by ML Hamilton
Julian was handing out a multi-page document. “This is the preliminary contract for a five country tour. I’ve included dates and locations. Once I have a signed copy, I’ll fax it to the office and have them find out what official documents we need.”
Robert let the papers rifle through his fingers. “This sounds like you’ve already booked us?”
“Like I said, this is the preliminary contract, but the reps in Europe want to start promoting the tour.” He glanced up at Elena and threw another copy of the contract toward the end of the table. “You’re late.”
Elena’s fingers tightened around the newspaper as she moved toward the contract.
“Joshua said he wasn’t doing a European tour,” offered Ralph.
“Right,” muttered Julian, putting his glasses on and turning a page. “Obviously, your signatures go on the final page, we’ll use my copy for that, and I’ve had Risk Management review it in full. Everything’s in order.”
“Except the fact that Joshua doesn’t want to do a tour,” Ralph persisted.
Julian glanced up, then slowly removed his glasses. “I know that.”
“But you went ahead and booked him on a tour?” questioned Robert.
“Not at all. I booked Avalanche.”
The four band members exchanged looks. Elena placed the newspaper on the table and took a seat, picking up the contract. She was so angry that it was hard for her to decipher the legal text.
“What exactly does that mean?” demanded Robert.
“It means,” said Julian, speaking as if Robert were a child, “that we’re short a lead singer, unless one of you wants to take over that job. Otherwise, we’ll have to hold auditions. With that in mind, I arranged to do exactly that when we reach New Jersey next week.”
“You did what?” asked Ralph.
Julian gave them his bewildered look. He always used it when he was trying to point out that their questions were ridiculous and unnecessary. “I think I was clear, wasn’t I?” He turned to Elliot.
Elliot frowned at him. “You arranged auditions without asking us?”
“Yes.”
“We all voted for Ravensong to stay in the band. How could you arrange anything like that without our consent?”
Julian made a noise of disparagement. “He’s still in the band, he’s just in the American version of the band. We’ll have to have another lead singer for the European leg of the tour.”
“We didn’t agree to that,” pressed Elliot.
Julian held out his arms. “I don’t see what the problem is. We all want to do the tour, Ravensong doesn’t. Simple solution. Replace him.”
“You intended that all along, didn’t you?” asked Robert.
“Not at all. I’m just being the logical one. This is a business, Bobby, and if people won’t work, that doesn’t mean the business ends. You hire someone who wants to work and you move on. There doesn’t need to be any emotional attachment to it. Really, there doesn’t.”
“And if they won’t move on, you slander them,” said Elena, shoving the newspaper article into the middle of the table.
Robert reached for it and quickly scanned the type. Then his eyes shot to Julian’s face. “You did this?”
“Did what?”
“Read it, Bobby,” demanded Elliot.
“Avalanche’s Troubled Lead Singer in Trouble Again? No one can deny that Joshua Ravensong’s talent and sultry voice are the kingpins to Avalanche’s success, but equally undeniable is his penchant for trouble. Once a well-known drug addict, Joshua Ravensong’s exploits are legendary. Fans and followers have always feared that the handsome head-man for the nation’s number one band might be one concert away from a descent into his past, self-destructive ways. Unfortunately, those fears may be well founded. Recently, a source close to the singer states that after Joshua’s concussion a few weeks ago, his behavior has become erratic. He has fallen out with many of the band members, refused to consider a European tour, and broken off a romance with top model, Megan Wheeler. A recluse by nature, the singer has taken to isolating himself even more. Most troubling is the destruction of his long-time friendship with Elliot Evans, which seems to indicate a deeper problem.” Robert slammed the paper down. “It goes on and on, speculating about Joshua’s drug use.”
“How interesting,” said Julian.
Elena’s eyes whipped to his face. “Interesting? How so? You’re the one that gave the reporter that interview. You did this!”
“Talk about slander, Elena,” he said, feigning shock. “Why in the world would I want to suggest that Joshua was using when I’m trying to promote the band?”
“To force him out,” she said through gritted teeth.
Julian rolled his eyes and looked away. “Always the drama with you. You suit him well.”
The other band members made grunts of disapproval as Elena rose to her feet. “Are you denying you are responsible for this article?”
Julian looked her straight in the eye. “I had nothing to do with it.” When the others seemed to bristle, he added, “That paper is a notorious tabloid. No one believes anything from it.”
“What about his fans, his family…his daughter?” She combed her hair back from her forehead. “I don’t believe you’re innocent. You want Joshua out of the band. You’ve made that clear, and I think you’ll do anything to get what you want.”
Julian’s gaze narrowed. “You’re treading awfully close to insubordination.”
“Really,” she said sarcastically. “Then force me out too.” Tossing the contract into the middle of the table, she headed for the door.
She made it to the elevators, but someone caught her arm and spun her around. She tried to yank away, but the fingers around her elbow tightened, drawing an involuntary cry from her lips.
“Let me go,” she snarled at Julian.
He yanked her close, his jaw tight, his eyes narrowed in fury. “Don’t ever walk away from me again.”
Elena was so angry, she didn’t feel any fear, until she saw the expression on his face. She’d never seen him so enraged before. “Let go of me,” she said, emphasizing each word.
“Are you trying to undermine my authority in the band?”
Elena curled her fingers around his and tried to pry his hand from her arm. He tightened his hold and shook her.
“Answer me!”
She started to threaten him with emasculation if he didn’t release her, but the elevator slid open and Joshua stepped out. He took in the scene, then his shoulders went taut.
“Let her go,” he said in a low, vibrating tone.
Julian released her immediately and took a step back.
“What the hell’s going on?” demanded Joshua.
Elena backed away from the manager and moved to Joshua’s side.
Julian shrugged. “Private discussion. None of your business.”
Elena turned away from Julian and put her hands on Joshua’s chest. He glanced at her, but his gaze immediately snapped back to Julian. “Let’s get out of here,” she said to Joshua, moving closer to him. “Right now. Pack up and catch the next flight out.”
She caught the look of surprise that washed over Julian’s face. “Hold on a minute…”
She ignored him. “Joshua,” she said, touching his cheek. “Let’s go home. Let’s go through with our plans, now, not later. I don’t want to be a part of this life anymore. None of it’s real. It’s all fake, all phony, all lies.” She shot the last part over her shoulder.
Julian sucked in air.
Joshua’s attention shifted to Elena. “What’s going on?” he said.
“Nothing, I’m just tired of this. I’m tired of this life. Let’s go home. Today. Please.”
He started to answer, clearly bewildered, but Julian interrupted him.
“Is that what you want, Joshua? You want to leave the tour, disappoint the fans?”
Joshua’s gaze drifted away.
“Really, Joshua? You’d disappoint fans who have wai
ted years to see you perform? Fans who’ve driven miles and miles out of the way? Fans who have saved for months just for this chance? Will you really let them down?”
Elena curled her fingers in his shirt. “Don’t listen to him, please. He’s manipulating you. Let’s go home.”
“These are fans who stood by you. Fans who never judged you. Even after rehab, even after suicide attempts, Joshua, they were there. They made you famous again. They forgave you. Can you really let them down?”
Joshua’s eyes rose and fixed on Julian’s face. Elena knew she’d lost the battle then. She could feel it shift away from her and she hated Julian for it. When Joshua turned to her, his eyes were pleading.
“I can’t leave, Elena,” he whispered. “I made a promise. I can’t back out now.”
“He’s lying to you. He’s telling reporters lies about your sobriety. He’s making plans for a European tour without you.” She motioned at the conference room. “Joshua, he’s got auditions lined up in New Jersey for a new lead singer to take the band to Europe.”
“I don’t care about any of that…”
“But I do. I can’t work for a man who does such things.”
Joshua’s head came up in surprise, then he sighed. “I understand.” She frowned at him, but he lifted his hands and cupped her shoulders. “I don’t want you to have to work for such a man. I understand if you want to go home.” He hesitated and his grip tightened. “But I have to stay. I have to finish this tour.”
Elena’s eyes searched his face and her hatred for Julian simmered to a boil. She felt as if she were losing Joshua, right now, right here. He wouldn’t ask her to stay, but if she left, things would change between them. Julian would win. Somehow she knew that, somehow she knew that if she left him now, Julian would succeed at driving him from the band, or worse. The worse worried her more deeply.
She closed her eyes, then nodded. Pulling away from Joshua, she moved in front of Julian and met his look. Lifting her chin, she stared him down, forcing him to focus on a spot somewhere over her left shoulder.
“I quit,” she said.
His eyes whipped back to her face and widened in surprise.
“I won’t work for a man like you,” she continued. Then she gave him a cold smile. “But don’t think you’ve won. I have enough salary coming to me to continue the tour.”
When Julian blinked in surprise, she nodded. “That’s right. I’m not going home. I’m staying here with Joshua. And believe me when I tell you, I’ll be watching you – every move, every word, every gesture. I won’t let anything get beyond my attention.”
Julian’s jaw tensed, but he forced a cold smile in return. His eyes lifted and fixed on Joshua. “As if I cared,” he said.
* * *
Joshua sat in a chair at the rear of the conference room, watching Julian’s auditions for his replacement. He had to admit he found the whole spectacle amusing, and just a little gratifying.
At least five hundred perspective candidates had shown up for the audition. The rest of the band refused to participate in the selection, Elena quit, and the new assistant Julian hired was fresh out of college and too green to trust alone with so many hopeful singers, which meant that Julian had to vet every one of them. Some sang reasonably well, but most were more interested in the head-banging, frenetic sound that they hoped disguised a poor singing voice.
Joshua hadn’t thought it would be hard to hear his songs sung by someone else, but it was, if mildly so. He had written most of these songs and had put his own unique voice into them. Of course, all of the singers, good and bad, felt the songs needed their own personal touch, which was different from his.
Julian knew he was sitting in the back of the room, but pride had forced him to pretend it didn’t bother him. As each new singer showed he didn’t have that Avalanche feel, Joshua knew his presence rankled more and more.
Right now the microphone was occupied by one of the roadies. Joshua shook his head. The poor fool was trying to play the piano as well. The other roadies were openly laughing at him. Apparently hitting the right key either with his voice or the piano was an unreasonable expectation. Joshua almost felt sorry for him, but this was the same roadie that kept glaring at him whenever Joshua happened to catch his eye. He made Joshua’s skin crawl and he wasn’t sure he even knew his name.
Then Evan stormed into the room. He stomped up to Julian in loud cowboy boots and blocked his line of sight. The roadie stumbled to a stop and gave Julian a confused look.
“We have a problem,” said Evan.
Julian glanced at him, then tried to look around him at the stage. “Do you mind? I’m a little busy at the moment. Leave a message on my cell and I’ll take care of it tonight before the show.”
“You’ll take care of it now, or there won’t be a show.”
Julian shifted his attention back to Evan. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Our equipment is lost. The equipment manager can’t even locate the truck on GPS.”
“Well, I’m not the equipment manager. Deal with him.” He nodded at the roadie to continue.
Evan interrupted him. “I’m telling you and I expect you to deal with it.”
“I’m interviewing lead singers right now.”
“For a tour that happens after this one. The contract you signed with Rage said you would provide all roadie assistance, equipment management, and living arrangements, not audition the roadies themselves. Do we really want to discuss contract violation?”
Julian stared at Evan for a long while. Joshua had to suppress a smile. He loved seeing Julian squirm. He’d known the fool would miss all that Elena did for him, but he hadn’t realized how quickly her loss would be felt.
With an exasperated sigh, Julian pushed himself to his feet. “All right, I’m coming.” He turned to his assistant, Brian Green, and motioned toward the stage. “Finish this for me.”
“Finish it?” Brian squeaked.
“Yeah, it’s not brain surgery.”
“I don’t know what you want.”
“Call Elliot and tell him to get his ass down here to help you.”
“I called him when you demanded it hours ago and I told you what he said.”
Joshua swore he saw Julian’s temple throb with fury. His face did twist into a mask of frustration, but he spoke calmly enough. “Tell him I really need his help…”
Brian opened his mouth to protest, but Julian held up a hand. “Uhn Uhn. Don’t say it. Just convince him.”
“And if he won’t?” pressed the kid. Joshua didn’t think he was going to last long with his less than subservient attitude, but Joshua respected him for it.
Julian started to say something, then clenched his fist and shook himself. “Just ask him. Tell him I said please.”
Joshua’s brows rose. Evan was tapping an impatient foot. “My equipment?” he reminded.
“I’m coming,” Julian snapped, starting toward the door in the back of the conference room. As he passed Joshua in his chair, he never once made eye contact, but Evan did and he gave Joshua a wink.
* * *
Joshua was so preoccupied with thinking about the show that he didn’t notice the woman when he walked out of the shower and into the dressing room. She was sitting in the chair before the mirror. Her face was heavily made-up and her hair stiff with hairspray. The clothing she wore revealed more flesh than it hid.
Joshua’s eyes widened in surprise. “Hello?” he said, then glanced at the door.
Why in the world had Dominic allowed this woman past him? Nothing like this had ever happened before.
“Hello, darlin’,” she purred, then stretched languidly.
Joshua dropped his towel on the side table and ran his fingers through his damp hair. “What are you doing here?”
“You invited me.”
Joshua lifted a brow. Even when he’d been free to date whomever he wanted, he’d never invited a groupie back to the dressing room -- not with a world of reporters
and retainers waiting outside.
“I don’t believe I did.”
She pursed her lips in a pout. Her lips were as red as blood and glistening. Joshua liked women who looked a bit less artificial. He thought of Elena’s subtle application of make-up. “How could you forget? That really hurts.”
Joshua started toward the door. Why in the world did Dominic allow this woman in here?
From the corner of his eye, Joshua caught the woman rising to her feet and moving toward him. He spun to face her, alarmed first by her presence and second by the way she was behaving. He’d heard all of the stories about celebrities being accosted by less than stable fans.
“Listen,” he said, holding up a hand. She stumbled to a stop on heels that had to be six inches high. “I don’t know who you are, but I didn’t invite you in here.”
“But you did?” she said and gave him a sad look. Reaching into her bra, she started to pull something out. Joshua tensed, but it was only a slip of paper. “See, you sent me this.”
Joshua frowned as she opened the note and held it out to him. Someone had scribbled an invitation on the paper and signed it Joshua Ravensong. The signature looked a lot like his, but he couldn’t have written it. Shaking his head, he took the note from her and studied it. Damn, but it did look a lot like his handwriting, especially the signature. Still, that wasn’t hard to find. Joshua signed so many autographs in a year that anyone could get a hold of one and with computers what they were today...well, he didn’t know enough about them to duplicate something like this, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be done. But why?
She moved closer to him while he studied the note. He jumped when she pressed herself along the length of him. Taking a step back, he handed her the note again. “Look, there’s been a mistake. I know it looks like my writing, but I didn’t write that.”
“Oh,” she said, giving him that pout again. “This really is sad. I read that article in the paper, but I didn’t believe it.”
“What article?” he asked.