CHAPTER 25 ALEXIS
I could live in this bliss forever, but unfortunately, thats not an option. I have to return to set on Wednesday morning bright and early, and Danny set an alarm to ensure I wake up and get out the door on time.
And waiting down in my brand-new kitchen for me after I take a quick shower and throw on some sweats is Gregory.
“You ready?” he asks.
I rush over to give him a big hug. “Im so glad youre here.”
“Feels good to get back to work, doesnt it?” he murmurs.
For as chaotic and crazy as the last couple weeks have been, the routine of having Gregory here as we get ready to head into work feels nothing short of absolutely normal. Though I have to admit, Im ready for filming to wrap on this one. I thought my heart was in acting, but the more time Ive spent thinking about it, the more I know its in music. I think I was leaning away from music and leaning into acting so hard because my father is so connected to my musical career.
But I knew it was time for a change.
And Im thinking that change comes in taking control of my career.
Now that Ive cleared the air with my father and weve started on the right track of getting the agency profitable again without the merger, Im ready to start working with a new agent. I want to redesign my representation so that I have a management team who will handle tours, endorsements, and overall strategies, along with a team of publicists to handle my appearances and the media. Its a little different than a traditional agent like my father has been my whole career, but since Im at a place where Im taking over for a lot of what weve done my whole career, I am ready to make a big change in how my team works.
Instead of an agent and a manager who run everything, I’m the boss. I’m in charge. I will pay an agent to help me strategize. I will pay a management team to help me achieve my goals. I will pay a publicist to take care of my image instead of having my father run that for me.
And my team will be entirely made up of women. Badass boss ladies ready to level up in their careers.
After work today, I am heading over to the Bodega offices to have a chat with some of the agents there. Its been a while since Ive gone into the office at all since I live with my agent, but I know my father has some recommendations, and furthermore, I know that Danny will be there all day with the business associates he has flown in along with his lawyer to start the process of turning Bodega Talent around.
The other reason I want to be at the office tonight is because my father has called a late conference meeting where Brooks will be in attendance. At this meeting, he plans to let the company know that theres going to be a change in ownership, that Danny and I are now the majority stakeholders and that we will no longer be going through with the merger that was planned.
And I sure as hell am not going to miss the look on Brookss face when he realizes D-Three and Bodega are no longer merging. It feels like the perfect way to start the year, and it also feels like the perfect way to issue a big, well-deserved fuck you to Brooks.
When I arrive on set, Leila is already there, and she pulls me into a big hug as soon as I walk into hair and makeup.
“Happy New Year,” she says.
“Happy New Year,” I repeat. “Did you do anything fun to celebrate?”
“I attended a charity event that was fancy-schmancy. How about you?”
“Danny and I had a quiet night in. It was a welcome change from the fancy-schmancy events Ive attended for the last twelve years.”
“Was that Gregory I saw dropping you off this morning?” she asks.
I nod. “A lot changed over our little break, but some things remained the same,” I admit.
“What changed?” she asks.
I cant help a laugh.
“I filled you in on some of it, but…” I pause and shake my head, and then I launch into everything thats gone down. By the time Im done talking, my hair and makeup are done, and everyone in the room knows the whole story. Thank goodness for those NDAs, though by the end of the day today, the only person I dont want to find out ahead of time will know anyway.
“I talked to my manager, and she is absolutely thrilled that youre interested. She wanted to set up a meeting with you to get the ball rolling as soon as possible,” she says.
“Im down for that,” I say. “How does lunch today sound?”
Leila laughs. “I have no idea, but Ill get a call into her and ask. I just have one request.”
“What?” I ask.
“Dont take all her attention away from me. I need her.” She’s begging me.
I laugh. “Well, maybe she has a recommendation of someone else at her firm who would be willing to represent me then.”
The truth of the matter is I probably need multiple managers because there are multiple facets to what I do. But the other truth of it is I dont really want to pursue acting anymore. If a small role comes along and it fits, then Ill jump at it. But I dont want to leave music to go into acting when acting is one of the things that will pull me further away from Danny.
Im not making decisions for my career one hundred percent based on Danny. But I am making decisions one hundred percent based on whats going to make me the happiest. And thinking thoroughly through all of this over the last two weeks, I know exactly what I want to do.
But I dont want to discuss that with Leila. I havent even discussed it with Danny yet, though I am willing to talk to my management team about it ahead of filling him in just to ensure my idea is really going to be something that’s going to work.
As it turns out, Leilas manager is available at lunchtime, and theres a knock at my door as I am digging into a salad. I assume its either Danny or Gregory, so I yell come in from my seat on the couch.
When the door opens, a beautiful blonde woman about my age steps in. “Alexis Bodega,” she says with a wide smile. “It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Gemma Murphy from Roadrunner Management, and I’m ready to take on the world with you.”
She’s confident and sophisticated as she reaches out a hand to shake mine, and her grip is firm as her gaze is steady on mine.
I like her already.
She’s exactly the kind of badass boss I want on my team.
“I’m so happy to meet you. Tell me all about Roadrunner and what you envision for the two of us,” I say as I shove another forkful of lettuce into my mouth.
She launches into her spiel, and she sells me in the first ten seconds.
I love her already, and she came highly recommended. What’s the worst thing that happens? We sign a contract for a year, and if it doesn’t work out, we go our separate ways.
But what’s the best thing that happens?
Well…then we take on the world together, just like she said.