Plans

What was that?!

I was 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, develop secret feelings for me and I would hurt her unintentionally but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I massaged the bridge of my nose, frustrated and a little angry.

Should I call this off? 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. Right here and right now I decide that I'm not crossing any boundaries. Just work.

I took a deep breath 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, collecting my phone from the table before sitting down.

Senti chuckled at me.

"Dahlia told me you discussed the contract 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. And I really don't want you to go in the first place."

"Yeah. Right," 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 is until the end of January. 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 paperwork. 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."

Ms. McCrae promptly opened her laptop.

A serious look came over Senti and he leaned forward in my direction. 

"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 interviews and TV guestings. 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. 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 a couple of times.

"You're serious. I guess I have to have proper exercise 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 used 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 smirked at me.

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

"That will be perfect."

"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 with MV as singles. Three months? We can get it done within that time right?"

"Well yeah. It can be done. So Ms. McCrae can probably start organizing people and everything else by April then the project could finish before July. And after that, you focus on 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."

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

I looked at the time on 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 in 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 the screen to answer.

"Yes ana?" I greeted her.

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

Really? Is she checking about me or Ms McCrae?

"She's fine. She is adjusting to the house and we have 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 did not expect that they were very close. Senti even has a nickname for her."

"Hm. 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 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. 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 to 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 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 huge living 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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