Uncovering Kaitlyn (3 page)

I changed at
the hotel before calling a taxi to take me to zinc. I had to have a driver when
I was doing interviews or shoots because the fans were crazy sometimes, but
other than that I got away with taxis or driving my Audi R8. I had to tell
Graham where I was all the time though which pisses me off. It’s like being a
bloody kid still. I’m twenty-one and have to tell Graham where I am going just
in case I need a car or body guards. Ryan winds me up something chronic about
it, he often tells the hotter waitresses that I’m calling my mummy just so he
can have a chance with them. Which to be fair I would do to him if I were in
his shoes. It must be a nightmare to have to compete with an actor who made it
onto the hottest British actor top ten list for three years running.

I walked into
the bar wearing my typical cap and hoodie and go to my usual table where Ryan
already had my cold beer waiting. I gave him a nudge and surveyed the room,
something I learnt to do a few years ago when I got caught out and met a little
fan club. It was not a pretty sight. The bar is quiet as it usually is this
late on a Monday night.

“So you met
Kaitlyn Fox?”

Ryan never
beats around the bush; he always tells me what’s on his mind straight.

“Yeah, she’s
cool. Better on stage than that video, she even cried while singing.”

“Really? So
got her number?”

Years ago
when I first started to meet all these famous people, me and Ryan made a game.
I had to either get their number, their autograph or tell them the truth about
them. Nowadays I still go for the number or autographs, but I skip the truth
since it led to a rather neat right hook on my jaw by a very angry footballer.

“Tried for
the autograph, but gave it to this chick instead.”

“Come on
man, autograph? She’s hotter than that.”

“She had a
boyfriend. Besides she’s eighteen.”

“Eighteen is
an adult. If she’s old enough to vote, then she’s old enough to sleep with.”

“I said
boyfriend. I’m not that much of an arse.”

“Sure. I’ll
remember that next time you declare to a woman who’s drooling over me that I’m
gay.”

“That was
one time and her best friend really appreciated it.”

“I had to
leave the club out the backdoor so he wouldn’t come with me.”

“All’s fair
in love and war”

“Exactly why
I told the barmaid that I was waiting for my partner, and she’s got to have been
at least a nine. Anyway Matthew Webb?”

“He was
alright, a bit nerdy. I got a signed copy of his new book.”

“When was
the last time you picked up a book?”

“About two
hours ago when he gave one to me” I laughed.

“You’re
unreal. The world idolises a complete idiot.”

I ordered us
both another pint and had them sent over to the pool table.

“Best out of
three? Loser has to pay the tab.”

“Sure, but
the loser also has to chat up the eldest person in here at closing.”

“You’re on.”

Chapter
Two

Kaitlyn

I woke up to
my alarm bleeping loudly. Apparently I’m a heavy sleeper so each year Jake buys
me a different alarm clock to test the theory. This year’s is a stupid little
thing that just gets louder and louder until you think you’ll never hear again.
The worst part is you have to enter a code for it to shut up. On many occasions
I have resorted to pulling the plug instead, which is nice of me considering I
dumped one in the bath a few years back.

I got out of
bed and went in search of my morning cup of tea. I’m one of those spoilt children
whose parents still make my breakfast most days even though I’m eighteen. Dad
jokes that I’ll never move out because I can’t even make cereal properly. I
think he forgets that I was only seven when I put juice on my coco pops and
heated it in the microwave. To be fair, I honestly thought it was a clever idea
at the time. I was cold and impatient so I thought I’d speed the process up a
bit. It’s safe to say that I’m banned from cooking now.

“Morning,
sweetie. Did you sleep alright?”

I nodded and
sipped my cup of tea. No matter how early I got up, Dad was always dressed and
pottering around the kitchen.

“How was the
show? I watched it and you sang amazingly.”

“Bad. The
song was the only thing that went well. I threw up, froze, nearly had a panic
attack then Jake decided to make the night a whole lot worse.”

“I’m sure it
wasn’t that bad. You handled the questions about Jake very well and we all get
nervous sometimes. I’m sure you’ll get used to it.”

I gave Dad a
look and took the plate of egg and toast from him. I didn’t bother with any
small talk. There wasn’t much point. We both knew that I probably wouldn’t get
any better with nerves and meaningless conversation had always seemed pointless
to us. I finished my breakfast and put the plate in the sink.

“Boo!”

 I screamed
when Jake grabbed me from the back.

“Jake!
Really, did you have too? It’s nine in the morning and I’m still mad at you.”

I sulked
back to the table, pouring myself another cup of tea.

“So are you
kids going to tell me what happened last night?” My Dad asked us. I say he
‘asked’ but with him it was an order and we both understood that.

“I broke up
with Diana last night” Jake explained.

“I figured
as much, seeing how you’re here and not there. Why is Kaitlyn mad at you then?”

I gave Jake
my best evil glare, which was pathetic but I’m no actress.

“Yeah Jake,
why am I mad at you?” I taunted. Dad smacked me lightly across the back of my
head.

“Behave
Kaitlyn. You’re not three.” He sat between us at the table and waited for Jake
to speak but Jake kicked me under the table, expecting me to speak instead.

“He broke up
with her because of me. She made him choose, so he left her over the Phone!”

“As if I
wouldn’t choose you Kaitlyn. You’re family. She always knew that, and now because
you’re famous, she has a problem with it. People like that aren’t worth being
with.”

“Kaitlyn,
Jake has a point. If she was being like that then that was down to Jake to
decide what to do. Not that I approve of the way he handled it. Over the phone Jake;
I raised a better man than that. Now shake hands and apologise to each other.”

We looked at
him. He couldn’t be serious.

“I’m not
kidding. Shake hands or leave and don’t come back. I won’t have petty fights
under my roof.”

Reluctantly
we shook hands and mumbled our apologies. I kicked Jake back. I know it was
immature but I felt like I won the battle.

“Come on
Katie, let’s watch some mind numbing TV.”

I allowed
myself to be dragged to our sitting room and laughed when Jake put on the
Jeremy Kyle show. We always declared we hated it, but as soon as we were alone
we put it on and spent the morning lazily watching. I sprawled out across the
sofa, making Jake take the floor. We were halfway through ‘Mum, How could you
steal my twenty year old boyfriend’ when we heard the door go.

“Hello
Aaron. They’re in the living room, don’t mind them being slobs.” I heard Dad
welcome him.

“No problem,
my kids are always lounging when I visit. I bet they’re still in their PJ’s.”

I jumped up
and grabbed Jake. Shit, I was never seen like this. I don’t care how much of a
mess I am but I’m always fully clothed and sorted when people visit.

“Jake, go
stop him.” I pushed him towards the door.

“Calm down,
It’s only Aaron. His like a granddad, he’ll be fine.”

“Jake” I
screeched. He seemed to get the message and went into the hall.

“Hello
Aaron. Long time, no see. Shall we go into the kitchen and get a coffee.”

“It’s ok,
I’ll just go through and see Kaitlyn. We’ve got a lot to sort out today.”

“She’s not
dressed. She’s shy about that sort of thing.”

Dad seemed
to get Jake’s message and thankfully I heard them go into the kitchen. I ran
upstairs and threw on some clothes and grabbed an old scarf before heading
downstairs to join them. I paused in the hall to check myself in the mirror and
took a deep breath before heading into the kitchen.

“Morning,
Aaron. I wasn’t expecting you today.” I said to him politely hoping I was
hiding the fact that I considered this a rude interrupt to my duvet day.

“Sorry,
since your performance on the Howard Collins show last night your requests have
sky rocketed. I’ve already narrowed down the list and there’s still around
fifty I would like you to consider. I also don’t believe in flat out denying
any request without your approval so I would also like to run through those
which I do not think you should do. On top of that there are hundreds of party
or appearance requests/ invitations and several personal meetings I believe you
should arrange.”

“Really? I
thought it was a day off.”

“If we don’t
do this today then they will get on top of us. I know you’re a private person
which is why I’d like to refrain from hiring an assistant for as long as
possible. I’m sorry Kaitlyn but this is the only way I can keep it just between
us. At the current rate, I’ll last two weeks without an assistant.”

“Why now
though? I’ve been in the top ten for two weeks now, and the video went viral a
week before that.”

“Before now,
you were mysterious. Nobody knew you; they knew the song and your voice. There
were pictures of you but since you agreed to start interviews, people can
finally get details. Gossip only sells so much, at some point you have to
accept the life that comes with fame. I know you’re still early in your music
career and I fear that not paying attention to the demand now will hurt your
career. I don’t want you to be a one hit wonder Kaitlyn.”

“I don’t
want that either, but the last few weeks have already been hell. People who I
barely know I selling me out quicker than I can make my music, it’s a wonder I
haven’t been lost in it all already.”

My Dad held
my hand and took over from me. He began to ask Aaron questions and he and Aaron
made a priority to do list. I sat there humming a song I’d been writing over
the last few weeks while I waited for them to finish. Jake left to make a phone
call. It only took me about five seconds to realise he was phoning Diana to
arrange collecting his stuff.

“Are you
ready Kaitlyn?”

I nodded
slowly. I didn’t have a choice either way.

“I’ll start
with the good bits. The record label would like to sign you up for an album.
They want about ten tracks and will provide any extra help you need. Basic free
reign. That means you can do what you like and the label won’t change or edit
anything without your say so, but it also means they can out-right refuse to
allow it on the album. There were several other offers from rival companies but
I honestly believe this is the best for you. Some are offering more money but
you will have less control. You’re good because you sing your life so I recommend
you go with BARC. That’s the British Artists Record Company. Their offer is an
advance of Three million and you can expect heavy royalties plus bonuses as
well as a lump sum when you finish. Agreed?”

“Three
Million?” I spluttered. I couldn’t even imagine that much money. We were in no
way poor, but we had to work for a living. I knew Dad would struggle a bit
without the housekeeping he took from my waitressing work.

“Plus
bonuses. I know it’s a lot of money, but we’ll help you with that. I’ll take a
cut, though it won’t be anywhere near how much I earned while working for a
label. I’m retired now so I don’t need that much. So do you agree? We’ll have a
meeting with a lawyer and them to make sure they can’t screw you over at all.”

“Yes, that’s
fantastic. I can’t believe I get to make my own album.” I can’t honestly
remember being this excited in my life. Not even when I got my dream bike with tassels
and a fancy bell for my sixth birthday or when I was surprised with a trip to
Disney land when I was thirteen. I tried to stop squealing and jumping around
but failed miserably.

“Next are
the interviews. You’re wanted on ten shows over the next three weeks. There are
only two live shows and all three of us will be able to be there to support you
and they will both allow for an emergency get out if we demand it. There are
three additional TV interviews which I would advise you to reject. The shows
are either too harsh, cheesy or will terrify you.”

Aaron read
through the list and I reluctantly agreed to all of them apart from the three
he said not to do. I wasn’t a fan anyway so I wasn’t going to volunteer myself
for a bit of extra torture.

“You also
have four requests for quiz show type of appearances. I would also advise you
to turn these down because frankly I don’t think your nerves will take it.”