The Bad Boy • Jonah Marais

Season 3: Part 3

They both nodded, they didn't look like I'd seen them last. To be fair, I hadn't seen them in a few years. "H-h-how did you--"

"We see everything Ava, we are people of business." My mom says.

They both sit down on the other side of us, each holding a separate black binder. "Let's start easy yeah?" Dad says, "Let's hear the song."

I gulped and brought the flash drive with the song out. Jonah squeezes my hand again for reassurance, he doesn't know everything my parents put me through but it helped. I never thought I'd have to deal with it anyway. My mother snatches it away from me and plugs it into an outlet. She pushes a button and we listen to the song.

After the song she takes it out, "That wasn't terrible." She says. "Now that we have that we have to talk about your image."

My dad puts his binder down, "Yeah starting with this." He motions to Jonah and I, "We love this. The idea of you being with a member of a boyband is fantastic, and they're bigger than you so it'll help you grow."

"Woah woah woah." I said interrupting them, "That is not why I'm with Jonah."

My mother rolls her eyes, "You love him blah blah blah, we get it Ava, but this is about your brand, that's what we're focusing on."

"We love you two together, but you need more content, more posts on your story about each other, Instagram posts, anything public." My father says. "Whatever makes it to that you are getting attention. Right now, the whole happy couple thing is fine, we'll work on adjustments later."

"Also, the thing with your look." Mother sneers, "We need to update your wardrobe."

"What?" I questioned her.

"She's right, you can't just walk around in normal people clothes, you need to stand out." Father says.

"No." I shook my head, "I will dress like myself and I don't care what you two say and as for my relationship, you have no control over any of it."

The two exchange a look, "Now Ava, I wouldn't argue with us especially with how much money we've put into you." Father says.

I hesitated, "Look, thank you for that but-"

"No buts Ava." Mother snaps at me. "You need to understand that you need to do everything right in the beginning, build your brand."

"It's not about building my own brand! It's about doing what I want to with my life!" I argued back.

Father slams his fist on the table and I immediately sink farther down into my chair. "This is not a question Ava, you already signed the contract."

"I read that contract through and through!" I argued back at him. "There was no information about me changing my entire lifestyle or nothing implying me to do so. The only real thing you both have control over is the amount of money you give me and some organization details."

My mother and father exchange a look. "I see you haven't lost the attribute of being thorough." My mother says annoyed and takes off her fake glasses. "Yes, you are correct, but we have control of your money flow." She leans in, "You get no freedom until you pay us back with your last few weeks here in L.A., flight included and can buy your way out of this $5,000 contract that you agreed on for at least two years." I bit my lip, money was not steady for me. The only way I can afford food right now is because they've been sending me money, I'm lucky that they pay for my apartment.

I watched a smirk grow on my mother's face and she put her glasses back on. "Now Ava," my father continues, "we've arranged for our hired stylist to go with you, you will have a photoshoot tomorrow down by Venice Beach at 11 a.m., more information to come tomorrow, just bring a bikini." Then he straightens his papers, "Mr. Frantzich, I must ask you to wait outside please."

Jonah hesitates and I watch him go out in the hall. "Very handsome boy." My father says. "Where'd you pick him up?"

"High school." I answered him uncomfortably shifting in my seat.

Mother comes around and forcefully takes my face in her hand, "Such a pretty girl you've become." She throws me back down, "Too bad you're soft."

"Now." Father leans in, "Ava, you're going to listen and listen good, you will do as your mother and I tell you, or something terrible could happen to your career before it even takes off."

I rolled my eyes, "Try me."

In an instant, I saw anger flash through his eyes and before I could sink myself back in my chair, my father whips his hand across my face. "You better do as we tell you to Ava. Be the good little girl you've always been and you'll be fine."

Then my mother hands me my flash drive back. "Take this back, tell us when the song will be released and we will all be meeting back here shortly. Hopefully next time with more specifics on your precious relationship." She takes a pause and a smirk crawls on her face, "After all, you can't be happy forever."