Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Then
Gate Codes & Uncashed Debts
She looks like temptation, but the room hums like I already signed away my soul.
My hands shake as I punch the code into the Hemings property gate and wait for it to open. I’m in such a shit situation and need someone who can guide me, and that someone can’t be my fucking uncle.
The metal fence slowly opens and I wanna scream while I wait for it to clear my path. Once it does, I tear down their driveway, screech to a stop, and march into their house.
“Hey, it’s Cash. Anyone around?”
“I’m in the kitchen,” Mr. Hemings’ voice chimes in.
“You’re just the person I’m looking for.” I storm into the room and find Mr. Hemings and some guy sitting at the far end of the area at the dining room table.
“What can I do for you?” Mr. Hemings focuses on my expression. Whatever he picks up on causes him to nod and stand. He gestures to the large dude sitting next to him. “This is Jaxon Crowne. We’re going over some paperwork for a closing on a home he’s purchasing.”
“Hey, Mr. Crowne.” I step forward and hold out my palm. “I’m Cash Mayze. You backed our band a while back. Thanks. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Good to meet you, too.” He rises to his feet and shakes my hand. “You’re trembling. Is there something Greg and I can assist you with?”
I step back and shove my hands into my pockets. “I know you two are doing your own thing. This can wait. It’s just business.”
“Cash, Jaxon is one of the most savvy venture capitalists I know.” Mr. Hemings gestures to Jaxon. “He’s thirty-one and has more than double the money I do. If you want some advice, there’s an opportunity standing right in front of you. Take it if it’s being offered.”
I glance at Jaxon. He gives me a dip of his chin.
“Fuck it. It can’t hurt.” I pace the space before them. “I had a meeting go sideways and now I’m afraid I blew up my life because I need this guy.”
“Is it something you can rectify?” Jaxon returns to sit. “If so, let’s see how we can help.”
“My pops worked with this person. Now he thinks he has some kind of claim on my inheritance.” I huff a laugh. “The crazy thing is I just found out on my birthday my pops left me one. How does this prick know?”
Mr. Hemings takes a seat across from Jaxon. “Leon Baker is powerful and he’s been in the industry for a long time. If he worked with your father and thinks he’s owed something from your father’s estate, that tells me it was planned long before your dad died.”
“That’s what Leon said.” I find a chair between them and settle into it. “Is there a way I can stop him from getting his hands on it? I was gonna get my ma set up and take care of some other things. I don’t want Leon to take that away.”
“Let me ask you something, Cash. All I know about you is you’re a singer and songwriter.” Jaxon rests his arms against the table, leaning closer to me. “Artists still need to treat their work like a business. Is that something you do?”
“I thought I was.” I glance at each of them. “Isn’t that what I’m doing by working with a label?”
“No.” Mr. Hemings taps a pen he’s been holding against a pad of paper. “All a record label does is help record, produce, market, license, and distribute your music.”
“I know that part.”
Mr. Hemings continues. “Their interest is about their corporation and how you make money for them. Jaxon’s right. You need to protect your talent and create a company. Has your uncle talked to you about any of this?”
“No.” My cheeks burn. “He’s just my manager.”
“You need protection for both your art and your inheritance.” Jaxon relaxes back.
“Get an LLC set up and work with an asset protection lawyer to form a trust that can’t be touched or challenged in court.
You say you need this man, so I recommend doing all this before you sign with the label and it should be fine. ”
I turn to Mr. Hemings. “Does Guns have something like this arranged?”
“He does. Anything he helps write or develop is part of his LLC. He does business under his stage name, so when you credit him, he’s protected.” Mr. Hemings peers over at me unapologetically.
Why the fuck wouldn’t anyone tell me about this kind of shit? I can’t trust anyone.
My chest turns to fire. I push my seat back, ready to march out of here. This day sucks.
“Wait.” Jaxon grabs my forearm and faces Mr. Hemings. “Can I have a minute alone with Cash?”
Mr. Hemings scans over Jaxon. They seem to speak some kind of silent communication. Mr. Hemings nods and excuses himself.
Jaxon releases my arm. “I thought you might appreciate having a private discussion about this. That way you can speak freely.”
“Why should I talk to you about this? What’s in it for you?”
“Nothing. I’m not here to judge, though. Think about it, Cash. I have no skin in the game, so you’re safe to have an open, honest, and transparent discussion with someone who’s here to listen.”
“Is it that obvious I’m lost as fuck?” I scoot my chair back in. “How could I be so stupid to think we’re all in this together?”
“You’re only doing what guys your age with no experience in professional matters do. Take this as a learning opportunity, Cash, and get out of your emotions.”
“How do I know you can help me?”
“You don’t, but I’m a damn good investor and that makes me great in business.
I invest in companies that are new to the game and need assistance to make it big.
It’s what makes me tick.” He pauses for a moment.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone give you information that could take you to the next level? ”
I drag my teeth over my bottom lip. I wanna trust him, but he’s probably after something.
He tilts his head and softens his gaze. “Take a moment and breathe. Let your mind clear and relax. When you’re calm, tell me what you want.”
I pull in a heavy gust of air and release it. It takes seconds for the answer to appear.
“I wanna be a legend.”
“That’s the only thing you crave?”
I shrug. “I need my family to be taken care of, but yeah. That’s all I want.”
He shakes his head. “There’s something more. I can’t help you if you’re not honest, so let me go about this another way. There are only two things that motivate people. Fear and desire. So what is it you’re afraid to lose?”
I sit with that question for a moment. My stomach empties. “My purpose in life. It’s the reason I’m here on earth. If I walk away, I turn my back on the gifts God gave me. What kind of man does that make me?”
“I don’t know, but I suspect you do.”
“Yeah, I do. It makes me a weakling who lets others dictate how I live.”
“Then choose who you want to be.” He nods to prod me along. “What do you desire, Cash?”
“That’s easy. For my words to move people. For them to make people understand they’re not alone and maybe help them release whatever pain they carry.”
“You have a message to share. That’s powerful. If it’s your purpose, I imagine you’ve dreamed of it all your life.”
I raise my gaze to the ceiling and remember all the times I’ve felt like I could change someone’s life if only they could hear my lyrics.
Jaxon pats my shoulder. “Get out of the clouds and put your feet on the ground.”
“What should I do?”
“Get your business matters in order and protect yourself. When that’s in place, make the terms of your career something you can live with. Present it to whomever is put in your path and let fate take place.”
My pulse accelerates and I peer into his eyes. “But it could cost me everything.”
“Then the question you have to ask yourself is whether your desires are bigger than your fears.”
“How do I get that answer?”
“One thing I’ve learned is no matter how hard you try, you can’t control the outcome or what’s meant to be. You’ll be challenged all your life. There’s no doubt about that. It’s who you become in the process that counts.”
“You’re thirty-one and sound like an old prophet.”
He laughs under his breath. “You’re eighteen and I’ve been told you write songs like a wise old soul. Sounds like we have something in common. Just in different areas.”
“Do you ever listen to my music?”
“Honestly, I’m not a fan of boy bands. Nothing against them, but it’s not my preference.”
I huff and relax back in my chair. “Mine either. That’s why I wanna do what I want.”
“Then make it happen. It’s in your power.”
“But what if I choose wrong?”
“We all do from time to time. But don’t look at it as failure. Turn it into a lesson because every road taken leads to a wealth of opportunity. Grow from your mistakes and become a stronger man while you discover more about yourself.”
“I don’t know how. I’m out of my comfort zone here.”
“That’s a good place to be.” He picks up a glass of water and takes a drink. “Let me share something with you. It’s a little esoteric, but maybe you need to hear it.”
“Anything could help, so lay it on me.”
“I’m a big believer in fate. I don’t think you can end up in the wrong place. If you’re meant to be a successful rockstar, you will be.”
“I wish I shared your belief.”
“I’ve seen guys like you try to change their destiny. Sure, it might stall what’s inevitably supposed to happen, but life has a funny way of putting them right back on the path they were running from.”
“So you’re saying no matter what I do, if my true purpose is to release my message through my songs, that will take place?”
“Yes. In my experience, fate always puts you on the right course.” Jaxon dips his chin as if stating it as fact.
Mr. Hemings comes back into the room and snags our attention. “Do you need more time?”
“No. Cash has more than enough to consider.” Jaxon pulls a pad of paper toward him and takes a pen out of his tailored jacket. He writes something down and hands it to me. “I’m no expert in legal advice, but this guy is brilliant. Call him and your dilemma will resolve itself.”
“Thanks.” I take it from him and pray he’s right. I fold it up and slide it into my jeans pocket. “I’ll let you guys get back to your paperwork.”