On Tour

Trey had suggested to take her out for some brunch. He seemed at peace with himself, and more importantly, with Karma. Finally, he looked like his old self again with the messy hair and the t-shirt instead of the slicked back look and the suit and tie.

Karma was glad at how civil he had been acting right from the beginning, and a breakfast to discuss everything sounded heavenly in her ears if Trey was going to stay as friendly.

Maybe he didn’t think I’d actually fire him, Karma thought as they were led to a table in a small, authentic café with the apt name “London Weather“. The rain was pouring outside. I really hope he understood me correctly yesterday.

“So,“ Trey said after they’d given their orders - two waters, a cappuccino for Trey and a black coffee for Karma as well as a shared platter with various British authentic foods -, “you said you wanted out.“

Karma nodded, surprised at how easy this was and how calm he sounded when he talked about it. I really hope this turns out well. I don’t think I can handle this anymore, Karma thought, and I was foolish to think I could make it big. I would have loved to, but… It’s all too much at this point.

“I get that,“ her manager said with an empathetic smile, “It can truly be tough sometimes. I thought you were gonna stick around for longer, though.“ Karma snorted. “I would have, but you’ve been pushing me a little too hard for my likes,“ she replied, feeling like she had to be entirely honest.

He’s been good to me up until some months ago, he deserves to hear an honest truth and my opinion. I won’t be the last artist he manages, and hopefully he’ll learn something so he won’t make the same mistakes with any other artist, she thought.

“Well, I pushed you. I’m sure I did. I’m sorry if I went too far but…“ he made a pause there to make her aware of how important whatever he was going to say next was, “Do you have any idea how much Lady Gaga pushed herself? Or that Taylor Swift girl? Nothing good ever comes easy.“

“You’re probably right, but Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift weren’t touring around Europe with a second time-consuming band when they made it big,“ Karma remarked. Trey nodded understandingly.

“They didn’t,“ he agreed, “and you and I wanted to wait, too. But then that contest happened, and suddenly you were viral. I thought we had to act quick, while people are still talking about you. People’s attention spans are short these days.“

He has a point there, doesn’t he? I was pretty known then. “It was now or never, Karma,“ he claimed. Was it really? It might have been. We couldn’t have waited that much longer. That’s probably true.

“Well, I don’t know, Trey. We could have gone slower, couldn’t we? Maybe not so many appointments per day.“ Karma felt like every argument against Trey and his behavior was shattered to pieces. He’d wanted her best. He’d seen the opportunity and tried to help her, but she was weak.

I was so dumb. Why didn’t I see that he just wanted to help me? Sure, that thing with Matt… But he tried. He thought it was best for me.

“I mean, you do know that me pushing you was not gonna be like that forever, right? You were gonna deliver that album and then maybe a small US tour if we’re feeling up to it. All this pushing you was and is only necessary to get you up there. Once you’re there, it’s gonna be relaxed and stuff.“

Karma nodded, understanding what Trey meant. Their conversation was interrupted for a brief time as their food arrived, but Karma didn’t feel hungry anymore all of a sudden. Maybe I still want to work with him. The album’s done and now I’ll just have to do some more publicity and I’ll be a star. I can still achieve what I’ve always dreamed of, ever since I was a kid…

“You’re not eating,“ Trey remarked. It sounded more approving than judging, and somehow that was exactly what Karma wanted. For someone to tell her what she’d been doing was alright. Better than alright. It was great and leading to something bigger, and most definitely not in vain like she thought.

“I’m not hungry anymore.“
“Well, where were we? Ah, I remember,“ Trey said as he chewed on a gigantic piece of pancake. Karma’s stomach roared in approval.

“I din’t think you’d be a quitter, and then you got so close to where you wanted to go…“
She remained quiet, knowing he was right. She’d never been able to cope with stress, and now at the slightest hint of a stressful situation she quit instead of pushing herself to work for her dreams.

“You do know that I did all that to keep you in the headlines until your album is out. A little photoshoot here, a little interview with ‘The voice behind the Cash cover’ there… Anything to make people who are not in the rock and metal scene know about Karma Strikes before her album drops. It was wrong to send a photographer, I know that now. I’ve just become… a little greedy myself. Karma, we’re so damn close I can taste it.“

Karma excused herself to the bathroom without saying anything more about the accusations he’d just made. When she got there, she splashed cold water into her face. I really don’t know what to do, she thought, do I give him another chance? He’s right, I am close… I just don’t know what to do. He’s brainwashing me but I feel like he's right anyway…

She returned to the table with a stoic expression. “I don’t think I want to continue this any longer,“ she said and put a ten dollar note on the table. It was too much considering she didn’t eat anything, but it was the smallest note she had.

She turned on her heels and walked out of the restaurant. “You don’t get this,“ Trey said, his face swollen with anger. She felt him grab her harshly by the shoulder. He twisted her around and pulled her into an alley without any people.

“I own your fucking ass,“ Trey spat, then Karma felt his fist hit her face. “If you quit now, I’m not getting anything out of that album with Alex. And considering what I’ve done for you, this is not fair, is it?“

Karma whimpered in pain. “I could give you some…“

“I want everything I would have gotten,“ he whispered excitedly. “You’re my cow and I’m milking you until I say I’m done with you. By the way, my contract says we can only terminate it on mutual terms. Well, does this look mutual to you? Tell anyone and I'll ruin your fucking life. Not even lover boy. You know how much I have against you. You stupid little girl confided in me and told me everything. You're all the same!“

He laughed like a maniac, then walked away slowly, fully aware that people could see how he beat Karma.

Two hours later, a plane to LA left Heathrow Airport at London, Karma being on it. Before departure, she’d texted Matt the details about her arrival at LAX and he promised to pick her up with beach stuff and they would relax in the Californian sun for the first time in months. For the first time ever since they got together.

Karma frowned as she drifted away into a peaceful sleep. I can’t wait to see my wonderful Matt but I wish I could tell him everything. He can't know. Not that. Trey would surely tell him, she thought, and that was the last thing she remembered before dozing off.

Notes

I know this is short but I'll try to update again tomorrow :)