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“You gave me ahugebedroom. You deserve them.” Joking was the easiest way to dissolve the direction of the conversation.
“True. I’m going to take a nap. Wake me just before we land.” That meant I could watch him sleep. Oh. My. God, I was turning into such a perv, but I couldn’t help myself.
“You can wait here. Gina and I won’t be long,” Alex murmured. Being here at Rock Records was a little daunting for me. This music company was twice as big as Flavour Records.
“Good luck.”
“He’ll need more than luck. He needs a damn miracle,” Gina said as she glared at Alex. “You haveonesong. One original song for this album!”
“It will be fine.” He turned, winking at me before making his way down the corridor. In the short time I’d known him, I’d learned that he could sweet talk his way out of anything.
I sat reading my emails as I waited. My parents had sent me an update on their world cruise, complete with photos. I hadn’t managed to meet up with them yet. Truthfully, I hadn’t even asked Alex if I could take a few days off to see them. My parents understood that I was busy at work, though. Even if my mother did kick up a fuss about it.
An hour later, Alex and Gina emerged from the meeting. Alex had a smug smile on his face. He’d obviously gotten his own way again.
“How did it go?” I asked, closing my laptop and standing up to greet them.
“They’ve pushed the deadline back so I can work on more material,” he grinned, looking down at his phone. He seemed a little distracted.
“That’s great.”
“He’s got to sign up for astadium tournext year, though.” Gina stressed. “He’s hasn’t toured infive years.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” I frowned, looking between them.
“I don’t need to worry about that yet. It’s months away.”
“Alex, you can’t hide your head in the sand. You have to do this. You’ll lose your label deal if you screw around with them this time.” Gina was getting more agitated by the moment.
“We can talk about this later. I’m going for a drink with Milly before my flight home,” Alex glared.Milly Crown? Of course that’s who he was referring to. She was living in New York now. “Do you want to come, Nat?” Gob smacked, I gazed at him. Why would he invite me?
“I…um…I…”
“You can say no. It’s fine.” He chuckled at my reaction. I’d always wanted to meet Milly, but something told me Alex needed some time to talk to his friend. They hadn’t seen each other for months.
“I have a few things to sort out for Diego’s party, actually,” I lied. Everything was already taken care of. All I had to do was get a dress for myself.
“Okay, I’ll only be across the street. I’ll meet you back here in a few hours. Get the receptionist to make you a coffee or something. I’m taking Steve with me.” I grinned up at him. “What?”
“I’ll be fine. Go.” With a shy smirk, he nodded and then left.
“He has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.” Gina sighed, slumping down on the couch. “He thinks he can write an entire album on his own infour months.”
“That doesn’t seem like such a task.”
“Nat, Alex hasn’t written an album in over ten years, and even then, he wrote those with Matt Higgins. He can’t do this on his own.”
“Maybe you should have more faith in him.”
“The man can’t stay sober or drug free for more than three days. How the hell does he think he can write an entire album?” I was beginning to understand why Alex felt so isolated at times. Even his own manager didn’t believe in him.
“Gina,” the receptionist called from over her desk. “You’re wanted back in the boardroom.”
“Great,” she mumbled under her breath. “If I don’t see you and Alex before I get back, have him call me tomorrow.” Nodding, I watched her make her way back down the corridor.
Growing tired of waiting at reception, I’d texted Alex to let him know that I would be in a coffee shop down the street. He didn’t reply, but I knew he’d read the message. He and Milly had a lot of catching up to do. It made me wonder what their friendship was based on. Had Diego been right? Was it all about the parties? Or was there something deeper? Was Milly someone he could confide in? Did she help him with his burdens from fame?
Sitting there strumming my fingers along the side of my coffee mug, I watched people hustle around outside. I loved New York. I’d been here a few times for work and with Liv on a girly weekend break, but being here with Alex, it was different. New York loved him. They welcomed him with open arms. He was spotted everywhere he went, and the hysteria only seemed to multiply. Laughing, I saw a group of women run past the window. I had one guess where they were heading. Word must have gotten out that he was drinking in a bar with Milly.
