Chase James is a young and ambitious journalist, who left his hometown in North Carolina while still attending college and headed to the Big Apple for an opportunity working for one of the biggest magazine editors in the entertainment business. Thriving in his career Chase begins to travel the world, attending the most exclusive red carpet events and hobnobbing with his new A-List celebrity friends. Along the way he meets a young, up and coming male R&B singer with whom he develops a close friendship with. They quickly become more than friends and this relationship takes Chase on a rollercoaster of ups and downs that he never imagined possible. As an openly gay man Chase struggles being involved romantically with a public figure that is on the “down low” and the complications that come into play. Everything he worked so hard to build in his life is put to the test and Chase must make some tough decisions.
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Chapter 1: Summer Jam
“I do not want to go out tonight,” Chase told Shelby, who was trying to convince him to get out of the house and go to the Hot 97 Summer Jam After-Party. “It’s raining, and nasty out. I’m so tired from work today. I’ve only been in New York for a couple of months and they really have me going in circles.”
It was coming down pretty heavy; you could hear the sound of raindrops hitting the sky window in Chase’s rental condo unit. The two-bedroom pad was nestled in the affluent area of Douglaston in Queens, New York. Chase James just moved from North Carolina after his best friend referred him to a job at one of the most popular music publications in the country, Pulse Magazine. Chase was worn-out from a long week of grabbing coffee, sending emails and playing errand boy for the editor-in-chief Phil Monroe. Phil is known for being a beast in the publishing game and was in his prime, heading up the most sought after magazine in the entertainment industry.
“I saw Gwen Stefani sitting in the office with Phil today. I am exhausted by the time I leave the office every day but I swear I could not have asked for a better opportunity; The people I’ve been meeting and the doors that are opening up for me. Thanks so much for this hook up,” Chase said expressing his gratitude to his BFF, fashion stylist Shelby Kash.
Her name said it all. Shelby was about her money and status. She did not grow up with a silver spoon in her mouth, and worked tirelessly for the success she has achieved as one of the most in demand fashion stylists in the biz. She worked with music and film’s elite superstars. Chase and Shelby met at Negril Village, a popular Caribbean restaurant in the Greenwich Village area of NYC, while he was interning one summer. Years after that chance encounter, they now frequent the restaurant’s weekly industry after-work event.
It was a warm yet muggy summer night and Shelby was dressed to the nines. Short freakum dress from BCBG, her make-up was caked on, nails and toes freshly done while rocking a brand new pair of Red Bottom’s that she had been saving up for four months to be able to afford. Shelby was on a mission and did not want to go out alone… or home alone.
“Chase, part of your job in this business is to build your brand and that is going to include networking. You need to rub elbows. You cannot just be an errand boy. Phil needs to see you out, walking in the door and making your presence known. He’s going to be there along with everyone that performed at the concert. Let’s go!” Shelby pleaded.
The truth is, she was right. Chase just earned his Associates Degree in Public Relations and Media but moved to New York to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity that was offered to him before he finished his full four years in college. He was a talented writer and had goals for himself of becoming editor-in-chief of a magazine one day. He knew his shit but it is more than what you know that matters in this cutthroat business. It has a lot to do with who you know and the reputation you have. You either got it or you don’t. Chase possessed many of the key ingredients to become a power player in the business. He was handsome, a really good writer and interviewer and was very ambitious. Some areas just needed a little more cultivating. He needed to really break out of his shell and his best friend was determined to help him do so.
It was make it or break it for Chase. Born from a Hispanic mother and father, Chase grew up in the foster care system until he found his forever family in an Italian and German couple, who had trouble giving birth naturally themselves. For Chase, college was important because he would have been the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree but he couldn’t pass up such a great opportunity working for Phil Monroe. So he knew that if he was going to take a break from finishing up his four years in college, he had to make this time count. It was all or nothing and he was determined to not go home a failure. So he understood what Shelby was saying and decided to go on out to the after-party.
“Girl,” Chase replied.
“Boy,” Shelby barked back. “Let’s go!” Shelby strutted her stuff into Chase’s bedroom, and made her way to his walk-in closet as she began to put an outfit together for him, since he was still wearing sweats from the gym. She pulled out his favorite pair of Gucci loafers and a black slim fit button down shirt.
“Chase, throw on some jeans with this and that Louie belt and let’s get out the house. I’m getting us a car service for the night so we don’t need to worry about a damn thing,” Shelby told him.
Rob Sauthoff is an accomplished journalist and Public Relations executive with over 20 years in the entertainment industry. He has held the role of Associate Editor of Black Noir Magazine since 2005 and has lent his talents as a publicist to a number of successful campaigns, generating millions in revenue and media impressions for his clients.
Rob was born in Bogota, Colombia and was adopted at six months old. He grew up as a child in Queens, New York and later moved to Long Island in his adolescent years, with his adopted parents. Rob began expressing his talents as a writer early on in high school and enjoyed success as a published entertainment journalist and songwriter early on. In recent years his philanthropic work has become a driving force in his career as he formed The Joan Marie Foundation in 2020, fondly named in memory of his mother who passed on in 2014. HEADLINES is Rob’s debut novel and as an author his unique voice has plenty to say.
Links:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/headlines-rob-sauthoff/1139725675
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Sounds like a very good book.
sounds like a great story
Relationships are never easy…especially not when the romance is in the public eye.
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the wonderful post introducing it.