“Sander?” Wynne called out, a look of concern etched across her gorgeous face.
“I’m sorry,” I mouthed.
“Clearly Sander doesn’t want to leave, so let’s give him another round of applause!” our MC, Joel, announced.
“Now, Sander,” I heard Jayne whisper. Defeat washed through me as I made my way back to the judges table.
“Drama king,” March joked as I took my seat. I didn’t bother to respond. All I could do was stare at the stage.
“Well, folks, it seems that the votes are in! Can we please have a drum roll?” Joel shouted. I wanted to close my eyes, but I wouldn’t let myself. I needed to watch. I could have stopped this. I deserved what was coming.
“America and the judges have voted, and I have to say, it was close. Buuuuut, the title of Million Dollar Musician goes to Wynne Benfield!” Right as Wynne’s name was announced, Ferris leaned over and whispered something in her ear. A look of confusion skittered across her face as her eyes darted to me.
Balloons and confetti poured down onto the stage as Ferris jerked the mic from Joel’s hands. “I’d like to say a few words of congratulations, but sadly I can’t, because the whole thing was rigged.” At Ferris’s words, the theater went quiet. “I was told this would be a fair competition, but how can that be when Sander James is sleeping with one of the final two contestants? I approached him about this yesterday, and you know what he had to say?” He held up his phone and realization hit. The fucking prick had taped the conversation.
I flinched as my voice spilled through the mic, out into the packed theater, and across the entire world. “Who do you think you are? If I want to fuck Wynne, I’ll fuck her. Who are you to stop me? No one, that’s who. I own this show. Therefore, I can fuck who I want.” Of course, it was taken out of context, but no one knew this and there was no way that I could prove it.
“I demand that Wynne be removed from the—” Before he could finish his sentence, Wynne turned and bolted from the stage. As I stood to go after her, I found myself blocked by three security guards.
“Move!” I shouted, as I attempted to plow through the middle of where they were standing.
“We need you to stay here, Mr. James,” one of them responded.
“Wynne!” I shouted as I tried diving over them.
“Mr. James, please stop.”
“Fuck you! Wynne!” I shouted again.
“Wynne!” I shouted a third time before the guards finally restrained me and I was marched from the building.
Yep, you could say I’d really fucked up this time...
The rest of Million Dollar Musician will be releasing in early 2019.
His End Game
Not Letting Go
One More Time
Right Side Up
Keep It Simple
The Last Call
Utterly Forgettable
Fractured Beat
Broken Lyric
Shattered Rhythm
Gold Digger
Evan’s Encore