Chapter 19

       "I can't believe you did this," Agatha said. "It is not your job to get gigs! That's my job and you can't be constantly overstepping what I do. If you wanted a gig at the Christmas charity concert, you should have told me and I would have gotten you it."

       "Would you really?" I asked. "I mean, you have been trying for the past two years and failed both times. I'm pretty sure we had a better chance of getting the gig than you. Same with the talk show that you just weren't able to get us on."

       Agatha was fuming now and it was so enjoyable. After making my life so miserable, it felt good to finally be able to do the same thing to her.

       Only worse.

       Agatha took a deep breath to try to calm herself down. "I've been calm as much as I can recently but I think it's time."

       Time for what? For her to quit?

       A guy could only dream.

       "For what, exactly?" Aviva asked.

       Agatha didn't reply. She just set her briefcase down on the kitchen table before opening it and taking out some paper. She then handed it to me, and I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked down. "What's this?" I asked.

       "Maybe if you do this thing called reading, you'll find out," Agatha said.

       Otis got up from the seat he was on and walked over, taking it out of my hands so he could read it because he was more of the legal-type person. After a quick read through, he looked at Agatha. "Are you being serious?" he asked.

       "Deadly," Agatha said. "If Malachi thinks he can do better than me at my job, then let's see how good you all do without me?"

       "Wait, please tell me you're saying what I think you're saying," I said. 

       "She is," Otis said. "This is to release her as our manager."

       I didn't even think we were close to making Agatha snap and want to quit but apparently, we were.

       I wanted to bring out the champagne. Even though Junior couldn't drink. But I would celebrate enough for him so I should still bring out the champagne.

       "Look over it, sign it, and bring it back to me when you do so," Agatha said. "I would like to see how well you do without me." And just like that, she left.

       I immediately went to the kitchen and got out a bottle of champagne. "Anyone wanna celebrate?"

       "This can't be too easy," Junior said. "There has to be some kind of catch. There's no way she would quit just like that when all we did was get on a talk show and a gig."

       "So far, this actually seems legit," Otis said, reading the paper over. "I'll get my mom's best friend to look over it just in case. Oh, wait..." He read over one part before looking at us. "We have to give her two thousand dollars."

       "Then we'll do it," I said. "That's... I don't know, I'm too hungry to do the math. Junior?"

       "Four hundred dollars each," Junior said. "That's not bad. I'd definitely pay that to get rid of her."

       "I'd pay more than that if I have to," I said as there was a knock on the door, so I walked over to answer it. "So of any of you can't, just let me know and I'll gladly pay your share." I opened the door, seeing my older brother standing there, "Aye, Alistair, perfect timing! Care for some champagne to celebrate?"

       "Celebrate what?" Alistair asked as he walked inside, carrying two large cloth bags. "I just brought over the food you needed me to buy."

       "Uh, celebrate two things," I said. "One, the gig at the charity concert in two weeks. Seriously, thank you for getting us that and I'm sorry for calling you a man-whore."

       "Are you really though?" Alistair asked.

       "No, but the second thing we are celebrating is your new job," I said. "You are officially, well not yet since we still have something to sign, our new manager."

       "Wait, really?" Alistair asked. "Agatha quit?"

       "She did," Otis said. "Apparently, you getting us the gig and Malachi saying he did was enough to set her over the edge. She's wondering how well we could do without her but considering you have been able to do stuff she hasn't in two years, we will do just fine. I'm just going to get a lawyer I know to look over this so we don't get duped again."

       "We should still celebrate," I said as Ricky walked through the door. "Ricky, there you are. Champagne?"

       "For what?" Ricky asked. "You only pull it out for special occasions."

       "This is one," I said. "Agatha quit."

       "Seriously?" Ricky asked. "Then what are you waiting for? Pour the champagne!"

       "Can't we have anything else to celebrate?" Junior asked. "Like chocolate milk? I've still got a year before I can legally drink."

       "Then do it illegally," Ricky said.

       "Wow, what wise words," Junior said. "No thanks. I'll stick to chocolate milk."

       "Oh, another thing," I said to Ricky. "Alistair got us a gig at the Christmas charity concert in two weeks. What's the exact date again, Alistair?"

       "The twenty-second," Alistair said. "But sound check is on the twenty-first, so it will be best to fly out on the twentieth."

       "The twenty-second?" Ricky asked. "I... I can't make it."

       "What?" Otis asked. "Ricky, it's the concert we've been wanting to play at for two years now and Alistair was able to get us there. You can't just not make it."

       "Trust me, if I had it any other way, I would," Ricky said. "But I really can't make it. I already have a commitment for that day and I can't change it."

       "Well, then what is it?" Otis asked.

       "Nothing, it's not important," Ricky said.

       "Obviously it is if you're willing to miss the Christmas charity concert for it," Aviva said. "Are you sure you can't change it?"

       "I'm sorry, I can't," Ricky said.

       "You're our drummer, Ricky," Otis said. "We can't play without a drummer."

       "Malachi plays the drums too," Alistair pointed out. "I do think Ricky should be there but if he already made a commitment and really can't change it, then we can't force him to go. And like Aviva said, it's obviously very important if he has to miss the concert for it."

       "Wait, you're okay with me not going?" Ricky asked. "Because Agatha would have killed me."

       "I'm not Agatha," Alistair said. "I know you all have a separate and personal life from your careers. I know how much you value performing and if something is making you unable to attend the concert, it's clearly something worth missing it for. I'm not going to question you about it, but are you one-hundred percent sure you can't make it?"

       Ricky nodded. "Yeah, I am. I really am sorry."

       "It's okay, don't be," Alistair said. "I could have at least talked to you to make sure you were all available then. Anyway, all the rest have to do is pick a song without a keyboard so Junior can play the guitar and Malachi could play the drums."

       "Okay, I might be biased because you're my brother but seriously, you're already a way better manager than Agatha," I said. "I am loving this."

________________

yay agatha's gone woo. (for now. dun dun dunnnnnn)

and wow, three chapters within the same week??? i am so productive with this book wowowowow.

ps. the book is probably ending on chapter 25 but don't you worry, ricky's book will be right after! yes that's right, ricky is the protagonist of book number three. i can't wait woo.