Exit Strategy Read Online Free PDF Page B

lot of stress.”
“But not so much that I should be behaving like a stark raving bitch.”
Tracey’s mouth twitches, but she manages to suppress her smile. “I know that’s been my nickname around here—and deservedly so. But no more. I’m putting my frustrations on lock-down. From now on, I’m going to be Ms. Even-Keel Beale.”
Tracey lets loose a brilliant engaging smile. “It’s good to have you back, Keisha.” The phone rings. “Just a second.” She picks up. “Kente Studio Records.” Tracey listens attentively and only then does she respond. “Yes. Just one moment please.” Tracey puts the caller on hold and looks back up at me. “It’s Princess Danai’s assistant. She wants to know if I can put her boss through to you.”
“Yes, of course. Just give me a second to get into my office.” I smile, so happy to have things back on firmer footing with my receptionist, who’s more like a personal assistant to me.
The spring is back in my step as I move quickly into my office and pick up the buzzing line.
“Keisha Beale.”
“Hold please for Princess Danai,” a professional, disembodied voice says.
“Keishaaa … ” Princess Danai says, holding the ah in my name much longer than necessary. “Darnelle here. You got a minute to talk a little business with me?”
I haven’t spoken to Darnelle since the opening of KSR South, and now she’s calling as though we’ve been in touch often over the last nine months. I know she’s been on tour and busy working on a new album, but we’ve both been in attendance at a few release parties and industry events, and she’s been kind of standoffish. Can’t say I blame her since I physically assaulted her in the first week we came to know one another—an episode in my life I definitely want to forget. So, I figure I owe it to her to be the bigger woman.
“You know I’ve always got time for you, Darnelle. What are you talking? A collaboration with one of my artists?”
“You’re in the ballpark, but I’d like to hit a homerun. Will you sing the hook on the title song of my album?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. I heard that joint you sang at your opening, and you got some serious chops. Your voice would be perfect complement for the rhymes I’m spittin’ on that cut.”
“I don’t know, Darnelle,” I say. “I’ve got a lot going on, and a big name might be better for what you have in mind.”
“The buzz is you’re the biggest thing since L.A. and Babyface, Quincy Jones, Clive Davis, and Timbaland all rolled into one. I wanna be the first in the industry to have the artist whose brainchild is taking the recording business by storm on my album.”
I don’t even get a big head when she rattles off some folks in the industry I admire, because I know she’s just trying to butter me up for whatever reason. “I’m flattered just to be named in the same sentence with those greats, but I’m not anywhere near their caliber yet.”
“But you’re making headway. You’re hot right now, Keisha. And what better way to lead than by example. This will show your artists you’ve got what it takes to make them stars... because you’re a bonafide star yourself.”
“That would be great free PR,” I say. “What’s your timeframe?”
“I want to get started like last week,” Darnelle says. “If you’ve got some studio time this week, I’ll come to you.”
I hear a soft knock on the door. Jada pokes her head in, and I wave her in. “Okay, I have my orchestra coming in next week to lay some tracks anyway; we’ll work around them.”
“Thanks, Keisha. I’ll see you Monday, midmorning.”
“All right, Darnelle. See you then.”
When I hang up, Jada is frowning.
“Was that Princess Danai?”
“Yeah. She wants to do a collab with KSR. Well, with me.”
“Oh, really? After giving you the cold shoulder since that thing went down with Byron, now she wants to work with you?”
I shrug. “I did punch her lights out, Jada. Would you be buddy-buddy with someone