Chapter four

Mary Parker

I looked across the meeting room until I saw him there, the man with whom I had sex, the Philipe Taylor guy, who I see is very well dressed in his business suit and curly hair, the same way he was when we met that night and had sex, by the way, what was he doing there?

" Now we can start the meeting." I sat down on the chair I always use in meetings. I pointed to him and another woman who was there

" I'm Maite Jones, one of the commercial representatives of Taylor's Music"

" I'm..."

" Mary, this is Philipe Taylor, the new owner of Taylor's Music" - Giovanna explained, interrupting - O

" So you're the famous Mary, nice to meet you. "

I can tell that her gaze traveled up and down my body

" Mary Candty Parker," I crossed my legs, "But we are not here to talk, let's get to the point, show me the ideas you have so I can see if this partnership will be interesting or not.

" Correcting Mrs. Mary Parker, show us Your ideas, and let's see the pros and cons of this society before we decide something "

" The partnership would work because, comparing the current moment of Parker's record's that can't reveal new talents and is having too many expenses, with the current moment of Taylor's Music which has revealed talents but has lost money, if we united in one company, everybody would win. So for me, Giovanna Giovanna, this partnership could work out very well

" But if my company is going bankrupt, why would I join a worse one? "

" Worse, but at least it revealed talent" - he said, leaning back in his chair

" Parker Record's is not going bankrupt right now, Mary, what I said at the meeting is that if we continue as we are, then we will go bankrupt. "

" This partnership would be perfect, since, your record company Mary has the money and he has the revelation of talents" - Maite said

After she said this, I started to hear some annoying buzzing around the room, producers and employees were talking among themselves about this partnership

" BE QUIET!" -Bati with her hands on the table - "the meeting is not over yet"

" In my opinion, this partnership needs to be sealed" - said Roberto

" We can't decide like this, without thinking about it," Philippe said.

"I need to think about it hard"

"Not only you, but I am also a stakeholder, don't forget. "

- I accept as long as the new name of the company after the partnership is Parker Music's Society.

" What? I'm not giving up my company name!"

-"Me neither, dear, but from the moment a partnership is signed the documents become one, then that will be the name, otherwise there will be no partnership."

" Well, okay," he sighed."

" Your father might not like it, Philippe, think about it," Maite said.

" My father will understand that I am the new owner and that I decide everything"

" If you want we can leave you alone to talk and decide."

" That's right, let's leave them alone, let's all go out," Giovanna said, getting up.

" No one is to leave!" - I stood up, slamming my hand on the table

" We already told you two the idea, now you have to decide. The fate of your company is in your hands, not ours. Talking and decide as soon as possible - said a producer, leaving

" If you decide to formalize the partnership, the papers will be brought in to be signed. "

" I will only accept with the new name. "

Damn it! Everyone was leaving the room and leaving me alone with this guy, but he was right, we needed to decide soon

" Now we're both alone" he stood up and walked towards me.

" I see, I'm not blind" - I sat down again

" Are you always in a bad mood?" - He leaned back on the table beside me and crossed his arms

"I think I've already made it clear that I don't like small talk, let's get down to business" 

" For me, I would sign the papers"

" What makes you decide to do that? And please, sit in the chair"

" From what has been said here, your company has the money, and mine has revealed great artists!"

" And who can guarantee me that the revelation of new talent will be continuous?"

- My company today doesn't only work to bring in talent, but we have Pedro Damián and Fernando Torres, who are one of the best producers of all time. Moreover, the artists themselves indicate it to other people and it is difficult for artists to indicate people who will not make the slightest success since they end up managing these people "

That was something that was missing in my company: artists who would refer her.

" I don't know what to say, I'm afraid it won't work "

" If you allow me, I'll show you the voice of a good friend of mine who I'm sure will that will be a success "

" I don't want to hear it, because he is an unknown and may not work out" 

" Did you know that insecurity gets us nowhere? And if we don't take the risk, we will never know if it would work out?"

" It is not insecurity, it is thinking about the welfare of the company that has always been on top for years and is just going through a bad moment."

" I guarantee that if it was just a bad moment, the partnership would not be proposed by your company since, as far as I know, you gave the idea of the partnership and not Taylor's Music "

" You are ridiculous! And you know what? I'll decide that later, see you! "

I got up and walked to the door which was closed when I felt her hands grab me from behind

" From what I can see Miss Mary Candy Parker, you're sweet only in name and the taste of your liquid that I felt in my mouth when you came, aren't you?" - he said, whispering in my ear.

I closed my eyes, if I said he wasn't arousing a wave of pleasure in me I'd be lying, but I can't and won't have sex with the same man.

" I said I won't fuck you again, and please respect my workplace."

" Maybe with a few minutes of pleasure on this table you can stop being a little grumpy" - going towards the door and locking it from the inside, keeping the key in his pocket - "And then we can settle everything"

" I agree that good sex would do me a lot of good, but not now and maybe even less with you. You're dying to have sex with me again, but that won't happen. If one day I want to have sex with you again, I'll knock on your door. But don't get too excited because that's unlikely to happen," she said smiling

- No problem I can have sex with other women, that wouldn't be a problem for me. But I'm not saying it would be hard to have sex with you again, since you got goosebumps from my touch.

" PETULANT! THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE!" -I shouted

" Let's get back to the main subject because as you said we are here on business and deciding the future of our companies."

" I said I'll take care of it later"

" Maybe you are forgetting that you are not the only person who has to decide since the owner of the other interested company is me and you don't decide for it. Stay here and listen to my friend sing and decide yes or no, that's it! And rest assured that I won't do anything you don't want me to do, I will respect you."

I don't like to be contradicted but he was right, so I took a deep breath and sat down again

" Okay! Bring your friend here"

" I'll call him"

" And open the door, I want to leave!"

" I won't open it, who's to say you won't run away?"

" Open this door or I'll give up everything and your company will be the first to go bankrupt because I'll go to all the newspapers to say that you locked me in the room to coerce me "

"Okay, I'll open it"

We both got up, he opened the door and I left

" Wait, you didn't tell me what time can he come here "

" Tell him I'll meet him at five o'clock in the studio" 

I left without waiting for him to answer and went to my room, telling Belinda that I didn't want to be bothered by anyone, not even by Giovanna, but I also asked her to tell the producers about the test that would be done with this friend of the owner of Taylor's Music

I took advantage of the time in the room to look at the finances, not that I didn't trust Giovanna, but I wanted to see with my own eyes the decline that the company had, I also accessed all the legal bank accounts and the drop was really scary.

While I was thinking, I looked at the picture on the table where Claudia and I were smiling after one more night out. Tomorrow will be the 8th anniversary of his death, eight years since a part of me was gone.

I held back the tears as long as I could and didn't see the time pass, I was taken out of my thoughts with a call from Belinda telling me that it was already 5:00 PM and that they were already waiting for me at the studio.

Again the buzz was building as I passed by on my way to the studio, people turned their backs to me thinking I wouldn't hear anything, but I heard it well when I heard someone say that I didn't know how to run a company

" Look here" - I approached the person - "I've been running this company for 8 years and I've seen your face around, don't go around saying that I don't know how to manage a company"

He looked at me with a startled look on his face, probably not expecting me to hear and answer what he had commented to someone else

" By the way, you're fired, I hope I never see you around here again!"

The silence hovered around the place, everyone was paying attention and looking at me, which rarely happened

" And from now on it will be like this, the company is mine and I don't want to hear people talking bad about me about how I am in the company, regardless of whether they like me or not you are my employee and if I hear about my administration, I will fire you, I hope you have understood! "

I turned and walked towards the studio.

" I thought you weren't coming anymore and we were already leaving," said Philippe, sitting next to his friend.

" I'm not one to miss appointments "

" This is Carlos, the friend I told you about"

" Nice to meet you, Miss Mary," holding out his hand.

" My pleasure, may we begin?"

" As you wish!" - Carlos winked, going toward the microphone

" Wait a minute, where's the person who will take care of the table of sound?"

" No need, I'll do it myself. I know how to work these buttons, don't worry."

" I hope it doesn't break because the fine will be high."

The sound started playing in the studio and I wish I could say that Carlos's voice was not promising and that I would not close the partnership, but I would be lying! He sings very well and is not out of tune. I watched Philipe working on the soundboard and tried to understand how he could work with it. In music I only understand voice and some arrangements, I used to sing a lot with Cláudia, my sister who is now deceased.

" Hey, did you like it?" - Philipe asked, turning to me

"Yes, I must admit that your voice is pretty " - I looked at Philipe- "Closed society!

" That's good, but this afternoon I thought it over and decided that I want to put my name in the new company name as well. "

" What is it? - I asked incredulously"

" That's right, I want it to be Parker Taylor's Music Record's Society" 

"You must be going crazy "

- You decide. You heard Carlos's voice and saw that he can save your company, so I want you to be fair and put my name on the new company name too.

I didn't have much to think about and decided to accept, Carlos was promising, and having an extra name won't get in the way at all.

" Ok, no problem, your last name will be inserted "

" You won't regret it, Mary Parker. APTMR will be a success"

" What about me?" - Christian asked

" Let's launch you into the music!" - I explained

" YEAHHHH! "

Carlos left like a madman, jumping around the room

I called Belinda and asked her to bring the contracts to be read and signed.

Once the contracts arrived, I read them paragraph by paragraph before signing

" Will it take long to sign?"

" I like to read before signing, I recommend you do the same so that you don't get bored later "

" I already read and signed" - I said with a bored face

Carlos was still sitting there

" Now you Carlos can leave, as soon as they finalize the move here, the producers will contact you

" Okay, thanks for the opportunity, I'll wait for the contact" - He took his things and left

" What? What do you mean we're moving here? What do you mean we're moving here? "

" Didn't you read the contract before signing? It says that the company's headquarters will be here, there will not be deactivated, and only the studios will remain. But your office, the producers' office, and the employees' office will all be here."

" Holy shit! Why did you do that?"

" I didn't, I don't waste my time with this, the commercial representatives are the ones who decided. It must be because the space here is much bigger and we are located in Time Square."

" Oh, shit!" - He ran his hands through his hair

" Now it is already signed, there is no way to change it, next time read your contract, have a nice day!"

I walked to the exit door, with him right behind me.

"Well, at least here I'll be closer to a beauty like you"

"you are so annoying"

I rolled my eyes and walked back to my office, it was late and I needed to get my stuff.

To my surprise, Giovanna was there

"You know what day tomorrow is, right?"

" Yes, I know!"

"And you come to work?"

"And why wouldn't I come?" I looked at her, grabbing my purse.

" I don't know, maybe you wanted to take the day for yourself, to think"

"Giovanna, not a day goes by that I don't think of her. Tomorrow morning I'll visit her grave, bring her flowers, and then I'll go to work."

" You need therapy and also make an appointment with Dr. Leonardo"

" And you need to understand that I'm not going to do any of that, bye Giovanna"

On the way to the car, I found Mariazinha stopped again, she came to ask me for coins and I gave her 5 dollars again.