AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turned to look at Martin’s bodyguard, who had once again sneaked up on me without making a sound
“Where is he?” A new tension seized me when I noted he wore a frown nearly as expansive as his wide shoulders.
Arturo lifted his chin. “In his office.”
“Okay.” I held up a finger to him. “I’ll be there in just a minute.”
Burying my doubts and all the hurt, I made my features a mask before turning back to the others. I didn’t know much yet about this new and more self-aware person I had to become, but I knew I didn’t want anyone to pity me.
“Get your band onstage. Fast.” I passed my gaze through Rachel and Barry. “Martin hates tardiness. You guys are way late.”
When I turned to go, Barry grabbed my arm.
“Wait.”
“Don’t touch me.” I glanced down at his hand. “Not anymore.” No matter how much I wanted him, needed him, I was too tempted to fall back and rely on him.
“I’m worried about you.” Barry released me, but a muscle jumped in his clenched jaw.
“Don’t worry about me.” I looked up, trying not to flinch as his caring eyes searched mine, but I couldn’t bask in their glow like I once had. I had to be strong on my own, look after myself. “Better worry about yourself from now on. And your band. I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll do my best to keep Martin from firing you.”
But as I headed to the stairs, I did worry about Barry and my sister. I worried about all of them. Even if I did my best, I wasn’t sure if it was enough to save them.
Or me.
“Have a seat, my dear.” Martin gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.
“I’m sorry about ABCR being late.” I entered his office, my words rushed. Leftover emotions from downstairs churning, I lowered myself into one of his guest chairs while he stood and came around to the front of his desk.
“Yes, it seems you had trouble your first full night in charge.” He leaned against the front of his desk and swept his gaze over me, probably noting my tearstained face. But with his eyes heavily hooded, I couldn’t read him or tell what he knew, and that made me nervous.
“I apologize. I was just downstairs trying to fix that. The band should be onstage shortly.”
“You’re not their manager anymore. They know what time it is. They shouldn’t need you to tell them.”
He leaned forward, moving my long ponytail from front to back. His fingertips brushed the soft skin over my collarbone that my black T-shirt with the Winston’s logo exposed. Martin wanted me to dress like the rest of the female waitstaff, but I refused, opting to wear a T-shirt and jeans like the guys.
“Don’t take the blame for them. I don’t like it. They don’t deserve your loyalty.”
“They’re my friends.”
“Are they?” He tilted his head, studying me overlong while I tried not to squirm. “I don’t believe they truly are. Friends look after one another. They make sacrifices, or at least theoretically they’re supposed to. Yet, I don’t see any evidence of that. Tonight, your first night in charge, they made you look bad.”
“Not on purpose.” I gnawed at my bottom lip.
“You think not?” One of his raven-like brows rose. “Who but you would go downstairs to fetch them if they didn’t appear on time?”
He was right. The ajar dressing room door. Collin with Miranda. And those cameras. Martin had probably seen everything. My response to what I saw. Collin’s accusations.
“The way I see it, you’re the one in a predicament, and what have any of them done to help you?”
The surface of Martin’s eyes shone as if they were dusted in celebratory glitter. I didn’t have a defense. I was at rock bottom, and he was relishing it all. Watching me fall. Seeing me sever ties.
It was just Martin and me now, and he had the upper hand. Revealing vulnerability in front of the others was awful. But in front of Martin, it was dangerous.
Digging deep for courage and strength, I lifted my chin. “Back off.”
“I don’t believe I will.” His lips curled. “I plan on doing just the opposite.”
