Eric had been on Maury’s case for months to renegotiate that sorry excuse for a record deal. Signing it in the first place was probably the biggest mistake of his career.
Maury cleared his throat. “I know what you’re going to ask, Eric, and the answer is I’m trying.”
“How much longer is it going to take?”
Maury didn’t answer. He turned to straighten his tie in the gold-framed mirror that hung opposite the bed. For a moment, Eric thought he didn’t hear the question, but Maury spoke in a confidential tone as he adjusted the points of his shirt collar. “Listen to me, kid. They weren’t born yesterday.”
Eric met his manager’s eyes, reflected in the glass. Maury didn’t answer. He turned to straighten his tie in the gold-framed mirror that hung opposite the bed. For a moment, Eric thought he didn’t hear the question, but Maury spoke in a confidential tone as he adjusted the points of his shirt collar. “Listen to me, kid. They weren’t born yesterday.”Eric met his manager’s eyes, reflected in the glass. “What does that mean?”
“It means they realize you’re not happy. They see what you’re trying to do. As long as your parents are cosigners on that contract, they’ve got you by the balls. They’ll wipe out your whole family’s life savings, just like that”—Maury snapped his fingers for emphasis—“if you try to walk away.”
“But I’m not a minor anymore! I’m eighteen years