AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kevin Smith.TheKevin Smith?Chloe had waited her entire career to work with the famous producer.
She was cornered. If she said no because she wanted to stay in LA, the record company might reconsider the whole album, possibly even cancel it. If they did that, the one person who would wear the blame in its full entirety would be her.
But if I go, that means leaving Jordan.
“Can I leave the week after that?” She wasn’t above haggling. A week here or there wouldn’t make a difference.
“No. Kevin’s time is tightly booked. Look, I know you think that guy upstairs is some kind of wonderful, but he’s not. He’s just another man who wants to get into your panties, and when it’s all over, he’ll sell his story to the press. Maybe even get himself a nice little reality series out of it on one of the cheaper streaming services.”
“Jordan wouldn’t do that.”
“Are you sure? Are you willing to bet this album, and your entire career on a guy you’ve only just met? Users like him won’t stick around once all the money is gone. He’ll bleed you dry and before you know it, you’ll have to sell this house to pay off your debts.” He waved his arms around and Chloe was powerless to stop her gaze from following.
Foster’s words hit home. Right to the deepest depths of her insecurities. This house meant everything to Chloe. It was the only home she’d ever known. If her career faltered, the record company would come looking for its money. Lawsuits and cash-sucking lawyers would soon follow.
Was she prepared to risk everything for a few more days with Jordan?
“Well? Are you getting on the plane that day, or staying in bed with your deadbeat boyfriend?”
She gave a little shrug. Unsure of what to say or do. Either way she would pay a price.
In the final act of his soul crushing play, Foster lay a hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “It comes down to who you feel you can trust. It’s either me or him. I’m here for you, Chloe.”
* * *
Jordan stood at the top of the stairs. Chloe was being made to choose between him and her career. Between him and Foster. He could try and offer her all the guarantees in the world, but there were none. Foster, the cunning prick, was playing on Chloe’s weaknesses. She loved this house. And the thing that made her life complete was her music. Her fans. Without Chloe’s Garden, Jordan feared what would happen to her.
Chloe let out a resigned sigh. “Yes. You are right, the risk is too great. I’ll talk to Jordan. Let him know I have to go to London.”
Game over.
Foster had pressured Chloe into caving to his demands. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she’d agreed with her manager about him.I’m too great a risk.
How many times had he heard that remark being said about him? That people liked him, but their trust only went so far. He’d messed up in the past and paid a heavy price for it. Hearing Chloe say that about him stung his pride.
Does she see me as just a temporary thing? And when this album is done and she goes on the road to promote it, will I be left behind?
He hadn’t ever been in a long-term relationship. Still couldn’t recognize the signs as to whether this thing with Chloe had enough substance to survive or whether it would wither and die. He wanted it to grow.
And what if this album does fail and she views me as being tied to its demise? Like a bad talisman. A link she needs to break. Something to be rid of.
The Royal Resorts board had wanted to be rid of him too, once. His shameful past of partying, drug addiction, and arrests hadn’t exactly put him in league with his high-achieving family members. Which—if he was brutally honest with himself—was why he’d fallen into that bad boy spiral in the first place. He’d embraced his own failure without the embarrassment of trying to succeed first.
But he was trying now. Trying to rise up to impossibly high family expectations. To finally show that he had moved on from his past. That he wasn’t that guy any more.
But listening to Chloe and Foster as they stood downstairs and argued, his failures all came rushing back to him. With his confidence shattered, Jordan turned away.
As he did, he caught sight of Marta. Chloe’s personal assistant was standing at the other end of the hall. She had to have heard the whole thing. Marta gave him a sly, knowing grin then headed back into another room. The click of the door closing echoed loudly in Jordan’s heart.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Laguna Beach, California
Four long weeks without Chloe
“Ok, bye. Talk to you tomorrow.” Jordan reluctantly ended the call with Chloe. He stuffed his phone into his pants pocket and stared out at the dark waters of the Pacific Ocean.I need to tell her I love her.He wanted to say it, but not over the phone. If he was ever going to attempt to have that sort of conversation with Chloe, then it had to be in person, not when there was five and a half thousand miles between them. And especially not when he wasn’t 110 percent,you can bet your life on it, certain that his growing feelings were reciprocated.
It was late at night in California, but just after dawn in London. Why Chloe had to go all the way to England to finish up the final touches of her new album completely escaped him. “Anyone would think the US doesn’t have recording studios,” muttered Jordan.
