Many the Miles

Part 10

Ella woke up to Taj yelling at someone on the phone. It was 2:35 in the morning and she was confused as to who he’d be talking to at this hour.

She got out of his bed and walked over to the bathroom. “Katie listen to me. I did not do any of that I was with Ella all day in Griffith Park. The cell service sucks up there. I didn’t even get any of Ben’s calls. How could I do any of that.”

“Taj I’m just telling you what I heard. Arielle and Nikko had emails from an address with your name. They aren’t from the business account email, so I just asked,” Katie calmly explained.

“I know I’m not as vocal, but I can’t stand Lauryn why would I want to help Ben propose to her I’d rather eat glass and wash it down with a bottle of magnesium citrate.”

Katie chuckled. “Same, but we need to find a way to start to change the narrative here. Ben has to break it off with Lauryn before he goes back to Sonoma. His time frame and state of mind at the moment aren’t great.”

“Yeah, Lev wants him to do a little more for the album based off the few tracks we presented. The new contract is on the line here and people are going to be watching closer so who knows when the news about the kids will drop.”

“I don’t think anyone will know without him telling. It’s been 6 years and a lot of stuff in his past. We just need to kill this story and get Benji out of his head. I don’t want to see him spiral again.”

“Give Tim a statement to post so it’s not officially us. Something short and concluding there is no talks of marriage happening. I’ll work on slowing production. And I’ll keep Ben busy and focused until we go back to Sonoma.”

“He’s really losing it. He was in literal shock when this happened. I can’t believe she did this to him. I really want to kill her.”

“Which is why you need to be on the first thing smoking to New York. I don’t want that on Worldstar. I’ll handle things here you keep your parents at bay. Not sure Ben can handle your mom’s disappointment on top of all of this. I don’t even think they’ve had their monthly talk in a bit.”

“Yeah, he’s avoiding the parental. I thought it was because of the kids, but I’m not so sure anymore.”

“We just need to do what we can to fix this. And prepare a breakup statement for he and Lauryn. I’m gonna visit Jordan.”

“Ask her to quit and join us. I hate seeing her work for that manipulative bitch.”

“Not gonna happen, but I will make sure Lauryn gets the picture that she and Benji are no more.”

“Sounds like a plan. Sorry to mess up your night with Ella.”

“She’s sound asleep, but I’m definitely going to have to worn her before she leaves. I just hope Mia understands this is just a publicity stunt.”

“Once, Ben talks to her I’m sure things will work out, but I’d never speak to him again if I were her.”

“Please don’t tell your brother that.”

Ella heard a quiet laugh from Katie before she said “Good night.”Ella made her way back to bed and under the covers.

Taj

Meeting with Jordan was always pleasant when Lauryn wasn’t involved. She was a genuinely kind and caring individual. That was one of her fatal flaws. She was often too nice to the wrong person.

She was Lauryn’s childhood friend and got the job when Lauryn fired her parents as her managers at age 17.

Lauryn was the queen of burning bridges. Somehow Jordan fixed everything. She cleaned her image and got her on the right track with a few staring roles. Now Laryn was a household name.

Jordan sat down and ordered a bottle of merlot. That told Taj all he needed to know. Lauryn was spiraling. “Before you ask I have no idea what is going on with her, I know you didn’t set anything up, anyone with Common sense would have know that email wasn’t sent by you. But I can change anything. Not with her birthday party and the movie premiere.”

“Look Ben was planning on breaking things off with Lauryn yesterday.”

“I never thought this day would come. I’ll get a no comment statement ready but she is out for blood. I don’t know what crawled up her ass and died but it’s clearly not going to go over well when he does it.”

“Ill make sure he know it and take that into account. Do you happen to know who sent the emails?”

“Someone who can’t spell your last name,” she laughed. “I haven’t a clue but I have a feeling Lauryn does but I’m not sure.”

Benji

Taj knocked on the wall adjacent to my bed. “What are you doing in your skivvies?”

“Contemplating life,” I said rolling on my side.

“Have you left this room since you got home?”

“Not really?”

“Did you eat anything today?”

“Not hungry,” I sighed.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, but this situation is going to be fixed.”

“Mia won’t talk to me. Lauryn has the whole world thinking we’re about to get married. It’s too late to fix it.”

“If you think like that it is. You can fight for Mia or you can give up.”

“I’m just gonna lay here and wait for death.”

“Ben, you’ll be in Sonoma soon enough. I’m sure you’ll talk to her and hash it all out.”

My stomach clutched. I was stupid for never saying anything about Lauryn. Now our faces were everywhere on everything and people think we’re engaged. “f**k,” I yelled.

“Ben, you need to focus. Lev is going to make this a visual album. We have 3 days to produce more songs. No I.D., is ready to work. You need to get your s**t together.”

“I ruined the best thing that could ever happen to me. Before it could ever happen.”

“You can be lovesick after we work. Just give me two hours and I will do whatever it takes to help you win Mia back.”

“She’s never going to trust me again. Literally, her entire marriage has been a lie. And I f****d it all up.”

“Ella and Dominique aren’t going to let you go down like that. We have your back. Mia knows you guys have the potential to be great. Just let her sort her stuff out. This might be a thing she has to figure out for herself.”

Taj was right. Mia had a lot going on and it was dumb of me to think all her problems revolved around me. She told me a million times her life was messy. And I added to it, but I was going to fix that.

“You’re right Taj. Let’s get stuff set with No ID so I can see my kids.”

Taj smiled and clapped me on the back. “That’s watsup,” Taj said.