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Prologue
Wonderlust: it’s not an alternative spelling about the desire to travel like I first thought. It’s the stage when you’re not sure if you’re in lust or in love with someone. I’d never even heard of it until I moved to Los Angeles.
The events that unfolded still leave me breathless, but I don’t regret any of the decisions I made.
I never expected my teenage fantasies to come true—for an egotistical rock star to crash into my world and turn everything upside down—but they did.
Now I’m left with one feeling:wonderlust. Either way, he’s going to destroy me. Lustorlove, it doesn’t really matter. I’m already in too deep.
Chapter One
I sat scrutinizing the eight absurdly beautiful women sitting next to me. Why did I even bother to attend this interview? Getting through to the second round this afternoon was going to be impossible. It was a job working forRock Records, though. This was the chance of a lifetime.
“Are you nervous, too?” the blonde next to me asked. Jesus, how long and tanned were her legs? She looked like she could be a supermodel.
“Yeah, I’m feeling the pressure.” I smiled nervously, making sure my dark brown hair was still securely fastened in its clip.
“Who do you think they’ll call next?”
“No idea.” I shrugged just as the sound of clicking heels echoed through the room. My body tensed, hoping my name wasn’t going to be called. I needed a little more time to prepare.
“Melissa Franks,” the professional, dark-haired woman called, looking at the red clipboard in her hands. Thank God! I had a little longer to wait. Apparently, it wasn’t the woman sitting next to me, either, because she slumped back down in her chair.
“These interviews don’t seem to be lasting long,” blondie mused.
“They’re probably going off first impressions to get to the second round of interviews this afternoon. From what I’ve heard, they don’t like to waste time at Rock Records.”
“You seem really smart. Do you have a job right now?” she asked, looking down at her red nails.
“Yes. Actually, I’m a Personal Assistant for David Barclay at Flavour Records.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. You’ve pretty much got this job in the bag then, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Yes, Flavour Records was a strong rival, but Rock Records controlled the market with their artists. That was one of the reasons they wouldn’t disclose any details of this job—apart from the location—until the second round of interviews. It should have unnerved me that I didn’t know anything about the position, but if I could work for David Barclay, I could work for anyone. Plus, who wouldn’t want a job based in LA?
“I havenoexperience. I’m a model, though. In fact, I just got back from a bikini shoot in Miami. I love traveling around the world, but I’d give anything to have a job in LA.” Blondie chuckled, tossing her hair behind her shoulders. She was amodel?Great!
“Well, you must havesomethinggoing for you to get this far,” I commented. She nodded, but didn’t say anything else.
“Maddison Lily,” a female voice called a while later. I looked up to see clipboard woman standing there again. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t heard her approach.
Blondie’s eyes shot up. “That’s me. Good luck.” She gracefully waltzed down the corridor, looking as if she were on the catwalk. Being here was a waste of time. I wouldn’t get this job.No!I had my reasons for applying. It could be a fresh start. I’d come this far already; I had to see it through. It wasn’t like me to give up.
Taking deep breaths, I began to calm myself.It’s just a job. I can do this. I chanted that over and over in my mind until I finally heard my name.
“Natasha White,” clipboard woman called, smiling at me as I stood up. Brushing down my best grey suit, I smiled back shyly. “Please follow me. Gina is ahead of schedule. We’re hoping to move into the second stage of interviews within the next hour.”
“Gina?” I questioned, trying to get more information.
“Gina Rosewood,” the woman grinned.Alex Harbour’s manager!Gina managed other artists as well, but Alex was the rock star she was legendary for. I’d had a crush on the guy since I was twelve. When his band, Steel Roses, split up in the nineties, he went solo and destroyed his career with drugs and alcohol. It was such a waste of talent. I stopped following his career a few years after his band split up.
Luckily, he’d had the same PA for the last eight years, so I couldn’t see this job being for him. Milly Crown was a celebrity in her own right. She went to all the A-list parties with Alex and his entourage. That certainly wouldn’t be the job for me. I was too structured and organized toeverbe his assistant. I didn’t do parties that often, either. They were too out of control for me.
“Natasha White for you, Gina,” the woman called as she led me into a function room just past reception.
“Thank you, Claire. Can you get some fresh coffee please? I’m jonesing for a cup. Take a seat, Natasha.” Gina stood up, shaking my hand in greeting.Shit!The woman was legendary, and I was standing right in front of her! She was petite but looked fierce. I was in awe of her. She was British like me, and was someone I aspired to be. I could be her in twenty years if I fought hard enough for it. “I must say, out of all the women I’m interviewing today, you’re the one I’ve been the most excited about. I hand picked you myself. You’re one of the reasons we brought the interviews to London, too.”
“Oh, wow. Um…thank you. I don’t know what to say.” What could I say back to that?
