The Heartbreak Factor - Part Three

Chapter Sixty-Nine.

Sat at the desk in Lisa’s office, I starred at the painting on the wall. I couldn’t even work out what it was. You could tell that it was one of them modern art pieces that are like a line with a million and one different interpretation aspects. I hated meetings with Lisa – she was a great manager but the meetings always used to drag for hours at a time.

“Sammy,” she smiled to me as she walked into the room, carrying a bulk of paper in her arms. “Sorry I’m late but I had all this paper work to sort out.”

“Its fine,” I said, still trying to work out what the painting was about.

“Right, we really need to get your career back on track,” Lisa said as she sat down on a chair on the opposite side of the huge meeting table in front of me.

“Am I ready?” I asked. “I’ve only just had a baby in the last five weeks.”

“I only mean getting a new single out,” she smiled. “If we get a single and music video out by Christmas then that leaves us a good few months to work on an album and possible tour, meaning you get time with Katy and being at home.”

I reluctantly nodded.

“But I have had a great idea that will mean you’ll be able to get a single and music video out by Christmas and it will take pressure off you with the promos,” Lisa grinned at me.

“What?” I asked, intrigued as to what her ‘great idea’ was.

“A duet.”

I smiled at the thought of doing a duet with an artist as I’d never done a duet with anyone before – apart from on karaoke whilst drunk but I don’t think that’s the same as a duet single.

“But not just any duet with any old artist,” she continued.

I looked at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking of this for a while and I think it’d be great for your career and well..” she paused. “How about a duet with a certain band that go by the name of ‘Union J’?”

I nodded without even having to think about it.

“Good because I’ve already asked them and all four have said yes so here’s the song lyrics,” she laughed, flicking a sheet of paper across the table to me.

It glided off the end of the table and onto my lap.

“Starstruck?” I said as I read the song title.

“It’s an upbeat song with lots of attitude which is different for you so it’s risky but I think it could really work if we pull it off,” she smiled.

Lisa had highlighted my lines in a neon pink highlighter and just by glancing over them I could tell it had attitude without even needing to hear the music.

“So you still on for the duet?” she asked me as I read all the lyrics.

I hesitantly nodded.

“Good because they’re in the recording studio already.”

I looked at Lisa in confusion – half the things she was telling me was just turning into mush in my brain.

“Sammy, I know you still have baby brain but c’mon,” she laughed. “They’re in the recording studio downstairs waiting for you. We need to get this track sorted as quick as possible.”

“I don’t even know the song though?”

“They’ll help you learn it,” Lisa smiled. “Now floor 11 – go!”

*

Opening the door to the studio, I saw Jaymi and JJ sat on the sofa whilst Josh and George were messing around in the recording booth.

“What are the two freaks doing?” I laughed to Jaymi and JJ as I sat down on the chair besides the sofa, watching Josh and George attempt to do some opera singing.

“I honestly have no idea,” Jaymi said.

“So you wanna do this song then?” JJ asked me.

I nodded. “Seems fun.”

As I sat with Jaymi and JJ, going over the song and listening to the melody demo that the producers had put together, Josh and George continued to sing Susan Boyle in the recording studio. After a few times of listening to the song, Josh and George came out of the booth to join us.

“So Paul Potts and Susan Boyle have finally decided to join us?” Jaymi joked.

“I definitely think we should include some opera on this song,” Josh winked.

“Alright then, Josh,” I said sarcastically.

George wrapped his arms around my waist as he stood behind me, trying to read the lyrics on the lyric sheet that I was holding onto. “Ooh, Sammy has to swear,” he laughed.

“I know,” I giggled.

I’d never sworn in a song – I wasn’t really known for swearing. I did curse when I did something wrong or when I was angry but apart from that, I’d never even dream of swearing in a song. I suppose this was Lisa’s idea of getting my image changed into a more versatile image than just a slushy pop artist.

“Right,” the producer laughed to me. “Sammy, you’re in first.”

“See you later suckers,” I grinned as I ran into the recording booth, clutching onto the lyrics sheet in my hand.