Page 10 of Bless This Hot Mess
Emma-Lou blinked, her heart skipping a beat, “Of course, now that I’m taking on…”
“Everything, yes, I’ve heard,” Rino interrupted smoothly. “You’re responsible for everything. And we’ve had some concerns that WWJD has been in dire straits. It really needs to grab the new Gen Y audience if it… andyouwant to survive and thrive. Our parents had a great arrangement. The Ferraris put money into the radio station, and for that, we expect to see results. Maybe it’s a bit of our old-world business mentality. The problem is, lately, the money’s going in, which logically should grow a business, but instead, it’s shrinking and shrinking. And soon, maybe it even disappears, like your parents.”
“I didn’t…” Emma-Lou stammered, feeling a cold sweat break out across her forehead.
Rino leaned in close, his breath warm on her ear, “I know.You didn’t know. That’s why I stopped by. You need a new sound, Emma-Lou. Fix this.”
He released her hand, the click of his shoes echoing through the chapel as he walked away, leaving behind a trail of expensive cologne and tension so thick you could cut it with a mezzluna.
Carrington let out a long, exasperated sigh, “Ughhhh… why is he so damn sexy?”
“Even when he’s sprinkling around veiled threats?” Suwarna added, her eyes still trailing after him.
“It’s the way he unveils the violence. So velvety.” Carrington mused; arms crossed. “Are we masochists?”
“Maybe,” Suwarna shrugged. “Because I would definitely let him tie me up.”
“Or spank me,” Carrington added, with a sly grin.
“Absolutely!” Suwarna clapped, catching the attention of the next guest in line, thinking she was signalling them to approach. She quickly held up her hand as a stop sign, shaking her head. The guest skittered to a halt.
“Guys!” Emma-Lou snapped, exasperated. “A little more help and a little less porny picture painting? Do you think the Ferraris and my parents…”
“... were laundering money through a Christian radio station in butt-fuck nowhere-Ville?” Carrington interrupted.
“... were having sex?” Suwarna asked, her face innocent before quickly adding, “Oh, sorry, I was going to say the same thing. Money laundering.”
“Seriously?” Emma-Lou’s face paled.
Carrington rolled their eyes, “He’s Italian, rich, bang-me brawny, not relevant, but worth mentioning, and he kind of just threatened your life.”
“No!” Emma-Lou protested loudly, which again caughtthe cortege’s attention. She lowered her voice and turned into a huddle with Carrington and Suwarna. “No!”
Suwarna shrugged, “Rino said, ‘if you want tosurviveand thrive.’”
“But that’s like… a euphemism,” Emma-Lou insisted.
“No,” Carrington said dryly. “It’s Italian.”
Emma-Lou threw her hands in the air, her voice edging toward panic. “What are we going to do?”
Carrington considered for a moment, then offered, “I’d do what he said. Find a new sound for the station. Find an audience. Seriously, the hymns and chanting 24-7 are a little repetitive. Some new music wouldn’t hurt.”
As if on cue, Japheth and Rebekkah launched into their new song,MMMBless,that had sun drenched musical phrases reminiscent of Hanson’sMMMbopbutwith lyrics conveniently adjusted for the subdued setting. The familiar upbeat tune filled the chapel, and despite themselves, people began to tap their feet.
“Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh yeah!
You make so many exits in this life,
only one of them sticks fast…” Rebekkah led the first few lines of verse.
Japheth shimmied his shoulders and took over,
“You go through all the praise and strife, then poof!
At least you’re not raptured last. Oh yeah!”
Rebekkah leaned in and echoed,
