Affliction

1

Two Years Later

GWEN

The humid air of the city of Angels chokes me as I step out of my apartment and begin walking down to where I parked my car three days ago. Three days, that's how long I've been in the city that I've dreamt of existing in since I was a little girl. My father the legend himself lived and breathed the music industry up until he started his family. He told my siblings and I all of his old war stories as we got older right up until the moment he passed away my sophomore year of high school. He had began working at a small start up record label called Mayhem Records when he was my age. The man that was the founder and head record executive was Killian Knight, the man has been quoted as witnessing more in his lifetime then he bargained for. Countless alcohol and drugs being consumed, multiple men and women acting in sexual encounters, even the occasional stabbing and shootings. My dad always talked about him like they were best friends but once my dad had quit the industry their friendship went up in flames then slowly turned into dust. Most people would be frightened even nervous to be around that kind of environment, but not me because I truly am my fathers kid. Every anecdote he told me fascinated me more and more as I learned of my fathers younger years, asking him why he gave it all up with his answering being he had lived out the Hollywood dream now he was living his most favorite dream of all, being a father.

When I finally went to college just two years shy of his death I knew in that moment that my major was going to be business while minoring in musical production. Graduating with my stellar grade point average, killer recommendation letters from professors and the name Brooks attached to my name I knew my career was semi set for my career path I would be journeying into. This was a bold yet native move to take but the only place that I applied to for my internship was Mayhem Records itself. Hoping that since my father was one of the first great record producers at the label they would be willing to give me a shot. Upon hearing back they spoke that I would be offered an internship but on the grounds that I met Killian himself first. First hearing this made me feel like my heart was in my mouth a bit but hearing all the stories my dad told made me feel like I already knew Killian.

As I started up my dearly loved Chevy Volt I entered the address to Mayhem and began the car ride over to the building. The traffic in LA was brutal, definitely something I'd have to get use too, my hometown of Boston's traffic was mild most days. Once I arrived to the record label I paid for parking and walked into the front of the building and headed straight to the elevators. The directions I was given were to go to the tenth floor walk up to the receptionist and tell the person sitting there that I was Mr. Knight's two o'clock appointment. When the stainless steel doors opened I was met with a busty blonde working the reception desk, she was twirling her curled ends while excessively chewing her gum. Walking towards the desk I offer a kind smile as I stood in front of the woman, her looking at me with a snarl of some sort.

"Can I help you?" she asks with attitude clear in her voice.

"Yes, I had a two o'clock appointment with Mr. Knight my name is Gweniveve Brooks."

"Gweniveve? What kind of name is that?" she asked with curiosity and a hint of rudeness.

"My parents both liked the story of King Arthur and got inspiration from his wife's name but twisted it around a little. They wanted to show their creativity with naming their children."

The blonde offers nothing more then a huffing noise as she picks up her phone sitting right next to her elbow on the desk and presses a few buttons. Hearing the dial tone noise for a few moments the phone is finally picked up and I hear the sound of a deepen man's voices.