REMUS BENNET
Remus would be lying if he said that he was expecting Amy to show up a day after he had just messaged her.
But that was exactly what had happened, and his new agent slash manager had quickly found their home and had already been interviewed and approved by his mother and his youngest sister by the time he had come back from Elliot’s place after a little jamming session.
“Do we seriously have to do this?” he asked, as the two of them came and sat down at a Starbucks down in downtown, for an interview that he believed was now entirely unnecessary.
“Of course there is,” she countered quickly, as he brought them their orders.
“You may have chosen me, but I still haven’t made my decision,” and he was certain that this was not how things worked.
“I don’t want to be stuck managing an idiot,” and he raised a brow for that, as he began to sip his venti hot chocolate.
“That drink choice is already a red flag.” She looked at the cup with sheer disgust, but he was absolutely unashamed.
As that warm sweetness hit his chest, he gave out a sigh of relief.
I’m addicted to sugar, deal with it,” and she narrowed her eyes.
“We will see about that,” and Amy Papalia had a small heart-shaped face.
She was young and thin and exuded confidence that caught one’s eye in an instant.
She was also very intelligent, and though she hid her intentions and sharp intellect behind humor and snark, he could see those eyes evaluating his every word and move.
“So, what do you want to know?” he began, and she nodded.
“I know the basics from your mother and your sister. They were eager enough to divulge all of your secrets,” and he made a face at that.
“So, I want to know what they don’t know,” and her tone became rather serious in a second.
“Sure,” he answered with a shrug.
“First question: what do you intend to do with the money you have made?” The announcement was going to be made tomorrow, but everything was already finalized.
The terms were rather generous, and the record label had signed a modified one-plus-one deal with him.
He owed them one album within the next six months, and after that they would sit down and decide if they wished to further this partnership.
He retained full ownership of masters, and the rest of the terms were fairly standard.
Well, apart from the five million signing bonus, which was one of the largest ever they had given out for a debut artist.
“Money. Really? That is your first question,” and she leaned back a bit.
“How one handles money can reveal a lot about a person,” she answered, and that was probably the investment banker speaking, and he had given it some thought.
“I am going to pay off our House,” and that was the first thing he had decided.
“I am going to set a hundred grand aside for Gia and Rue’s college,” he began listing off his initial plans.
“I am going to have a talk with mother about her work and what she intends to do with it,” and she was nodding all along, judging his choices.
“As for myself, I will probably buy myself a guitar and invest the rest of it,” and now she raised a brow.
“Invest?” she asked, with a grin.
“Yes, actually. It’s actually one reason I hired you,” and he was being honest now.
“You are different than the usual managers. You are like an all-in-one buffer, with multiple skill sets, and I intend on making use of each and every one of them,” and she gave a small nod of approval.
“Interesting answer,” and now she frowned.
“Won’t you get yourself anything? A Car? Designer clothes? Chains?” she suggested, and he chuckled at the suggestion.
“I don’t need those things,” and now that nod grew heavier as she leaned forward.
“Smart move. Maybe you’re not hopeless after all,” she added, and now it was his turn.
“Okay, your turn,” he cut in before she could ask the next question.
“Why are you even doing this?” he asked, taking her by surprise.
“What? My mother and my sister may approve of you, but I haven’t made a final decision yet.” That was a big fat lie, yet she did not call him out on it.
Still, she humored him.
“Well, because I have realized that lawyers are even bigger divas than divas themselves,” and they both laughed at that answer.
“Really,” he asked, and she nodded.
“Yes,” and now it was her turn again.
“Tell me about what kind of a celebrity you want to be?” she questioned, more seriously now, and he had to think on it for a few minutes.
This was a very integral question, and one that he knew he would have to deal with sooner rather than later.
“I don’t know if it’s possible or not, but I would like to be quiet. I mean, I just wanna keep it low‑key. Not all loud and fake,” he offered, and that he had given quite a bit of thought to.
“I want to work on my music, and want that to be the centre of my appeal,” he answered truthfully, and she narrowed her eyes before she gave a nod.
“So, cool, harmless, and mysterious,” and that was a good hmm.
“Why did you get a PhD in Psychology, and should I be calling you Doctor?” and she made a face at that.
“Don’t you dare,” she warned, and leaned forward.
“Don’t forget, I know about Candace,” and his eyes widened.
“Gia told you about Candace as well,” and that was some dark and personal history there.
“No. Not Gia, your mother,” and that was even worse.
“Still, why did you get a doctorate?” and she shrugged.
“Because I wanted to understand people. I wanted to understand what makes people act the way they do, and how our society works as a whole,” and that was a good enough reason.
“Is that also why you went into investment banking?” and she seemed impressed by his words.
“Yes, actually,” and she was finished with her drink now and put it down.
“Be a good client and fetch me a cookie,” she ordered, and despite his reluctance, he did go and get her a cookie from the counter.
“Tell me about how you see yourself progressing in your career during the next five years?” and now again he was forced to think it over in his head, and he leaned back and closed his eyes as he thought of the future.
This time it took him more than a few minutes before he finally opened his mouth to answer.
“Five years is too great a time, but I think I can answer for three years more easily,” he began, and she nodded.
“So, the label wants a record in the next six months. So, I will have to get to that, but I have my SATs in early April, so I will have to deal with them first. Afterward, I am going to put everything I have in my album for some time,” and he stopped for a bit, as he thought of everything that came with an album.
“I will probably have to do a short tour to promote the album, do a media circle. Album launch in September, maybe a bit before that, and then a tour afterward. I will probably be done with it by March of next year. Take some time off. Cool down. Grab a few classes for songwriting, music production, and acting,” he added, making her give a rather sharp reaction, but that was his plan.
“I will probably be doing some music in that time.
Singles and Eps,” but then I will start working on a second album and see how that goes,” and that was it, and now she had another question.
“You want to be an actor as well?” and he nodded.
“Yes, I do. But not until I have done the work,” and she seemed content with that.
“Honestly, I am a bit surprised, but that was a very realistic answer,” she added, and now it was his turn, and he had run out of questions.
“Like, is money even real? Or are we all just pretending?” he asked, making her splutter.
“What?” and he shook his head.
“Honestly, I mainly had just two questions for you,” he came out clean, making her laugh.
“You have a good sense of humor,” and he could only hope that this was true.
“The answer to your question is no. Money is not real, and it’s all just made-up numbers,” and that was good to know.
“But I don’t have any questions for you either now,” and so the interview was done.
“So, what do you think?” he asked, and she pretended to ponder over it for a few seconds.
“It’s a tough decision, but I think you have potential,” and he gave out an animated sigh of relief.
“I am relieved that you believe so, your grace,” he added in the most exaggerated British accent he could do.
“Well, this does clear up things. Tomorrow you are going to meet the executives at Interscope Records, and though the record label usually gives their artists a free hand, and your contract gives them little to no authority over your life, they will still want to know about your plans for the future,” and so she was simply preparing him for tomorrow.
She saw that realization come to him, as she nodded.
“Yeah, I had a whole folder prepared for you just in case you turned out to be a monkey. But you don’t need it. You have already given it much thought, and there is no major flaw in your plans,” and the bubbly girl was gone, replaced by the former executive assistant and lawyer. Read this novel at novelping(.)com for the best experience.
She picked up her phone, and a few seconds later, he received a file from her.
“I have sent you the details about the people you are going to meet tomorrow. Give it a quick read,” and she was fast.
“Thank you,” and he suddenly remembered that they had not discussed it.
“I am sorry I forgot, but we haven’t discussed your pay yet?” and she chuckled at that.
“Honestly, kid, even with that five million, I am richer than you,” and given her background, he should have expected that.
“Still, I will take the standard cut,” and the industry norm was to pay the agent slash manager ten percent of your total earnings, but that was actually the minimum.
“But that’s the minimum. You will be doing nearly three times or perhaps even four times the work of a regular manager,” and that was unfair to her, no matter how rich she was.
“I am not doing this for money. Money bores me, and I have taken a liking to you, so you will be getting the kids and family discount,” and now she offered him her hand.
“I am Amy Papalia. I am looking forward to working with you,” and he shook the offered hand.
“Remus Bennet. Please don’t rob me blind,” and she chuckled at that as she got up.
“I won’t,” she answered at first before adding in sharply.
“As long as you don’t annoy me too much,” and with that, they walked out of the place.
Amy was quick with her work, and soon enough she had an itinerary and timetable drawn up for him.
The next day, the announcement was made in the morning.
The headlines for all the major tabloids were filled with the same headline.
~UNIVERSAL LANDS THE RISING STAR IN A MASSIVE DEAL!~
~REMUS BENNET SIGNS WITH INTERSCOPE RECORDS!~
The congratulations came next, and the first one to congratulate him was Billie herself.
A few other stars joined in and welcomed him to the label.
As for Remus himself, he found himself walking through the gates of the Headquarters as he found himself being greeted by three of their major executives.
Leading this group of three was a bald man, with a rather imposing figure and a piercing gaze.
His face softened as he saw him.
“Hi, I am Sam Ribback,” he began.
“We are very happy to have you with us…”
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.
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Back in East Highland, the news of Remus’s deal coincided with another great bomb, as it was revealed that Nate’s father had just sold all of his business.
Not just that, he was also filing for divorce.
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A/N: To those who have watched Suits, Amy Papalia is actually Mike Ross’s secretary from the time when he worked for Sidwell as an investment banker.
To those who haven’t seen her, treat her as a usual fixer.
She is a highly intelligent, highly interesting lawyer who is going to MC’s agent moving on.