Chapter 5 Part 3

***COLLINS

- "Dad is mad as hell. He's threatening to get us all fired from the production."

- You know he can't. That's just a bluff.

- "We know that, don't worry. So how's it going over there? You got us a new baby?"

- Nothing. My brain is just starting to settle down. But I feel like by the time I get back I'll have something.

- "Speaking of your return, when is it due?"

- I don't know. Maybe in a month. I mean, it depends on my inspiration. If my head is full of sounds right now, I'll come back and we'll start working again. I miss the studio.

- We're all ready to get back to the show. But take your time. Look, I'm going to hang up. There's Daddy who keeps yelling my name."

- Okay don't forget to erase my number. I don't want him to find out it's mine.

- Don't worry. I never leave a trace of our conversations. Bye."

I stare at my phone for a moment as if I'm going to find an answer to some question. Then I go to the window to admire the landscape. This country is beautiful. I've only been here twice, but it's my home country. I was born in France and have lived here all my life. My two visits here were for concerts. Today I come back here to recharge my batteries. I haven't found inspiration yet, but I have found peace. I feel calmer, more settled since I'm here. It will allow me to concentrate better. But maybe if I see people it will give me ideas. Yes, I will do that. Since I've been here I haven't really been outside. I was more interested in avoiding being seen and waking up hysterical fans at the same time. But now I really need to see people. I've never liked being alone. I like being

surrounded. Especially now that I have become a star. That's why I always travel with my staff, which is composed only of my best friends and my little brother. If they were here right now, they would have forced me to visit the whole city of Abidjan. I miss our delirium. But I have to stay focused. I have to go back to Paris with lyrics for my next album that I was supposed to start months ago.

I put the hood of my sweater over my cap and go out. I really want to stay in the shadows. When I meet a group of girls, I look down. One of them's cell phone plays my music. It makes me smile with pleasure. I like to see people listening to me. I rush into the elevator very quickly before they recognize me.

Sitting at a table in a corner of the hotel lobby, I observe the people around. They are laughing, chatting, courting, sharing a cocktail. In short, everything is in motion. There is a bit of everything. Couples, families, friends. All this should give me a theme to talk about in one of my sounds. I take out my little notepad from the pocket of my blouse with the little pen that goes with it. I try to write down small themes or expressions that I could use. I look around and write. But I immediately cross out what I have written. It doesn't make sense. These terms are already used in my previous sounds. I want something new. Something that will make me even more popular with the public. I want something that will go boom in my career. My previous sounds usually revolve around the same world. Love disappointments, love games, gambling, settling of scores, in short the dark side of love. People love it, but I want to stand out. Do something different. To...

- Hello!

I raise my head towards this female voice.

- Yes, hello," I answered, hoping that it wasn't a fan who recognized me.

- Uh, I'm sorry to bother you. By the way, I'm the woman you helped yesterday in the elevator when it broke down. Do you remember that?

I look at her, trying to find in my memory what she is talking about. I finally see.

- Oh yes. Yes, I remember. Uh... are you better now?

- Yes, and it's really thanks to you. The last time I had a seizure like that I ended up in the hospital.

- That bad?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

- Yes. But never mind. I wanted to buy you a drink to thank you.

- You don't have to do that.

- Oh no, I don't mind. Anyway, I was coming to get some when I saw you.

And I'm really surprised that she recognized me despite all my camouflage.

- Ok so take a seat.

I look at my watch.

- And since it's noon, you buy me the drink and I'll buy you lunch.

- It's a deal," she agrees, sitting down.

I signal to one of the waiters who takes our orders.

- So tell me about this crisis in the elevator, if it's not indiscreet, I ask him when the waiter leaves.

- Oh, it goes back to my childhood. My mother and I had been stuck in an elevator. It was my first time and it was horrible. There was a fire in the building and we were choked by smoke. After that it took me five

years before I agreed to go back up in an elevator. I preferred the stairs. Besides, it made me lose calories.

I laugh softly. She smiles. I feel something move inside me. I stay for a moment obsessed with her smile. It's just a smile but I don't understand why it makes me feel... all weird. I feel a warmth radiating through my body. I don't know what's going on but I feel something change inside me.

- Do I have something on my face?" she asks suddenly, having noticed my frozen gaze on her.

- Uh no sorry. I was lost in my thoughts.

The waiter brings us our drinks. She immediately pulls on her straw. The woofers play my music in the background. I knew they would play it. They know I'm here.

- Oh boy, I can't take this music anymore.

I suddenly look at her. By the look on her face, I think she's been thinking out loud.

- I feel like she's following me around," she continues.

- What do you mean?

- I just ran out of the room because my best friend keeps harping on this artist's songs. First it was my daughter who was a huge fan. Then it was my goddaughter's turn and now her mother is into it.

- Don't you like the artist?" I asked, strangely interested in what she had to say about this "artist".

- No, it's nothing to do with that. I don't even know him. I know he calls himself Mister Cool and I don't really know what. Collins, Collen... Anyway. The problem is that by hearing it every day, it started to bore me. But I must admit that at one point in my life I was moping around to his music.