Thirteen Letters. Chapter Fourteen.

Time at first, I thought I had plenty of, for so much had happened, I was a very successful singer, known around the world. Maxine had even played a practical joke on me, with the two Princesses of Fergie, it had been secretly filmed. Everyone who had seen it, thought it was a hoot, I didn’t see the funny side of it until much later. I suppose it was funny, but that’s all I will say about that.

I had used up my three emergency cigarette kits. I even managed to buy the two special gifts that Maxine has always wanted, the tinniest flask in the world, it was leakproof for hot drinks, I had it specially made, in real silver on the outside. It was enough for three mouthfuls, she loved it. I had also given her as a gift, an old mini, her favourite car, all done out into a motorhome, yes you read that right, a motorhome, with a few clever adjustments there was a little bed, a stand for a travel kettle, a very small fridge and a tablet, it was in her favourite colour gray and it only ever stayed in her garden, and like she said, “It’s the pleasure it gives me, to just look at it, no one can understand, it’s fantastic.” With the flask and the car, it wasn’t practical, but it was the tiny bit that made it special in her heart, and that’s all that mattered.

My five-year contract with Maxine was almost up and then it would all be over. It had been a fantastic journey. I would then be able to be free to do exactly what I wanted; this would include going to bed after 10pm.

I let my mind wonder, of my life before I had met Maxine, my dad and my beloved pet dog Jude, for all the other dogs we had ever had, they all had the same name.

It had been a wild ride, Maxine had said, “I want a meeting with you on the 11th you are to choose three members from your Team to be there with you and I will do the same.” She went on, “It is to discuss your final days with me as your manager and what you are to expect on the last day.” My tummy flipped and my heart missed a beat, it was silly really for she had clearly stated in the contract that it is only for five years, but when I had signed it, five years seemed a lifetime away, I had only thought of the here and now. Tomorrow didn’t matter to me, but now as it loomed, it did.

Lisa noticed I was quiet, and tried to talk to me about it, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t really eat much of the lovely food that was cooked for me.

To be honest, sometimes when I was on my own, I had wished I knew of the god that Maxine believed in, but I didn’t know him, for if I did, I would have talked to him and asked him for his help. But I didn’t want it to end, I knew that much. Maxine was consistently a good manager.

The morning of the 11th at eleven minutes past eleven, the time of the meeting started, it was held in a beautiful setting, at a wonderful castle in Scotland, the warm sun was shining, and if there was an excitement in the air, I wasn’t feeling it. I knew it wasn’t going to be a long meeting for Lunch was at 12.00!

What was her thoughts I had wondered as I glanced at her secretly, I was unable to read her today, she wasn’t giving anything away.

The meeting started prompt. Maxine did a recap of the last five years, and I had forgotten the very funny times we had all had, and before I knew it, I too was laughing, and she was right, “All good things must come to an end.” She went on, “I had done all that was in her heart and mind, and felt, I had done a very good job,” None of us could deny that. She had given me the pros and cons of life in the public eye, all the money we had all made along the way, that it was, “Very important to finish on a high, for some people, didn’t know when to stop, and would then be remembered in history, as failing, because they didn’t know when to stop.”

As she spoke, I actually agreed with her, I would be free, to please myself, I didn’t need to ever work again, I was young, had two beautiful children and lovely Lisa, there were many parts of the world that we could go and start my own adventures, and I thought, Life is Good.

Maxine had made it clear, “Everything that you have accumulated, is yours.” I was now on a high.     

Finally, as it neared Lunch time I glanced at my watch, Maxine said to me, “You don’t know this, until this moment, but you have seven days from today to end our contract, or you can choose to be with me for another five years.” She went on, "After we have had our Lunch today, I will not see you again, I will only know your reply, when you come out your front door, with your bottle of water in your hand at 09.30am. If that time comes and goes, then I will know your decision, and it will be final. Talk it over with Lisa, and read the pros and cons that I have also listed in this letter to you both.”

She handed me the letter, and we all went into the great hall, to eat. It was wonderful and I was on a high, very excited about MY future.