“He starts showering me with compliments at first, telling me what a great singer I am and all.”
Laz tried hard to suppress his laughter but it puffed out. He covered the sound with a cough, and then took a sip of water. He didn’t need her stirred up any more.
No way did he think her vocal chops matched that of the great singers out there like Aretha, Christina, Adele, and Chantel. This pop star needed to stay in her lane as far as what she offered to the music industry, and she needed to start being honest. He didn’t know how long he could hold out not saying anything while she massacred his reputation.
Kat sniffed. “Then he pulled me into a room.”
“Mr. Kyson put his hands on you?” Zinner sat up taller.
So did Laz. He heard his heartbeat pounding in his head and it shook his body. It took every bit of his strength for him to not scream that this woman lied about everything so far except for the fact that he did approach her, but it had been for business, only business.
Kat nodded. “When we got in there, he said that if I didn’t—” She hesitated and leaned over to her attorney. “Do I have to say it?” She whispered it to her but said it loud enough for Laz to hear.
The older woman next to her nodded and patted her hand.
“Fine.” Kat took a deep breath and tucked a wavy curl behind her ear. “He said if I didn’t put my mouth down there that he would make my life miserable.” She pointed down in the vicinity of his genital area through the black marble tabletop that covered their lower sections.
A gasp echoed throughout the room. Kat’s attorney stared at Laz with her mouth agape. Zinner couldn’t even look at Laz now. The studio attorney adjusted his tie, and Laz wanted to scream.
Laz could count to a million in his head and he still wouldn’t be able to calm down. He pressed his hands against the cold table while he bounced his knee under it. He had an ace up his sleeve. He needed to wait for his moment.
“That’s the reason I haven’t been in the studio to record. And because of all this, I’m not sure if I’m up to going in there for a while.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head. “I’m too shaken up.” With her head down, she peered up at Laz. “That man is a monster. If he’s not fired, I’m walking. I have ten million Instagram followers. They’ll boycott this studio if I tell them to.”
Zinner shook his head, letting the sweat that poured from it fly. Droplets littered the table. “Let’s not be hasty, dear. I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding.” Finally, Zinner directed his attention to Laz. “Mr. Kyson, is there anything you want to say on your behalf?”
The air in the expansive boardroom went still and made it difficult for Laz to breathe. That wouldn’t prevent him from responding. He had his name to clear. Before he did that, though, he would have a bit of fun.
“Yes. I have always preferred tea over coffee.” Laz took a deep breath, relieved to finally say anything even though the thing he said seemed to not make sense.
“Excuse me?” Zinner braced his meaty hands on the table.
“And I would rather have a cat than a dog. Cats are quiet.” Laz, realizing what he had said and the name of the woman across from him, amended his statement. “An older cat though. No kitties.” He glared at the pop star.
“He’s making this out to be a joke.” Kat’s pale face turned crimson. “I’m prepared to go to TMZ and People.”
Laz reached into his front jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’ll be glad to help you with your story.”
“I think you’ve said enough.” Zinner held up his hand, then directed his attention to Kat. “You can take as much time as you need to record your fourth album. We can push the tour out as well.”
Kat leaned over to her manager sitting on the other side of her this time. She whispered something in his ear.
The manager nodded. “For her inconvenience and mental trauma, Kat would also like a ten-million-dollar kicker to her contract.”
Hush money. No way would Zinner agree to that. He had kicked out Chantel Evans, a far superior singer and entertainer, when she asked to be fairly compensated.
“Done.” Zinner slammed his hand on the table.
Unbelievable.
“Hold on.” Laz held up his hand. He clipped an attachment to his phone to project a video on the wall. “I think you all need to see this.”
He pressed play and made sure to turn the volume up as high as it would go. Even though Laz had only been in the music industry for less than ten years, he knew enough to cover himself.
The stories about Kat’s predatory behavior ran rampant throughout the industry. She played virginal, but she had a voracious sexual appetite.
Laz did not dig Kat’s vibe or her aggressive nature. In his world, he ran things, that also included his intimate life. Now, he had his head on business.
The night in question, Laz had set up his phone to record in Kat’s dressing room where he had been told to wait for her after her show. He had his phone on a shelf above to look at the full scene below. It showed him in a full suit, pacing back and forth in her room with her hair and makeup people.
When the door opened, Kat walked in wearing her trademark sparkly leotard, sky-high booties, and her hair piled high on her head.
“Get out.” She waved her hands in the air to get everyone to leave the room. The people started to go, including Laz, but she put her hand on his chest to stop him. “Not you.” She laughed.
“We don’t need to see this.” Kat started to stand.
“Sit down.” Her attorney held her client’s arm and pulled her down to sit. “I need to verify if this is authentic.”
“He had this video doctored. I told you exactly what happened.”
Kat’s screeching voice pierced Laz’s eardrum. He continued playing the video, especially since Zinner couldn’t stop staring at the image.
“Thank you for seeing me. It’s great that you want to talk about the progress of your next album. We have a pretty aggressive schedule planned, so it would be beneficial to get the ball rolling on the music. I was fine talking to you afterward on the tour bus with your manager.” Laz took a few steps back from her.
“I’m not really down for a threesome, not tonight.” Kat pushed Laz down on a couch in the room, and then straddled him.
“Um, that’s not me. I think that’s one of those drag queen impersonators.” Kat pointed to the image on the wall.
In the video, Laz tried laughing off her antics in a polite yet reserved way. “Look, I would be a lucky man to be able to bed the famous Kat.”
“Bed, couch, wall. I’m very flexible.” She swirled her hips. “Yes, you would be very lucky. I’m really good at what I do.”
Laz put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m only here to talk about your album and that’s it. I don’t want or need anything else.” Laz, while trying hard not to touch her anywhere lower than her shoulders, managed to get himself from under her and stand.
Even after he stood, Kat wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. She kissed his neck, chin and cheek. “I haven’t had you yet. I think this will be fun.”
“Oh, God.” Kat hung her head down at the table while the incriminating evidence played.
The video continued. “Wow. You are strong.” Laz pried her arms from around