The Duet

Management

Ed's P.O.V

I looked at Kyra. She was so naive. Why the hell management did choose a newbie like her? This was going to be hard. I had actually been shown her video on youtube but I was not really paying much attention. 'A Team' was a potential hit song and I was not letting her ruin it.

"Let us first check if you can sing."
"Can I get your autograph?"
"Can we talk work first? Then I would click photos with you but now just a verse."I laughed

She started singing. Her voice was pretty good and would complement mine properly. I waited till the high note and damn her voice cracked making it go flat. A blush crept on her face and she became silent. I removed the lock of her hair  that fell on her eyes and gave a comforting pat on her back.

"Happens to the best of us love. You are going to sing with me. Just we need some training to do."

She had the potential but what hurt me most was that she was unsure of herself. I could feel the uncertainty in her shaking voice. Yes she was not the best singer out there, we could have done better. Yes she knew little about how the recording things went. But she had an x factor which attracted me. She would be a good person to work with. I had decided to promote a new singer this time and Kyra was the one.

I asked Stuart to give her the contract paper. She made her way out.

"Kyra, tomorrow at the same time and same place for practice." I said and she gave me the smile. This was a big project and she would be the best person to sing the duet with. I called Sydney to have a drink with me. She was my girlfriend, we were not public yet because she had some things to sort out before we became. Then we discussed some strategy and thus we called it a day. I went to have some drinks with Sydney.

KYRA'S P.O.V

"Who was he? Ed?" Zee said.
"Yes, I am singing a duet with him."
"Kyra, did you go to a bar instead of that place and had a little too much?"
"I don't drink."
"I don't believe you."
"Come with me tomorrow to the studio."
"Fine."

Zee's boyfriend Dylan had come over. I sat in my bed watching some old cheesy movie while they were spending quality time together. I looked at the song and mentally started singing it. I had messed it all up. I had met Ed, had fallen harder for him, screamed at his face and was friend zoned by him. I mentally slapped myself for thinking something like that. Of course he would not love me. Maybe it is all a dream, a pinch will reverse everything. I pinched myself, yet nothing happened. This was true.

Next morning I woke up early and got dressed. " Zee you are coming to meet Ed right?" I asked.
"Naah, me meeting Dylan's family. All the best though."
"So you believe that I am actually singing with Ed?"
"Not really, but enjoy the dream."

I took a bar of chocolate to say sorry and have a new beginning. I went to the building and I needed no escort so I went to my favourite door. There was a meeting going on behind and being the shy one I decided to stay out. I could hear arguments from behind.

"Kyra cannot do it. She is not pretty. She is not marketable." A man said
"She can do it. Why don't you believe her?" Ed said
"She can sing but she is not like those models. We can get someone prettier."

My heart broke into pieces. Neither would I be able to meet Ed again nor I would get the money. I looked the chocolates I had got for Ed. I would never be able to sing with him.

"You know what, Kyra quits, I quit" Ed said slamming the door behind him.

His eyes met mine and a chill travelled down my spine. "Did you hear everything they said?" He asked.
"From the part where he mentions I am ugly."
"No, you are not."
"Ed, I am a fan. All I want is your benefit. He is right, I want you to prosper. If that means recording without me then be it."
"Kyra, if you want to leave then I have no authority to become the barrier. But Leave because you know you are not talented enough, not because you are not pretty."
"I got chocolates for you. To say sorry for screaming on your face."
"I assure you are not the first one and certainly not the last one to scream at me."
"Thank you for defending me inside."
"Thank you for coming. Kyra, you don't need to be beautiful for everyone. Your beauty will amount to a lot from one person's eyes."
"Ed, you promised an autograph." I said fishing out my 'X' album.
"The offer is still open for you. I need a voice, not a face. So anytime you want, you can call Stuart."

He gave me a hug and his smell changed my mind.

"I want to do it Ed. I want to do it to show them a girl does not need a pretty face to be famous. I want to prove myself."

"That is my girl." Ed said while taking me to the studio.