Shepherd Wilson

Shepherd was taking his morning coffee on the River Walk and enjoying what he could of it before he was stuck on a tour bus for three months. Dax had big a draw at Pride in the Park the past weekend and though he had gigs in and around Chicago for the month of June, they were readying to take off to criss cross the country and even do a few stops in Canada. Shepherd knew Dax was ready, but he wasn’t entirely sure that some of Dax’s family and friends were ready for the long engagement. Spotting someone wearing one of the wristbands that had been handed out at the past weekend’s festivities made Shepherd double back and fall into step with the person. “Did you enjoy your weekend?” he asked as he eyed them.

Are you done talking yourself up? Michelin desserts, that’s a thing, too. As are Michelin chefs. I can’t get you traction without one of those stars. No matter how good looking you happen to be.

“I need to be up. I must have missed the alarm,” Shepherd was saying as he sat up and pulled the blanket around him. “Also, you are never sorry. Sorry is a liability, now, Dax. Never apologize for the choices you make.” A pause. “Is it hot chocolate with shots of expresso?” he asked with hope in his voice.

“Dax, it’s whatever works best for you. If you want me there, I will be.”

“Hmm. You’re very lucky. I don’t speak to most people.”

“We have a list of venues for you. He’ll be opening for bigger acts once we head out of the Midwest.” Shepherd waited for his assistant to set that out on the desk before he took the paper from Markus and nodded. “You’ll be paid at every venue and your room and board will be comped. I’ll make sure Dax speaks to you soon, say sometime this week? I know he’ll be happy and maybe a little anxious, but I hope you can help us soothe that worry.”

“Are you inviting yourself onto the tour, now?” Shepherd asked with an arch of his brow. “You should stay here and work on music. It’s your talent. Dax was meant for more.” He gave a sigh and closed his eyes. “Jaxtyn, you can’t always be there. That’s why I’m hiring someone who can. Someone who can hold people back so he’s safe. Women are going to be all over him, or try to be anyway. Have you ever been around a Backstreet Boy when a pleasantly plump girl goes manic? I have. It’s not a pretty scene. They can’t help themselves.”

Shepherd stirred on his couch in his office when he felt something upon him. Realizing it was Dax and a blanket, he settled back down. “Damn change in weather has overworked the heat at my building,” he explained about his penthouse. “What are you doing here this early, by the way?” @daxton-withthatvoice

Shepherd smiled. “You know you don’t have to worry about Dax around me. He may not be my only client, but I take the best care of him.” Sighing, Shepherd nodded. “It’s standard procedure to have security when he’s heading out on tour. Fans can be aggressive.”

“Exactly,” Shepherd replied. “In case you’re wondering, I have read the entire contract and it is standard and sets out everything, but I do understand if you want to read it yourself. I can tell you there is much legalise so if you need me to explain something, don’t hesitate to call my assistant.” A pause. “Also, Markus wants to see you in person before the paperwork is finalized. I think he wants to know I’m being truthful about my clientele.”

Michelin Stars are how I can bank you on the streaming circuit. No one wants just a baker and everyone wants me to represent them. Even if you haven’t realized that much.

Shepherd nodded and pointed to his assistant. “Eric will take that,” he said before glancing and seeing the other man snap the papers to himself and put them in a folder in his briefcase. Shepherd then looked back to Markus. “It’ll be a pleasure this summer, I’m sure,” he said. “Do you have any other questions for me?”

“Don’t be jealous Jaxtyn, it’s unbecoming,” Shepherd muttered. “There is one bodyguard who will be with him at all times and a second that will accompany them at shows.”

“Well, he won’t be rooming with you, but he will be next door. Fans can be ambitious at times.” Shepherd nodded and handed over a folder of paperwork. “Good, so you won’t mind signing the paperwork from Carlisle’s firm. It’s all been annotated for you by my assistant. You just need to sign where the sticky flags are. Unless you’d rather read the document first, of course.”

Speaking of which, where are you?