Chapter 41
The hotel was generous enough to let them use one of their conference rooms for the auditions. She was surprised to see so many participants, more than she’d expected for the auditions on the first day. Given that the headlines had not been favorable towards Colt and the band, this was a good sign.
She decided not to read the papers after the day she returned. However, she could not say the same for Reid. He hogged every newspaper, scanning for the least bit of news about Purple Crush. The latest one was about the auditions.
After the disassembling of the rock band Purple Crush, with its lead going off the deep end, it seems they are trying to beat a dead horse by hosting auditions this Wednesday. They are now seeking to replace only two of the musicians. It seemed that the arrogant playboy will now have to take up his guitar and use it like any other musician if he wants to save his band.
She’d briefly scanned the article, dumping the paper after the first paragraph. It seemed that now there were other journalists willing to thrash the rock star because it sold papers. With a shake of her head, Chelsea took her mind off the bad press, focusing on the low drone of voices in the room. There were 32 names registered on her clipboard for the playoffs, but the room seemed packed, more like a hundred people were there. It was difficult to tell whether they were all there for the auditions or some were just fans.
Leaning back in his chair with his head resting on the wall to the left, Colt seemed disinterested in the happenings. In front of him was a small table with notebook and a mike, where he could take notes or speak directly with the entrants. Andrew was good and ready, seemingly excited as she was. She eyed him and noticed for the first time that he was actually quite a young man. Sporting a goatee and pencil sideburns distracted from his soft brown eyes and sweet smile. He was a likable fellow.
“We’re all set,” he said, rubbing his hands together with glee. “Where’s Reid?”
“I don’t know. Let’s start without him,” she replied.
With a vigorous shake of his head, he said, “No, Reid’s the one who does the final call, man. Once when Mike was sick and we needed a temp, and another time when we sponsored a group, Reid’s the one to make the final call.”
“So then, we filter them by doing a preliminary round. Reid will make the final call when he sees the ones we chose. Plus, Colt is here.”
“Ha, you’re so smart.” His eyes twinkled at her.
She smiled, turning to the noisy crowd before her while he walked to the table set up for the ‘judges’. She was on the makeshift stage looking down at them. Behind her, were the instruments they would use for this event.
“Hello,” she said into the microphone, in her usually soft voice. No one responded. She tapped the instrument, and it returned a thud… thud … thud. She cleared her throat and went again. “Hello!” The room went silent. “Welcome. We will begin with Marlando on drums.”
A man with long black hair that hadn’t been washed … ever, beanpole thin with scruffy jeans and armpit hairs strode up to the stage. Chelsea was expecting him to smell, based on his dirty look, but he’d drowned himself in Old Spice. Several minutes later, she was pleasantly surprised by his skills on the drums.
By the end of the first hour, she had secured several second auditions spots. Colt still hadn’t shown any interest in the proceedings, and she was beginning to be concerned. Another hour went by, and all he did was shuffle in his seat and drink some water. Andrew was the only one talking to the contestants and making notes. Gritting her teeth, she walked over to him.
“Colt,” she whispered. He didn’t budge. She tapped him on the shoulder, and he slowly opened his eyes.
“What?”
“What are you doing?”
He looked confused. “Relaxing, why?”
“Shouldn’t you be taking notes on the participants and giving them tips or something?”
“Andrew is already doing it,” he replied. “Why should I?”
She gave him a cutting stare. She could not believe he was being so blasé about the matter. This was his band. The very group he founded was in shambles, badly needing repair, and he was sleeping right through the process without a care in the world.
“Why are you so unconcerned with this?” She was baffled.
He stood and beckoned her to one corner away from Andrew’s ears. “I’ll work with whoever you all choose,” he said. “I just want things to work differently than before.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m trying not to be the jerk I was before and let Andrew take the first course. I was the one in the limelight; let him take the spotlight for a change.”
Her heart softened. “That’s why you are doing this?”
“Stop looking at me with those seductive eyes of yours,” he drawled.
“I’m not looking at you with seductive eyes,” she denied, looking away.
“Anyway, there’ll be a second round. I’ll pick the best from that lot.”
“Okay, but at least show some interest, will you?”
He nodded and saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
She rolled her eyes and went back to her spot near the stage. There were six people left to play their instruments. One of them had a box guitar. She was sitting quietly at the back until Chelsea called on Chloe. All black tight leather outfit, raven hair cut into a bob curved her oval face. As she entered the stage, she paused for a minute and stared at Colt. Chelsea noticed she was older than the others who went before her. This didn’t bother her. What got her attention was the way she looked at Colt.
He returned to his seat and closed his eyes again. The girl started to sing an old song, something from the sixties. She sang well, but her guitar skills were what made Chelsea respect her. But could she play the bass?
“Miss,” Andrew spoke into his microphone. The girl stopped and turned to him. “You sing well and play the guitar pretty well, but we need a bass player and drummer.”
“I play the drums too,” she said.
“Let’s hear it then.”
“Wait,” Colt’s voice cut in. All eyes turned to him. Chelsea was definitely surprised. He’d showed no interested up to this point. “Who taught you that song?”
The girl’s face broke into a smile. “Your mom … our mom.”
He frowned before showing surprise. “Zoey?”
“Yes, it’s me,” she said, placing her guitar on the floor and walking over to him.
Colt stood and came around the table. They embraced for a long time while Chelsea watched, more curious than ever. As their relationship stood now, she didn’t feel he would be embracing a lover in front of her, so that made the girl his estranged step-sister. They pulled apart. Colt raised his head and beckoned her over. As she neared, then she could see that this girl was older than they both were. Her outfit and makeup gave her a younger appearance.
“This is my sister, Zoey, the one I told you about,” he said as she approached.
“Hi,” Zoey said. “You must be Chelsea. I read about you in the paper.”
“Why are you here,” Colt asked, seriously. “You haven’t contacted me in so long, why now? Are you seriously thinking of joining my band?”
“Actually no,” she curled her nose. “I have to talk to you.”
“Yeah, tell me,” Colt replied.
“Not today. Can I come see you tomorrow?”
Colt looked at Chelsea questioningly. She answered for him, “Sure, we break tomorrow and resume auditions on Friday.”
That was that. She gave Colt another hug before departing. So Zoey, aka Chloe did not audition to join the band but rather to connect with Colt. Why? She was to come back the following day to fill Colt in on whatever she wanted to tell him. Chelsea didn’t quite trust her. Something about her that seemed familiar. She could not quite place it; therefore, she kept mum about her feelings.
Reid hadn’t yet returned from whatever he’d gone out to take care of. He was the one she would have told about her reservations about Zoey. Telling Colt may seem like she was jealous and that she didn’t trust him.
It was curious that two women from Colt’s past entered the picture after so long. Carl Benson’s sister was one of them, and now Zoey. She wondered if Zoey was the one who stayed at Molly’s apartment. If it wasn’t her, then someone might be stalking him. Who else would have Colt’s photos and newspaper clippings?