Different Circles

“We’re not going to make the MD&P dependent on that,” Jake said. “We’ll go to Aristocrat for MD&P and just not send Matt out on tour before we do that.”

Jake saw Matt tense up at these words. He hoped he would heed the warning he had been given and not say anything to reveal a crack in the armor. Matt was absolutely counting on his share of touring revenue to help pay down his debts and keep his head above water and the thought that they were potentially cutting that avenue off had to be digging into his brain. A few seconds went by, but Matt said nothing. He gritted his teeth audibly, but he said nothing.

“Is that really a reasonable attitude to take, Jake?” Crow asked. “You haven’t even heard our proposal for the touring contract yet.”

“That’s right,” Doolittle said. “As with our MD&P proposal, I think you’ll find it quite fair and comprehensible.”

Jake and Pauline looked at each other for a moment. They then looked at Celia. They all looked at Matt, who was still sitting and gritting. A few nods were passed among the KVA management team. “All right,” Pauline said. “Just for shits and giggles here, let’s hear this fair and comprehensive proposal of yours.”

“Well ... we can’t give you the details right now,” Doolittle said. “We haven’t signed the MD&P contract yet.”

Jake’s eyes darkened dangerously. “Are you seriously suggesting that we sign an MD&P contract that is dependent upon the negotiation of a touring contract without even hearing what you are proposing for terms of the touring contract?”

“That is exactly what I am suggesting,” Doolittle said. “If we were to give you the terms prior to the signing of the MD&P contract, that would give you an unfair advantage.”

“But it’s okay for you to have an unfair advantage by not revealing your terms first?” Jake asked pointedly.

“That is not how we are looking at things here,” Doolittle said smoothly (and with a straight face). “As I said, our terms are fair.”

“In your eyes, I’m sure they are,” Celia said.

“Let me just take a wild guess here, Doolittle,” Pauline said. “The MD&P contract would have wording that would let you go after us for breach of contract if we failed to come to terms on a touring agreement, right?”

“Well ... naturally,” Doolittle said. “Again, without such a stipulation there would be no reason for you to negotiate in good faith.”

“And with such a stipulation there would be no reason for you to negotiate in good faith,” Pauline said. “Sorry, boys. We don’t do this business this way.”

“Then you will be losing out on considerable revenue from Matt’s tour,” Doolittle said.

“Perhaps,” Pauline said, “but if we can’t come to terms and have to go to Aristocrat and shitcan Matt’s tour, you will be missing out on any and all revenue from both CDs and from Celia’s tour, which is going to be quite a money maker.”

This was a jab that scored. Though the suits kept their united front up and said nothing, it was plain to see that the thought of losing Celia’s tour income had hit them where they lived.

“It’s real simple guys,” Jake said. “Put your figures for touring on the table and let us hear them or this meeting is over. There is no way in hell we are going to blindly sign a binding contract for MD&P that is reliant on you fuckheads negotiating a multimillion-dollar touring contract in good faith when the contract gives you no good reason to do so.”

“I’m afraid we’re not prepared to put touring figures on the table at this time,” Doolittle said quietly.

“Then I guess this meeting is over,” Pauline said.

A minute later, their united front still standing, Matt, Jake, Celia, and Pauline left the office and went back to the elevator. No further meeting was scheduled.

They went to a nearby cocktail lounge to talk things over in privacy. Celia and Pauline both ordered mixed drinks. Matt ordered a beer. Jake had iced tea since he had to fly back to SLO later. All of them munched on bar peanuts and pretzels as they sat at one of the cocktail tables in the far corner of the nearly empty establishment.

“So, what happens now?” Matt asked. “You’re not really fuckin’ thinking about not sending me out on tour, right?”

“No,” Jake said. “One way or another, we’ll get you out on tour. We know that was a prime motivator for you to sign with us, and, quite frankly, there’s an assload of money to be made for all of us by getting you out there.”

“That’s good,” Matt said, visibly relieved.

“We’re just not going to let them bend us over and fuck us like that,” Pauline said. “Threatening to have you not tour while simultaneously threatening to cut them off from any revenue from Celia’s tour is our negotiating strategy. I’m guessing they will realize this and call me in the next few days to come to terms.”

“Yes,” said Celia. “But what kind of terms? It seems pretty obvious that they are obsessed with the touring profits. What kind of one-sided contract do you think they’ll offer?”