Plans

I placed a hand over my heart.

What was that?!

I was pretty confident that I would not have any attraction to the woman who would become my new manager. I had a resolve that I could keep my distance because I would be preoccupied with work and I won't have the time to even spare her a glance. I was actually worried that she might, at some point, harbor secret feelings for me and I would hurt her unintentionally but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I can't help but massage the bridge of my nose as I was standing in the middle of that small hallway, frustrated, and a little angry.

With myself.

Should I cancel all of this? That's unthinkable. I'm nearing the end of my hiatus and we need to start working on my schedule and prepare for the comeback and the launching of my new album.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

I am a grown and mature person. I have self- control and I am capable of making the right decisions, and right here and right now I decide that I'm never crossing any boundaries. Just work.

I took a deep breath again and braced myself before walking back to the studio.

Senti is already sitting on a couch beside Ms. McCrae and they both looked up when they heard me come in.

My eyes traveled to the table and I saw my phone.

"I thought I left my phone in my room but it's here," I said and collected my phone from the table before sitting down.

Senti chuckled at me.

"Dionna told me you discussed the contract again with her. What would you like to discuss with me?" he asked.

"The termination of your contract of course," I smiled at him.

He put a hand on his chest and feigned a hurt expression.

"Oh no. I'm finally being fired," he moaned.

"It was not my choice. It was yours," I shrugged.

"Yeah. I know," he straightened on his seat with a chuckle.

"First I would like to thank you brother for staying with me all those years."

He nodded and returned my smile.

"It was an honor to work with you brother but I have to go my separate path now."

"Yes. But your contract ends not until the end of January," I said with a playful smirk.

"You still need to stay with me and Ms. McCrae. We need your help with planning out the schedule for the whole year and you also have to assist Ms. McCrae in processing necessary paper works. And I would need you to introduce her to some important people that she needs to acquaint herself with."

"Sure," he nodded.

"Now, I would like to discuss a rough plan of activities for the upcoming year," I continued.

They both nodded and Ms. McCrae promptly opened her laptop.

A serious look came over Senti and he leaned forward to my direction. I can tell he has a plan laid out already.

"Your fans are on the lookout for the official end of your hiatus and word is already circulating online that you will be launching a new Kazakh album for your comeback. I already got lots of calls from different media companies for interview and TV guesting. I have listed all of them. I think it's best to go on a few TV interviews to greet your fans and to also promote your upcoming album. What do you think?"

"Let me see the list."

He handed me the list he wrote on his phone and my eyes popped out. It is a long list.

"I can't go to all of them and you know I'm not very fond of interviews," I told him.

He grinned.

"I know. That's why I recommend that you go to one in China, Latin America, the US, France and Russia. Just five public appearances in a span of one month. It's more than enough to announce that you are officially back to your public activities and it's a good opportunity to announce the upcoming launch of your new album."

"Five countries in one month?"  Ms. McCrae interjected.

We turned to her in sync and nodded. She stared at me and Senti back and forth couple of times.

"You're serious. I guess I have to have a proper exercise routine to help me keep up with all that traveling," she said after a moment.

Senti and I just nodded at her again.

"I'm not a fan of flights," she added.

"You are welcome to our gym," I told her with a smile.

She will get use to this kind of lifestyle soon enough.

"That would be best. In that way you can reinforce better on Arystan his workout routine," Senti added. I shook my head at him in disapproval and he just smirked at me.

"You can do the interviews in March I think. By that time, everything would be arranged and I assume that your album will also be ready."

"That will be the perfect time," I agreed with a nod of my head.

"Do you plan on doing music videos for your songs?"

"As I had discussed with Arlan, we will be making at least 3.. maybe 4 music videos out of the 10 songs in the album. I would release those songs as singles."

He nodded with a calculating look on his face.

"Three months? We can get it done within that time right?"

"Well yeah. It can be done. So Ms. McCrae can probably start arranging people and things by April then the project could finish before July. And after that, it would about organizing the concert tour.  You could immediately start by July if there is no unforeseen collaboration that needs to be inserted in the schedule. Your tour could probably start around September."

"That means I have a couple of months to rest."

"Well yeah. But I doubt it. "

He stretched back on his chair and yawned.

"Okay. I guess that's it for the rough plan for the next year," I said with a satisfied nod.

"Yeah. You two could get on the details next time," he agreed.

I looked at the time in my phone. An hour had flown by.

"Are you in a hurry to get home?" I asked Senti.

He nodded.

"But I can extend until 5 o'clock."

"Okay. We can have tea at the garden and I also have something to give to Arina. The both of you can go ahead. I'll see you in the garden."

I stood up and took my leave first.

I went straight to the closet in my room and I took a small box from the shoe shelf. On the way out, my phone rang. I fished it out of my pocket and saw my mother calling. I slid to answer.

"Yes ana?" I greeted her.

"Hello son. I just wanted to check on you. How is Ms. Dionna?" she said on the other line.

Really? Checking on me yet it is Ms. McCrae she is asking about.

"She's fine. She is adjusting well to the house and we had gone over the terms of her contract. We just finished a meeting with Senti," I answered her.

"Oh. Senti had come over? They must have a happy reunion."

"Well yes. I have not expected that they were very close though. Senti has a nickname for her."

"Hmm. They must be really close. Friendships are good. It's a blessing."

"Right ana. Anyway I have to go now. We will have tea before Senti leaves for home."

"Okay son. By the way we will be back on Saturday and we will be spending the New Year in there."

I frowned.

"Why? How about the rest of the family?"

We usually have our big New Year's Eve celebration with my grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles in our Nursultan home. I wonder why the change this year.

"Your äke and I were thinking that this will be the first New Year of the new house and it would be best if we invite everyone over there. The space is much bigger compared here in Nursultan."

"That's okay ana I guess. Who will be coming over?"

"Your mama and papa of course, your aunt Aigerim's family, your cousins Dias and Diana. They were the only ones who had their parent's permission. Ah. Your aunt Dasha and Uncle Ruslan will also be coming from Russia."

"The house will be perfect for the New Year with all the people and the noise ana," I chuckled.

"That makes it fun!" she responded, evidently excited.

"Alright ana. You take care. I will see all of you on Saturday. I really have to go now."

"Okay son. I wish you good luck on your work and with your new manager. We will see you on Saturday. Bye son."

"Bye ana."

I pocketed my phone and got out of my closet and out of my room. I jogged down the winding stairs, walked through the foyer and into the living room. At the end of the room is a door that opens into the garden. I crossed over the threshold and followed the pathway that leads to the veranda. I turned a bend and the veranda appeared but without Senti and Ms. McCrae in sight.

Where did they go? I'm sure I told them to meet me here in the garden.

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