Compromise Me (Book Two of the Kirkland Family)

Compromise Me: Chapter 31

Chapter 31

“Good news, girls,” Josie said to the Bossy Babies early on Monday morning -- well before the general work day hours -- as she walked into the Snob Lounge.  The ladies turned from their seats by the bar to look at her.  Josie had called them into the studio to get started as soon as possible on their first album...labeled with Raw Studios on the cover.

“Why don’t I like the way you’re smiling?” Sheena said carefully.

“Because I’m about to change your lives,” Josie told them and plopped down on a barstool.  “The Bossy Babies are about to become Raw Studios’ first labeled act.  We get started today.”

All of them stared at Josie, and then as a group, they jumped up and started screaming and laughing and clinging to each other as the new flooring got a work-out from their heels.  “We’re going to be famous!” one of them screamed.

Josie smiled along with them...but they didn’t know what was coming next.

Bitsy was the first to notice Josie’s calm demeanor.  “Hang on,” she told her girlfriends.  “There’s a catch.  Look at her...she’s just sitting there...waiting…”

“There is a catch,” Josie said, studying each of them.  “But first I have to ask...is this really what all of you want?  This is your dream, your entire life, because if it isn’t, what I have to say...you won’t like.”

“Uh oh,” Britney said.  She sat down again.  The others followed suit.  “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It can be,” Josie replied.  “Or it can’t be.  Is this what all of you want?  To be professional singers?  To devote your immediate lives to this?”

Four pairs of eyes blinked at her, and then four heads nodded without any reservations.  That’s what Josie loved about them.  They fought like sisters, but they were bonded like sisters, too.

“Good,” Josie said, “because here’s the catch.  Our investors want to know that Raw Studios is capable of working as a competing label.  Which means, they want a finished project, from the very start to the very beginning before they commit completely.  Which also means...we have two weeks to finish an album, with a minimum of ten songs.”

Jaws dropped.  “Two weeks?!” Sheena screeched.  “Are they crazy?  We can’t finish a whole record in two weeks!”

Josie shook her head.  “The thing with investors is that they have the money we need.  And in return, they need to make sure we can deliver a good investment.  So, yes, they are crazy, but they are right to demand it.”

“But...but...how?” Christyl asked.

Josie opened the binder she brought with her.  “I have an itinerary for the next two weeks.  It’s detailed with the schedule of each component, and for this to work, we all have to be in agreement.  We are on time at the studio every day, we work our butts off, and we blow the pants off critics with your talent.”  She handed each of them a stapled bundle.  They frowned as they looked it over.