Page 41 of Beautiful Noise
“I do and I’ll vouch for her. She’s on staff with my mother and has gone through all the necessary background checks. Youknow Gwendolyn wouldn’t let the president near me without proper vetting.”
“Ezren…” Beverly didn’t want to bend the rules and I respected her position. The kids were important and it was her job to keep them safe. That meant not allowing anyone access who could potentially put them in harm’s way.
“I’m taking full responsibility for her.”
Beverly snatched open a drawer near her left side and removed two lanyards that held visitors’ passes. Without them, security would be escorting our asses right out the building, no questions asked.
“Here, and they’re all waiting. The new equipment came in last week so you know they’re dying to get you in there. Thanks for that. You’ve got these kids spoiled.”
I grinned and accepted the passes, handing one off to Kori before I responded. “I’m only giving what I wished I’d had access to. Who knows? Maybe the next Eccentric is right here under this roof.” I winked and Beverly chuckled.
“Not likely because you’re one of a kind and from what I’ve heard, those kids are awful.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Don’t let them hear you say that. You’re supposed to encourage them, not break them down.”
“Me being honest is me encouraging them. What good am I to these kids if I provide false hope? They get enough of that with the ‘everybody gets a trophy’ mentality the world has adopted.”
“I agree, but still, give me time to fine tune them. There’s a few hidden gems here.”
“Yep, good luck with that.” Her eyes shot over to Kori. “Welcome to the jungle.”
“Uh, thanks.” Beverly laughed and Kori seemed genuinely confused by the greeting but she’d learn soon enough. Afterwe were in the hallway, she was at my side, her short legs attempting to keep the pace of my long stride.
“So obviously there are kids here, but where exactly are we?”
“Jordan Recreation Center.”
When she didn’t respond, I cut my eyes slightly to the left to find hers on me but she kept quiet so I did as well until I pushed through the doors of the music room where my kids were waiting.
I was greeted as usual with a bunch of smiles, high-fives, and a few hugs. All of which I graciously returned, but today the chatter about the new equipment was what took over.
Six acoustic guitars, six electric ones with amps. Twelve digital pianos and an acoustic upright piano which sat in the corner. All of which had been donated by me because the rec center couldn’t fit extras into their budget and I wanted the kids to be afforded every possible opportunity. That meant learning on equipment that wasn’t thrifted or on its last leg.
For the next three hours I planned on ignoring Kori which would be easy to accomplish considering the thirteen eager minds who currently wanted my attention.
Kori had been quiet since we’d left the rec center. I knew she had questions because regardless of the fact that she wasn’t talking, her silence was extremely loud. She also kept stealing glances at me which was another dead giveaway.
“Ask?”
“Ask what?”
“Whatever the hell is dancing around in your head. Your thoughts are loud as fuck. I’m blessed with many talents butmind reading isn’t one of them. Ask your questions so we can get this over with.”
She stared me down for a long minute—eyes narrowed, face tight. Likely because she didn’t want me to be right and damn sure didn’t want to have to admit I was.
Stubborn ass.
Eventually the curiosity won because she gave in. “I’m surprised no one knows you tutor those kids. There’s no press, not even a leaked photo? How is that possible, considering how your team operates?”
“They know what I tell them which isn’t much outside of promoting me and my music.”
“But why keep this a secret? What you do with those kids is amazing and if people knew…”
My eyes cut in her direction. “Then what? A write up online or a three-minute segment on the evening news. I don’t need that shit. I get enough press by just taking a piss on a regular Monday.”
She flinched at the clipped tone I used. I shouldn’t have been so annoyed but those kids were a sacred part of my life. I didn’t want their images flashed all over the news as Ezren Shaw’s charity cases, because they weren’t. And I knew exactly what that felt like. Damn sure didn’t feel good.
“I was going to say that if people knew, maybe more who possess your privilege would consider offering the same to similar kids. They could fund a music program instead of popping bottles at a club or making it rain at a strip club or whatever the hell you rich assholes do to waste money.” She grinned briefly before turning straight ahead again. Her posture was stiff as fuck which didn’t match her normal, easygoing personality.