Weeping Lily - 22. Chapter 22

Surprisingly Jayden insisted on an interview with Manya Cole. When pressed about it he simply said that it would be interesting and, ‘given the situation’ it would be fun and popular with their fans.

The ‘situation’ he was talking about was the fact that even before the official programme was broadcast video footage taken by one of the visitors who had been pushed out and pissed off by the film crew, found it’s way to YouTube. Of course it was completely unedited and had become something of an internet phenomenon, vastly increasing Weeping Lily’s profile and popularity even among people who would never otherwise have been interested.

Jayden had seen the interview; both the official and the non official versions and he had been tight lipped about his opinion of either. Cal was not the only one who was deeply suspicious of his motives but he simply smiled innocently and shrugged whenever pressed on the matter.

This time they went to the studio and were amused to notice the very prominent additional security.

Manya was enthusiastic in her welcome and in cooing over Jayden, treating him as if he were a fragile flower. The very fact that he took it all with such good grace roused suspicion in everyone who knew Jayden.

“What’s going on?” Cal hissed.

“Nothing. I’m doing exactly I was told and being a good boy.”

“No you’re not. You’re being scarily nice, too nice. What are you planning?”

“Who said I’m planning anything?”

“You did, when I asked you what was going on and you changed the subject every time.”

Jayden grinned and shook his head but, as he walked away he winked at Cal.

“What’s going on?” Jeff asked sidling up to him and watching Jayden allow himself to be led away and settled comfortably on the sofa by Manya.

“I don’t know but I’m scared.” Cal muttered sotto voce.

“Yeah, he’s...”

“Yeah, he is.”

Manya called Cal over and waved him vaguely towards the sofa. Cal sat down next to Jayden who grinned at him innocently.

“Are we all settled? Good. When you’re ready.” She smarmed glancing up at the producer.

After a few sound checks Manya was about to launch into the interview, when Jayden’s pocket began to buzz loudly.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I meant to put it on silent. Just give me a minute. He fiddled with his phone for a few seconds and then laid it down on the sofa next to him. “All done.”

Manya looked a little annoyed but faced with Jayden’s smile she recovered quickly and went back to the interview. Cal frowned at Jayden. What game was he playing now?

“Can we start that again?” Manya looked up at the producer who, after a few moments re setting the cameras nodded to her.

As the interview began Manya was ingratiatingly polite although still not quite as polite as Jayden, who twinkled his way through patronising questions on how he was feeling and even more patronising comments on how glad she was that he was feeling better. He sparkled through the banal questions about the new album and their forthcoming live performance.

Then she asked about the single.

“You must all be thrilled with the success of your single, ‘China Doll’. Clearly your fans have remained loyal and are eager to prove their loyalty by rushing out and buying your CD. Could you give them some insight into the inspiration behind this song?”

“Sorry? I don’t understand what you mean.” Jayden twinkled at her with an innocent expression on his face.

“I’m sorry, I appreciate that you’re a little out of the swing. I’ll make myself clearer. What inspired you to write China Doll?”

Instantly Cal tensed, on the defensive. He was just about ready to explode when Jayden smiled and gently put his hand on his thigh. Cal looked first at the hand and then at Jayden’s smile and immediately subsided with a slight smile on his face. He finally got the message.

Jayden turned to Manya and gave her his most alluring smile, his eyes looking straight into the camera. When he wanted to be Jayden could be a skilled and devastatingly effective showman and he knew very well how to play the camera. At that point he was sharing a private and intimate moment with each and every viewer.

“I appreciate, Manya that you are not a fan of our music and neither have you followed our career as avidly a many of your viewers. I’m sure it’s simply not your type of music.” He turned a mega watt smile on her and she responded hesitantly not quite sure how to take that. “However I am surprised that you didn’t know about my recent ‘experiences’. I’m frankly surprised that there is anyone who doesn’t know what happened.

“Actually,” he hurried on as she opened her mouth to respond, “I think this would be a really good point to pause for a moment and express my wonder and gratitude to each and every one of my fans and wellwishers from all around the world, who seemed to know what happened to me and showed such genuine concern for my health.

“Thank you all. Every single message received and broadcast during my illness and convalescence has been conveyed to me and I am sure they have contributed to my recovery.”

As he spoke he twinkled at the camera, infusing every word with deep sincerity. Everyone present knew full well that every viewer who looked into those eyes and saw the twinkle in his smile would be drawn into his words and feel personally included in the warm honeyed voice. Also, as most of the fans had seen the original broadcast and/or the ‘alternative’ and more accurate versions scattered all over the internet, they mostly appreciated the slight emphasis on certain words and the flick of his eyes towards Manya as he said them.

Before Manya could recover he pressed on turning his smile back on her. “And of course, if you had been aware of what happened to me you would have realised that the lyrics of China Doll came out of that experience. And when you listen to the rest of the songs on the album, two of which we will be performing at our forthcoming appearance, you will see that I have drawn on that experience in writing those too.”

Of course everyone knew damned well that she had been fully aware of what had happened and she had neither listened to China Doll nor intended to listen to any of the other songs. Jayden’s little smile was an invitation to each and every viewer to participate in that little joke at her expense.

Manya recovered well but behind her sweet smile was now a glint of malice. However, she wasn’t dealing with Cal now. There would be no explosion, no fireworks and the rest of the band, instead of sitting on the edges of their seats anxiously, were sitting back with smiles on their faces, enjoying the show.

Jayden on top form, which he was, was a match for the most skilled interviewer, which Manya was not. Jeff considered stepping in but he thought back to the last interview and smiled to himself, crossing his arms and sitting back to watch with interest what happened next.

“Why of course I was aware of your terrible experience Jayden, didn’t I say so right at the beginning of the interview?” She said rather stiffly. “But of course you boys like your little jokes don’t you? I believe that you have quite a reputation for practical jokes Luc and it seems as if you have ‘rubbed off’ on Jayden.” Everyone glanced at Jayden but he let it go so they knew there was worse (or better) to come.

Manya pressed on and walked right into Jayden’s neat trap, feeding him exactly the opportunity he needed to close it around her throat.

“I am sure our viewers appreciate our concern and the fact that we have always been the first to bring them news of their favourite boy band.” Cal twitched at the comment but Jayden’s tightened grip on his thigh quelled him.

“Absolutely.” Jayden enthused, earning him even more surprised looks from the rest of the band. “In fact I’m told that you were the first to broadcast an interview with Weeping Lily after the... erm... incident; actually there in the hospital, I believe.”

Manya gave him a quick, sharp look possibly recognising the pit that was opening at her feet, but Jayden was smiling at her with such an innocent, ingenuous look on his face that she smiled and nodded. “Indeed , and I am sure that your fans and our viewers were fully appreciative that they were getting the best and most current news possible. We were all terribly concerned about you and wanting to have the best information we could of your recovery.”

Big mistake, Jayden’s innocent smile, if only she had realised it, was the smile of a predator waiting to pounce its prey. “I’m not sure I was recovering at the time and of course I was in no condition to appreciate your actions, or as I am sure my fans will forgive me for saying, to care about them. But I’ve heard a lot about it and seen the broadcast, both the official and unofficial versions. I just loved the ones on YouTube.”

Manya blanched but Jayden pressed on. “The unofficial versions included a lot of really interesting stuff although they didn’t have anywhere near the same quality as yours.”

“Yes, well, that was... unfortunate.” Manya tried to recover her poise. Then her eyes began to glitter with the same malice that had been slightly better disguised before. “If I had realised that your ‘relationship’ with Cal was so far off limits and so difficult for Cal to talk about I would never have brought it up. I am sure you will appreciate why we cut it, in consideration for his feelings.”

Cal growled low in his throat and leaned forward with his mouth open. Jayden’s fingers on his thigh raised bruises. Manya didn’t miss the gesture. She smiled a smile with so much edge it could have cut paper.

“Oh dear, I seem to have put my foot in it again. Perhaps you’re not up to addressing that question just yet.”

She was completely taken by surprise when Jayden gave her a blinding smile. Cal thought that his face must be hurting by now with all the smiling. His own face had worn a scowl pretty much from the time he sat down. He couldn’t understand why everyone else was still smiling.

“On the contrary. I can’t imagine why you would think that I’d not want to address the question?”

Manya gave Jayden a nervous glance but she was committed and it would be futile to try and change the subject now, especially as she was well aware that the viewers would be sitting on the edges of their seats. “Only that it seems to be distressing to Cal when the subject is raised. It simply assumed that you’re not yet ready to admit that you are an item.” She gave a brittle little laugh which was overshadowed by Jayden’s warm one.

“’An item’? What does that mean? You make it sound like something on a shopping list. If you are curious about whether Cal and I are lovers then I really wouldn’t make assumptions about what I’m ready to admit. Even though I don’t really see how it’s anyone else’s business I really don’t have a problem discussing it. Why on earth would I not want to tell the world how lucky I am to have such a beautiful, charming, talented, strong, crazy and incredibly sexy creature as my boyfriend? And the fact that he’s a red hot lover doesn’t hurt either.” He winked at the camera completely at ease. “The sex is great.”

Jayden widened his eyes innocently. “Crap. Am I allowed to say ‘sex’ on here?”

Manya looked stunned and blustered, trying to smile. “Oh I... Um...”

“Bollocks... am I allowed to say ‘crap’? Oh fuck I just keep getting myself further in the shit don’t I?” He grinned. “Ah well... fuck it.”

Turning away from Manya who was opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish, wavering between blinding rage, embarrassment and the knowledge that this was ratings gold.

“Kiss me Cal.” He purred grabbing a stunned Cal and kissing him passionately to calls of, “Cut, for God sake cut.” And “Keep them rolling, this is gold.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Manya spluttered when they came up for air.

“Making television history.” Jayden said sweetly, absently stroking Cal’s thigh in a way that made Cal squirm and which, coming so close on the heels of the passionate kiss, made his appreciation visibly and uncontrollably apparent. Thank God he was wearing tight leather trousers which minimised the effect. Maya looked slightly sick.

“If you think that... that debacle is going to be broadcast on MY show you have to be crazy.”

“It’s been suggested.” Jay commented with a shrug. “What’s the matter? You asked the question, didn’t you like the answer?”

“That wasn’t an answer that was... that was...” The expression on her face made it quite clear what she thought it was.

“What’s the matter Manya?” He said in a voice that no longer even pretended warmth. “You don’t have a problem with it do you? Our relationship I mean.”

“A problem?”

“Well... if you don’t mind me saying so, your reactions seem to suggest that you are somewhat uncomfortable with our sexuality... especially when it’s not just talked about.” He continued to stroke Cal’s thigh as he spoke and Cal had got the message by then and had leaned into Jayden and rested his head on his shoulder turning his face to kiss his neck when Jayden flicked his hair out of the way.

“What I have a problem with is that blatant display of...”

“Of what? Surely this is not the first time that someone has kissed on your show? In fact I seem to remember just the other day...”

“That was different.”

“Different? How... ah I see. Of course, they were ‘straight’ weren’t they?”

“They were more... restrained and tasteful. And I trust you are not suggesting what I think you are suggesting, which is outrageous. Besides... the matter is irrelevant as it is never going to see the light of day.”

If Jayden’s smile had been dangerous before it was now downright terrifying, at least to those who knew him. “On the contrary, I think you will find that it is peeping out into the light of day even as we speak and within half an hour the unabridged version of the soundtrack is going to be listened to by thousands of people all over the world.

“I would be surprised if those people are not going to then be screaming out to see ‘the kiss’. If you don’t show the whole interview someone is going to be lynched, especially when the programme is set to get the highest viewing ratings in its history.”

“I don’t know who you think you are or what you are trying to achieve but there is no way you are going to get that on the internet. You don’t have some convenient little pleb with their nose out of joint videoing the thing out of spite this time, and I would remind you that you are under contract.”

Jayden gave her a contemptuous glance and waved away Jeff who, at the mention of contracts had hurried over, murmuring about law suits.

“Who I think I am is someone who does not appreciate their boyfriend being deliberately baited by a little bitch like you when he was at his lowest and half out of his mind with worry about the fact that I was fighting for my life in the next room. I am also someone who does not appreciate the fact that you are trying to use the fact that I was put through complete hell and damn near died along with smutty innuendo to further your pathetic career.

“What I am trying to achieve is to teach you a lesson which I am damned sure there is no prospect of you learning, and perhaps to get a little sweet revenge on the way.

“And as for contracts; yeah I know about the contract, I helped write it after all.” All of the boys, including Cal, gaped at him. They’d had no idea that he had been involved in the contract negotiations. Jeff’s jaw dropped because until then he’d had no idea why. Jayden smiled sweetly but his voice was dangerous.

“There was a reason for that.” Manya blanched at the tone in his voice and the gleam in his eyes. “The contract says that you have exclusive broadcasting rights in the footage and recordings taken in the studio today. It also says that we have no control over the editing ‘of that footage’ or any right to broadcast or reproduce ‘that footage’. You will appreciate that this relates to the ‘footage’, that is the video images and sound recordings taken ‘in the studio’ today.

“The contract also forbids us bringing our own ‘recording equipment into the studio’ to make a recording of the interview.”

“But... but...” Manya floundered and Jayden noticed that they had now been joined by the producer who looked decidedly nervous.

“Wait” he snapped. Then he smiled sweetly and innocently, letting his eyes rove around before they widened and he gasped. “Oh no. It seems as if I have made a terrible mistake.” He picked up his phone. “I think I forgot to hang up.”

There were a chorus of gasps. “Hey... don’t they say that these phones have great reception, good enough to be recorded quite clearly. Not that I was recording anything of course. I certainly didn’t bring any ‘recording equipment into the studio’ But I have no idea what my friend might be doing on the other end of the line. Do you think that he might have heard something after I forgot to hang up?”

Manya was spitting nails when he raised the phone to his ear. “Hey dude. God I’m sorry I forgot to hang up. Did you hear all of that? How embarrassing? You didn’t... oh hell you did. You haven’t... really? Already? Tut tut, you naughty boy. Anyway, I’m kind of busy at the moment, I’ll catch you later.”

Grinning Jayden disconnected the call. He shrugged. “Seems like he heard every word and he took it on himself to record it.”

“I’ll have you arrested.”

“On what grounds? I haven’t done anything illegal.”

“Blackmail.”

“Really? I’m no lawyer but I thought that for there to be blackmail there has to be some kind of threat and exchange. I mean that I have to threaten you that if you don’t do something or give me something I will do something bad to you or your reputation. In other words I have to take something from you under threat.”

He glanced at Jeff who nodded with a slightly confused smile on his face. “Well that’s good then, because I don’t want a thing from you. You can show the footage or not show it; edit it to hell for all I care, although you would be stupid to do that when a lot of the fans will be watching just to see the pictures to go with what they’ve heard. And I can’t threaten you with the fact that I might broadcast the recording... because it’s already done.”

“I... I’ll sue you.”

“Try it. There was no recording equipment brought into the studio. There was no recording made in the studio. We haven’t taken any of the recordings or footage made in the studio and the contact specifies that there are no specific rights in the interview itself... purely so that we could comment on it and make reference to its contents in other places of course.” He flicked his eyes up at the network executive who shook his head, half in despair and half in grudging respect.

“Your phone was recording equipment.” She blustered, clutching at straws.

“My phone was a phone and I think you will find that even though the contract doesn’t specifically exempt phones it does clearly set out precisely an exhaustive definition of ‘recording equipment’ which clearly excludes my phone. Besides, it wasn’t me who did the recording. All I did was fail to disconnect the call, which I am sure could happen to anyone.”

“But... but...”

Jayden leaned forward almost conspiratorially and put a hand on her knee. She flinched and pulled back.

“Look... let me give you a bit of advice. I have been through too much and owe too much to my friends, especially Cal, to let anyone get away with screwing them.” He sat up and looked around with a grin. “Unless they want it of course.” Then the grin fell from his face and he hissed. “So don’t fuck with me or you’ll be the one getting screwed.”

Leaving Jeff to deal with the fall out which he attacked with relish and a broad grin, Jayden got to his feet and, holding Cal’s hand tightly dragged him out of the studio, followed by the others.