I brush my hair away from my ear before lifting the phone.“Hi Brendon.I’m here.What are we waiting for?We’ve got a show to do.”
“Hi Bayleigh.”Brendon’s voice sounds worried.I know that tone and brace myself for whatever bad news he is about to deliver.
“So, you do have a photo shoot to do, but, well, the concert isn’t tonight.”
“What do you mean?It’s Saturday; it’s supposed to be tonight.Did it get cancelled or something?”
“No, it’s going ahead.It’s planned for next Saturday.”
I let out a gasp.“Who got the bloody date wrong?Do we need to fly back next week?”
“No, no one screwed up.”He pauses.“You are booked to stay there until next Sunday.You have events and interviews to do all week.It’ll be a great way for you to slowly get used to being back in the public eye.”
“What the fuck, Brendon?I signed a contract for one photo shoot and a concert!”
“Actually, you signed a contract for a week.”
Furiously, I spin on my heel to face Kelly, who looks just as shocked as me.“We agreed to?—”
“You can check it if you want.Kelly has the email with the signed contract,” Brendon continues, using his all-business tone.“You still need to take it slowly and ease back into it.Walk around town and meet some fans.Look like you give a shit about the place.Some good publicity is what you need right now to win back your fans.”
“You fucking lied to me.You know I don’t read all the contract.You knew that and let me sign it, anyway.”I want to scream at him, to my whole damn team who have manipulated me into this.They knew I wanted to spend as little time as possible in this town and they have purposely connived me into being here a whole week.“I’m not going to stay.I don’t care if I have to fly bloody economy class, I’m not spending a week here!
“If you don’t stay there, you will be in breach of contract.”Brendon’s tone is stern.“Remember what I said—if you don’t do this concert, you are finished.No one will ever sign you again.”He sighs.“I’m sorry about the misunderstanding, but you’re there now.Just do the job, play nice, have a great concert, and get on with it.Remember the new album you want?This will get it for you.”
“I am so sick of people telling me what to do.For fuck’s sake, I’m a grown woman.”
“The last time we let you do what you wanted, you ended up in rehab with a reputation for being unstable.We’re trying to help you.I’mtrying to help you.”
I want to scream.I hate the lot of them.
Being stuck in Sweetgum Valley is my worst nightmare.I can’t bear the thought of running into anyone from my past, especially with the constant threat of the press discovering the truth.The label has worked hard to keep my departure from the town a secret, but what if that all comes crashing down?Then again, could my reputation really get any worse?I am already known as a drug addict with two failed marriages under my belt.I feel like I have hit rock bottom.Is there even room to fall any farther?
“You really think being seen here will be good publicity?”
“We do.Walk around town; do some friendly interviews.Plus, you can practice and prepare for the concert.Make sure your head is in the game.”
A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I realize there is no way out of this situation.I have to follow Brendon’s advice and play nice, even though the thought scares me.My future hinges on my ability to do so.But deep down, I am afraid of what might happen if I let myself fully remember and open up that part of my heart again.It is a risk I’m not sure I am willing to take.
I hand the phone back to Kelly and she looks at me in apology.“I swear I didn’t know, Bayleigh.”
I had trusted Brendon and not bothered to read the contract myself.I should have and I regret that decision now.
Kelly gives me an apologetic look.“I’m going out to run some errands.We have a dinner to go to tonight, and I need to pick up some things now that we’re staying longer.Why don’t you stay here and have a bath?Maybe meditate?”
She is right—that plan sounds perfect.She understands my needs more than I do myself.And I have to admit, her stunning hourglass figure and long legs are easy on the eye.She’s been by my side through the toughest times, and even though she is technically paid to take care of me, we’ve also become good friends.
While she is out, I sit on the floor and meditate to my favorite binaural beats playlist.I picked up a lot of techniques in rehab, and this has been one of the best ways to help me when I am feeling stressed.Afterwards, I take a long soak in the spa bath and lather myself in the lotion the hotel has provided.From looking at the label, I know it was made locally, which makes me smile.This town is more than just crops and beef now.
“Feel better?”Kelly asks when she returns to my room, her hands loaded with bags.
“Much.”I smile at her, definetly more Zen after the self-care regime.
“Good.I got you something.”She holds up her arms.“Actually, I got you lots of things, but this is the one I mean.”She waves a smaller bag at me and I take it from her.Looking inside, I see a cell phone.
“I think you’ve earned it,” Kelly says with a grin.
While I had missed my phone a little, being without one has been kind of freeing.There is no temptation to endlessly scroll or read what the media is saying.
