Ned picked up the framed photograph. Just two months before it had been his inspiration. One look at the beautiful redhead and he knew the theme of the album. The songs were of longing, of love, of desire. They said everything in his heart. However, he couldn’t say anything directly to her.
“She is happy, Ashton. Leave her alone.” He told himself. “Think about something else, anything.” He tried. He failed. “I am in so much trouble.”
V opened the package and pulled out the note. “V, The CD needs art. I thought of you. Terri.” The note said only that. “She is prolific.” V said sarcastically.
She checked the package for more information. She had produced the art for several L&B CDs. She never felt comfortable displaying her art before, however, drawing for covers gave her something to do. Terri sent information on the artist. Sometimes she even sent the artists notes on the album. She always sent something to give V a jumping off point. This time there was nothing.
“How am I going to do this without any information?” V asked as she took out the CD and turned on her CD player. V wrestles with the problem as she waited for the music to start. How could she design a cover without even knowing the artist’s name?
All her questions were answered as soon as the vocals began. “Ned!” She exclaimed. Hearing his voice was almost like being home.
Ned decided thinking about his life depressed him. Only one thing in his life looked potentially successful. He might as well focus on that. “At least I can get the album out.” He said as he picked up the phone and dialed the office.
“L&B, this is Terri.” Came the soft voice on the other end of the line. Ned sighed. He missed V’s cheery but officious phone persona.
“Hey this is me. Anything exciting going on in the world of music?” Ned tried to sound happier than he felt.
“Ned?” Terri asked unsure of the caller.
She has worked with me for close to a year. She doesn’t recognize my voice? “Nah Prince Charles. Yeah it is Ned. What is going on the music front?”
“Good news. I sent your album to the artist. She usually sends proofs within a week. If you like the proofs, you should she is amazing, the album will be ready for release soon.”
The progress being made pleased Ned. However, something didn’t sound right. He replayed her last sentence in his head trying to figure it out. “She? I thought we used a firm.”
Terri groaned. V had begged her not to tell. V liked drawing. She didn’t want notoriety. “Did I say she? The woman I talk to on the phone is a she.” Terri hesitated while she tried to decide if her excuse was plausible.
“Enhh Sorry wrong answer. Try again. You said she was amazing. You didn’t mean the receptionist.” Ned said curious about what she was hiding.
Terri decided a partial truth was better than no truth at all. “The artist, a woman, owns and runs the firm. She is the person I talk to. She is the artist that produces the art for the covers. She is amazing.” Terri smiled. All of that was true.
“She sounds like quite a woman. What did you send her with the CD? The new press kits haven’t come back from the printers yet.”
Terri stalled. Should I lie? “I sent her an old one.” Lying couldn’t hurt, right.
Ned grimaced. “We ran out two weeks ago. Try again.” What was the point of all of the lies?
Terri groaned. She had sent out the last three weeks ago. Of course Ned knew they were out. “I didn’t send her anything, except for the CD.” Terri admitted.
“What? She doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t know what I do. She doesn’t know anything at all. How could you do that? She could present an entirely wrong image.” Ned complained. Terri wasn’t dumb. How could she do something like that?
Worried about losing her job, Terri decided to come clean. “She didn’t need anything. She knows you.”
Ned was momentarily confused. “I don’t know any artists.” Well, only one. She wasn’t doing the art. She was on a yearlong pleasure cruise.
“You know one.” Terri answered.
“Liz Webber?” Ned asked hopefully. He knew he wasn’t that lucky.
V sank down in the chair closest to her CD player. He sounded so strong. She missed that. Listening to his deep voice she pictured him sitting on the couch with his guitar. “I can’t believe he actually finished.” V said with a smile.
The sound of his voice brought her home. She imagined all the late night dinners, the planning lunches, the long talks. God she missed him. “What Am I doing?” She asked herself. Even as she tried to remember happy innocent times with Ned and the rest of her friends in Port Charles, she kept imagining herself wrapped in his arms.
The thought depressed her. She prayed turning off the CD would stop her thoughts. “He thinks of me as a little sister, nothing more.” As she said it she heard the chorus for the first time. “Or maybe not.” She said in shock as she began listening to the words.