If he had time and the inclination, he would have gone up to her and introduced himself. His personality would only get him so far. What woman would want a man without a job? At least he had prospects and ambition, which both had brought him down to Virginia.
Laz had gone to bat for Chantel Woodley a couple of years ago. He hoped that she remembered him enough to offer him a job at Charisma Music, since it seemed like Section Eight would only give him a chance if he brought someone good to the table. No guarantees of that during this trip. He didn’t have any other prospects left after that place.
Laz outfitted himself with one of his best suits. He made sure his hair looked perfect. On top of that, he had demo CDs in his briefcase. He would come to this impromptu meeting with all guns blazing. He would have to, considering he hadn’t made an appointment with anyone there.
The Charisma building looked nothing like Section Eight’s huge skyscraper. The simple three-story building sat on the oceanfront side of the Virginia Beach strip. Laz had only met Fatima Evans, the founder of Charisma Music, once in his career.
The bubbly African-American woman had left an impression on him. He could see her laid-back nature setting up shop at a serene oceanfront location. Laz found it hard to believe that a huge star like Chantel Woodley, and her equally popular country-singing husband, Truman, would continue running the business Fatima had left her from this location.
Laz walked into the front door and couldn’t believe he didn’t get greeted by security guards that looked like bouncers. The two he saw in the lobby reminded him of men who would work for the Secret Service.
He strolled up to the receptionist desk. This woman actually made eye contact with him and smiled.
“Good afternoon. How can I help you?” She coupled her inquiry by leaning forward.
“Hi. I hope you can help me. My name is Laz Kyson. I was hoping to get a meeting with Chantel or Truman.” He smiled as he stared at her.
The young woman glanced down at her computer screen first. “I’m sorry. I don’t see an appointment for them for this afternoon.”
“Probably not.” He chuckled to lighten the mood. “I’m the one who called yesterday about meeting them for a potential job. I’ve worked A&R at Universe.”
He wanted to bite his tongue as soon as he mentioned Chantel’s former record label. The word must have gone out to all of her people about the place. As soon as he mentioned it, the receptionist leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. She wouldn’t be helping him today or any day.
“I no longer work there.” Maybe mentioning that will melt away her frosty attitude. “I was hoping I could use my talents for Charisma. It would be great to discuss it with Chantel.”
“Mrs. Woodley does not entertain unsolicited offers.” The woman with a purple pixie cut hairdo and big green eyes shook her head as she leaned forward. “Please check our website for any open positions.”
Laz looked around the nearly empty lobby area with the exception of two guards. “The type of position I’m looking for isn’t usually posted. I want to go beyond A&R. I want to secure talent for this label and manage them. I’m looking for someone with your beauty and an incredible voice.” He leaned forward and lowered his tone. “You wouldn’t happen to be a singer, too, would you?”
The chubby woman with a pixie cut giggled while shaking her head. “No. Of course not.”
Laz snapped his fingers in the air. “Just my luck. I can’t seem to catch a break.”
“Charisma isn’t hiring managers. If you have a business card, I would be happy to pass it along to Mr. and Mrs. Woodley. If not, I can get your information.” She pulled out a pad and pen like she knew he wouldn’t have his contact information readily available. “You can give me your number, um, if you want to give it to me. Your number, I mean. Give that to me and nothing else.”
Laz spotted her talking under her breath to herself.
“Stop talking. You sound crazy.” Then she smiled, baring all of her small, white teeth.
“I would love to give you anything and everything you want.” He smiled harder. “What I really need, though, is that meeting. I would like to wait if that’s okay.” Laz looked to the side and spotted a black-and-white striped couch along with a couple of chairs in a waiting area.
“You would be wasting your time.” She shook her head. “I don’t think they’re coming in for the rest of the day. But I don’t know that for sure. They sometimes pop in.”
“Then let’s hope today is one of those days. Besides, I’ll get to sit here and stare at you the whole time.” Laz continued to smile so that he didn’t show this young woman his frustration. “I know that with the recent birth of their twins, both Chantel and Truman have been staying close to home.” He adjusted his cuffs underneath his jacket. “I also know that both are still conducting business. Chantel just signed a new country singer a month ago, and Truman has been tapped to be a judge on a singing competition show that will film here in Virginia. Sounds like they’re working pretty hard to me.”
“I never said—”
Laz continued speaking. “Hard-working people like them will normally check in. When they do, I’ll be here waiting.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a new business card that he had created after he left Universe. He placed it on the receptionist’s desk and slid it to her. “Here’s my contact information. It would be great if you could reach out to Chantel Woodley. She and I have history.”
He had gone to bat for the talented singer when she got out of Peaceful Acres. He would leave out the fact that he also saw her the time she fainted off the stage on the day of her mother Fatima’s funeral.
“If you’re that close to Mrs. Woodley, why don’t you—” The sassy woman stopped her query, and then firmed up a smile on her face.
Laz cocked his head while giving her a smile that Bradley Kyson would endorse. “I like an inquisitive woman with impeccable manners like yourself. Makes doing business a pleasure.”
The receptionist did smile, and even looked like she took a much-needed deep breath before she continued talking. “Thank you for your information. I wish I could do more for you. Again, it won’t help you to wait here.”
“It also won’t hurt unless you look away from me.” He winked at her and sauntered to the couch where he sat right in the middle.
This receptionist didn’t understand Laz’s dilemma. He had no options. No job. No backup plan. He needed this to work. He needed a break.
An hour-long wait turned to two, then three, and before Laz knew it, the receptionist, who had gone to lunch and received packages from couriers throughout the day, now packed up her belongings. She would be kicking him out soon. Damn if she thought he would give up so easily.
It looked like she started to address him when another delivery man came through the front door. At that moment, Laz went to the men’s room. He could wait it out in there, or at least stay there until he came up with a game plan.
The standard bathroom facility had an “L” shape, which he took advantage of while he thought about his next steps. He walked over to the other side away from the door and paced.
“Come on, man. Think.” He muttered to himself without caring if anyone else had been in the place. “Being Mr. Nice Guy will only get you so far.”
No one stood in front of the urinals, and although he didn’t look under each and every stall door, he didn’t notice any closed doors.
“If I stay here until they close, it’s not like Chantel or Truman will show up.” His pacing slowed the more he talked to himself. “I can’t give up.”
He leaned against the wall covered in white tile. He closed