always.
"Hey grandma. How are you doing," I started rubbing a towel on my head.
"I am all good after hearing your voice," she was smiling, I knew as her voice was energetic.
"What do you mean? Were you not good?" She always ignored her health and I knew how stubborn she was. There were nurses and other health care servants, I had specially appointed for her.
"I am okay. It's normal for an old body to ache," she said casually.
"No, it's not. And I know -," I paused out of anger. But she was the only person in my life I wasn't going to shout at. "Forget it. I am coming this weekend."
"Really?" her voice was excited.
"Yes, and please take your medicines properly." I requested.
"I will, if you'll bring that girl with me." she said.
"What girl?"
"The girl who was sitting on your lap."
Oh my God she saw that.
"She is not-" I tried to control the situation.
"Don't lie to me."
"I am not, she is no one. We were just-" I couldn't tell her that I had a deal with her.
"No, I know she is not just another girl. Your smile was so genuine Harry ," her voice was soft this time. Like those times, when she used to tell me stories before bed.
"I don't want to hear anything. You won't see my face unless you bring her with you," she announced her decision.
"Hey!! You cannot threaten me like that," I protested.
"I can. I am your Grandma."
"No,-" I was still talking when she hung up.
"I can't believe she is serious about something so fake" I was talking to myself. It was surprising, she always hated all the girls who were ever seen with me. Especially Tina. All of a sudden she was so fond of meeting this girl. I decided to think about it tomorrow, as It was time to get some sleep.
Staring at the picture on my phone, I was sitting on the couch.
How the hell did this smile look genuine?
Her words were bothering me. The situation in this picture was somewhat unusual. I never felt as I felt that moment. Nobody ever acted in front of me as she did. She was shy. Like a delicate creature. Her expressions were so transparent. The way her cheeks reddened, when I told her she was hot. I was sure, her heartbeat was faster than normal. But little did she know my own heart did somersaults, when she was in my arms. .
"This sauce. I found it in the fridge. Did you make it?" Brian aaked.
"No," I answered him casually. Cooking was my hidden talent. It was therapeutic to me and personal.
"Well, it's so good and the ingredients are cooked perfectly. I wonder who made this," he commented. I took it as a complement but didn't thank him.
He left me with my breakfast. And I dived into it.
"Hip-hop. I think hip-hop would be our main genre," one of the staff said.
"As far I know, the movie is about gambling. I think we should add some story to our songs," another suggestion was announced.
I was talking about the new project with one of my staff. It was an open discussion meeting. I liked to hear other perspective, before making my own decision
"Gambling is itself a story. We can go to a contrasting concept. Moving to the soft side, while the movie is showing violence," It was a good suggestion. I noted it mentally.
"What if we make it a rap style only?"
"Uniformity is where you fail. Life has its own turns. Music portrays life, in one way or another." I commented.
"So what do you think, Mr. Harry ?"
"Violin will be the main theme. Soundtrack will be musical. Less lyrics. We will tell the story by chords and tunes. But the lyrical songs should portray life in slums. As slum areas have a high rate of gambling. I want another meeting with our lyrical team." I said, as I dismissed the meeting.
Once everyone walked out of the meeting room, I stood up to leave. Clarke walked in hastily.
"Do you have any idea about your Grandma?" his voice was scolding.
"What happened to her?" I had switched off my phone due to the meeting.
I started pushing my hands into my pocket.
"Her nurse called me. She said she is not taking her medicines. So I called her, and she told me she wants to meet the girl in the picture."
She was still insisting.
"And her blood pressure was not good, too." he added.
"What? And you are telling me now," I said, as I switched on my phone.
Thankfully, she picked it,
"Hey, Grandma. Clarke just told me-"
"Don't insist on me Harry . I won't take my medicines unless you promise me you will bring my daughter-in-law," her voice was weak, I could sense how numb she was feeling. Yet she was so stubborn.
I pressed my palm against my forehead. It was happening again, the sharp pain travelling from my eyes to the head.
"Okay, okay." I said
"No, promise me."
"Okay I promise you. Just please get your medicine." I finally surrendered as there was no choice left.
I saw Clarke there from the corner of my eye. He was confused. But so was I .