Roxan ~ In My Life with the Beatles

41

Business Dealing

Brian Epstein died on the twenty seventh of August, 1967.

His last breath was a world headline, with his beloved band a sideline to the tragedy.

I personally, think he died of a broken heart. Broken-hearted over the fact the Beatles were never going out on tour again. An end of touring meaning, to Brian, that a huge part of his life, that he held so beloved, was all but over.

The boys deciding live concerts equalled nothing but screaming and white noise.
No one could hear anything, so it was pointless to bother.

And Brian, he felt obsolete.

After the lads (I should call them men shouldn't I but that sounds so weird) realised that the band wasn't running itself. That Brian's quiet and seamless management had made smooth sailing not months of bumpy roads of uncertainty, they called a round table meeting, then another one asking me to attend. That second meeting opened the can of doubt that bubbles inside me, threatening my sanity and marriage to one quarter of said Beatles....

"So I'm guessing John has explained what we called you in for Rox?" Paul sat across from me in a business-like pose leaning toward me hands clasped together on the desk.

"No. No John didn't" I pointedly look at John, upset that he could have actually forewarned me to what this meeting was about.

"Is there a legal matter that need's sorting- What have you Done THIS time Richard" I grin and try to lighten the situation; George smiles thinly and Richard laughs nervously. "My, my. Something really is up..."

"Well shall I just get to the point, Rox" Paul offers up as John seems to have gone mute. I nod for him to unleash whatever the problem is. Pen poised over my note book ready to take down the facts and dates, names, places, and issues. "You won't need that luv" Paul points to my pen, so I toss it down and lean back looking over at the four seated men I love dearly.

Friends, 'brothers', husband.

"Look Rox" George pipes up now suddenly impatient, which is highly unusual for George as he is so laid back. "It's like this... This place.." He points around the room, the building, the people "has gone to shite, we have gone to shite, Brian rest 'is soul, did stuff we didn't exactly realise he did. Important director/ manager stuff, getting the books sorted, contracts- that you then oversaw, sorted....Every. Bloody. Thing." George paused and stared me down making sure I got the message loud and clear "YOU need to take over THIS. To stop the leaching, pilfering, and all of the above"

"You have got to be joking" I retort rather loudly. The silence is deafening. "Just.... NO" I stand up and start walking to the door but they need to know why before I just stroll out. I turn on my heel and stand over the table and glare back at George so he gets it loud and clear right back again.

"There's no way on god's green earth that I could, or would, fill Brian's mammoth shoes. I am a lawyer not a director of musican's and their company. I am MARRIED to one of the members of this band. Don't you think that would be a little awkward when hands are raised for majority votes or, when I'm pushing you around" I poked George in the chest lightly with my finger making my point crystal clear.

"I agreed to it, Syd" John speaks... finally.

"Well I don't. I have four friends' which, if you had forgotten, includes one husband that I treasure. I treasure you all. I can't, I won't"

"Temporary" Paul blurts out knowing I'm out the door on this "Temporary luv. Big bonus?"

"No difference huny, AND I'm married to a Beatle. Sorry John... Also, if you hadn't noticed my own legal business is now international. I don't NEED your bonus, Paul" I pause, mulling over the points I need to make clear

"You all seem to think throwing money at people will get you your own way" I sit next to John "You know I not digging into your side of the safe don't you, Winks!?"

" Of course luv" John grabs my hand "Temp darling and we will behave" Now he is almost begging and I'm sure he can see my resolve crack a little under his searing gaze. Now the rest of the boys, catching on to Johns moves, join in on the onslaught.

"Course we will behave, right George, Richard" Pauls smooth, adding the Richard to make the room revert back to family again not the boardroom of the global Beatles monster.

"Of course" George says flatly, now bored with the whole meeting.

"For sure" Richie chimes in happily.

John then leans in and takes my hand. His cheeky face replaces the previous friendly one. I can see his brain saying- shall I get on the floor and beg. One look at my face says no but the begging still happens "please mister missus, please!" I cant say no to my lover, John. He can turn my head to everything, to anything, I love him. He will be my undoing one day for sure.

"Temporary?" I raise an eyebrow around the table "AND you know this is not my forte' right, I'm bound to stuff up"

"No more than what we're doing at the moment" George says grumpily under his breath. But I hear him all the same and raise a questioning eyebrow to him....I'll ask about that later.

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. OK. Yes..." I lean back and basically say a prayer for my sanity and marriage "BUT! It's getting drawn up and signed off on AND you will all have to get ANOTHER lawyer to peruse THAT!!"

"Great. Done" Paul slaps his hands together and then they all give me a hug.

"We'll be ok" John whispers.

I'm not so sure.