Wildest Dream

... Ready For It?

Taylor entered the room full of men in suits. All eyes were on her the moment instantly, like they had been expecting her for a while now. The funny thing that she was fifteen minutes early, yet the board were already there. They most certainly had a prep meeting before they met her. No matter, Taylor thought. She had already known what they were going to say and demand anyway and she wouldn't give in now. The contract was about to end and she held all of the chips in play. Taylor sauntered to the vacant seat on the right side of the room and made herself comfortable there. She looked around the room expectantly, with an eyebrow arched. Finally, someone cleared his throat to start.

"So, shall we start then?"

Taylor only nodded and folded her hand on the table. It was the most relaxed she felt in a pre-release meeting she had ever been. The last time, when she was about to release 1989, she felt terribly anxious because she felt like she had something to prove to the board, even to the world. Not now, though. She felt at ease and confident. She didn't owe anyone nothing. This time, she would let her music to speak for itself. Funnily, it was the board who looked tense.

"We just have listened to your tracks, Taylor. They are amazing, as always. But we have agreed that you might wanted to change several little details?"

"That is the final version, the one which I sent you. I believe that there will be no changes made."

"I understand," another guy chimed in, "but the lyrics are so..."

"Yes?"

"Different," he finished diplomatically.

"I intended it to be," Taylor answered simply. "I can't write sappy, break-up songs for the rest of my life, can I?"

"It is not like that," one of the guy shook his head. "I believe that the current lyrics do not reflect your public image."

Taylor sighed internally. "And which image it would be?"

"An American sweetheart-"

"People is calling me snake, Robert," Taylor said with an eye roll.

"Nevertheless, they still have some kind of expectations from you."

"Like what?" Taylor challenged.

"That you probably would write songs about your ex-boyfriends or your current one."

Another eye roll. "You know damn well I don't have one, Robert."

"Well, they don't know that. Whatever they are about, you can't keep the lyrics the way they are now."

What is wrong with the lyrics?" Taylor challenged.

"Well," one of the guy shifted uncomfortably before he continued. "They have so many homosexual undertones."

This time, Taylor actually laughed. She did it. She made them said the magic word.

"Some people are gay, Harold."

"But you can't be one of them. Not now."

The big boss finally spoke and now Taylor and him exchanged cold stares. None of them gave away, until one of the board decided to break the tension. Taylor didn't even look at him as he explained his perspective.

"Let's think this through, okay? After everything you have done to build yourself a career, do you really want to throw it away just like that? You cannot predict how the public would react to this. We just cannot gamble on this matter."

Taylor stared at the guy for three full seconds. Then she leaned back into her seat and gave the men a sweet smile. While lounging on her plush seat, Taylor pointed at the glass in front of the guy.