Chapter 14

Diane POV

"Mom, no I'm sorry. No I can't make it" I tried reasoning with my mother over the phone. But it was especially hard to win when you can't see your opponent. I was driving through 48th Avenue on a bright Tuesday morning, but the morning was far from peaceful for I was speaking to my mom on the car phone.

I was driving to my office for a rehearsal/ conference for my new upcoming book.

But right now I was having an early morning conference with my mother. Mother dearest kept going on and on about how she never asks anything of me. And she will would really like me to be present. And it would mean so much. And I couldn't deny her of spending time with her only child. You know the whole can of guilt.

Mothers could really guilt trip their children. I couldn't wait till my boys got older.

"No mom. No. No means no. And that's final-" I said firmly.

"No there is nothing you could say that will make me change my mind " I said with a lot of resolve. She had to understand that I was a grown woman and I couldn't be manipulated.

"Mother you wouldn't. But you're my mother. Okay for an hour then."

I cried in frustration, giving up. I wish my mom would be in some of my meetings. They couldn't possibly last as long as they do with her in there. And I will always get my way.

"Mom I am at work I have to run. Yeah, I am seriously doubting your love for me mom. Bye. See you soon" hanging up.

Then without much ado I stepped out of my vehicle. I took a deep breath and headed inside my studio/ office. This was my second home and my joy and pride. This was my personal milestone for and my own living award of my accomplishments.

I had been renting part of the building for a little bit over three years. My kids called it Reyes Avenue and it actually made sense. It was actually a whole street that had three buildings.

They were two one story buildings.

One part of the building was my music studio, Reyes Beatz.

The studio was closed off from the public. It was exclusively for land my clients. It had the state of the arts recording equipment. This building I actually owned. I bought for a pretty penny.

To the right of my studio was my office, The Muse, this I rented. The Muse was my professional workplace and my surgery room. This was my main point of contact, I would estimate I am here seventy percent of the time. I had my office, hosted clients, met with my employee's and basically everything I was involved in happened right here. I loved this place. I had totally revamped the whole place to suite my personality. It was very convenient to my home and to other locations. It was a five minute walk to my publishing company, Words.

This morning was going to be a busy one. I could tell by my secretary and p. a posture. She was ready waiting for met at the door with a bottle of orange juice and a homemade muffin.

"Morning Delores" I said giving her a kiss.

"Mhmm. Your late. Where have you been?"scolding me like a child and handing me the muffin.

"Talking to mom. Sorry Delores" answered biting into the sweet blueberry muffin that Delores always brought for the entire office.

"I swear sometimes vou drive that woman crazy" she said

shaking her head.

"Me?" I gasped. How did I drive my mother crazy. It was the other way around.

"Yes. Children always drive their parents to the brink of insanity. Then when your think that's it the end is here, then like little psychotics they pull you from the brink of death.

Only to repeat the pattern again. It's torture I tell you. You have two boys you'll find out soon enough" she said nodding her head as if to convince herself.

Ahh Delores. Gotta love her. She should know. She had, and raised five boys. She was five years older than my mom and had taken the role of an aunt to me. She was always looking out for me. Funny story, I had met Delores two years before through my mom. And when I was opening this place and hiring a p.a, I had a bunch of people ready and waiting to apply. Well Delores, barged into the room but she did not come to apply. No she came to demand the job.

Her reasoning was 'who else is going to keep you guys out of trouble, but me' Her exact words.

And I love to say it, she is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Straight talker and says it as it is. But she had a motherly way about her. Plus she was efficient and never took no for an answer. I cannot tell you how many times her persuasion has worked to my company and teams benefit. No one wanted to be the one to argue with her or tell her no.

Just shook my head and she proceeded to mother me about my appointments for the day. As she went through. On 20 minutes I was meeting with my editors. We were still working and bringing ideas to my latest novel. We had to go over some last minute details.

And we also have to discuss possible release dates. Of course we had to bring my publicist and agent. The man was a dragon. I'm pretty sure that he will spend the first 30 minutes admonishing me and pleading and threaten me to be more outgoing and public with my identity. And I will do decline, then he will go into a 20 minute lecture. All about how stubborn I am.

Then right after, at 11am I had to meet with a potential client interested in using Words as his publisher for his new cook book. The chef apparently came highly recommend and was making quite a name for himself plus he had quite a large fan base at least that was what Delores and my manager told me.

I have never actually met the guy.

I had a forty five minute break then I was off to the recording studio to work with Catya on her new album. Yesterday we had made a lot of progress. If we keep that up I am pretty sure that we will be through the whole album by the end of the week.

Which reminded me that I needed to find a saxophonist for one of the tracks.

interrupted Delores long enough to tell her to start looking for potential saxophonist to play a of songs.

Like I thought, she was ecstatic and told me to leave everything to her.