Chapter 2 danger

POV: Joan Taylor “Joan!” I rolled on the bed lazily and sleepy as. I stayed awake watching the virtual concert of Mike Rears, a renowned musician. Sleepy as, I heard the door bang again. “Oh boy.” I muttered as I stood up from the bed. “Joan, come out.” I heard the landlord’s voice and my eyes cleared off the sleep. Oh shit. The landlord was here. Owing him a lot of money was not something I willing wanted to do, but I had no choice but to do it. I mean, where a struggling singer like me can, get money for an apartment. I can’t let the landlord know I’m in here. Play dead. I said to myself and lay as quietly as I could on the couch. I stayed still for 40 minutes and when I was sure the landlord had left my door, I crept to the door and opened it. A bunch of envelopes fell off the door hinge. “Darned mail man. I have told him several times not to drop my envelopes in the door hinge, but he never listens.” I said to myself and picked the envelopes from the floor. I closed the door and sorted my mail out. Ugh, all of it was just Bills. Water bills, light bills, school loan reminder. All sorts of bills. Yup, welcome to my life. I’m Joan Taylor and my life is one big mess. My phone began to ring out loudly. “Shit. What’s the loudness?” I murmured. Hearing the loud ringtone of my phone gives me the creeps, makes me anxious. It was just my very close Friend, Skyler. “Hey Skyler. What’s up?” I asked as I swiped the receiver button on the phone, as I pressed it to my ear, while I rummaged my locker for something to eat. “Hey girl. I just got a call from my studio manager friend. He said your studio session would be in an hour. So you should get ready.” She said and I paused. “Are For real? He’s willing to give me a free studio session?” I asked as I threw a spoonful of cereals into my mouth. “Yes he is willing to So get ready and go to the studio. I’ll text you the address.” She said and I smiled. “Thanks baby girl. I’ll go get ready.” I said. “I’ guessing you are eating Oreo cereals and Milk?” She asked and I laughed. “How’d you know?” I asked as I continued to crunch on what I was eating. “I just know. Cause you only ever eat few things. Fruit salad, Normal Salads, Burritos, Burgers, French fries and chicken, Pizza and Cereal.” She said, and I heard a bit of accusing tone. “Well, that’s what my money can afford, Girl. I don’t have money to maintain Gas bills, so I can’t cook.” I said and put another spoon of cereals in my mouth. “Is that so? Then come over to my place at least three times a week, let me feed your ass.” She said and switched on what sounded like a washing machine. “So your weird boyfriend can give me a weird look? Nah, thanks. I’ll make do with what I have, I won’t fall ill. I know that.” I said and put another spoon of cereals in my mouth. “He won’t. Come on, Liam isn't like that. You’re just being unnecessary paranoid.” She defended and I gave a slight nod. “I have heard you, text me the address. I got to go now. Bye, I love you.” I said. “Don’t forget to text me how it went. You can come over to my studio after the whole session, before you go to your part time evening job.” She said and I clicked my tongue. “Okay. Once I’m done, I’ll give you a call. Bye love.” I said and ended the call. I rushed my cereals and cleaned up the house a bit before boarding a taxi to the Studio. It was located in a weird area, but it kind of stood out, seeing it was painted with light color's and all. I heaved hopefully and entered the studio. “Hello. Good morning.” I said to the lady seated at the table. She was chewing bubble gum, and had air-pods plugged in her ears. “Hello?” I said and tapped the table lightly. She looked up at me, and gave a me a side glance. “You are?” She asked. “I am Joan. I am Skyler's friend and I was told that I had an appointment with James?” I said and she looked at me. “Well, give a minute. I need to confirm it from James, He didn’t give me any prior information.” She said and walked into this hidden place of the studio. The whole place looked shady. And I was not comfortable in anyway. It gave the look of a motel, and I could smell the strong stench of weed coming from inside. Perhaps, I should just end the whole thing and go home. But it was a rare opportunity, given the fact that I was penniless and was saving my little cents for a better recording at the Famous SK studio. I could begin from here and make do with little promotions, while I save up to get records at the SK studio. I sighed and sat down, rehearsing from my notebook, my song. “Hello there, Joan.” I heard and I stood up immediately, coming face to face with a tall guy, I was assuming was James. “Hello...” I said, waiting for him to confirm his identity. “Oh Gilbert. James is not in at the moment, but he asked me to do the recording for you. I heard he is friends with Skyler and Liam, who happened to be your Friend.” Gilbert said and I nodded. “That is quite correct.” I managed. He wasn’t James, and he smelt of weed and cigarettes. I know singers are not exactly allowed to use Cigarettes as It could spoil their singing prowess and that has nothing to do with the producers, but his was quite obvious that he was an addict. “Well shall we?” He said, pointing towards the inner room, and I entered, saying some silent prayers. He led me to a room, with a bed and I looked at him confused. “We surely do not use Beds to record music, do we?” I asked and he stared at me. “We do not. We use beds for something else.” He said and gave a shrewd smile. A smile I didn’t like one bit. “Whatever that is, I am not interested, Mr. Gilbert. I came for music recording and that I want to do. Take me to the recording room.” I said strongly and he chuckled. “That would be done. But not before you satisfy me. You are a very beautiful, young woman, you know that?” He asked, dragging a finger down my body, and he grabbed my boobs hard, so painfully I flinched in pain in anger. Just what had I gotten myself into?