Chapter 62: I want to quit
1015words
"That would be fine", I would love to talk to them individually if I didn't get all of them in one room and I don't have time or patience for that.
She picked up the desk phone with her perfectly manicured nails and pressed a buttom. "Hi, Mr lemming, Mr Hudson is here to speak with all of you. Can I send him up", She looked up at me with a smile as she waited for his reply. "Very well", she hung up and nodded. "They will meet you in the conference room",
"Thanks", I stated with a wink before I pushed away from the counter and headed for the elevators.
My heart was pounding the closer I got to the top of the floor. I have been working with these guys since I was sixteen year old kid. They taught me everything I knew and now I was quitting on them but it was the time. They probably knew that I was sticking around for much longer. No body ever did.
Once you became as big as of a star I was, you got tired of the industry real quick. Or some of them find love and get out. Both reasons were true on my part
I pushed open the conference room doors and saw the three execs laughing and talking at the end of the table, all looking at me the moment, I stepped inside.
"Drake, it's good to see you brother", Mike stood to his feet and shook my hand.
My eyes went to the other two men nodding my hello to them as I took a seat with them.
"What brings you in? Was there a problem last night? Kris said something that you weren't thrilled about that one",
I groaned remembering the scenes from last night and hating that I agreed to it.
"I came to tell you guys that I'm leaving XXX studios", I blurted out without beating around the corner.
The silence that filled up the room made my ears pop as they all gawked at me in disbelief.
"You want to leave over one shoot",
I shook my head. "No, it wasn't because of that. I'm just done here. Don't you think I have run my course",
Mike shook his head. "You haven't ran your course with us, Drake. You're our best lead. Why do you want to leave?",
The reasoning behind my departure filled my mind as I glared at all of them. They don't know what's like to be on the other side of this industry. They always in their fancy offices, making millions of dollars.
They have no idea how tiring this career can be.
"I just think it's time, I branch out. I ........",
I was cut off by the head guy. "Does this have to do anything with this Lynn Martinez?, you have been fucking",
Anger filled me at the mention of her name from his lips and how he said fucking with disgust. He has no right to say shit about what I want to do or don't do outside the studios.
"No", I growled.
"Whoa calm down Drake", Mike defused looking at Jimmy and me.
"I just came to tell you in person that am done", I stood up on my feet and looked them in all the eyes. "I think I owe you all that much",
None of them said a word as I turned and left the conference room. The adrenaline was racing through my body at the realization of what I had just done. I had been with these guys for years and now I was done. Yeah, I was elated that it was all over with, but it was also bitter sweet.
"Drake",
I paused at the elevator doors and turned to see Mike running towards me. "Listen, I respect what you did in there", He slapped me on my back. "However I want to make you an offer", I scoffed and shook my head.
"Nah, I'm good",
"You haven't heard the offer yet"
Annoyed, I turned and gave him all my attention, with my arms crossed over my chest.
"I know that you want to start your own studio",
"How do you know........",
Mike waved me off. "I just do and respect that too, here's my deal", He looked over his shoulder as if he were seeing if we were alone. "Stick around until after the award ceremony in two weeks. I have got a little birdie on the inside that told me you won the award for the best male performance. Do you have any idea w how much money for winning that? And the publicity?",
"I'm still waiting to hear this offer, Mike", I groaned. He took a deep breath and continued. "Stick around for a few weeks for the awards, make yourself even more money and i will help you start your own studio",
I chuckled shaking my head. "Yeah okay",
"You will need someone who knows what they're doing in this industry, I can help you", He looked over his shoulder again.
"How do I know that you not saying this just to totally fuck me over? You an exec for XXX studios and you want to quit and start a new one with me. You don't owe me anything Mike", I reached forward and pressed the down button, wanting to remove myself from this strange conversation.
"Jimmy fucked my wife", He blurted out with so much pain in his voice that I even felt it. "Shit! I didn't......"
"I want to take that bastard down and the only way I know is cutting him off at the knees. This company is his lifeline", He paused to poke my chest.
"You his lifeline, together we can take this motherfucker and create the biggest and baddest company this industry has ever seen",
I stared down at him wondering if I could ever trust him. He was my favorite out of execs and always made me to feel like a family.
