Mr. Moneybags | jb

Chapter 16 - The Grammy's

1 Month later

Elton was scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy's and him and David had asked me to accompany them to the awards. I agreed. After all they had done for me and were still doing it was the very least I could do. Besides, I wanted to support Elton as best as I could. His music was legendary and if anyone deserved an award like this, it definitely was him. Also I would get to meet a lot of people again. I hadn't attended any of the industry events in years - partly because I was scared of people telling me how sorry they felt for me and how they had my dad to thank for where they were today, how talented my mother was and how my brother had passed way too soon and was set for an amazing career. Plus I would get the usual 'oh, by the way, what about you Emma? You are crazy talented - what are you up to these days?'. Then I would have to tell them that I gave up music and was 'focusing on my other talents' which was my standard excuse followed by them gaping at me and trying to push me to start singing and playing again. Yeah - I wasn't looking forward to that part, but it had been two years and at some point I would have to face the music - literally! Also I had to move on, as hard as it was and I was here for Elton. That's what I kept telling myself. Emma, you can do this! Push through the event - there'll be alcohol to help and Elton and David will be there too. I had agreed to skip the carpet though, because the thing I hated most about this whole industry was - yeah, you guessed correctly - the fame and people showing off what little talent they possessed all the damn time.

I had decided on a silverish floor length gown that hugged my curves in all the right places. My hair was in waves and I looked like an old Hollywood diva with the smokey eyes and red lipstick the makeup artist had applied earlier. These were the moments when I knew why I had been approached to model a couple of times in my life.

Currently we were taking photos. The guys looked so handsome in their tuxedos and as always they shared the most loving looks. They were so adorable. Next up we took photos of Elton and I, then David and I and finally of the three of us. Elton had stopped a waiter and he was kind enough to take a couple snaps. "Thank you so much!" I thanked him. "They look really nice. I'm gonna get one of them framed and take it with me everywhere I go." I smiled brightly showing Elton the photos. Him and "all this modern technology" didn't go well. David and I always joked about it. Even the boys were making fun of Elton sometimes for not being good with smartphones, tablets and all that. David always told them to teach him, but the boys always got frustrated really quickly with Elton's inability. Well, I guess everyone has different talents...

Soon after our little photo session we had dinner. Just before desert I went to look for the bathrooms as they served desert during the start of the show. On my way I met a few people nodding at them and greeting them every once in a while. This was the part I explained earlier...

"Oh my god Emma, is that you?!" I heard a very familiar voice cheer. I went to hug them tightly.

"Paris Jackson, what are you doing here?" I asked her. Paris and I had basically grown up together as our dad's used to be close friends before Michael tragically passed in 2009. Whenever I was in LA I usually met up with her. Also Paris was great help when my family passed as we shared the same fate of losing our dads way too soon. Also we both grew up in the music industry, but had chosen to keep our talent under the wraps for different reasons. She understood me on a level nobody else could - we were like sisters.

"Funny, I was about to ask you the same question." She beamed at me.

"I'm with Elton and David. Elton is receiving a lifetime achievement award tonight."

"So good to see you again. I didn't know you were in LA. Why didn't you say anything?" She playfully slapped my arm.

"I only got here yesterday. I'm staying for a couple of days though, I was gonna call you up for lunch tomorrow."