The Last Rock King

by Seven Steps

  He turned toward the camera. Cassie followed his lead. She tried to step away but Noah pulled her closer to him, placing an arm around her slim waist.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, The Rock King,” she said. The crowd behind them cheered. “And who is this precious woman on your arm?”

  Pride lit Noah’s eyes as he turned to her. He nodded her to the microphone.

  “What is your name, dear?” the woman asked.

  Cassie tried not to let her voice shake. “Cassie Washington.”

  “Cassie, you are beautiful, absolutely stunning!” the woman cried. “And what is your relationship to Mr. LaRock?”

  Cassie looked at Noah. His grin never wavered, though his eyes widened a bit, waiting for the answer with great interest.

  “I’m, uh, his manager’s daughter.”

  His grin dropped a bit. His eyes met hers, questioning.

  She took a deep breath.

  “And his girlfriend.”

  She tried to hide the relief that breezed through her as his chest swelled. He pulled her back to him, his hand heavy on her hip.

  Cassie let out a deep breath, her soul soaring under Noah’s approving glances.

  “Girlfriend? Ladies and gentlemen, Noah LaRock is officially off the market.”

  Cheers and boos mixed together behind them.

  Cassie barely heard it above the pounding of her heart.

  I am Noah Bronner’s girlfriend.

  Up and down the red carpet, they nearly jumped with joy as they told each and every reporter what they were to each other. They met the shocked expressions and approving smiles with grace, excitement pumping through them with each step.

  They had officially come out to the world.

  Chapter 35

  They stayed arm in arm as they walked over the red carpet and through the front door of the LA Civic Center.

  Inside, the place was small but beautiful. The ceilings reminded Cassie of golden waves of the sea, dipping and rippling above her head. Though the lights were on, they were soft, making Cassie’s skin glow. They were escorted toward the front of the venue.

  An older gentleman, an attendant judging by his red vest, pulled Noah’s name off of the seat and waved him forward. He did the same for the sign that read ‘And Guest’ that was stapled to Cassie’s seat.

  She craned her neck to see behind her. “This place is awesome.”

  A thousand seats stretched to the back wall, inclining slightly as they went. Spiraling stairs led to balcony seating that hovered just behind her. To the left and right of the stage were more balconies. The seats there had been removed, replaced with additional lighting.

  She brushed her fingers over the arms of the soft cushioned seats. A wave pattern was embossed in the seats, the same wave pattern as the ceiling. It smelled as if they had just laid fresh carpet, and she looked down to check. Though the gold and dark blue carpet was smooth, she couldn’t be sure if it was new or not.

  Music, television, and movie stars filed in, filling the seats around them. The air turned expensive, heavy with the scents of the finest roses, daisies, and sunflowers.

  A few musicians came to shake Noah’s hand and wish him well. Cassie recognized them, tried to hide her blush as Noah introduced them.

  Steve Samson, Betty King, Jammy Jay. Gods of the recording industry. They flooded down the aisle, their very own Mount Olympus in the middle of LA.

  Country music legend Cindy Spencer bounded to them, throwing herself into Noah’s arms for a tight hug.

  “Noah!” she screamed.

  “Cindy. I thought you were on tour,” he said, his voice an octave higher than usual.

  “I thought the same thing about you,” she remarked. “Oh, it’s great to see you. It’s been too long!”

  Her eyes floated to Cassie. Something turned in them. Some spark of recognition.

  “And this is your now famous girlfriend?” she asked, pulling away from Noah, her eyes searching his for the truth.

  Noah nodded, handed Cassie forward. “This is Cassie Washington.”

  He stepped back and allowed Cassie to stand in front of him.

  Cindy Spencer was as gorgeous in person as she was on television. Long midnight hair that cascaded and rippled around her thin shoulders. Piercing green eyes, a small bow-shaped mouth. Her dress was gold, covered in little beads that absorbed the low light and converted it into shimmering stars.

  She extended a hand to Cassie, her white teeth perfect squares.

  Inadequacy crept into Cassie’s shoulders, making them slump a bit.

  “I’m Cindy,” she said.

  “Cassie.”

  “It’s a pleasure.” Her eyes slid to Noah on that last word.

  He tightened his tie.

  “And how did you manage to get your hooks into the great Rock King?” she asked.

  Cassie shook the cobwebs from her head and tried to keep a smile on her face. She felt like running. This woman’s confidence and beauty was staggering, but there was something else behind her eyes. Something threatening and angry buried in her wide smile.

  “I don’t know,” Cassie said. “It just happened, I guess.” She took a small step toward Noah.

  He put his hand on the small of her back, silently vowing his protection.

  “Watch your back, darling.” Cindy’s green eyes turned dark, and her smile dropped. Her country accent thickened. “A little innocent girl like you? Noah will eat you up and spit you out before you know it.”

  Noah’s voice turned lethal. “Cindy, that’s enough.”

  Her eyes blazed into Noah’s for a moment longer before she turned and walked to the opposite side of the hall.

  Noah turned back to Cassie, letting out a deep breath. “I’m sorry about that. Cindy and I had a thing a while ago and it didn’t end well.”

  Noah was involved with that woman? Cassie thought. She’s everything. Why would he want me when he’s been with Cindy Spencer? She’s beautiful and talented and, well, so different from me.

  An older man in sunglasses walked forward, stealing Noah’s attention again.

  The parade of people coming to see the Rock King didn’t stop until the lights dimmed and the host for the night came on stage.

  Cassie was glad for the break. She needed time to catch her breath, to stop the panic that raced through her chest.

  I’m surrounded by the most beautiful people in the world. What am I doing here? she wondered. I don’t belong here.

  Noah seemed to pick up on her tension. He squeezed her hand, leaned in close.

  “Stop thinking so much,” he whispered. “You’ll get wrinkles on that beautiful face.”

  He kissed her bare shoulder and smiled at her.

  She couldn’t help but smile back.

  The show rolled on for nearly three hours. Halfway through, Noah kissed her hand and left, going on stage to do an ensemble performance with three other musicians in honor of the great Lester Reilly, a giant in the rock world, and one of Noah’s idols. Cassie had seen his picture in the foyer of Noah’s house.

  She sat back and enjoyed Noah’s performance. He stood close to the silver microphone stand, his lips making love to the silver bulb. She remembered the feel of his lips and brushed her arms against the goose bumps that had taken up residence there. His high notes rose to the heavens, bringing a tear to her eye. His low notes resonated in her belly, giving her shivers. Midway through, he picked up a guitar and played while the other rock stars accompanied him. It was meant to be an ensemble performance, but no one could touch Noah’s voice, or his guitar play. The Rock King shined like a star on stage, bringing light to the darkest corners of the room with his voice and whatever instrument his fingers happened to find their pleasure on.

  She envied his guitar.

  Finally, with the set done, Noah announced Lester Riley, and called the man to the stage to get his award.

  Lester marched out of the right wing of the stage, a pretty girl on his arm. His trademark curly hai
r touched his shoulders. A black top hat sat impossibly on top of his head, the hat blending in with the rest of his black leather outfit. Noah bowed to the man before handing him the award, his face star struck, his demeanor humbled. Lester took the award from him, patted him on the back, whispered something in his ear. Noah nodded his thanks and left the stage as Lester gave his long winded awards speech.

  Cassie’s eyes roamed the room, wondering when Noah would return. The show went to commercial break, the lights brightening.

  “Hi.”

  The woman next to Cassie smiled at her, the grin reaching all the way to her ears.

  “I’m Nicole.”

  “Cassie.”

  “Where you from, Cassie?” Nicole’s voice was warm, inviting. Cassie admired her dark pixie cut hair, the way her grey eyes sparkled. She quickly felt at ease with this woman, and was grateful for the company.

  “Greenwich, Connecticut.”

  “I grew up there too!” Nicole’s eyes went wide with happiness.

  They spoke about home, bygone friends, their experiences in LA. The conversation briefly tipped to Noah before tipping away again. By the time Noah returned to his seat, Cassie and Nicole had become fast friends, even taking a picture together.

  “Hey, you’re back,” Cassie said.

  Noah kissed her briefly. She was disappointed. It wasn’t at all like how he’d kissed the microphone.

  “You all right?” he asked, scanning her from head to foot.

  “I’m fine. I was talking with Nicole.”

  Cassie gestured to the woman next to her.

  Noah held his hand out to her. “Noah.”

  Nicole was momentarily stunned, color rising in her cheeks. It took a moment before she reached her hand back to him. “Nicole.”

  They shook, Nicole’s eyes gliding to Cassie before gluing themselves to the stage.

  “That must’ve been cool, meeting Lester Riley?” Cassie said.

  “It was amazing. He wanted me to contact him after the show and get coffee or something.”

  “Coffee with Lester Riley? Noah, you really are The Rock King!”

  “Me? No, Lester is the king. I’m just a guy with a guitar next to him.”

  “Well, you’re a little more than that.” She grinned.

  “Who knows what will come of it. Maybe with the label dropping me, Lester could give me a hand, you know?”

  “You’ll find another label, Noah.”

  “Yeah, but will they promote me and pay me like this one does?” He shook his head. “It’s so uncertain, you know. I’d better call your dad later, see how it’s been going with shopping me around.”

  “Now you’re the one who’s worrying,” she said. “Any label will be more than happy to pick you up.”

  “The messed up part is they haven’t even met with me to tell me, you know. I’ve been with them for sixteen years and they haven’t even met with me to tell me that they’re dropping me.”

  She placed a hand on his back, watched his mood turn worse as he lost album of the year to Lesliee Day.

  Lesliee bounded on stage. Her dress was sheer from the waist up, her breasts covered by two black crosses.

  Cassie wondered how much would get blurred out on television.

  Leslie slurred through her speech, flashed her breast to the camera, then skipped off.

  And with that, the Grammys has become the Lesliee Day Show, Cassie thought. What a mess. The label can’t be giving Noah up for that train wreck. They just can’t.

  The show ended and the lights came up.

  Nicole and Cassie promised to keep in touch, then parted. Nicole made her way to the exit while Noah led Cassie backstage for the press junket.

  Noah stopped in front of the green room door, pulling Cassie closer so that she could hear him amidst the crowded hallway.

  “I’ll meet you inside after I do press,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll be back in thirty minutes or so. Pick out whatever you want from the swag table.”

  “Okay.”

  He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and kissed her gently. “Don’t worry. You look fantastic.”

  With one last smile tossed her way, he lost himself in the crowd.

  Cassie wished she could get lost.

  She peeked into the green room. It was packed with celebrities she’d only seen via a magazine or television screen. They passed through each other, mingling but never truly connecting.

  What would they say if they saw me in there? she thought. Will they accept me? Will they even speak to me?

  Her eyes darted around the room, hoping to land on a friendly face. The only faces she saw were heavily painted and stretched with fake smiles.

  No, I’m definitely not going in there without Noah.

  She turned, looking for a refuge, some place where she could disappear for a half an hour until Noah got back.

  She spied a bathroom across the hall, and made a beeline for it.

  Chapter 36

  Noah

  Noah looked around the room, hoping to find his goddess in an emerald dress. The press had been lenient with him tonight, limiting their comments to his performance with Lester Riley. They weren’t interested in a fading rock star. Lesliee Day was the talk of the night. He silently thanked God for it.

  He took a glass of champagne from the refreshment table and scanned the room again.

  Where’s Cas?

  He drained the glass in one gulp, put it back on the table, and grabbed another one.

  Troy Barbarack’s chubby profile came into view.

  Noah’s blood ran cold.

  The head of his record label locked eyes with him, flushed. His eyes darted to the exit.

  “Hey!” Noah shouted. “Troy.”

  Troy’s beady eyes turned back to Noah. He fixed his blue tie, ran a hand through his dark blond hair. With his designer suit, rings, and slicked back hair, he looked more like a bleached mobster than the president of a record label.

  “Noah LaRock,” Troy said, his voice steady though his face looked like he’d seen a ghost.

  “So you’re dropping me, huh?” Noah demanded.

  “Noah, we didn’t mean for you to find out this way.”

  “What way? You mean by way of a drunk blonde back stage at a talk show? That’s right. Lesliee freaking Day broke the news to be. Sixteen years I gave to you, and what do you do? You didn’t even have the balls to say that you’re releasing me to my face?”

  “Noah, calm down. Look, it’s just business, okay?”

  “Why are you dropping me?”

  Troy cleared his throat.

  “How about you call my office on Monday and we’ll talk, huh?”

  “Why?” Noah demanded.

  “Well, truth be told…” Troy jammed his hands into his suit pants, looked away. “People don’t want rock anymore. Pop’s the new thing.”

  “Pop. A bunch of kids who don’t know anything about music. I made you millions, Troy. Millions. And you’re just going to drop me because the market’s changed? What kind of crap is that?”

  “Noah, look. It’s just not working out. Now, I know the president of Rock Lab Records. They are respectable, they are hard working. Maybe you can sign with them.”

  Noah’s blood boiled.

  “Rock Lab Records? You’re sending me to Rock Lab Records?”

  His hands turned into fist. His voice rose above the crowd. “Rock Lab is a start-up. I’ve been doing this for sixteen years, Troy! Sixteen years and you want to send me to a start-up?”

  Troy’s voice remained steady and emotionless, as if he was simply asking a man for directions instead of arguing with one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. “I’m sorry, Noah. It’s just business.”

  Noah ran a hand through his hair to keep from punching Troy in his chubby jaw.

  “Look, Noah, I’m sorry. I know it’s hard.” Troy put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “But we had a great run together, didn’t
we? We did great things in the time we had. Remember that.”

  Noah shook Troy’s hand off, glaring at the portly man. “Yeah, I’ll remember all right.”

  Troy nodded, his face heavy with pity, before he turned and squeezed his round body through the crowd and out of sight.

  Noah felt his hands begin to shake, and he picked up another glass of champagne.

  This night was quickly turning into a disaster.

  Where was Cassie?

  Chapter 37

  Cassie

  “Oh my god, did you see Noah LaRock’s new girlfriend?”

  The three pitchy voices echoed in the small bathroom.

  Cassie picked her feet up, didn’t breathe.

  “She’s a train wreck,” came voice number two. “I have no idea what he sees in her.”

  “Maybe it’s affirmative action,” came voice number three.

  Voice number one said, “And did you see that hair? She looks like she has a sheep on her head.”

  The three girls giggled.

  Cassie saw red.

  She snatched the door open and marched out, looking at each of the women one by one. She recognized them from a reality television show that had recently come on the air. She watched their faces drain of color as they stared back at her.

  Smoothing her dress, she walked passed them and washed her hands.

  They ran from the bathroom, the door swinging behind them as they made their hasty exit.

  Stupid girls with their stupid comments.

  She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her eyes moved to the mirror, and she stared at her reflection.

  I can do this, she chanted silently. I’m beautiful, I’m intelligent, and I have a great guy on my arm. I can do this.

  She ran her hands under the warm water.

  I can do this, she chanted.

  “Excuse me,” a voice behind her said.

  She pumped the soap dispenser, and rinsed her hands.

  I can do this. I belong here.

  “Excuse me,” the voice repeated.

  She shook them dry, and looked up into a pair of black eyes looking back at her.

  “That bathroom needs to be cleaned,” the older woman said, running a hand through the hair at the base of her neck. “And there is no more toilet paper.”