COLLABORATION

2021 October 07

"How are you feeling now?"

I open my eyes and sit straight on my bed when I hear nano. 

"I am better now thanks to you."

She gives me a soft smile and sits beside me as she pats my head.

"You should take care of yourself, honey."

"You are right. I was just really busy with my schedule this past week."

"But your health comes before anything else alright?"

"OK OK. I swear to god, you are my second mother." She chuckles and ruffles my hair.

"Of course. I love you like my own daughter."

I smile and give her a side hug. "I love you too nano, just like my mom."

"Well get up now. It's already past noon. Your manager will be coming any time to take you away."

I slightly chuckle at her choice of words and nodding, get up to go to the washroom.

Wearing a black cap and mask I look at myself in the mirror making sure not even an inch of my face can be seen. I hear the knock on my apartment door as I ask nano to see it and then take my purse with me and move out of my room.

"I will go now. Take care Nano." "You too honey."

Giving her a hug I leave with my manager. "Anna, what is the schedule today?"

"You have got a meeting with The Most Famous American Singer at 2:00 pm."

"Who is that?" I ask though I know who she is talking about clearly. Anna looks at me with a done face and shakes her head dramatically.

"Stop shaking your head and tell me."

"How the hell can you even see?" She points out and I roll my eyes, which of course she can't see.

"Well, his name is Sam Christian. Also goes with the name of Golden Sam since he is the best singer of all times." I clench my fists and nod.

"Right. Of course. Sam Christian."

How can I forget him? And the fact that we are meeting after 5 years? He won't be able to recognize me though. I don't really think I am ready to forgive him yet. Heck, I am not even ready to see him.

"Let's go masked singer," Anna says and I nod as we both get out of my car and go inside the huge building in front of us. His building. He is not only a singer. He owns half of the American Music industry. Well, looks like leaving his immature 19-year-old girlfriend was worth it. What's the use of all this success anyway? Because for the one he did all this is never ever going to go back to him. I feel my eyes teary, so I take a deep breath to control myself.

Me and Anna are waiting in the meeting room. We are 10 minutes early. I just had a cup of coffee that Anna always gives me as I have instructed her.

"You have to try to make him collaborate with us, ok?" I turn my head to her in surprise.

"What??" "Yes. Producer said this is very much needed for you to be even more successful."

"I don't need him to be more successful! Is this why we are here?! To make HIM collaborate with ME?! I thought it was the other way around! Let's go." I get up, ready to leave but Anna holds my hand.

"Why are you getting so worked up? Are you ok? Calm down." I am not ok! I am not! But I have to calm down. I take my hand from her.

"Anna, I won't ask him to collaborate with me. That's it."

"Please....please K." I am about to say no when suddenly the door opens and Anna gets up too seeing its Sam and his manager.

"Hello. Sorry to keep you waiting." His manager says as they both come to us and offer their hands for handshakes. I contemplate on shaking Sam's hands but when Anna subtly nudges my shoulders, I shake his hand.

"Nice to finally meet you, K." I just nod. On my cold reply, Anna nervously laughs and says, "It's a pleasure for us to meet you actually." I roll my eyes and am about to leave this hell of a place when Anna grabs my hand and whispers 'please' in my ear again. I sigh and stay reluctantly. "Have a seat and let's start the meeting then."

"Yes surely." Anna practically pulls me down on the chair, then leans to my ear as she again whispers,

"I know you don't want to do this, and I don't know why the hell you don't want to do this but listen to me.... if we don't do this, producer will go raging mad alright?"

Ughh damn him. I nod slightly as she sighs in relief.

"So, why do you want to collaborate with me? And why do you think it will be worth it?"

"To be honest I don't want---" Anna hits my foot under the table as I close my eyes in irritation and re-phrase my words.

"I mean I don't not want to do it because I think we will have a good chemistry. Your and my concepts and production style are kind of similar which will make it really easy to collaborate. Also, millions of our fans have already begged us to collaborate. So, it will be a good boost to our success. I may not be as famous as you are but I am quite devoted to my fans and singing. I love them both deeply. Hence if they want it, I will do it."

I look at him and though he can't see me at all, not even my eyes, it seems as if his hazel brown eyes are staring deep into my blue eyes. I see him smile softly and then he looks at his manager as he nods too. "Let's do it then. And let's top the charts together." Anna squeals in excitement whereas I pretend to be happy by nodding.

"I have a few requests if you don't mind." Sam nods without hesitation. It kind of makes me want to smile.

"My identity will be kept a secret from you too. I hope each of your staff members also respects that. And if my face gets revealed because of your staff members or you, you will have to pay a huge compensation of 50 million dollars."

Anna and his manager gasp but Sam nods in understanding. Why the hell isn't he refusing? I know he is insanely rich but it's also insane that I asked this much money for him just in case my face gets revealed.

"I won't be telling you my name either. It's just masked singer or K for you. And I would like it if I wrote the song. You won't make any changes." Anna whispers it's too much but I don't care. He can reject it if he wants, it will be good. But to my shock, he smiles and brings his hand forward while standing up. "Each condition accepted. I hope this collaboration will be worth it."

I stand up and shake his hand and though no one can see, I smile a little. Anna and I bid goodbyes after discussing a few details about the next meeting but just before I leave the meeting room completely, I hear Sam say something that makes me go numb.

"It was nice meeting you finally."

....