The Wishing Coin: A Modern Fairy Tale Read Online Free Page B

resist and laughed out loud.
    “Guess who’s the best!
    “That’s right, it’s GMU!
    “I am Stephan and here are Lancer and Rogers, u-ughh…”
    “It’s awesome to hear your name in a song, isn’t it, Julia?” Rogers interrupted Georgepolous’s performance and looked at me. “After we aired your story about Roscoe Ritch, his debut single skyrocketed to the Top 3 Best-selling hip hop singles in Amazon and iTunes, outrunning Iggy Azalea, Jeremih and even Pharrell Williams. Could you have unknowingly turned yourself into the producer of a new talent? Do you regard yourself as some kind of a producer?”
    “Honestly, it has never crossed my mind.”
    “You know why I’m asking you? I have friends whose hobby is making art, and all the time I hear them saying, ‘If this or that producer liked me and showed my artwork to the world, maybe I would succeed.’ How would you comment on the importance of networking with the right people at the right time?”
    “Undoubtedly, networking is a very important prerequisite but one shouldn’t solely rely on somebody else. I think what Roscoe did was amazing and unique. He somehow managed to fuel my interest in his song and made me present him on national TV. Unfortunately, there is neither a straight recipe nor a university degree that teaches you how exactly to network with people. It’s all a matter of gut feeling.”
    “It’s all a matter of gut feeling,” Lancer repeated. “I think it’s the right time for us to move on with Sarah Moulton and the daily dose of delicious recipes she’s prepared for us. Thank you, Julia, for your detailed answers and for being our interlocutor here on GMU.”
    That was the end of my taking part in a TV show and the beginning of a new era in my career. The success of the report exceeded all my expectations. Roscoe Ritch became the new media sensation. The rest of the TV channels and shows were racing to invite him as a guest; some of the biggest radio stations were already playing his song, and even Rolling Stone had prepared an article about the poor white rapper from the Bronx for their following issue. Several days later, Carter Phillips invited me to his office again. I’d been expecting the good news. After the standard congratulations for the success of my last report he said, “I wasn’t thinking of choosing you as a host, especially when it comes to The Screw, but your teenage rapper report changed my mind and… You’re officially the host of The Screw along with Jennifer Bailey.”
    “Really?” The joy of being chosen as a host was partially marred by the fact I had to share my position with Jennifer.
    “What’s wrong, aren’t you happy?” Carter asked, startled. He obviously expected me to be brimming with happiness.
    “Oh, I am. Of course I’m happy, I’m on cloud nine.” I forced a smile.
    “For now, both of you will be hosts. Later, one of you will be ousted. Do your best and… who knows? Pretty soon you might become The Screw’s new face.”
    ***
    “It happened just like that?” Emily asked me in Starbucks. I was telling her my version of the success story while we were having coffee and tea.
    “Yes, it did. I don’t see anything incredible in that.” Hardly had I said this when I realized I didn’t really believe it myself. I took a sip of tea through the straw.
    “Well, there isn’t. Just…” She thought for a second, “Every time I hear about overnight success I wonder how it’s possible, and now you’re serving me your story, too… I just can’t believe it can be so easy.”
    “And why does it have to be hard? According to Daoism, everything in life should happen easily.”
    “Yes, I had forgotten how spiritual you are. Perhaps that’s the secret behind your instant success?”
    “I have no secrets,” I retorted firmly.
    “Honey, everybody has secrets. Everybody…” She took a prolonged look at me. “So, what are your future plans?”
    “Well, of course I am planning to be