24. Gage #4
“I wanted to travel the world, but I didn’t want to rough it like a bohemian, and I didn’t want to use all the money I earned from the sale of RodeoDoll.
I learned from one of the best DJs in Los Angeles.
Little by little, I was getting booked. I made a name for myself and became one of the most in demand DJs in LA and Vegas.
When the international bookings poured in, I packed my bags and I was off traveling the world. ”
“Do DJs get paid well?”
“It was good money,” I say, “but the perks were the wow factor.”
“What kind of perks?”
“The most epic parties and the privilege of rubbing elbows with celebrities.”
“Sweet.”
“Although I was only spinning records in the club scene, I was viewed as a rock star. I even had a Swedish heiress commission me to DJ her wedding to a Finnish billionaire—two dynasties merging as one. Not only did she fly me on a private jet, but she paid me a fortune for the wedding night reception and two nights of post-wedding parties, on top of putting me up in the most luxurious Stockholm hotel. It was wild.”
“I feel a but coming.”
I wink. “ But , I was constantly jetlagged. Since I never stopped coding, I combined my love for music and my computer skills together to establish myself as a leader in the music streaming business. The concept behind StreamCloud was a natural progression. I poured my heart and soul into the project—much like I had with RodeoDoll. In no time it became the world’s largest online community of artists, bands, DJs, and audio creators.
In the process, it also became the number one platform to stream and listen to music online for free.
It’s still ads-free. With StreamTunes overshadowing it and competitors entering the market, it’s no longer a leader in terms of platforms built for new artist discoverability, but it made its mark. ”
“I didn’t know that belonged to you.”
“It does. That’s how I cut my teeth. StreamCloud acted as a springboard to StreamTunes.”
“That explains why you’re the brooding, grumpy type––I mean, so serious all the time––there are too many computer codes colliding in your head.”
I stifle a chuckle.
“Watch it, little girl.”
She laughs her head off.
Her exuberance is contagious––almost enough to thaw my frozen heart. Almost.
“The reason I’m a freaking ray of sunshine all the time”––the sarcasm is unmistakable in my voice”––is because everyone wants a piece of me. ”
Her expression turns somber. “Michaela alluded to that.”
I’m not surprised.
I’m enjoying my time with her, I don’t want to bring the mood down by talking shop.
“Going back to your assessment of my personality, I have a team of pro coders, so I don’t touch that side of the business anymore. My job is to show up at the office in a suit and tie, and strike deals.”
She shoots me a dubious glance. “I doubt it’s that easy.”
I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “You’re right, it’s not.”
“But, you’re a king among kings, so you must be doing something right,” she says.
“My father began his career as a low-level insurance salesman with a high-school degree and worked his way up to become a Wall Street Wolf and earning a part-time MBA. He bought out the company he was working for when the owner—who never got married and didn’t have kids—was ready to retire.
Sure, he’s grown the company, but he took it over. He didn’t build it from the ground up.”
The way Fisher spins his tales, you’d think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he had an Ivy League education. Shyster.
“Speaking of which, how did you find the money to fund StreamCloud? You have mad coding skills, but what about servers and such? Storing all of those songs can’t be cheap.”
With a cocked eyebrow, I study her.
She cringes. “Was that a dumb question?”
I shake my head. “Not at all. That was a smart one. Most people never ask the question, although servers are the lifeline of any streaming company.”
She blushes.
“Allow me to repeat myself. You underestimate yourself, angel.”
The rosiness coloring her cheeks deepens .
I cut her some slack. “I met pretty boy Beckett and the rest of Random Misconception when their record company hired me to DJ one of their parties.”
“At Rhys’s party, Cesar explained Beckett, his older brother Holt, their cousin Jace Halsey, and Hall of Famer drummer Rod Wolfe, aka Dom’s baby daddy, were once rock gods.”
Rod Wolfe is a soon-to-be father. What has the world come to?
Of all the guys in my inner circle, I was certain he would be the last one to cave in.
Like Mom always said, “When you find the right person, it’s because you were fated.
The love gods rearranged the sky so you could be in the right place, at the right time, in the right situation––aka, you’re both single.
You owe it to yourself to grab that person by the hand and never, ever let go.
” She held on to that belief decades after my dad passed away.
Until a snake oil salesman came into her life and pretended to love her.
I stare at Lily a little too long.
I shake my head, breaking the spell I’m under.
Where were we?
Oh yeah.
“Random Misconception was on top of the world, so it made sense for them to party on top of the world .”
Lily furrows her brows. “Which means?”
“Mom was moonlighting as my booking agent and doing a fine job of it. I was in Bali when she sent me an email to let me know she had received a request for a gig at Cé LA VI Marina Bay Sands in Singapore for VIP clients –– ”
“Oh, that’s supposed to be an amazing party spot.”
“You know of the place?”
“Nads and I have it on our bucket list after we saw the photos of a celebrity we follow on social media. We launched into a furious online search because we were certain the photos were Photoshopped.”
“That’s how I felt when I saw the photos.”
“For good measure, we checked out videos of the venue. No Photoshop required.”
“I had the same reaction. Still, I wasn’t prepared. When I got there, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Or my luck.”
“Wow.” She says that with stars in her eyes.
Why do I have the urge to make it my mission in life to take her there?
“Cé LA VI is an open-air restaurant perched on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands with one of the most jaw-dropping panoramic views of the city skyline and Singapore,” I say. “It’s mind-blowing—the best rooftop bars on the planet.”
“I believe you.”
“As if the setting wasn’t over the top, when I found out who the VIP clients were, I almost lost my shit.”
“I hear you.” Lily points a finger over her head. “That was me yesterday, when I met Keira Knightley. She’s a huge star.”
Never mind the rest of the star power at Rhys’s birthday party.
“Multiply the starstruck effect by four. It was the equivalent of DJing from heaven for gods,” I say.
“It’s was an unforgettable experience. After that, Random Misconception requested I DJ several of their parties and even some personal and family events.
That’s how we became close. When I needed funding for StreamCloud, my sisters helped me put together a kickass business plan, and I presented it to them.
I had money, but not enough. The guys jumped onboard.
I thought it was going to be a much harder sell, but I guess it’s true what they say.
Timing is everything. I had a project that had legs, and these guys’ pockets were weighed down with money.
It was a match made in heaven. When I wanted to take things to a grander scale with StreamTunes, they didn’t even bat an eyelash. ”
“It must be amazing to have people who root for you.”
I stroke her cheek with the back of my hand. “You have those people in your life, angel. Your best friend Nadine, your self-appointed big sister Michaela, and yours truly.”
She responds with a shy smile. “So, you’re the guy responsible for turning rock stars into billionaires?” She veers the conversation away from her.
I see what she’s doing, but I let it slide.
“Beckett is a self-made multibillionaire thanks to his partnership with Rhys. His shares in StreamTunes only served to make him obscenely rich. As for Rod, Holt, and Jace, you could say that. Jace’s older brother Jagger also invested.
Same for Lochlan Berkshire––Rod’s business partner, the band’s former roadie, and Jace and Jagger’s cousin.
So did Levi Aldridge, another buddy in the music industry.
Their belief in my vision not only ensured my rapid success, it made them paper billionaires in record time.
When the valuation of my company hit twenty billion dollars a couple years ago, I purchased their shares, making them bona fide billionaires.
Without those guys and the blind faith they had in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. ”
“The moral of the story is, not getting the girl was the prize,” she says.
“Blair must be slapping herself upside the head. Unless she ended up marrying a prize winner. Who knows? Her husband might hold the Guinness World Record for the most eggs smashed on your head in one minute while yodeling. Sure, you make it in the history books, but it’s not as sexy as being crowned a billionaire mogul.
Don’t get me wrong, an honorable mention is an honorable mention.
However, I doubt it affords you the luxury of riding in style.
A chauffeured Rolls Royce Phantom, a Wiesmann GT MF4, and God knows how many other pricey vehicles? Take that, Bitch Blair! ”
I bark out a laugh, my whole body shaking.
My laughter is so boisterous, I’m aware of people glancing our way.
When I regain my composure, Lily is staring at me, almost in awe.
“What?”
“Can I make a confession?”
“Shoot.”
“You’re fucking sexy when you laugh.”
The fact she swears when she says that, is such a turn on.
I’m fucking hard.
I’m on my feet. My need to corrupt her consumes me.
“Let’s go back to the hotel.” My voice is gravelly.
Her head jerks back. “But what about the ice cream?”
I extend a hand. “I intend on spreading it all over your heavenly body and licking every inch of you.”
Taking my hand into hers, she shoots to her feet. “Time to go.”
Not so innocent Lily.
My cock swells up even harder.