Chapter 117: She Changed

[Chapter 117: She Changed]

"Erica, you're here so early!" Ryan's voice called from inside.

"Taylor asked me to make you breakfast and to make sure you ate it. It's good for your stomach." Erica responded from outside the house.

Daddario pressed her ear against the door, looking guilty as if caught in the act. She didn't expect Taylor to give her keys to Erica; she wouldn't have done that unless... she was hoping to catch someone cheating!

"That's fine, I can handle it myself. It's none of your business. Just help me arrange to meet Joel and Deadmau5; we need to work on a new song today," Ryan said firmly.

"Okay, sir. But Taylor also instructed me to make sure you finish your breakfast," Erica replied.

"Then you do that," Ryan said, slightly exasperated.

...

A few seconds later, the door swung open, and Daddario quickly hid behind the corner of the wall.

"What do we do now?" Daddario whispered.

Ryan shoved her clothes into her arms, asking, "Do you have a fear of heights?"

"I do!" Daddario paled at the thought.

...

At the breakfast table, Ryan looked at Erica, who stood next to him smiling. Before he had even taken a few bites, Erica abruptly walked out onto the balcony to collect the clothes that were previously hung out to dry. She then carried the clothes straight into his room.

It was no understatement that he felt a bit nervous watching her. After a while, he heard Erica cleaning his room, and she didn't come out until several minutes later.

"Can you go to the nightclub to grab something? We need it for music production this afternoon," Ryan said.

"Can't Daddario do it? Taylor wants me to stay close to you," Erica suggested.

"She doesn't know where it is, and she's clumsy. If she breaks something, we won't find a replacement. You go," Ryan insisted.

Erica nodded and finally left, allowing Ryan to rush into his bedroom. He spotted Daddario climbing down from the top of the closet, where she had been hiding.

...

By ten that morning, in Philadelphia.

Taylor stood in a large stadium, wearing a deep blue jacket that matched the home team colors of the Philadelphia Phillies. She had been born in a small town not far from Philadelphia and moved to Nashville as a teenager; in some way, she felt like she was returning home.

At that moment, she cradled a custom Swarovski guitar, encrusted with over three thousand crystals. Taylor cherished this guitar, using it during award shows and tours in the years that followed, and it eventually found a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Swarovski became her most frequent partner, customizing everything from concert wardrobe to award show gowns, as Taylor particularly loved all things that sparkled.

Taylor was set to perform as a special guest for the World Series. She had confirmed her attendance six months in advance, but at that moment, she never expected...

there to be so many reporters present!

Just a few meters away from her, a dozen entertainment journalists were firing away on their cameras, not there to cover sports, but to report on entertainment news.

Taylor had made headlines with Ryan recently, and today marked her first public appearance since the news broke.

After her performance, reporters immediately surrounded her.

...

"Taylor, was it you who turned on the camera, or was it an accident?" a female journalist asked, thrusting a microphone at her.

Taylor frowned and instantly replied, "It was obviously an accident. Why would I turn the camera on?"

The reporter nodded, "So, that means you were indeed with Ryan at the time, and you were both at the computer... right?"

The question was a trap, and Taylor, lacking experience, inadvertently confirmed that she had been present at the scene.

"I... wasn't... I..." she stammered, her carefully prepared responses thrown off track as she noticed the sly smiles from surrounding reporters. She could already imagine how tabloids would interpret this tomorrow with phrases like "intense confrontation" or "fire and passion."

Taylor felt a surge of anger building within her; she fixed her gaze on the female reporter and shot back, "So what if I was? Haven't you done the same with your boyfriend? Or do you think you're more innocent than I am?"

Taylor usually presented a sweet girl image, but today, facing off against Daddario appeared to have broken some kind of restraint.

"Am I not allowed to live a normal life? Or is that all you care about?" Taylor scoffed. The reporter looked momentarily flustered at the sudden retaliation.

Other journalists quickly capitalized on the moment, pressing Taylor about her new album.

"Today marks the release of your second single's music video and the announcement of your new album, Fearless. Did you and Ryan plan this leak for publicity?"

Taylor knitted her brows. "I just said it was an accident, and honestly, I don't need to resort to that kind of publicity for my new album!"

With that, she hoisted her guitar and turned to leave, not giving the reporters a chance to ask more questions.

...

Taylor's current manager, Rick Barker, rushed over as he saw the commotion. He was the one who famously said, "To sell five hundred thousand albums, you have to meet five hundred thousand fans." Even Taylor's mom followed closely behind.

"You were a bit impulsive; you should have answered a few more questions," her mother advised.

"Absolutely not! Am I supposed to stand there while they make fun of me and Ryan? From now on, I'm canceling all broad media questions. I don't need that kind of exposure. Instead, I'm increasing the frequency of meeting with my fans!" Taylor firmly declared, making her first direct denial of her mother's suggestion.

"But..." Rick hesitated.

"I said cancel everything." With Ryan absent, Taylor made it clear she would call the shots and not let the media control her narrative any longer.

"And any media outlet that twists the story will face our attorneys. No settlements," Taylor added.

"Give me the phone," she demanded from her mother.

Once she had the phone, Taylor immediately called Erica. "So, what's the scoop? Any updates?"

She walked a distance away, chatting with Erica on the phone for several minutes.

...

That evening, in Florida.

"That's not it, not at all," Ryan shook his head.

Joel set down the Pungi flute. The Indian snake charmers played that kind of instrument.

"I need a sharper sound than this."

"Ryan, you've already tried over twenty instruments," Deadmau5 said, frowning slightly.

All afternoon, Ryan had called Joel and Deadmau5 over to discuss the new song's production. Everything except the vocals was almost complete, but they still needed a sharp instrumental riff for the chorus.

Ryan had even tried a Shenai, but that hadn't worked either.

"What are you guys doing?" Diplo entered the makeshift office and raised an eyebrow at the array of instruments scattered across the floor.

"You came at the right time," Ryan explained the current dilemma. After all, Diplo was the song's original creator, and he might have a unique perspective.

"That's simple -- a bit of effect on the Pungi sound should do the trick," Diplo said, shrugging, offering a solution.

"It's not just about the tone; it's also about the articulation. The Pungi simply can't replicate... wait a second." Ryan suddenly paused.

"Is it possible that it's not even an instrument?" Ryan proposed.

"What else could it be?" the three of them asked in unison, looking at Ryan.

He opened his laptop and began to experiment.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.