Renaissance

Chapter 2

He remembered that moment ten years ago.

At that time, he loved everything about the music label office the very first time he had entered. The second he had stepped into the lobby, he heard absolutely lovely music playing in the background. People walked around in more formal attire, and he watched them typing on their computers, signing contracts; heard them talking on their phones, settling final details in record releases - it was all business, but he knew it was simply part of the proceedings. Behind everything, around everything, there was still music being produced, music being made. And that was the important part, the part that he loved.

Not anymore.

Black and white were still his favourite colours. He'd loved them because they were simple, artistic, hollow - but now, they just seemed as dull and monotonous as he felt all the time. Now, as he walked through the office with its monochrome schemes, ten years after his emergence in the music industry, he merely felt completely disinterested.

And so he wouldn't listen to Victoria Eagles.

"Look, Greyson, I have something to tell you that I'm definite will spark your interest," his manager said.

He raised an eyebrow sardonically. "Oh, really."

"Will you stop being an ass for a second and just listen to me!" She flared. In response, he just stared blankly at her. After a beat, she sighed in resignation.

"So tell me what it is that you think is so interesting," he drawled. She rolled her eyes at him.

"I've hired a new keyboardist for you."

"You've hired a - you what?!"

She smirked at him, obviously feeling a sense of self-accomplishment simply because she had made him a tad more responsive than a dead goldfish, and not in a fit of anger. He deliberately ignored her snarkiness and continued staring at her with wide eyes. "Why the hell did you - I am completely fine with everything the way it is right now!"

She snorted. "Oh, you think you're fine, but you're really not. And neither are any of us around you. This is a business, Greyson. There's money to be made  -"

He raised a hand to stop her. "Spare me the bullshit I've heard seven hundred times. Why did you find someone out of the blue?"

"You're welcome," she sing-songed, clearly enjoying being the one dangling the bone for the dog for once.

He glared at her. "And you think her arrival would be significant because...?" He trailed off, challenging her to answer the question.

"Things have remained stagnant for far too long. A change might help you to loosen up and get on with making your music shenanigans, and we can get this business back on rolling..." she talked on and on as she took her own sweet time to rummage in a pile of papers.

Greyson, as usual, tuned her out, as he always did when most people talked now. What she usually said, and the way she talked, made it seem like more of a strategic high-end business than anything else. People listening to her would think it was an auction.

In his impatience, he stared around the office in disgust. Money, the whole place was chanting to him. Along with everyone in the building, and everyone in the industry. Money, money, money...

"Your new advocate," she said to him, handing him a stack of papers stapled together. He grabbed at it quickly, reading the letters on the first page in big, bold letters.

Melodie Cadence.

That's funny, he immediately thought.

Melodie Cadence.

Now where had he heard that name before?

"Melodie Cadence...?" He wondered aloud, searching his memory.

"Yes, that's her name."

"Sort of rings a bell," he murmured distractedly.

"Really? Odd," Victoria mumbled, before speaking in a suddenly cheery voice. "Well, you'll meet her tomorrow. Now go. I don't want to talk to you anymore."

"Delighted," he replied sarcastically, but it was half-hearted. His mind was still puzzling as he left the office.

Melodie Cadence.

He hated to admit it, but Victoria Eagles was right.

He was interested...

Somewhat, anyway.