“You were off your face on God only knows what, I’m sure you wouldn’t have remembered anyway.” He grins.
“Is it a proper deal? Like, your shot?”
“Probably the best one I’ll ever get. It’s not just in any old nightclub, it’s one of Clerkenwell’s biggest clubs, Sphinx. I’m talking twenty-four hour licensing, the club holds thousands, not hundreds. It makes Lexis look like child’s play and the best thing about it is, they don’t just want me to mix, they want to hear my production, too. The owner, Mark Hardy, is business partners with one of London’s biggest EDM record labels. Jimmy Rayner is one of the biggest in the industry and he’s heard my stuff online. He wants to meet me. It could be my chance to really propel my career.”
I bounce on the spot, clapping, and I launch myself at him, hugging him and kissing him. “Oh, god, I’m so damn pleased for you, baby. This is what you have always wanted. It’s the golden opportunity.” Dayton is laughing, kissing me back and looks beyond happy. The smile soon disappears and I frown. “What’s up?” I sit up and he gives me a worried glance.
“The golden opportunity, but for who?”
“Well, you, silly.”
“And Regina. If she wants to screw me over now is the time.”
All excitement is crushed and I realise just how badly this could turn out. Oh, shit.
“It could be the perfect opportunity though, when is the audition?”
“Two weeks as of yesterday. Why? What are you thinking?”
“Perfect. Come on, let’s go. We need to make a stop at Corrine’s,” I say, pulling him towards the door.
“Corrine’s? Why?” He is totally confused but I’m hatching a plan in my head and I don’t know if it will work but if it does it might just mean the end of all the shit with Regina. I open the gate and start to round the front of the Evo but stop dead in my tracks.
“What the fuck?!” Dayton yells, having spotted the state of his car bonnet. The beautiful diamond white paint is... gone. It’s obvious someone has thrown a can of paint stripper over it and the rivulets of stripper have drizzled down the paintwork, stripping it to the bare metal. I force myself to close my mouth, looking to Dayton then back to the car. It’s bad, really bad. The stripper has even run down the grills on the front of the car and down the wing panels to the wheels. I cannot believe she has done this. “The fucking spiteful bitch,” he grinds out through clenched teeth and he pulls his phone from his pocket before putting in a call to the police.
I go back onto the pavement, seeing the extent of the damage from the driver’s side. Sure enough the stripper has splashed and slid all down the wing panel on this side, too. Dayton has gone indoors and I can only imagine how angry he is right now. I’m angry but the overriding emotion right now is shock. I knew Regina hated me, this leaves me with no doubt it was her who hit my car, but I didn’t think she would do this to Dayton. I take out my phone and turn it on, quickly dialling Corrine and after a quick call she confirms the car wasn’t damaged this morning when they left. Gemma tells me the same. So this has happened sometime between them leaving at 9.30am and now, 2.45pm. She has done this in broad daylight, she must have brass balls. Dayton comes back out of the house and looks seriously pissed.
“The police can do nothing, there is no surveillance on the street. I have no security cameras recording from the house so it’s a lost cause. All they did was give me a crime number to claim on the insurance. My excess isn’t cheap either. The fucking bitch.”
“You believe me now? You see why I was worried. Drugging me and damaging your car is proof enough to me that the woman is fucking crazy.”
“Oh, I believe you alright. Now I’m left wanting to know exactly what you have planned to put a stop to it all?”
There is a look of determination in his eye and I’m pleased we are finally on the same page where Miss Perfection is concerned.
Chapter 13
“Did she take the bait?” I whisper to Dayton when he gets back into my car. The Evo is in the body shop getting her paintwork sorted out.
“I think so. I know she won’t be able to resist. Now you can send the message.”
“Did Barros suspect anything?” He shakes his head.
“He just thought it was pre-audition nerves and he loves the new work I gave him. Regina and her shit aside, I’m really happy with the new productions I’m going to give Jimmy Rayner. It’s my best work so if it isn’t good enough then I know I’ve given it my best shot. If things don’t work out in London then I don’t think I can face working here with her. I hate that I’m going to be in the same vicinity on Saturday.”
“We just have to play it cool. Pretend like you are shocked and angry. I’m certain this will pan out how we need it to,” I assure him with more confidence than I feel. “I’m sure Mark and Jimmy are going to love your work.”
“You’ll definitely come to London with me, won’t you? I need you by my side because I’m going to be shitting a brick wall to hide behind before I go out on that stage.” He looks so vulnerable and worried.
“I’m always there, baby. You know that. I love you,” I declare before pulling him to me for a comforting kiss.
“I love you so much more, baby girl.”
Saturday soon comes back around and when Corrine texts to say that Greg has made a return trip from Birmingham to Manchester to spend the weekend with her I’m torn between excitement for her and nerves that this is going to be a distraction we can’t afford for her to have tonight. She has assured me Julie is up to speed and everything is in place. When we leave Zetter’s to make our way to Lexis I am a ball of nervous tension. If this backfires it’s not just me in the firing line but Dayton, literally. It could cost him his job at Lexis and pretty much the audition Barros arranged for him in London. Oh, god, this is scary. I swallow my nerves and walk past the queue outside of Lexis, waiting for the first hint that the ball is rolling on our plan.
“Hey, baby. Nice tits,” a dark haired guy in his late twenties shouts and I see his mate nudge him with his elbow.
“Is that her?” he chimes in with a leer as I fake indignation. “I say, love, your arse is my screensaver.”
“You cheeky bastard,” I gasp and I see a slight snigger from Steve on security.
“Less of that, lads,” he says in a baritone voice I’ve never heard before. “Please, go through, Miss.”
I look from him to Corrine who gives me a knowing glance. I huff before following the group indoors, Gemma winks as we make our way upstairs and I take my usual post at the bar to admire Dayton at work. I know tonight he will be cold when he greets me and I’m hoping Miss Perfection will do her usual party trick of disturbing my Dayton admiration when she sees the others enter the VIP area.
Right on cue Dayton finishes his set and makes his way through the crowd, being less than polite tonight as he stalks over to me. Out of the corner of my eye I see Regina’s blond curls weaving through the crowd towards us, also, right on cue. Dayton eyes me with disgust and the smile drops from my face, worry and confusion crinkles around my eyes. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Okay?” Dayton rasps before gripping me a little painfully around the top of my arm. “I’m so fucking far from okay it’s not even funny. I’m mortified. Have you seen the shit going viral around this club tonight?”
I wince and try to pull my arm free but he tugs me towards the VIP lounge, marching me past Regina who has a smarmy smirk spread across her angelic face. “Trouble in paradise, Alannah?” she sneers.
“What the fuck have you done now, Regina? I know this is something to do with you,” I spit out and Dayton tugs my arm, yanking a little too hard and I wince.
“Don’t blame her for this. This is all down to you. I’m sorry, Regina. Can I use the back room, please? I need some privacy.” Dayton looks beseechingly at her and I can see the satisfaction across her face. As far as she is concerned now things aren’t great between Dayton and I it gives her a chance to worm her way back in as his B
FF.
“Of course, babe, take all the time you need.”
Dayton gives her a look full of gratitude before he pulls me by the arm towards the bar. He slams the ‘Staff Only’ door wide open and drags me inside before slamming the door shut. With a furious look on his face he pushes me up against the wall. With a frown he lets go of my arm, eyeing it before looking at me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hurt you, did I? There are cameras watching us so throw your arms about a little and look like we are arguing.”
I push him on the chest, not hard but enough to make a show for the CCTV. “My arm is fine. I think we make a pretty good pair of actors. We could win an award for this. The plan is definitely working, even Steve on security has seen it.” I try not to smirk and he puts a finger in my face.
“The whole security team have, it’s gone viral on a massive scale. I’m just glad it’s not really you or this would be a living nightmare.”
“I wouldn’t be standing here now if it was me.” I wave my arms about a bit and push his hand down by his side, pushing him again and getting in his face.
“So how long do you think we should stand here dancing before I storm out?” I ask, his mouth just inches from mine and I can’t take my eyes from his lips. He pushes me up against the wall, pinning me by the shoulders.
“Well, I think we should shout a little for the bar staff to hear then you can leave. You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now.” He flattens his body against mine and I push my hips against him. The fact that we are being recorded only makes this more exciting.
“Well, just remember that temptation when you get home tonight, because I want our first make up sex to be hot and hard and nasty,” I pant against his mouth.
He forces himself away from me, turning on the spot and running his hands through his hair. He growls before turning to me, purposely raising his voice. “Well, I didn’t share the fucking thing, did I? Why would I do that? You shouldn’t have sent it in the first place.”
“Well, you could have deleted it! Or better still kept your fucking phone in your pocket. You know, this isn’t all on me, Dayton Scott. You think I’m not mortified, too? This isn’t just about your damn reputation and pride, it’s not a picture of your naked ass being circulated for the whole world to see.”
“No, it’s just my fucking girlfriend’s. I’ve had more guys come up to me tonight thinking it’s funny to comment on your tits! I have to work here for crying out loud. You can walk away and forget it, I fucking can’t,” he yells back and I push him.
“Maybe I will walk away and forget it! I thought I meant more to you than that. Well, you can just kiss my arse, Dayton. I’m not going to stand here and take the blame for this, you know who is behind it. I’ve been telling you for weeks she is doing this to split us up,” I screech and I turn my back to the camera before giving him a little wink and I see him trying so damn hard not to smile back.
“Will you stop blaming other people, for god’s sake? The only one fucking this relationship up is you with your paranoia. Just get out of my face, Alannah, I can’t even look at you right now.”
And with that I turn and throw the staff door open, coming face to face with Regina, exactly as predicted. She smiles and I know my face is red and I look flustered. I barge past her and as I round the bar Corrine and Gemma come to comfort me. I think I’m supposed to be crying about now as Corrine wraps her arm around my shoulders and Gemma orders me a bottle of water.
“Leave it unopened, please? We don’t want a repeat of last weekend.”
“Is that an accusation?” Regina sneers and Gemma nods, saying nothing. “Well, you can tell your bezzy friend that next time it will be more than a little MDMA in her vodka and I’ll make sure she doesn’t sleep for a week.”
“You’re a thoroughly heartless bitch, Regina, you know that?” Gemma shakes her head before coming to us in the booth furthest away from the bar. She places the bottle in front of me and puts her phone on the table. We all exchange glances and I start my rant to the girls, watching Regina go through to the staff door to Dayton.
“How is it going? Everything working out?” I whisper to Gemma who lowers her chin in a single nod. Luke slides into the booth beside Greg and flicks his eyebrows.
“That was some pretty fine editing from me, wouldn’t you say? The guys are going crazy for it and the girls are all eyeing you like they hate you.” Luke chuckles and Gemma kicks him under the table.
“Embarrassment aside, Luke, you did brilliantly. I don’t think Dayton will ever look at my real body the same way again.” I giggle but then I see Dayton and Regina enter the bar so I quickly appear sombre. Regina follows Dayton out of the VIP lounge to the main bar where I know he has asked for the key to check the back room, claiming that is the last place he recalls seeing his mobile phone.
Corrine nips to the ladies’ and we all sip our drinks, waiting on Dayton exiting with Regina. I sip my water, looking gloomy and going beet red every time a guy walks by and throws a filthy jibe at me. Luke pulls out his phone and nudges Greg. “Have you seen this yet, mate?” He shows his phone to Greg whose eyes widen and without seeing him approach Dayton grabs the phone from Luke’s hand and throws it against the wall. I flinch and sit back in shock. Fuck, that wasn’t part of the plan! Luke puts his hands up, genuinely astounded by Dayton’s action.
“What the fuck, Day-day. You’re paying for that.” Luke gets down to try collecting up the smashed parts of his phone in hopes of repairing it, the mission is futile.
“If I catch you looking at that again I will smash your damn teeth down your throat. You call yourself a friend? You’re nothing but a fucking cling-on,” Dayton sneers and storms off towards the bar, Regina in tow who looks thoroughly delirious with satisfaction. She rubs down Dayton’s back as he hunches over the bar looking depleted and broken. Just the small gesture of comfort makes my stomach burn and a healthy dose of hatred and jealousy ignites inside of me. Fuelled by the emotion I pull my wits together to execute the grand finale.
I stroll over towards the pair of them, pleased that the bar is busy and the performance will be well documented for the grapevine. “Get your filthy hands off of my boyfriend, Regina Escarra, or I promise you I will snap every bony, polished finger myself.” I spit at her feet and I cross my arms, widening my stance and waiting for her response.
“Don’t you dare threaten me in my own bar, Alannah. Security threw you out last week for bringing drugs onto the premises and they will do it again if you cause any more trouble tonight.” She tries to take the high ground, purely for Dayton’s benefit of course. I laugh, a loud, fake not amused laugh.
“Me causing trouble? I think we both know who is out to cause trouble.”
“You have embarrassed yourself and Dayton enough tonight, now I suggest you get a taxi and let him cool down. You staying here is only escalating things and antagonising him more. Now take my advice and leave.” She levels me with a cool, calm look in her eyes and now is when I have to put in my entry for an academy award. I look from her to Dayton and turn on the pain, looking wounded and hurt.
“Is that what you want?” I ask Dayton, my voice breaking and my chin trembling. He looks from me to Regina before biting his lip and hanging his head. “Dayton, please. Come home with me, let’s talk.”
A tear seeps from the corner of my eye and he looks up at me with eyes full of sorrow which only feed my tears.
“I’m sorry, Lana. Regina is right. I think you should let the girls take you home.”
I shake my head and spin on the spot, embarrassed beyond belief but surprised with how easily my upset surfaced and tears fell. I break out a sob as I push my way through to the ladies’ room, bumping into Julie on her way out.
“Hey, are you okay?” Julie asks but I simply push past her and make for the first cubicle to hide in. “Regina, it’s dead in there besides the drama queen, I’m going to take a quick break.” Julie heads straight for the exit for her cigarette break.
In the ladies’ I use my camera on my phone as a mirror. With wet tissues I dab at my eyes, smudging my mascara more than repairing it. I sniff, my nose running and I see my eyes are bloodshot and already going puffy. I hear the outside door open and the pounding music from outside seep in then fade again as the door closes. I tip my chin back and take a deep, calming breath before stepping out of the cubicle to the wash basins. I’m not shocked to see Regina standing in front of the mirror, her arms crossed and a shit eating grin plastered over her perfect face. She shakes her head and clicks her tongue as though disappointed.
“And there I was, thinking I would have to fuck you and Dayton up to get my own way, when all along you fucked it up yourself. I feel like I should take a bow, you certainly went out with a bang, tits on show and all.” She giggles and I narrow my eyes, hate seeping from every pore. I curl my hands into fists and feel my nails bite into my palms.
“Damn you, Regina. I know you have his phone and if you think one naked picture is enough to split us up then you don’t have a clue how much I love him and he loves me. This won’t be the end,” I seethe before stepping towards her. With no warning at all she flies at me, slamming me hard against the door of a cubicle. My head cracks against the wood and I cry out in pain.
She grabs my chin, forcing my head up and I feel her talons digging into the sensitive skin on my face, burning and stinging. I whimper and screw my eyes closed tight against her breath blowing in my face. “You listen to me, you little whore, Dayton is going to be catapulted into a whole new light after he rocks this audition in London and you will not be with him when he hits the top, I will. My dad got him this chance because of me and I can pull the plug any time I like. One message to Mark and Jimmy telling them about the trouble we have had here and his dream job down south goes up in smoke."
I crack open an eye and grab her wrist, sinking my nails in as I yank her hand from my face. I’m panting and adrenaline is coursing through my blood, it takes every bit of my self-restraint not to lay the bitch out right where she stands. “I don’t believe you, you don’t have any dirt on Dayton, he has done nothing wrong in all of this.”
The Final Note (DJ Series Book 1) Page 13