[Chapter 28: New Song Counting Stars]
"Come on," In the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan, Orlando was casually fiddling with something as he spoke, "I'm never getting married in this lifetime."
"What?"
"I said, I'm never getting married."
"Why not?"
"It's simple."
Orlando said, "What does marriage even bring me? Money, fame, status, position?"
Madonna furrowed her perfectly shaped brows, "Marriage is the culmination of love, the sweet reward, the beautiful fruit..."
"Come on," Orlando cut her off, "I don't believe in love. Do you? If you believe in it, then why did you get a divorce?"
"That's different. I got divorced because the love was gone!"
"Love that disappears so quickly -- can you really call that love?"
Madonna was silenced by his words, though her mind was still racing to find a comeback.
Orlando changed the subject.
He didn't want to argue about love and marriage with her.
"I'm preparing to shoot the music video for Old Town Road. Got any tips?"
Madonna's interest shifted as expected.
She focused on the Old Town Road music video.
"It's not a movie; what's so hard about a music video? Just do what the director tells you, or if you have ideas on how to make it better, go with those. It's just a few minutes long. Shoot a few takes, and it's done."
Michael Jackson was actually the pioneer of music videos, even if it hadn't been that long since they became a thing.
But because MJ's zombie-themed video was so famous and successful, nowadays, whenever a song got any traction, if it didn't have a music video, it was like it didn't even exist.
Though the music video concept was relatively new, an effective system had been established quickly.
Following that system made it easy.
Orlando wasn't really bothered.
He just wanted to avoid talking about that love stuff with Madonna.
He sensed this glamorous woman had actually just thought about tying him down.
Damn!
He did like Madonna, but mostly admired her body --
Madonna was thirty-two--
That peach-shaped rear, those long, healthy, glowing legs, and that stunning face that hadn't needed Botox, collagen, or fillers yet.
She was at her peak.
It'd be a waste not to have a little fun.
But marriage? Forget it.
Even if she did completely change for him, he never had the idea of being loyal to one person.
Besides, he'd seen a lot of dirt in the entertainment world in his past life.
That killed any thought he had of finding true love in this business.
Fun was fine.
Marriage? Are you crazy?
Take a lesson from Leo DiCaprio -- guy don't go beyond twenty-five, that's the sweet spot.
Madonna wasn't stupid either.
In fact, her intelligence and willpower in her career were off the charts.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have become a queen of American pop music--
Yes, queen.
Pop divas come and go all the time.
But even in the American music scene and the world, there was only one Madonna--
At sixty, still performing full concerts, singing and dancing to intense tracks.
There were very few like her anywhere in the world.
Madonna could tell Orlando was trying to change the subject.
That's why she teased him about marrying her.
Love?
There was no way they had that in such a short time.
What she felt was an addiction.
...
The two were cuddling together,
Lying on the lounge chairs by the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the Four Seasons penthouse suite, watching the New York city lights.
They looked up at the night sky, where, thanks to Manhattan's light pollution, the stars seemed dimmer.
But actually still pretty bright.
Under the banner of deindustrialization, the once heavily polluted Manhattan skyline now revealed stars again.
Orlando, who had seen many dim starry nights in New York, couldn't help but comment, "The stars in the New York sky look extra bright tonight."
"Come on," Madonna replied without looking up, "There are no stars in New York. Even if they're there, the city lights drown them out. If you want to see stars, you gotta go out to Long Island! Speaking of which, I have an estate in Southampton, Long Island. It's not very big, but it has forests and a lake. How about we go there for a few days? I haven't tried being outdoors with you yet!"
She waited for a response.
But got none.
Madonna looked up at him only to see his eyes staring blankly, as if his mind had drifted far away.
"Orlando? Orlando? What're you doing? Are you even listening?"
"Orlando? Orlando!"
Madonna raised her voice, getting a bit annoyed.
"Oh, sorry, I spaced out for a moment. I just got hit with inspiration."
"Whoa, wait -- you mean inspiration? Inspiration for a song?" Madonna was surprised, stopping what she was doing.
"Yeah."
"A new song?"
"Yeah."
"Damn!"
Madonna lost her mood to keep playing.
There was that helpless jealousy the average person felt facing a genius!
In just a minute or two, Orlando came up with a new song.
It made Madonna feel a little silly.
But after sulking, she flashed a charming smile, "Honey? Can you sing it for me? If it fits me, you know it'll be just like Poker Face! And I'll make it worth your while... like..."
She started undoing Orlando's belt.
For a new song, she was ready to put up with anything. Besides...
There was more than that. Mostly, she was thrilled with the song Orlando wrote for her, Poker Face. After she recorded it, her whole team agreed it was a top-tier track. If released as a single, it would surely top the Billboard Hot 100.
If she put it in an album, it would be the undisputed theme song.
Potentially one of her signature hits for years to come.
With a song that good, Madonna naturally wanted more!
"This one, I plan to sing myself. It suits a male singer better."
Madonna stopped undoing his belt immediately.
"But I can still sing it for you."
Though a bit disappointed, Madonna whispered, "Then please, honey, sing it for me."
"Okay, but you have to keep going."
Orlando's eyes flicked to her paused hand.
Madonna pouted.
She had no choice but to continue.
♫ Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard ♫
"Ouch, don't bite, take it easy!"
♫ Said no more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars ♫
"If you bite again, I'll shock you!"
♫ Yeah, we'll be counting stars
I see this life like a swinging vine
Swing my heart across the line
And in my face is flashing signs
Seek it out and ye shall find
Old but I'm not that old
Young but I'm not that bold
And I don't think the world is sold
On just doing what we're told ♫
*****
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