Something bad was going on under her nose. After enduring all the madness at Underwood, Leticia recalled Chantel showing her pictures, playing a recording of Nico Travolo, and the other Rise of Light members on her phone about the secret drug operation.
The more she learned what went down at the rave party, the more she felt sickened by this heinous crime. Nico Travolo was a liar, and he could not give a damn about the artists under him. He was just a criminal like; the Rise of Light, who keeps on giving the drugs away to business people to fund their dangerous activities. All Leticia wanted was for her band to have no part in this mess, but it seems like getting out of this would not be easy. She had suspicions that her rhythm guitarist may have become a victim in this huge, criminal web.
Arriving at the tall glass window building, Leticia walked into an enormous lobby where there were groups of people coming in and out of the building. It was a typical business lobby with comfortable brown chairs and coffee tables. Of course, this was not complete without a security desk nearby.
This is where the Apple Queens had to do their final band promotion activity. It was one that Topanga had sat up for them. Leticia was the first one here but, this time, it was to meet Nico. After checking in with security and heading to the elevators, she arrived at the designated floor and greeted by two ladies in black business suits, who led her to Nico. It was a short walk from the elevator as she continued down to a large conference room.
Leticia sat herself into a chair near the black table with three people: Mikel, Rose, and Nico. All three of them seated, facing Leticia. Shocked that Nico invited Mikel and Rose to this meeting, she felt slightly pissed that her former band manager was here. Leticia was sweating, observing the atmosphere around the room. It feels like she was on trial when Mikel leaned himself forward and smiled at her.
Leticia wanted to gag when he put on his nice persona, putting her hands in her lap, waiting for him to speak.
“Ah, Leticia. I’m glad we are meeting. We need to talk about your options…” Mikel said.
“There is nothing to discuss. I’m here for a meeting with Mr. Travolo. Not you,” Leticia avoided Mikel speaking to her and directed her attention at Nico. “I know you are up to something fishy. I want out! I don’t want my band’s image associated with your criminal nonsense,”
“I would harm no one in your band. Dear girl, all you have to do is join my cause and you will be safe.” Mikel butted in, while Nico hanged back to allow him to do all the talking.
“I’m not joining your damn cause because your cause literally murdered innocent people! Your group tore apart my family and literally indirectly hurt one of my bandmates! Darren and Chantel are being blamed for something they didn’t even do! I want you to stay the fuck away from all of us!”
Rose got up from her seat and spoke in a calm tone, “Leticia, calm down, I can explain…”
“Then explain why the fuck you are running around, pretending to be my band and I in the first place other than that BS 'protecting us' reason?! Why do you side with these murderers?! People are getting hurt, but you want to stick with these monsters?!” Leticia did not want to hear anymore of Rose’s explanations and excuses.
“You… You… DO NOT SPEAK TO MY WIFE LIKE THAT!” Mikel boomed, which made Leticia sit back in her seat. Observing Mikel for a moment, she had to roll her eyes at Rose calming down her husband by rubbing his back. The cult leader took a breath before being ready to speak again, “It's a shame that you think of our group that way. Just to let you know: I wanted you to join so much to... um… redeem your family sins. I could’ve wiped off your family’s debt, if you just said “yes” and didn’t attack my wife for doing her job.”
Leticia was getting annoyed by this conversation. She wanted the mind games to stop, but it looks like the cult leader was continuing on this charade.
“Listen, whatever debt my family has with you, I don’t care,” Leticia stated bluntly.
Mikel crossed his arms and his eyes shifted to Rose, “Just like her mother did all those years ago. She didn’t even care about saving her own band she led. Your mother is the reason my wife died the first time.”
Leticia was a bit curious to know more about her mother’s former life under the Rise of Light, but her curiosity got her into this mess and now she was paying for it. The guitarist could have asked Rose about these things however, she also felt she could not trust Rose either! Not after what that woman had done and Leticia does not know where her allegiance was. She stared at Mikel moving back into his seat, letting Nico take over the conversation. The Crimson Music Group’s CEO licked his lips and smirked at her.
All Leticia did was give the man a face of disgust, repulsed by this monster.
“Let me take over from here, Mr. Farris Barton…” Nico said casually when Leticia raised her eyes when he revealed that Mikel Richardson went by another name. Not a surprise to her, both wife and husband being con artists, she thought. They were like wolves in sheep's clothing. There was no point in these two being secretive about who they really were anymore.
Leticia listened to Nico talking to her, “Let’s make a deal, Miss. Hernandez. ”
“Does it involve drugging my bandmates or forcing us to commit criminal activities?” Leticia replied, sarcastically.
“You haven’t even heard what I am offering yet, dear girl. You and your band are in a better position compared to what the North Easters are in. What I am offering is your safety and literal freedom to do whatever you please. All you have to do is say to the media that you clearly think Mr. Cross and Miss. Delisle are monsters like; everyone else is saying. You know, damage control for us and you. I need you to swear your secrecy about The Rise of Light and ignore our label ‘activities.’ In return, you will be scot free and walk away with your band and your musical careers intact by doing this one simple thing. I will also give your band more freedom of your work as well,” Nico explained the offer to her.
“Basically, you’re telling Leticia to lie and abandon Darren and Chantel!” Rose boomed.
Leticia noticed Rose rising from her seat. Rose's sudden outburst confused her; she could not tell whether the woman was on her side. Leticia thought about Nico’s offer and asked, “What if I don’t take your offer?”
“Let’s just say I have power over the life of one of your bandmates, which she seems pretty interested in staying with this label and being mentored under my people. I don’t want to command her to leave your band, since the five of you are hell bent on staying together. I simply release your band of your contract obligations. The media would eat you alive and there is no coming back from that. I will say that your band is at the top of your game. Are you willing to lose that all, because of some random people that you shouldn’t even care about?” Nico lectured the girl about her options.
This offer pushed Leticia into a corner and it felt dirty. This offer was a slimy deal!
She hated that no matter what she chose, she would lose either way. Leticia did not want to continue this lie, even though it meant her band and everyone would be safe. Even if she had to lie, what if Nico or the Rise of Light wouldn’t keep their word?
Leticia had to think hard about these options, but there was not any time left, since her band’s last activities are about to start.
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