One Man's Trash

One
Man’s Trash
by Yolanda Allen
Copyright © 2013 by Yolanda Allen. All rights reserved worldwide.

No part of this publication
may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form without the prior
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punishable by law.
This book is a work of fiction. All characters are products of the author’s
imagination and any resemblance to actual persons are simply coincidental.
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One Man’s Trash
New Adult
Contemporary Romance Novella
Mature Audience 18+
Screwed out of a job promotion,
twenty-t
wo year old aspiring songwriter
,
Diamond
Anderson moves to New York determined to make a name for herself. Along the
way, she falls into a whirlwind love affair with gorgeous singer, JT Simons,
sacrificing everything to support his career, only to be betrayed by him.
Now h
er life, her job, her future depends on the help from the one
person that she never thought she would ever need. Ryder Gillian. The first man
to ever break her heart.

ONE
A few months earlier…
“Congratulations, Diamond!” Her boss greeted her with a hug. “I’m sorry I
couldn’t make it to the ceremony.”
“That’s okay, Bob. Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Sure, let’s step into my office.”
Diamond followed behind him into his small office in the back of the café. He
sat behind his desk.
“Have a seat.” He pointed to the empty folding chair in front of his desk.
“Bob, I just wanted to talk with you again about the Special Events Coordinator
position. When will I start in that role?”
Bob massaged his mustache. “Diamond, I’m more than confident that you can do
the job, but I won’t be able to promote you at this moment.”
“Bob, what do you mean? You already said that I had the job. I was counting on
starting that position soon.”
He rubbed his eyes. “I know what we discussed but some important things have
come up and I won’t be able to promote you right now. My wife’s nephew needs a
job and you know how that goes. Besides he
does
have more experience
with planning events, so. I’m sorry, Diamond.”
She stared down at the floor. That job would have increased her pay and given
her the chance to deal more with the music side of the business. She sighed. “I
understand. Family comes first, right?”
“Well, yeah, but he does have more experience, you know.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that. It’s just that I’ve been working here for the past
four years and I’ve assisted Lisa when she was in the position, a few times,
so…I know that I can do it. Could you possibly let us both work in the
position? Each of us part-time, maybe?”
“That would mean needing to hire another person to take your current position.
Right now I can’t afford to hire another person. I’m sorry, Diamond.”
She gave a weak smile and walked out of his office. On to plan B, whatever that
was. She dialed her best-friend on her cell phone once she got to the front
counter of the café. “Hey, girl.”
“What’s the matter? You sound like someone stole your stuffed puppy,” Kimmy
said.
“I thought today I would be starting my new role here at the cafe, but Bob
didn’t give me the job. Something about a nephew with more experience, blah
blah blah. It just sucks because I passed up an opportunity for a better paying
job at an advertising firm. I knew for sure he was going to give me this job.”
“What a jerk. So what are you going to do now?”
“Well I’m damn sure not being a freaking cashier forever. Maybe I could call
the recruiter back for the advertising job.” Diamond pulled at her bottom lip.
“Do you really want to work in advertising?”
“Not really. I prefer to work in the music industry. I’m willing to start from
the bottom. I just have to find the right opportunity. And quickly because I’m
not sure if I can keep on my happy face knowing Bob screwed me over because
he’s afraid of his freaking wife.” She sucked her teeth.
“Come to New York!”
“Kimmy, I don’t know about that. That’s far from my family.”
“We’ll be together, Diamond. You won’t be alone. I’m sure you can find a great
internship in New York. What’s keeping you in Atlanta? You basically don’t have
a job anymore unless you plan to work the counter still.”
Kimmy had a point. The only reason to stay in Atlanta was her family, but
that’s what planes were for. She would be just a two and a half hour flight
away.
“Okay...I’ll think about it.”
Diamond move the phone from her ear as Kimmy screamed at the top of her lungs.
“OMG! I’m so freaking excited to have my bestie with me!! So what’s the plan?”
Diamond laughed. “I said I will
think
about it…”
“Oh whatevs, that means yes in my book.”
“I have to talk to my parents about it. Since I’m jobless, I’m going to need
their support until I can find something in New York. I don’t know how my dad’s
going to feel when I tell him he has to help me get an apartment. Maybe I can
find a paid internship. Preferably one where I’m put in contact with artists
more. I need to get my music out there, Kimmy. That’s my main goal right now.”
“Well everything happens for a reason, love. You should try to find an
apartment in the same area I’m going to be in. Maybe we can live in the same
building! That would be so freaking awesome!”
Diamond was getting beyond excited talking to Kimmy about her plans. “Calm down
Kimmy, I still have to talk to my parents.”
“Girl please, you know your parents will help you out. You just graduated top
of your class while working part-time the whole time. So start searching for
internships. I’ll even help! I’m so excited. It’s just like that girl from
Coyote Ugly who moves to New York. Oh, why don’t we see if they really have a
Coyote Ugly bar and you can be a bartender!”
Diamond laughed. “I will not be tap dancing on anybody’s bar thank you very
much.”
“Oh well, just a suggestion.”
A group of boys walked into the café. “Well I gotta go. I’ll talk to you more
about this later.” Although Diamond liked her job, she was not going to miss
standing on her feet all day serving lattes to hundreds of caffeine addicted
college kids. She would give Bob her two weeks’ notice today.
Diamond walked out of her bathroom into her bedroom. She twisted the towel
around her head and tucked in the end at the back to secure it. She stared at
her naked body in the full length mirror on her wall. She turned from side to
side. A few stretch marks adorned both of her butt cheeks. She hated those
stretch marks but they were a reminder of her accomplishment.
She slid her hands down the sides of her body, admiring the hour glass figure
that reflected in the mirror. She had always been overweight. The last four
years had been a huge transformation for her. And she owed her success to her
best-friend, Ryan. He motivated her to take control of her life and be the best
version of herself that she could possibly be. The first step for her was to lose
weight. No longer would she let her weight keep her from living her life.
Now on to step number two, career. It was time she took control of her career.
Step out in the world, on her own, and pursue her dreams. Diamond sat at her
computer desk and Googled
music internships New York
. The first listing
was for an Artist Management Internship at Tri Records. She clicked on the
link.
Tri Records, New York, NY
Salary: paid internship
Full-time or part-time
Seeking: Ambitious, honest and responsible go-getter to help with the
day-to-day promotion of an artist’s career. Must be media and computer savvy.
Proficient in online marketing (blogging, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc) Must
be knowledgeable of current music trends and a team-player. Click here to apply.
Diamond clicked on the link and it led her to an online application on the Tri
Records career section. She filled in the application, attached her resume and
cover letter. She searched through the other listings in the Google search but
none of them sounded as good as the artist management internship. Working for
Tri Records would give her the most access to the artists and a greater
opportunity to work with the decision makers.
She shut down her laptop and slipped into her black leggings and a fitted tank
top. She pulled her hair into a loose bun and picked up her cell phone.
I’m moving to New York.
She texted Ryan.
WTH? Details?
Ryan replied a few minutes later.
LOL I hope I’m moving. Gave 2 wks notice 2 Bob jerk didn’t give me da job
applied 4 internship w’record label *fingers crossed
.
So you leaving me? :-(
Ryan had been Diamond’s friend since they were three years old. Their parents
had been friends their whole lives so whether they wanted to be or not, they
were each other play dates on many occasions. She would miss him. He was her
singing partner. They’ve written hundreds of songs together and performed a few
of them.
Diamond preferred to be behind the scenes, but Ryan was a true star. He had the
whole package, the looks, the voice, the stage presence and the ‘it’ factor
that most singers out there today wished they had. Ryan wasn’t the only talent
in the family though. His brother, Ryder had his own band called The Stone
Ryders, with his best friend, Daniel Stone. They were hot back in the day. Your
panties would fall to the floor if you heard Ryder sing. Trust, it has happened
countless times, well at least that’s what she’d heard. 
Her heart fluttered at the thought of Ryder serenading her. He was two years
older than them, so she didn’t hang out with him that much. But whenever he was
around, she always forgot to breathe.
Another text came in from Ryan, drawing Diamond out of her dreamy daze.
Hello??
She noticed she hadn’t responded to his other text message.
Sorry was distracted. What you mean I’m leaving you? Ur going off to med
school anyway! It’s time I follow my dreams, & stop playing it safe. U can
crash at my place anytime btw!
I’m happy 4 u D, I’ll miss u much but u deserve to follow ur dreams I’m
proud of u girl!
Thx! I’m even more proud of you Dr. Ryan Gillian. ttyl

Diamond sat at her dining room table with her mom and dad. She had called her
mom while she was at work to tell her of her plans to move to New York to
pursue her music career as a songwriter.
“Dad, what do you think about me moving to New York?”
Her dad sipped his coffee. “Well, to be honest, when your mom first told me
about it my immediate response was no. But then I had time to think about it
and I even called Kimmy’s aunt to speak with her about the area and she
convinced me that it was safe for a young girl living on her own, so that eased
my worries a little. I know she’s lived in that area for twenty years or so, so
I trust her. But I do have a few conditions.”
Diamond’s mouth was full of strawberry cheesecake so she nodded for him to go
on.
“You have to promise to call us weekly to check in and you must maintain a
job.”
“Fair enough,” Diamond replied. Her parents had always given her what she
needed and twice of what she wanted, but they also instilled in her the value
of a dollar and hard work.
“You can think of this apartment as your graduation gift, from dad and me, for
doing such a stellar job in college,” her mom said.
Diamond’s mom seemed more excited about her move than she was. Her mom was
always looking for some excuse to buy home décor. Their living room had been at
least five different colors since Diamond was a child. “Kimmy got in touch with
a broker that Auntie Jannie knows. She sent me some listings. I already saw a
place that I like. They didn’t have any in the same building as Kimmy but in
the same vicinity so it’s not too bad.”
“Well, I hope there’s a Sherwin Williams or something close by the apartment
building so we can definitely start decorating the week that I’m there.”
Diamond’s fork stopped mid-air. “Mom, you’re staying a week? I thought just a
few days?”
“Honey, you are moving across states, there’s no way you’ll get settled in just
a few days. So yes, I’m staying a week. I know you’re ready to be out on your own
and party and whatever else twenty-two year olds do these days, but you’re
still my baby and I need to make sure you’re taken care of before I leave you
by yourself.”
Diamond smiled. A week wouldn’t be so bad. “You’re right, Mom. And thanks for
offering to help me out. I know I don’t stay it enough but I do really
appreciate you two.” She brushed the few crumbs from the cheesecake she’d just
devoured into her saucer and rose from the table. She kissed both her parents
on the cheek, placed her saucer in the dishwasher and rushed upstairs to look
at the photos of her soon to be home for the umpteenth time.
Diamond had been to New York a few times with Kimmy. They stayed at Kimmy’s
aunt Jannie’s place. Aunt Jannie promised Kimmy that she could move in with her
once she finished school. The neighborhood that Aunt Jannie lived in was very
trendy and full of life, much like New York itself.
Diamond always pictured herself going to some of the Manhattan lounges and
hearing her music blasting through the speakers. One day her dream would come
true and getting that spot at Tri Records as the artist management intern would
be one step closer to making her dream a reality.
Three days had gone by since the phone interview with the hiring manager at Tri
Records and Diamond had yet to hear anything. She tried to remain positive.
Getting the internship wasn’t a deal breaker, she was moving to New York
regardless, but the fact that she would finally be in a position that could
help her music career made her anxious.
Diamond rushed to the front door at the sound of the doorbell. She opened the
door without looking through the peephole.
“Ryan!” She squeezed him tight. “Come in, I haven’t seen you in a few days.”
“How’s it going, Miss New York?” He smiled and sat on the sofa.
Diamond stuffed her feet into her running shoes. “It’s going,” she said as she
laced up her sneakers. “I’m still waiting to hear back from Tri Records.”
“How did the phone interview go?”
“I think it went well, but you never know. Anyhoo, what is up with you? I miss
running with you.”
“I know I haven’t really been working out the last week. I’ve been taking a
mini-vacation since finishing school.” He fell silent for a moment. “I wish my
brother was here to share this moment with me. We always talked about me going
off to medical school and how I would be the first doctor in the family.”
Diamond rubbed his back. She was the only child but Ryan was like her brother,
so she could imagine how not having your real brother in your life could be
hurtful. “I know, sweetie. It’s hard when someone you’re so close to isn’t
around anymore. You were really like his shadow. Wherever Ryder went there was
little, pea head, Ryan following close behind.”
Ryan laughed. It was good to see him laugh considering what he’d been going
through the past five years. Every major accomplishment thus far was like a
bittersweet moment for him since his brother wasn’t there to share it with him.
The chorus of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” echoed through the air.
“Diamond, for the love of God, please get rid of that ringtone.”
“Hush. I love that song.” She smiled. The phone number displayed on the screen
of her cell phone was from Tri Records.
“Hello.” She mouthed the words “Tri Records” to Ryan. He crossed his fingers on
both hands.
“Miss Anderson, this is Kelly from Tri Records. I wanted to call you to let you
know that we have made our decision regarding the artist management
internship.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes and prepared to hear the worse.
“We would like to offer you the position.”
“Oh my gosh! I accept! Thank you so much, Kelly. Thank you!”
She high-fived Ryan, quietly.
“We will email you a date and time to come into the office for all the
paperwork once you move here. So, congratulations and we’ll see you soon, Miss
Anderson.”
“Thank you again. I look forward to it.” She ended the call and hugged Ryan.
They rocked back and forth in excitement. “Ryan, this is the first step to the
rest of my life!”