Be My Bad Boy

Angie squatted beside me and lit up a cigarette.

"None of them have the nous to do our lunch stalking plan though," she whispered to me.
"How will we know what he looks like when he does leave?"
"I got a pic of him off the internet. I searched his name and there he was at some record launch party. You'll recognise him. He's got a massive nose. You'll see his nose leave the building before he does. Oi, you get away from our posters."
Angie ran after guy down the street. She came panting back.
"I shouldn't run with a cigarette in my mouth. Argghh, my lungs are burning."
"What's so good about playing here anyway?”
I looked up at the big white building with its Gothic architecture. It looked a bit old and crumbling to me. The front was covered in posters for bands but the office was around the side with a crappy little doorway leading onto the street.

"It's one of the biggest venues in town and lots of record company knobs show up to watch bands. You have to be able to pack in 5,000 people just to get a support gig, right, so that's a helluva lot of people for a headliner. It makes you look like you’re really hot."
"Hey, is that him?" Perfect timing for my secret plan.
"Yeah, come on. Just leave all that poster shit here."

We took off down the street after him but he walked at a brisk pace. He was a skinny dude, not fat like I imagined, and he wore a long overcoat even though the day was sunny. He headed into a little café and ordered lunch then went to sit in the courtyard out the back.
We ordered coffees then followed him out the back.
Angie was right. No one else had followed. Those guys were all too busy with their poster wars to even think of stalking like we'd done.

Angie sat down and launched in a dialogue about the gig the other night. How it'd been so crowded and she thought she'd be turned away at the door, how fantastic their set had been, how much she was looking forward to seeing them next time.
"Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides is seriously the best. He's so charismatic, people just flock to see him. I think BLACK VEIL BRIDES is going to be huge. They are so different to all those other bands." Subtlety wasn't Angie's strong point.
He spun around and stared at us.
"So, which one of you is their manager?"
I nodded.

"Do you know how many times a week I have to sit here and listen to someone banging on about their band while I try to enjoy my lunch?"
I tried to grin, a lopsided embarrassed grin. But really, why take on the job if he didn't like being bugged about bands?
He walked over to our table, looked Angie over then turned as if to dismiss her. He then looked at me. I wore a tight t-shirt and a cute little skirt. I'd needed something fairly tight so it fit under that stupid tree frog costume. His eyes moved down to my cleavage and stayed there. Seriously, like his eyeballs had fallen out and nested between my boobs.

He didn't speak for a minute, long enough to creep me out. I adjusted the neckline of my t-shirt but it didn't seem to help. He was creepy and gross, standing over me like that. I wondered if I should stand up.
Before I could move, his hand reached out to stroke my arm. I turned to get away from him but he kept patting me.
"Maybe, if you can be really nice, I might find an opening…”
My mouth dropped open. Was he saying what I thought he was saying? Gross. I wanted them to get this gig but not that much. Hells, if I was going to go to that extreme, I could just become a hooker and be done with it. I wanted to respond but my mouth just opened and closed like a goldfish out of water. That wasn't part of my plan at all.

"Like hell she'll be nice. You piece of shit. Come on, Hannah, let's get out of here. It's starting to stink."
Angie had jumped up from her seat and grabbed my hand.
I followed her out and almost ran into someone coming the other way. I looked up to see a familiar face.
"Frank, how are you going?"
"Hannah!" He kissed my cheek.
"Good to see you looking so well."
"Yeah, I've taken over the management business. Just doing some work at the moment. How totally unexpected to see you here.”
“Ha, always said you were the brains in the family." He patted my arm. "Come over for dinner one night. Hey, you should meet Jason. I'm having lunch with him and he's worth knowing if you want to get some band business done." He looked over at the sleazeball. "Come and join us." The sleazeball was all smiles for us now that Frank was here.
"Sorry, I've got to run." Angie took my hand and pulled me away. I probably shouldn't have brought her here with me. She’d mess this up.
As I said that, the waitress turned up with our coffees. "Where are you sitting, girls?"
Frank nodded to the empty table and we sat down.
"Have you met Hannah?" he asked the sleaze. "She's practically like a daughter to me. And this is…" Frank turned to Angie.
"Angie, our social media manager."
"Yes, we've met. I think we had a bit of a misunderstanding. I was making a little joke and she took it the wrong way.”
Angie kicked my foot under the table. There was no misunderstanding. You don't mistake a leer.
"Hannah is working in band management now. For Megastar Management."
"Are they still around? I thought the company folded years ago."
Well, that was really tactful of him. Still, he'd recognised the name. I'd not even thought of using it when I called, figuring it'd mean nothing.
"I'm sure you could really help her out," added Frank. "She's sure to have some bands you could put on your schedule."
"Yes, we'd been talking about one of them. What were they called? Black Hail Moms?"
"Black Veil Brides," I said. I bit my lip and didn't meet his eyes. "I have their demo in my bag."
"That's okay. If they are with Megastar Management I'm sure we can find a spot for them." Sleazy Jason gave Frank a smile, like a dog wanting a reward for doing a trick. He took out his phone and flicked through it. "Ah, we’ve had a band cancel for next Tuesday. Do you think they could fill-in then?"
I nodded.
"Wow, Hannah," said Frank. "I'll be there. I'd like to see you in manager mode with this band."
Frank winked at me. He was the best. I'd have totally got up and kissed him if I could've. Jason gulped knowing he was fully committed to having the band play now. With Frank turning up though, he'd have to keep his word.
It'd worked out just as Frank had said it would when I’d called him the other night. We'd not even had to work the sexual harassment angle. I'd just had to act gullible and let Frank do the rest. Angie had helped too in her own way. Still, I could've done with less of that Jason creep.
Jason told me the details and said he'd follow up with an email.
"Okay, we've finished our coffee. Nice meeting you, Jason." There may have been a touch of sarcasm in my tone but just a touch. "And see you on Tuesday, Frank."
We didn't whoop until we got well clear of the café. Then Angie grabbed my hands and swung me around. She even did a little dance on the street.
"You are officially, acceptably the manager now."
"Is it okay doing things like that? It's not like I used my own ability or anything?"
Angie elbowed me hard in the ribs.
"You are kidding, right? It's who you know in this business. And you know some hotshot lawyer which is totes awesome. Hey, am I really the Social Media Manager? That's sweet as. I need to get business cards printed."
She was right. I'd be totally accepted as manager now but I had a bit of a sick feeling in my belly, having to work with that sleazebag.

Notes

So... She got the gig at the Metropolis! Cx