Chapter 4 Mae
Five years later…
"Hey Mae, Dexter Black is waiting on line one for you."
I lift my head from my desk, realizing that I've fallen asleep in my office again after another long night spent up with Elsie, helping her cope with her nightmares.
Ugh.
I rub my eyes, trying to bring myself back to reality and away from the dream that I'd been having.
One that was a vivid recollection of my first love and the innocence of my youth that was ripped away from me too fast. My chest feels tight, and my cheeks are hot and flushed from the memories.
I shake my head, trying to right myself.
"Okay. Please tell him that I'll be right there," I say to Sienna, my executive assistant, and the best friend that I could ever ask for through the speakerphone.
I shove my untouched coffee and bagel aside, clear my throat, and straighten my suit jacket before pressing the blinking button for line one. Dexter can’t see me, but that doesn’t matter.
Five years ago, he did me a favor so massive it altered the course of my life. He’s never once held it over me, never made me feel like I owe him. But I do. And probably always will.
So, whenever he calls, I answer. No matter what I’m doing.
Work, sleep, coffee, breakfast—it all takes a backseat.
"Hi Dexter, how are you?" I answer in an upbeat voice.
His voice is way too deep and gravely for being my client when he responds, "I'd be much better if I was waking up with your naked body underneath me this morning."
My eyes jump to the glass door of my office out to where Sienna is currently seated listening into the call. She smirks and winks, mouthing to me, 'you should fuck him again.' I roll my eyes with a sigh. “You know, Sienna usually listens into my calls.”
He chuckles. “Hey, baby girl.”
Sienna’s voice comes off mute, “Hey Dexter. We miss you.”
“Miss you too.”
"What can I help you with?" I ask, cutting off their reunion and getting straight to business. These days, Dexter will only call if it’s about planning his upcoming retirement from the NFL announcement, or he has a referral that he wants to pass my way. This is his last year before quitting football permanently and he's calmed down quite a bit from those early years when he'd first needed my help. After settling the case surrounding his son, which went even better than my rookie mind had thought it would, we’d had a few other minor fires to his reputation that I’d addressed but mostly, he’d stayed out of trouble.
"Why does it sound like you just woke up?" he asks.
I sigh because there’s no point in lying to him. "I might have dozed off at my desk."
He’s quiet for a moment, probably checking the time. "Isn't it nine in the morning in Tennessee right now?"
"I didn't get any sleep last night. Elsie was having nightmares again..."
He pauses. "Want me to come fuck him up?"
I laugh. "It's alright. I'm working through it with her.
I've reassured her that her dad won't come take her away.
He hasn't been present for basically any of her life.
I don't know where she's getting these ideas from.
She doesn't even remember him. I think it's these kid movies they've been watching in school or she’s just becoming way too observant over the fact that her father isn’t around. "
"She's a good girl."
I nod silently. She is. The best if you asked me, but I’m also heavily biased.
"So, how can I help you, Dex?"
"I have a new referral for you. He's an old friend of mine... and before you say no, hear me out."
"Uh-oh. When have I ever said no to you?"
He chuckles. "You might try to this time.
He's not an athlete, though he was, a few years ago.
He's now a country music artist, just signed to one of the largest labels in Nashville and is going on tour with Deville this summer. He’s found himself in a bit of a debacle, teetering on the edge of scandal. "
"Debacle, teetering on the edge of scandal sounds interesting, but did you forget my public relations business is for professional athletes, not musicians and artists? We’re called Sterling Sports Public Relations, a name that you helped me come up with, for a reason."
"I said hear me out, Mae,” he says.
I sigh. "Okay." I fire up my tablet and begin to create a blank case in our software system to jot down the details of his case. "Is he already represented by a firm or a publicist?"
"No, he's only been on the music scene for about two years now, but he's a clean-cut, homegrown, small town guy. His agent tried to hook him up with a different firm when he got signed to a major label last year, but he brushed it off, insisting he didn't need one."
"They always do until they realize it’s better to have one on retainer," I laugh. "How do you know him?"
"I met him in college at the University of Michigan. He played on the football team and was later drafted by the Atlanta Birds, which is when we lost touch. I'm not sure what led him to switch from football to music, but it looks like it’s been working in his favor."
"Okay, so he's a country music artist, recently signed, unrepresented, and either in a scandal or on the brink of one, but you don't know the details?" I ask, tapping my pen impatiently on my desk. I know Sienna’s taking notes too but Dexter’s hardly giving us anything to work with here.
"Exactly. We ran into each other at a mutual friend's bachelor party in Las Vegas last weekend.
He asked who represented me, and I told him I had the perfect person for discreet, under-the-radar work.
Coincidentally, he's based in Nashville too, which fits perfectly with the country music scene, and, well, you. "
“That sounds suggestive.”
He chuckles, deep and low. “When was the last time you dated, Mae? He’s a good looking guy. From a small town, too. Might be something there.”
“You know I don’t date my clients,” I stress as he laughs again. “Plus, I don’t need you playing match maker for me. I’m not that desperate.”
“She needs to get laid,” Sienna chimes in through the line as I glare back at her through the glass door. She shrugs and mouths it’s true. Which, honestly, it is.
“Business is business. I get he’s not a professional athlete, but I think this could be a great case for you to take on,” he continues, easily flipping back to the reason he called.
I rap my nails on the wood desktop, deep in thought because I’m sure he’s right.
Yes, I’m five years into managing my own company, and our business has grown ten-fold, but I’m still not in a position to turn down new clients and work.
Especially in Nashville where there are thousands of country music artists looking for representation.
"This doesn't fit within our scope and brand. Are you sure there isn’t another firm that you can refer him to that might be better suited to serve artists and musicians? I don’t want to let you or him down. Even my newer agents aren’t equipped with this type of experience,"
"You promised that if I had someone, you'd at least consider them. And I recall you saying something about being willing to learn about whatever I bring to you."
I sigh, remembering the promise that I'd made to Dexter five years ago. Dexter had stayed true to his word, constantly referring his friends who needed publicists to my firm. Business is booming, and I’ve been able to hire two more full-time publicists within the past year due to his support.
If this is just one more favor that he wants me to do, I can’t tell him no.
"Yes, I said whatever sport you bring to me I would learn about, but I know nothing about the music scene."
"You literally live in the heart of it. It might be a good way to venture into PR outside of sports.
Give him a chance. He's a great guy. Like I said, clean-cut, with a solid upbringing, honest, and hardworking.
I can't imagine he's done anything wrong.
I don't even think he hangs around with the typical groupies in Nashville.
It'll be an easy ten grand for you to resolve whatever minor issue he has and safeguard his image and reputation. "
Maybe he’s right and I can tell this matters to him. "Okay. Put him in touch with Sienna to get on my calendar for a consultation this week. We'll see what his issue is then go from there."
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
I laugh and roll my eyes. “I love you too, Dex.”
"Hey, I’ll be in Nashville this week for a game. I think I'll come with him. I miss you," he says, lowering his voice a few octaves though the playfulness is still there.
I laugh. "According to the article I saw in Las Vegas Star Sports Today that featured you and a certain blonde, busty model, no you don’t miss me, Dexter, but I’d love to see you and show you what we're doing with the expansion at the offices. Stop by anytime."
"That sounds nice. Can't wait. See you soon. And you-Sienna!” he bellows at the end. “Dinner is on me, ladies.”
“Goodbye, Dexter,” Sienna sing songs and I can’t help but smile. Because this little trio of mine that I never knew I needed five years ago has somehow become my everything.