Being a Star (Isn't Easy)
Chapter Two
Ezra was sitting in his music studio, that he had had specially built in his
house, talking to Josiah. The studio was his favorite place in the house. It had
a sound booth, a sound-proofed recording room with a couple of microphones,
black leather chairs, a black leather couch sitting against the wall, the walls
were done in a light-colored wood siding, and the floor was done in white and
black marble. And, it housed two of his most prized possessions. A white Baby
Grand piano and a Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck Electric Guitar, that he had owned
for four years, when he had started his career.
"Your new bodyguards should be here shortly," Josiah said.
Ezra sighed. Noticing that J.D. was absent, he asked about his whereabouts.
"He's upstairs, waiting for them to show. That way he can bring them down here
to meet you. Did you need him for something?"
"Not really, just curious is all."
"You're nervous about meeting these guys, aren't you?"
Ezra sighed, knowing better than to try and lie to Josiah. The man had a sixth
sense about that, he could always sense a lie. Ezra shrugged, "You know how it
is."
Josiah nodded, "You're the only person I know that can be an entertainer and
still be nervous being around new people."
Ezra smirked, "What can I say? I'm original."
Josiah gave him a small smile, "That you are, Son. That you are." Josiah and
J.D. knew the real reason behind Ezra's being nervous around new people. It
stemmed from his childhood, if it could be called a childhood. But, Ezra hated
to talk about it and always did his best to keep it from being revealed to the
public. 'Maybe one day, you'll realize that none of that was your fault, Son,'
Josiah thought.
*****
Chris, Buck, Vin, and Nathan sat in the back of the black stretch limo that had
picked them up at the airport. Their bodyguard agency was in New Jersey, Ezra
Standish lived in Atlanta, Georgia. 'I'm gonna have to remember to ask Mister
Sanchez how he heard about us,' Chris thought as he watched the scenery fly by.
The limo stopped in front of a closed gate, a security camera swinging their
way, before the gate opened. The limo slowly drove up the winding driveway and
stopped in front of the door. The driver, Milo Howler, got out of the limo,
opening the left back door, so the four bodyguards could get out.
"Man, this house is huge!" exclaimed Buck.
Chris nodded his head, Buck wasn't kidding. The house was red brick,
three-stories high and looked to be about twenty thousand square-feet. On the
other side of the driveway there was lush green grasses, with bushes, and what
looked like a couple of peach trees. There were also a few flowerbeds. From what
Chris could see, they were roses, lilacs, and dandelions.
"This is where he lives?! I knew he was arrogant, his house proves it. The man
has his own peach trees for crying out loud!" said Nathan.
Chris saw the limo driver stop hauling their bags out of the trunk, and looked
at Nathan, a slight scowl on his face. Chris elbowed Nathan in the ribs, none
too gently, and hissed, "Stop it! You said you could work this job, so be
professional about it."
Nathan hung his head slightly at the rebuke, but Chris noticed that he didn't
apologize for anything he said. 'I hope taking this job wasn't a mistake,' Chris
silently thought.
"Right this way," the driver said.