Troublemaker (Songbird #6)

by Melissa Pearl

  I needed her to see Marcus, the “he’s got his shit together” guy, and the only way to do that was to back off and let her go out with someone else this weekend. She’d no doubt have a hot date with some tall, dark, and handsome asshole who would admire her stunning beauty, but wouldn’t see further than her crystal smile and luscious curves.

  Slumping back in my seat, I stared at my computer screen and pictured what my weekend held—work, kittens, dinner with my kid sister and parents, work.

  “Awesome,” I mumbled before banging my head onto my scribbly day planner.

  Chapter Eight

  Kelly

  Dinner with my parents.

  Oh how I hated Thursday nights.

  I parked my car in the turning bay and sat for a moment, psyching myself up for the weekly dinner date. “New Shoes”—the song Marcus had sent out that morning—was still playing around in my head. I smiled. It was a good one. I actually found the whole song-sending thing incredibly cute. I couldn’t admit how much I liked it, though. Marcus didn’t need any kind of encouragement. Oh yeah, I’d spotted his face when I told him I wouldn’t be dating anyone from work.

  It’d been a lie.

  I’d be more than happy to have drinks with Bryce, but he hadn’t asked me yet. My mother would be mortified if I made the first move. She was totally old school when it came to dating. Men were supposed to take the lead. I’d never actually had to ask anyone out because they always came to me first. I’d tried to find out Bryce’s story from Marcia, but it was obvious my coworker had no interest in talking about the guy.

  She was a happily married woman; she probably had zero interest in other men. I, on the other hand, was painfully single and, unlike Marcus, Bryce was my type.

  Sucking in a breath, I clicked open my door and crunched across the pebbles to the house. My family lived in a mansion. Dad came from old money. His parents had immigrated to New York from Italy and brought their fortunes with them. They started up a boutique on Fifth Avenue sixty years ago, a little shop called Echelon Fashion. My grandmother designed and made the clothes while my grandfather ran the business. It had flourished quickly and soon expanded to different parts of the city, then across the States and eventually worldwide. With a team of top designers, the Echelon label had a regular spot on the catwalks of Milan and Paris. The DeMarco name was world-famous in the fashion circles and, being an only child, I was expected to inherit it all.

  The idea terrified me. I was into fashion, sure, but owning an empire like that? I didn’t know whether to slit my wrists or jump for joy. Thankfully, Daddy was still in his early fifties and had no intention of handing over the reins. More than anything, that man loved control.

  I rolled my eyes and opened the door.

  “Good evening, Miss Kelly,” our butler greeted me as I entered the house.

  “Hi, Stuart, how are you?”

  “Very well, thank you, miss.” I patted his shoulder and clipped across the polished marble into the antique parlor. Mom had adored the old-style home the second she’d laid eyes on it. My parents had been newlyweds, and Daddy had fallen all over himself trying to please the stunning model. Oh how times had changed.

  My smile was tight as I approached my mother and leaned forward so she could peck my cheek. She was in her mid-forties now, yet still looked like a beauty queen. Her dark, shiny hair was cropped around her face in a stylish bob. Expertly applied makeup highlighted her high cheekbones and made her pale green eyes pop, while her slender lips were brushed in muted pink, which matched the champagne diamonds in her ears and on her wedding finger. She had a regal elegance that I imagined she’d been born with. I was positive she’d never dribbled as a baby. The very idea would have mortified her.

  I smirked at my snarky thoughts then took a seat opposite her.

  “So, Kelly, my darling. I haven’t heard from you this week.” Her pale gaze scrutinized my outfit. Luckily, I’d remembered my dinner date so had been able to choose something I knew she’d approve of.

  Crossing my legs, I laid my hands on my thighs and gave her a demure smile. “I’ve been busy.”

  “Oh, really? Doing what?” My mother had this soft, gentle voice that sounded so serene and elegant, yet every question out of her mouth was a live grenade. Casual chats with her were like negotiating a minefield in rollerblades.

  “Uh…”

  “Darling, please, don’t use filler sounds like that. It makes you appear unintelligent. Just say what you want to say.”

  I cleared my throat. “I’ve been working.”

  Mom’s face went blank. She blinked a couple of times then frowned. “Your father never told me about this.”

  “Daddy doesn’t know.” I rubbed my thigh then adjusted the sapphire ring on my middle finger.

  “How can your father not know you are working for him?” Mom snickered. “He’s in the office every day.”

  “I’m…” I went to say ‘um’ but quickly swallowed it and licked my lower lip instead.

  “You’re…” Mom twirled her hand, her eyebrows dipping with impatience.

  “I have a job at Torrence Records. I’m the personal assistant to three managers there.”

  Mom’s elegant mouth morphed into a disgusted frown. “A secretary! Are you out of your mind?”

  “Mom—”

  “No, I am not finished.” She held up her pointer finger. “How could you do this, Kelly? You are the daughter of Enrique DeMarco and you have taken a job with some record company? It doesn’t even have anything to do with fashion!” She spat out the last word before straightening in her chair and regaining her composure. “Explain yourself.”

  “It’s not that big a deal. I just needed something to do with my time, and I’m not ready to join the business yet.”

  “You are twenty-two years old, and since college is obviously above you, I’d say you’re ready to work for your father.”

  “I don’t want to work for my father.” I couldn’t hide my venom.

  Mom rolled her eyes, her hair not even rustling as she shook her head. “I should never have told you. I was simply trying to make a point…which you completely, missed by the way.”

  I gripped my hands together and looked at the ornamental fireplace.

  “I just don’t understand how you could lower yourself to this. A mere assistant. Honestly, what has gotten into you?”

  “It’s not long-term.” I still had an entire meal to live through, so I went for answers that would appease. “It’s simply a break.”

  “You’ve had six months to get over this,” she quipped. “And if you ask me…”

  Which I’m not.

  “You should still be up there trying to win him back.”

  “They’re getting married!” I glared at her, still flummoxed by her response to the Fletcher fiasco. I thought she would’ve been on my side. “He doesn’t want me. He made that abundantly clear.”

  “You had an option, but you refused to be flexible, and now you’ve thrown away the best thing that has ever happened to you.”

  I let out a disgusted scoff and shot out of my chair. Flexible? Was she fucking kidding?

  No, she wasn’t. That was the scariest part of all.

  My relentless mother kept barking at me. “Fletcher Winslow would have been the perfect partner for you. His family owns the biggest textile company on the West Coast. The two of you together could have—”

  “Stop!” I spun to face her. “We’re not together. We never will be. He made his choice, and I don’t want to be flexible.”

  “It’s not about love, Kelly.” Her petite nostrils flared. “It’s about securing the future of Echelon Fashion. You need to partner with someone who can make this company grow even bigger. That’s always been the plan.”

  Stupid plan! I hated the plan!

  “When you fell in love with Fletcher, it was so perfect. You’re far better suited to him than Evangeline Prescott.” She said the name like it was a bad taste in her mouth.

>   “She’s your best friend’s daughter. Should you really be saying her name that way?” I couldn’t help a little snark. The wounds were still too raw and close to the surface.

  “I never should have suggested you room together. You are far more than Evangeline could ever be. I didn’t see her as a threat. It’s clear Fletcher made the wrong decision, although you were the one to finally end it.”

  Her laser gaze made me look down at the plush cream carpet. The points of my shoes sank into the wool.

  “And now, we’re too late. He’s going ahead and marrying her because you wouldn’t compromise.”

  An image of me bending low and screaming in her face that I wasn’t about to marry a cheater tore through my brain, but I’d never have the courage to do it.

  “So now, we have to find you someone else.”

  “I’m not interested in finding someone else,” I muttered. “I don’t want what you have with Dad.”

  Mom’s lips parted like I’d just told her I was gay. “Kelly Rosina, you are a woman of privilege, and there are certain responsibilities that come with that. You don’t have the luxury of falling in love or flitting your life away as a single lady. This is a family company. We may be a powerhouse in the fashion world now, but that won’t last forever unless we keep pushing and expanding. Honestly. Use your brain.”

  My eyes smarted and I spun to face the opposite wall before she noticed. “You loved Dad when you married him.”

  “Yes, but those feelings fade, and I am grateful that I married a man who can give me the life I want.”

  “A loveless marriage?” I choked.

  Her voice was stiff and strained. “We both get what we need from each other, and we are good business partners.”

  “I can’t believe you stay with him when you know what he’s doing behind your back.” I looked over my shoulder and glimpsed the way her jaw clenched.

  With a regal sniff, she brushed the edge of her nose and rubbed her fingers together like my words couldn’t touch her. “We all make sacrifices to get the things we need. I know what’s important to me, and I don’t need your father’s monogamy to get it.”

  The sharp tap of business shoes could be heard on the tiles. I pulled my expression into line before my father entered the room. I had no idea if he knew Mom had told me about his infidelity, but I didn’t want him seeing how I felt about it.

  “La mia bambina.” He smiled, stretching his arms wide so I could step into his embrace. I wrapped my arm around his tailor-made jacket and inhaled his rich scent. Echelon had branched into perfumes last year. It had been Daddy’s idea, and he’d been working to get the perfect combination of scents. Sovereign for Men was my favorite. The fragrance curled my toes. Thankfully, my father was wearing Emperor, which I didn’t particularly care for.

  I kissed both his cheeks before standing back and smiling at him. He held my arms out wide and quickly assessed my dress. He mostly approved, but I could tell by the dip in his brow that he would have chosen different shoes. I tried not to let the silent criticism bother me.

  He turned to my mother and gave her an affectionate smile. “Buona sera, mia cara. Sorry I am late. I was talking to my father. Even in retirement, he cannot let the business go.” Dad chuckled, but it was a forced, hard sound. He unbuttoned his jacket and turned for the dining room. “I am heading to Paris next week. We are expanding the branch there. I will not have time to socialize, but you ladies are welcome to join me if you would like to do some shopping.”

  Mom’s eyebrow rose and she gave me a smirk that said, “See! Shopping in Paris. This is the life you should be fighting for.”

  I threw her a tight smile as my father continued, “Imogen, I will need you for the press conference, too. We will be announcing our part in Fashion Week later in the year, and I want you by my side. The press loves your smile.”

  “Of course, darling.” Mom gave him a dazzling smile, ignoring Stuart as he pulled out her chair.

  I sat down and smiled at our chef as she placed a bowl of minestrone in front of me. “Smells delicious, Abelie. Grazie.”

  “Prego, Miss Kelly.” She touched my shoulder and winked before bustling out of the room with the tray tucked under her arm.

  Dad picked up his spoon and rubbed it with his napkin like he always did then looked across the table at me.

  “So, you will join us?”

  “Uh…”

  I received two sharp looks—one for saying “uh” and the other from my father, who was preparing himself for whatever I had to say. A nervous smile flittered over my lips as I swallowed and launched into all the reasons why I should be working a low-level job with Torrence Records and not up at Stanford University finishing my business studies degree and winning back a man who would spend our married life cheating on me.

  I didn’t state it quite like that, of course. Dad’s infidelity was obviously a taboo subject, and if I was going to win him over to my “let me have a year off to screw around” argument, then I needed to sell the lie as best I could.

  Because that’s what it was really about, right?

  How to wrap the lies in pretty little bows so people only ever saw what you wanted them to.

  Chapter Nine

  Marcus

  Music blasted from the speakers of the huge arena as I stood in the empty rows of seats watching Chaos dance on stage. Nessa looked freaking hot as she pranced around beside Jimmy. Having her front and center was the best thing for the band. Opening night in LA had already sold out. Only three sleeps to go and my first band would be starting their twelve-week tour around the USA. I was Papa Bear proud and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I listened to them rehearse. Friday night was going to be epic.

  My phone buzzed and I checked the screen. It was a text from Kelly, asking me to call in when I was free. It’d been two months since she’d signed to work as my personal assistant. We’d made it through the holiday season, and she’d returned with a bright smile. I had no idea what was driving her, but she seemed determined to make the job work. I was pretty sure she was enjoying it. She never told me otherwise, not that she would. It’d probably helped that I hadn’t asked her out once. I’d held my tongue every time I was tempted, and we’d settled into a friendly work routine. After nearly ten weeks with me, she was relaxed and had the job pretty much down pat. I relied on her for a lot, and she delivered every time. It was a huge relief that I hadn’t completely screwed up when hiring her. She was a smart cookie and capable of more than she realized.

  I slid the phone into my pocket and decided to see out the set before returning her call. I had a sinking suspicion I knew what it was about, and I didn’t have the stomach for any more Caris bullshit this week.

  Jace smacked the drums in time with Jimmy’s strum, and Nessa let out a whoop when the song finished. All five of them were grinning like chimps. I applauded as loud as I could, but it was a feeble comparison to the music they’d just been making.

  “Thanks, Marcus,” Nessa spoke into the mic and winked at me. Her skin glowed with a fine sheen of sweat and her smile was a megawatt triumph. Jimmy came up beside her, wrapping his arm around her before whispering something in her ear. Her cheeks bloomed red and she giggled then looked up at him.

  Their gazes locked, held in place by some kind of mushy glue that would be impossible to dissolve. Those two lovebirds. I shook my head, trying to look disparaging, but I couldn’t pull it off. Truth was, my insides were raging with yearning. I wanted what they had. I wanted Kelly gazing into my eyes and telling me she loved me without even uttering the words. I wanted Kelly to see what she did to me and how far I’d be willing to go for her.

  Flick said something, trying to catch Jimmy’s attention. He had to shout it twice before Jimmy even noticed.

  “Huh?” The tall guitarist loped over to the keyboardist.

  Nessa waved her stump at me before spinning to join the boys. She’d come so far since losing her hand. She’d discovered who she really was and pu
t it all on the line to follow her dreams. It was damn impressive and made me feel like a bit of a loser for giving up on my desires so easily.

  Once Nessa had finally found the courage to take that leap, she’d been the happiest version of herself. It was like a neon light had come alive inside of her, a passionate spark that couldn’t be diminished. She’d fought to get everything she wanted—her man and a career in the music business.

  Well, I had one of those things working for me, but I wanted a girl, and not just any girl. Kelly had cut me off at the pass before I’d even had a chance to show her the kind of guy I could be. I’d given in so easily, embarrassed by who I’d been in high school and desperate to show her how cool I was now.

  Screw it.

  I might not be Kelly cool, but I had my own way about me and I needed to own it. If Kelly would just give me a chance, I could prove to her how right we’d be together. She didn’t need tall, dark, and handsome…she needed a guy who could make her smile.

  Pulling out my phone, I walked up the aisle of the arena and headed for the back door. If Chaos started up again, the noise would at least be muted. I pressed the phone to my ear and listened to it ring four times before Kelly answered.

  “Hey, thanks for calling back. I didn’t want to hand out your number to this guy. He was pretty irate.”

  I sighed and waited until the heavy door clicked shut behind me before saying, “What did Caris do now?”

  Kelly hissed. “Spent over five thousand at a music store downtown. She told the place to bill Torrence Records. When he sent his bill in and we responded that we had no intention of paying, he got pretty annoyed.”

  “You’ve got be kidding me.” I groaned.

  “Accounts wants a piece of you for saying she could do this.”

  “I didn’t!” I threw my arm wide.

  “That’s what I told them, but her mother’s claiming you gave her daughter a musical allowance. It’s in the contract or something.”