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Jordan swallowed a lump of emotion. He hadn’t been expecting to hear that from his brother. That Bryce would support him and Chloe.
“Why did you break up?”
“Chloe had a whole group of people around her who were determined to make things difficult—if not impossible—for us. In the end, when push came to shove, I thought she’d chosen them over of me. When we broke up, I was absolutely gutted.”
Jordan raised his hands. “But you know me, king of second chances. I figured if I threw myself into the resort project, I could simply shut down my pain. Focus all my energies on trying to meet family expectations. And yeah, that was yet another thing I was wrong about.”
There was more he had to tell Bryce, but it would have to wait. In confessing his and Chloe’s secret relationship, he’d already risked more than enough.
His brother sighed. “We guys think we can ignore our feelings, but it never works. Things just fester and get worse. You have to live your life as you see fit, you can’t keeping trying to be someone you are not.”
“Yeah. At least pop stars get to write songs about their breakups. I mean …”
The expression on Bryce’s face went from one of quiet understanding to abject horror. “Oh no! The song Chloe had out last summer. The one about the guy she met in Berlin. Vivian plays it every morning without fail while she makes our coffee. Jordan, are youBitter Babe?”
Jordan slowly nodded. “Yes, I am. I’m the selfish, heartbreaker she wrote about inBitter Babeand all of it is true. I walked away when I should have stayed.” He calmly held Bryce’s gaze. “It’s Chloe’s greatest hit, and if winning her back means I have to stand to one side of the stage and listen to her revenge song every damn night for the rest of my life, I will do it.”
His mind was made up, now he just had to convince the woman he loved that he’d never leave her again. Never fail her. In a lifetime of winning second chances, this was going to be Jordan’s greatest challenge.
CHAPTERFIFTY
“Chloe! Chloe! Over here. Look to your right. Over here.” Chloe stood in the center of the stage as a fireball of blazing camera lights went off all around her. At times Jordan worried she would disappear completely.
He had seen her perform in concert, but that had been at a distance. He’d been granted some perspective. But here on the stage at the brand new performing arena at Royal Resorts Las Vegas, there was no way of escaping the heat and light.
Bryce had warned him that the press were going to give heavy coverage to Chloe’s exclusiveA Garden in the Desertconcert series, but Jordan hadn’t been prepared for this level of insanity. The constant clicking of cameras and shouting of reporters bore deep into his brain.
And in the middle of it all, stood Chloe, calmly smiling, and waving to the cameras. Her gold strapless gown clung to her every curve. She looked like a goddess. A sexy, siren descended from heaven.
Camille’s work was beyond stunning. Every drape of the silk fabric was perfection.
“The press frenzy is already lighting up social media.” He turned as Chloe’s manager Nancy came to stand alongside him. “I expect you Royal Resorts people can’t wait until the box office opens for ticket sales.”
They were to the side of the stage. Only Chloe, Bryce, and Edward Royal had fronted the cameras. Edward had made the announcement about the new performance arena, then stepped back to let Bryce, the new CEO for North America, introduce Chloe.
“I’m just pleased Chloe is settling in and getting used to Vegas. She’s been through a period of transition lately, and I think being able to focus on her music and the shows will be good for her.”
Nancy fixed her gaze on him. “You seem to be getting along well with Chloe. I’m surprised she has shared any of her private life with you. I mean, considering that the two of you have only just met.”
He caught the warning in Nancy’s words.Mess with my client and you will pay the consequences.
“It seems that she is able to handle change well. We arranged Chloe’s new stylist after she and her previous one decided to part ways.” Jordan gestured toward Chloe. “You have to admit Chloe looks fantastic in that dress.”
He’d been getting the evil eye from Nancy ever since she’d arrived from LA the previous night. All through the private dinner at Las Vegas’s top Thai restaurant, Chloe’s manager had grilled him on how things were going. She was protective of her client but not in the same controlling way that Foster or Marta had been. And despite Nancy’s obvious wariness about him, Jordan respected her.
As Bryce moved off stage and made his way over to Nancy, Jordan stepped back. He and Bryce had agreed that in light of his previous connection to Chloe, it would be best if he stayed well clear of the stage and the cameras.
“Chloe’s going to perform a song, then take some questions. After that, we will wrap things up. Nancy, is Chloe headed back to LA with you tonight?”
Nancy shook her head. “Apparently not. She says she wants to remain in Vegas and get the desert sand into her blood. I am content to go along with whatever makes Chloe happy.”
Hallelujah! Finally a manager who listens to what Chloe wants.
“Are you alright with that arrangement” asked Bryce, turning his attention to Jordan. “You didn’t have any other plans, did you?”
Jordan gave him his best smile. Even if he’d had plans, which he didn’t, they would have gone out the window. He had one job to do, and that was to make Chloe happy.
“Unless it relates directly to Ms. Fisher, my schedule is entirely free for the foreseeable future.”
