“Yep, like I said, no pressure.” Darren grins, wagging his eyebrows at us.
Lockhart clears his throat. “So you’re in?”
“Hell yes!” Kai and Dane high five and finally jump up off their chairs.
“Good. Expect to be working until late tonight.” Lockhart announces and checks his watch. “You can go.”
I stand, hook my bag over my shoulder, tug on the bottom of my black lace skirt and then my brown bomber jacket.
“How are you getting on with Lydia?” Lockhart asks, tilting his head as Rep, Kai and Dane all chat animatedly on their way out of the room.
“Good, although we have yet to meet.”
“She doesn’t need more than a phone call to improve what you have.”
“So I’ve noticed. I’m hitting notes I couldn’t hit before.” I smile. “Thank you for setting us up.”
“No problem. Perhaps you can do me a small favour in return?” His perfect teeth scrape against his lower lip and his eyes lazily roam my face.
Gulp.
“Sure.”
“Good.” He smirks, that trademark smirk. “I’ll hold you to that.”
He’ll hold me to that?
I want to know what he wants and I want to know now. Now! Not in the future. Use your bloody favour now!
“Your friends are waiting for you.” The way he says the word friends is a warning or an order, or maybe both.
“Bye.” I quickly turn and rush from the room, sweaty palms and trembling knees too.
The boys were too busy cheering to even notice me missing. Are they forgetting that we’re soon to be separated? Not that I’m complaining; it’ll be so nice to get my own space.
“What did he mean by working late?” Kai asks once he’s kind of calmed down, though we find out all too soon exactly what he meant.
Two Weeks Later
The noise makes the stage vibrate. It’s disorienting. It’s hard to shut everything out and focus on the music, but it’s also the best feeling in the world. It’s shaking with energy that is flowing through us. The lighting is perfect. There are cartoon images on the background throwing around lyrics to our song. People are screaming, cheering, reaching onto the stage as I push my voice to limits I never dreamed of before. This is electric. It feels amazing.
My eyes don’t stop searching for my band mates, who I know feel the same. They can’t stop grinning despite the sweat dripping down their faces, despite the ache in their limbs and in mine.
We interact with the crowd as best we can while using our instruments, but they don’t need much. The atmosphere is set; they’re feeling our music. We’re pumping them up ready for Enri.
I’m alive. This is what living feels like. This.
And then it’s over. Our time on stage has come to an end. They’re cheering, stamping their feet, begging for more. Even though they don’t know our music, they’re calling our names.
“This is insane!” Kai yells into the mic. “You’re all wild!” They scream louder. I laugh, flash them my rings and carry my keyboard off stage.
As I’m pulled past a large group of people running around to prepare the stage, I bump into a speaker and knock a glass onto the floor. Oops. It shatters and the fluid within splashes everywhere, including onto my sparkly silver high-tops.
“Bloody hell!” I wince when I notice the fluid is dark brown. Coffee perhaps? Who drinks coffee in a glass? “That’s going to stain.” I want to cry. I’ve wanted these shoes forever and the first time I wear them, I ruin them. “Who leaves a bloody drink on a speaker anyway?”
“Who walks into a speaker double her width?” Comes a heavily accented male voice.
“My keyboard was blocking my line of sight.” I respond and turn to face the know-it-all I’ve come to know as Enri these past two days. “I swear you place these obstacles in my path on purpose.”
“I don’t need to put them in your path; you seem to like breaking my things. Perhaps it is you who is seeking them out?” He chuckles as his assistant helps him button his shirt, straighten his cap and hook his guitar around his neck.
“Don’t you have a stage to jump off?”
He laughs, flips me off and finally walks onto his almost ready platform. The crowd goes wild the second he steps out. I thought they were loud for us, but bloody hell my ears hurt.
Enri is like a slimmer, cuter, shorter version of Lockhart. They are definitely related, I can tell. They both have the same smile, though Enri’s isn’t sinister like Lockhart’s and it also isn’t intimidating, which is nice. After only an hour with the guy I felt relaxed and comfortable and now we bicker like fools. Though, like Dane and Kai, he unfortunately, despite his increasing charm and ridiculous good looks, just doesn’t tickle my pickle in that way.
“Thank you to Ellipsis for their AMAZING stage presence and WICKED tunes.” Enri calls and I go deaf again. “Don’t forget to support new artists such as these. They’ll be headlining somewhere some day!”
I sure hope he’s right.
“How are you feeling now?” I ask Kai as we make our way to the green room, eager to escape the bustle and noise for just enough time to unwind and collect ourselves.
Kai’s entire body is trembling and soaking. He really pushed himself out there and his fingers look sore. He’s never played as much as he has these past two weeks.
“I’ve never been so fucking terrified in my life,” he admits, racing to the sink and taking a swig from the tap despite there being bottles of water on the side. Then he dunks his head under it and scrubs his face with his hands. I take off my shoes and, using the sink beside him, I try to fix the stain. Luckily the brown hasn’t affected the sequins so any marks aren’t visible to the untrained eye. Phew.
“Me neither,” I admit, pulling the grips from my hair and then shaking out the curls. It’s almost as wild as the crowds; the sweat and humidity has made it go almost afro. I love it when it’s like this. “Where’s Dane?”
“He’ll be here.”
I doubt it. Dane loves the stage. He’ll probably be watching Enri, hoping he’ll ask him to join in with the drums like he did in rehearsal two nights ago. I’ve never seen Dane orgasm before, but I’m certain that’s what he did when that happened.
“We should go back out there; we’re supposed to mingle with the back stage pass groups.” I yawn around my words and stretch my body.
“Yeah.” Kai shakes his hands dry and helps me put my keyboard back into my bag. “This is rattling. You need to treat yourself to a new one. We can get this one framed or something so it’s forever in your heart.”
I know he’s right, but it’s just so hard to part with it. It’s my lucky keyboard.
“Maybe.” I zip up the back and push the keyboard under the couch to keep it safe. “Let’s go listen to Enri and get tipsy!”
“Vodka.” Kai grins and snatches a bottle from the side. “Toffee vodka?”
I shrug. “Must be a new thing?”
“I love free gifts.” He twists the lid off the bottle, pulls the plastic cork out and takes a large swig. At first he grimaces but it soon turns into a look of surprise. “That’s actually really good.”
My turn. He’s right. It’s amazing. It tastes like vodka mixed with toffee syrup, but not as sickly or sweet. I’m going to drink this like water all night, I can already tell.
“I am so buzzed right now.” I grin, shaking my trembling hands. I then flex my stiff, aching fingers and snatch the bottle from Kai to take a swig.
“I’m going back out there; are you coming?” Kai asks, glancing at the door.
“Not yet.” I’m nervous about our performance and even more nervous about how they’ll rate us. “You go and warm them up for me. I’m going to drink some more and rest.”
Nodding, he takes a new bottle from the side and pulls open the door, letting the noise inside for a moment. I can still hear it with it shut but it’s just a dull roar in comparison.
Blowing out an anxious breath, I pract
ise my breathing and take another swig of the vodka.
I place my phone on the side by the sink and tap at the screen with my index finger. It is full of notifications, text messages and missed calls, all of them congratulations and good lucks from friends and family. Smiling, I take my time to respond to them all, especially my sister’s, Sammy. She’s quite possibly my favourite person in the world when she’s not being a raging, clothes stealing bitch.
Cerise: Wish you were here. Toffee vodka is my new thing. Call you in the morning, have to go and mingle and get pictures.
“You can do this,” I tell my reflection, leaving my phone by the sink. “Just go out there and rock that shit.” My lips touch the glass rim of the bottle and I tip my head back. This stuff is so good. I’m not even kidding.
When I open the door, I’m relieved to see the place almost empty. They must all be watching Enri so I set out to find Kai, vodka bottle in hand like the little aspiring alcoholic that I am.
Sweet scented fog assaults me as I make my way backstage, keeping out of the way of the crew as I go. Some give me brief smiles and nods as I pass but the majority are much too busy to entertain me. I don’t mind. I actually watch them for a bit, despite the fact I’ve been watching them all week. Whoever you see on stage, the real heroes are behind it. Like ants, these guys know where they’re to go and when, what to do and how to do it. They have more weight on their shoulders during this time than any other profession. One slip and it’s game over for them, no second chances.
They’re all masochists. They must love the pressure.
* * *
“I was just coming to get you!” Darren suddenly steps into my line of sight, beaming from ear to ear.
“Hey,” I respond, popping my jaw to get the ringing to leave my ears. It only works for a moment. “Is everything cool?”
He nods, still smiling. “Everything is perfect.” Taking my hand, he kisses it and squeezes it briefly. “You were amazing. All of you… but you… your voice… the words.” I can see the dollar signs rolling around his eyeballs like some old-time animation. “If Enri doesn’t keep you all on, I’d be astounded.”
“Well you better keep us posted.” I look behind me to the stage exit. “Is Kai in the VIP?”
“I think so; that’s where he was last I checked.”
“And Dane?”
He shrugs. “Haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him yet.” Looping my arm through his, he begins to lead me towards the exit that will take us to the VIP section of the concert hall.
I have no doubt he’s already in bed, though not to sleep. My silent laughter goes unnoticed so fortunately I don’t have to explain it.
“You really were very good,” Darren gushes, stopping us both as two men walk by with a massive piece of metal. “Let’s get out of this section. It seems dangerous.”
“That’s because it is.” I really want to drink more of my vodka but he won’t let go of my hand and something tells me he’s not going to until we’re well into the VIP section. This is the part where he shows off that he’s our rep in order to pimp himself out as a possible rep for others. I know the move well. This part of the industry is the part I don’t like, but it’s also the part I respect. We all have to make a living somehow.
“I’ll take her from here.” We both startle at the sound of a familiar male voice, a voice I haven’t heard since we were in his office two weeks ago. When I turn and meet his eyes, his lips tip up at the edges. “Ms Branch.” But when his eyes scan my body and rest upon the bottle in my hand, they darken dangerously, so very dangerously. Gulp.
“But…” Darren begins to protest but I can see he finds no reasonable explanation for his protest. “Very well.” Leaning in, he politely kisses my cheek and adds, “I shall see you inside?”
Why is he asking? Am I not going inside now?
“Mr Lockhart,” I say, wetting my lips which are still sticky with shimmering brown/pink lip gloss. “Did you see us open?”
Narrowed, beautiful green eyes pierce my own with an intimidating glare. I feel as though I’m about to be chastised. “How much have you had to drink?”
Do I seem drunk? “Three… maybe four swigs.”
“Swigs,” he repeats, pressing his lips together. “May I?” I hand him the bottle, wondering if he has the same weakness for toffee vodka that I just discovered I have.
“Get rid of this.” He doesn’t even look as he hands the bottle to a passing man.
“Hey,” I whine, frowning and almost sobbing at the loss of my new true love. “Why would you do that?”
“You need a clear head tonight,” he responds cryptically.
“Why? Work is done. It was a success. I’d like to celebrate.”
This time he doesn’t respond at all, only takes my elbow in his hand and guides me to the stage exit. “Don’t leave my side. Am I understood?”
Is he for real? I grit my teeth and fight the urge to curtsey as I mumble, “Yes, boss.”
“I’ll ignore the tone of condescension, this once.” He reaches for the door handle. “Allow me.”
“I was going to.” I don’t know why I have attitude. Normally I’d never be so disrespectful but I’ve never been good with authority and he just did something extremely dangerous. He took away my vodka.
When he chuckles, I almost groan. I can’t help it. He’s just so fucking attractive and he knows it.
Why is he bothering me? Doesn’t he have hordes of female women begging to be in his no doubt lofty harem? Can’t he go and disturb their night? Just because I find him handsome and alluring doesn’t mean I want my night disturbed by him. Although I can’t lie and say I’m completely unhappy about it.
“You performed well tonight,” he states as I brush past him and through the door he holds open for me.
“Thank you.” Does he know how good he smells? Christ I must smell like stage sweat. Yes, there is such a thing. Now I’m desperate for him to leave me alone.
We ascend a short flight of stairs, the noise getting louder and louder. It’s not just Enri’s performance but the excited crying of his beloved fans.
Lockhart opens the final door and steps through, guiding me into the room with a hand on my lower back. Very few eyes come our way; they’re all too hyped, standing at the railings, cheering Enri on.
I find Kai and get ready to bolt but, as if sensing this, Lockhart’s hand locks around my elbow and he pulls me to the bar, on the opposite side of the area to where Kai is.
“You can stop touching me now,” I say, getting annoyed by his brashness and his lack of personal space etiquette. He releases me immediately but only seems amused when he responds, “My apologies.” His head tips ever so slightly. The movement is so subtle I wouldn’t have noticed had I not been unable to break eye contact. “I will take an aged whiskey, with a dash of water. The lady will take a vodka cranberry. No ice.”
How does he know that I love vodka cranberry?
“If you’re getting me vodka, why not just let me keep the vodka before?”
He turns and rests against the bar, facing the stage. I see the reflection of the lights in his eyes. “There’s a very large difference between drinking a dilute vodka to swigging vodka straight from the bottle.” He has a point. “I just don’t wish to see you unwell tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow morning? We have a meeting?” I want to huff. I’ve been up at five every single day for two weeks. I was looking forward to a lie in.
“We shall see how you and your band mates fare.” He chuckles when Kai jumps up and down, cheering loudly as Enri nails a guitar solo. I smile warmly at the sight, happy that he’s having so much fun. “Come.” He hands me my drink and leads me towards a group of people cheering at the stage. “I’d like to introduce you to my niece, Eliza Farrell.”
A stunningly beautiful woman turns around so quickly her choppy blonde hair hits the person next to her straight in the face. They roll their eyes and push the back of her head playfully so she stumbles
forward towards us a step.
“Call me Liz.” She holds out her glass and I clink mine against it. “Your show tonight was solid. I wasn’t expecting much, but boy did you deliver.”
“Thank you.” I don’t think she realises how badly I needed somebody to say that.
“I already looked you up on Spotify but no luck.”
“Their album doesn’t release for a while yet, Eliza.” Lockhart’s hand finds my lower back and rests there. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“When I’ve finished this one.” She shows him her half full glass of clear, bubbling fluid and then takes a sip. I taste my own, annoyed that it isn’t the toffee vodka but happy that it’s a drink I enjoy.
“I shall leave you girls to get acquainted,” Lockhart whispers in my ear. His hand slides up my back, leaving a burning trail in its path, until it rests on the back of my neck, under my hair. “I’ll be just over there. Don’t leave my sight.”
“You’re so bossy,” Eliza giggles and motions for me to come closer. “I’ll take good care of her for you.”
“I know.” He gives her a pointed look, winks at me and then turns back to the bar.
I am so confused right now.
“So, are you feeling the after buzz?” She asks loudly as the soft playing song ends and a more upbeat one starts.
“It’s all I’m feeling. My body is on the verge of an adrenaline seizure.” I grin, taking another large taste of my drink. She follows suit and pushes me through her group of friends.
“I’ll introduce you when this song has finished.”
“Introduce me now,” her dark haired female friend whines.
Eliza, aka Liz, puts an arm around the woman’s shoulders and states, “This is Kathy. She’s a burden. Don’t let her convince you to take her to the toilet. She likes bathroom selfies.”
“Speaking of selfies,” Kathy singsongs and suddenly she’s by my side, her phone high up in the air. “Smile!”
I do so, scrunching up my nose and posing accordingly. Liz jumps in behind us and demands another photo. Then Kai, seeing what we’re doing, also jumps in and, before I know it, basically everybody within the immediate vicinity is in the photo.
Lockhart: Sweet Demands Trilogy Book 1 Page 4