Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 240: Catwoman ]

"It sounds like she's hanging out with Dr. Luck," Ryan said as he hung up the phone.

"The producer?" Taylor scooped a spoonful of ice cream and popped it into her mouth.

The ice cream bucket Taylor held was particularly enormous. She offered Ryan another spoon, but he shook his head. Besides the ladies, he maintained strict self-discipline, and his diet had become almost as regimented as an athlete's.

Taylor glanced at Ryan, a bit sheepishly, and said, "I'll just have a few more bites; there's not much left."

She still couldn't resist the temptation. If Taylor wanted to indulge, Ryan wouldn't stop her. Besides, she was so thin these days, her arms were practically like twigs; a little more meat wouldn't hurt.

"Since she's with Luke, it must be to work on a new album," Taylor said, placing her spoon in her mouth and licking it clean.

Dr. Luck was a hit-making machine in the producer world, having worked with artists like the Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, and Avril Lavigne. He produced Avril's hit Girlfriend and was also behind Flo Rida's Right Round. Last year, he handled Katy Perry's entire album, which included several chart-topping singles.

Perhaps feeling that their last collaboration went exceptionally well, Katy Perry teamed up with him again. She was a staunch supporter of Luke, and even years later, when the scandal hit, Katy never turned against him, despite the pressure, continuing their partnership.

"That makes sense. We're both outliers; for other artists, finding an excellent producer is crucial," Taylor nodded.

Ryan and Taylor really were an unusual pair -- one was skilled in songwriting, and the other was a whiz in electronic music production. Together, they formed a pop music factory.

"But there are only a handful of great producers." Ryan pondered for a moment, realizing that he could count on one hand the number of producers of Luke's caliber. Top producers earned a significant cut of album royalties, making them hidden tycoons in the industry.

"People always say I'm good at judging people," Taylor said, her eyes squinting in a teasing smile.

"I'd call myself half of one," Ryan replied, shaking his head. He was very self-aware and knew that if he didn't have a sense of déjà vu, he was nothing. Which was why he was working hard to expand his influence. The larger his empire became, the greater his ability to withstand risks.

"Do you think Katy Perry and Luke are involved?" Taylor asked, changing the topic.

"Probably," Ryan said casually. It wasn't just Katy's word that mattered; it depended on what kind of person Luke was. Considering his successful work with many female artists, it seemed unlikely he wouldn't make a move on Katy.

Taylor nodded, acknowledging yet another piece of gossip. After hearing enough of these sordid tales, she had grown less shocked and had started looking at Ryan with a more scrutinizing gaze.

"You still haven't properly explained to me what's going on with those cheerleaders," Taylor suddenly switched gears. Ever since the gossip from DJ magazine dropped, they had only touched on the subject briefly over the phone.

Ryan paused for a moment, then helplessly admitted, "Since you asked, I have indeed been with all those cheerleaders!"

"WHAT?!" Taylor's voice pitched up, her shock evident.

"Not just that; quite a few of them are pregnant. By next year, I might have a whole bunch of love children," Ryan added, clearly enjoying this too much.

"What are you talking about? Say that again!" Taylor pointed her spoon at Ryan in disbelief.

"Taylor, if you're going to interrogate me every time some rumor gets out, why wouldn't I just let you know 'the real story' in advance?" He gestured as if quoting someone. "Consider it desensitization training."

"That's not fair! You can't let those cheerleaders come back, or maybe I should have someone keep an eye on you," Taylor pouted. Ryan's last comment nearly made her heart race.

"Sweetheart, you know that's impossible. There will always be more rumors to come; don't forget we're celebrities. We reap the benefits of public attention, but we also have to endure the price that comes with it. Public figures can never entirely control their personal lives," Ryan shrugged, continuing to prepare her for the storm.

Taylor took a few deep breaths; Ryan's words were hard to argue with, and feeling defeated, she said, "Can't we figure out a solution?"

"Of course, if you really can't handle it, we could temporarily separate to give you some space to think," Ryan said, as if it were an easy solution.

"Fuck you!" Taylor couldn't help but curse, playfully attempting to kick Ryan.

Ryan looked at Taylor's fair skin and perfect arches, and he reached out to grab her foot, using the moment to draw her closer.

"If you can't live without me, then stop thinking about those other things. Don't let those tabloids ruin our relationship. The more you seem unsettled, the worse they will get, rubbing salt in your wounds." Ryan leaned down, gazing into her face and noticing her furrowed brow, her eyes mixed with disappointment, anger, and a hint of confusion.

Ryan knew very well that he and Taylor were so closely connected that she couldn't leave him at all, and thus became more and more unscrupulous.

As Taylor felt Ryan's embrace, her hands instinctively grabbed his arms. She wasn't the naive rookie she had once been; a slight smile appeared on her face. "I know you face a lot of temptation; bottling it all up isn't a good idea. How about I invite Abigail over? She's a trusted friend, and she won't spill anything; at least it'll be safer."

A change in strategy? Ryan was taken aback. Taylor picked up quickly and learned to use her connections creatively.

"Don't drag anyone else into this; I'll just give you Mary's number, and you can call a high-end escort service," Ryan replied with a laugh.

"Absolutely not. What if they spill the details? Plus, they're not clean; Abigail is way better," Taylor insisted, keeping her smile. "After all, I was the one who intruded on you two. If you rekindle things with her, that's a burden I have to bear. When she called me the other day, she was still holding on to you."

"Just don't regret it," Ryan kissed Taylor lightly.

"What would I have to regret?" Taylor thought it through. If Ryan really did go for Abigail, she'd cry and throw a fit, ensuring he regretted it for life. Then, every time he saw her, he'd feel that guilt.

With that, Taylor pulled away from Ryan, picking up her phone and heading to the backyard.

...

"Abigail, Ryan's been thinking about other women; I need your help this time," Taylor said as she got straight to the point.

"You want me to test him?" Abigail caught on quickly.

"Exactly! You flirt with him, get him thinking about you, and then I'll swoop in with my big reveal!"

"Taylor... all men are the same. Even if you catch him, what then? Maybe you should let this go," Abigail was not about to agree.

"Why let it go? He's getting too comfortable; just earlier, he was talking about separating. He needs a lesson!" Taylor said, lowering her voice.

"He really said that? What a jerk! You've done so much for him, and he shows no gratitude. What a heartless guy!" Abigail chimed in to support Taylor.

"I know, I was such a fool at the beginning; I shouldn't have accepted his proposal," Taylor grumbled.

"With how romantic he was, who would refuse?" Abigail chuckled wryly.

"He knows how to charm girls too well. At this rate, in a few years, who knows how many kids he'll have running around?" Taylor simmered with anger.

"Plus, you've given him all that money -- Ryan's career has your contributions. You're the one footing the bill for all those other women! He needs to clarify things; or it's separation for sure!" Abigail urged.

"Are we really talking about separation?" Taylor's heartbeat quickened at the thought. This whole mess stemmed from gossip in DJ magazine -- if they seriously split, it would give Ryan's enemies the reason to celebrate.

"What else can we do? He's using this against you. He's harsh, so you need to be even tougher! Honey, I can take a few days off, and I'll head straight to Florida. You can't rely on anyone else right now; I'll back you up!"

"Maybe we should wait; Ryan has stuff to handle right now. Let's hold off for a few days," Taylor instinctively suggested, feeling more anxious the closer the time for action drew near.

"Look at you, still worrying about him! Haven't you realized that the more you care for him, the more he walks all over you? We can't let this drag out!" Abigail insisted. Taylor paid for her college tuition, and she was determined to stand up for her friend.

"But..." Taylor hesitated.

"There's no 'buts'! I'm packing, and I'll leave first thing tomorrow!" Abigail decisively hung up.

"Hey... why did you hang up so quickly?" Taylor set her phone down, almost subconsciously pacing in the garden. Things had spiraled out of control.

"It'll be fine; Ryan and Abigail are both close to me; no matter what happens, it'll never leave this circle." Taylor reassured herself.

...

When Taylor returned to the living room, she saw Ryan on the phone, seemingly speaking with Rihanna's agent.

"Did she agree?" Taylor asked as Ryan hung up.

"Not yet; she wants to confirm her schedule," Ryan replied, then added in a mumble, "Now I just need to reach out to Adele in the UK. I just spoke with Simon; he said he'd ask for me."

Adele primarily worked in the UK and hadn't fully embedded herself in the American pop music scene yet, so Ryan had to go through an intermediary.

"Oh," Taylor said as she took a seat, unsure of what to add.

Ryan then remembered Taylor had just stepped out to make a call. Seeing her reaction, he exclaimed, "You didn't really invite Abigail over, did you?"

"She said... she wanted to come see me; it was just a casual visit," Taylor couldn't bring herself to disclose Abigail's true intentions.

Even so, Ryan found himself in a tricky spot; his expression reflected his helplessness. "Even if it's just for a visit, it's the wrong timing; this will just complicate things."

"She's here to see me, not you!" Taylor felt as if Ryan was scolding her and countered instinctively.

"Fair enough; I can't just kick her out," Ryan knew it was too late; after all, she was Taylor's friend.

"I'm going to take a bath," Ryan said as he stood up.

"Okay," Taylor nodded absently, still lost in thought about her earlier phone call with Abigail.

"Let's wash up together," Ryan suggested, noticing Taylor's golden hair cascading down.

With Ryan's efforts, Taylor had become even more stunning, radiating a youthful charm. Now, she had a fuller figure that made her even more appealing.

"Wait, what?"

Before Taylor could respond, Ryan grabbed her, pulling her into a princess hug.

"I want to watch TV..." she responded bashfully.

"The TV by the bathtub is bigger than this one." Ryan smiled.

...

After playing in the tub for sometime, they wrapped themselves in bathrobes and made their way to the wardrobe.

"I cosplayed as Wonder Woman last time." Ryan took the initiative to flip through one of the closets. This particular wardrobe was unique, filled with a variety of quirky outfits, many just pieces of fabric, and the bottom shelves held various high heels and stockings.

A little couple cosplay never hurt anyone; Ryan enjoyed it, and Taylor was willing to indulge him.

"How about this outfit tonight?" Ryan pulled out a thick, fitted black jumpsuit, excited. "Let's have you as Catwoman tonight." He held the outfit up in front of Taylor.

"This outfit is hard to get on and makes me sweat a lot," Taylor recalled her last struggle wearing it. It felt like a lifetime ago; once she took it off, she realized how sore her joints had become.

"I'll help you put it on; lift your leg." Ryan had no intention of letting this go.

As he gently coaxed Taylor backward, having her lean against the shoe cabinet, he first helped her lift one leg and then the other, exposing her smooth, long legs. The jumpsuit featured a zipper design, making it easy to wear without any awkward issues.

Next came the top piece and the cat ears; he couldn't forget the blindfold, which was the soul of the outfit.

"Perfect," Ryan declared with satisfaction.

"Okay," Taylor said, her cheeks reddening.

...

A while later.

"Honey, hold me!" Taylor opened her arms in a plea.

Ryan complied, wrapping his arms around her tightly, "Darling, promise me you won't get jealous over those rumors anymore, alright?"

"Okay," Taylor mumbled, having already cast aside what DJ magazine had printed.

But the next moment, she remembered Abigail was showing up tomorrow, and her heart sank, leaving her feeling cold and composed.

"Why aren't you in good shape tonight?" Ryan immediately sensed Taylor's change in mood.

"Nothing," Taylor said, pushing Ryan to stand up before rushing to the bathroom for a quick shower, washing off her sweat.

"Feeling unwell?" Ryan couldn't help but ask when she returned.

"Nope," Taylor replied with a fake smile.

She felt increasingly helpless, trapped in between, not sure what to do tomorrow.

*****

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