The Monster of Fame (The Price of Fame Series)

by Duffy, Aimée

  “Again, from the top,” Safri demanded impatiently, and the band started back up. Anna tried to push the feeling of betrayal back and concentrate on the flat notes of the song. Honestly, she couldn’t even relate to the words and that was as much the problem as anything. ‘I am the mountain, I am the sea’ were the most ridiculous lyrics she’d heard, and she felt stupid singing them.

  “What the hell’s going on?” a deep voice boomed from the side of the stage, and Anna gave up on her futile attempt at singing. She turned to see Miles, looking sexy as hell in a pair of mis-fit jeans and a designer hoodie. His jaw was set and anger burned in his dark green eyes, making them flame with intensity.

  His fury sparked hers and, unable to stop herself, she vented all the frustration and betrayal she’d felt over the last few days. “I’ll tell you what’s going on,” she shouted into the mic and lowered it so as not to deafen everyone here. “You thought you’d be a right Smart Alec and give me a song so outdated I’d probably end up in the bottom three again.”

  She didn’t care that Safri and the band were there, or any of the people setting up the stage for tonight’s live show. She was fuming that she’d been suckered into this and even angrier he had the audacity to be pissed off she wasn’t going along with it!

  Her dad had tried to control her all her life; there was no way she was going to allow Miles to try to do the same, just so he could win what must seem like a tiny amount of money to him. It was clear from his car and flat that he had enough. And here she thought she’d been wrong about him.

  “Annabelle, what the hell are you talking about?” he shouted right back and stormed across the stage toward her. Before he could reach her, she backed up to the other side.

  “Leave me alone, Miles,” she spat at him and ran off the other side of the stage.

  “Nice try, Oliver.” Anna heard Safri snipe behind her, but Anna didn’t care.

  Fury mixed with the pain of betrayal, and she needed to get away and calm down before she fell to pieces in front of everyone.

  She raced past machinery and stage workers, and then she turned, her feet carrying her out into the corridor leading to her dressing room. Once she was there she’d bolt the doors and pull herself together.

  “Annabelle, wait,” Miles shouted breathlessly, and she turned to see him running down the hall as graceful as a panther toward her.

  The anger had drained from his face and she thought she could see a flash of hurt cross his eyes. That did it. Her fury piqued. “For what, Miles? So you can convince me to ruin my only chance of saving my family? I don’t think so. You may have more money than you’ll ever need, but most people don’t. Some of us have to scrape by and save every bleedin’ penny just to keep a roof over our heads!”

  “Anna—” he started, but she cut him off.

  “What do you even need to win for? What’s half a million to you? If I had even a tenth of that the bank wouldn’t be threatening to take my family’s house away. I need this win, Miles, you don’t need the money.”

  The pity and understanding in his softened expression made all the pain come back, overpowering her anger. There was no way she could keep it together now. She spun on her heel and stalked to the bathroom. Once inside, she slouched down on the toilet and forced back the bubble of hysteria waiting to break free.

  So much for being strong…

  She was beginning to like him much more than she should, which made his betrayal sting all that sharper. She silently berated herself as she realized she’d told him more than he needed to know. She didn’t think she could stand any more pity from him, although after screaming at him like a banshee, she doubted he’d bother to give it to her.

  Chapter 7

  Making Amends

  Miles stood in the long corridor, the pain in his chest making it hard for him to move. When he’d overheard Annabelle’s conversation last week, he hadn’t assumed things were as bad as they were. The thought of her having the weight of all her family’s debt on her shoulders cut him deeper than he would have liked.

  Fury stole through him, red hot and blinding. Why the hell was her family putting that on her shoulders? She was only twenty-four for goodness sake! Now his hands were tied, he couldn’t put her out or try to convince her to leave. Unless…

  “Miles, there you are. Thank God,” Kev said as he picked up his pace and came toward him. Miles tried to smooth out his expression into a calm mask.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked, noting the fine sheen of sweat on the young man’s forehead.

  “It’s this song. The whole competition really. I don’t think I can do it.”

  “Hey, chill out, man.” Miles tried to make his voice sound encouraging. “You’ll do great, you always do, and it’s a terrific song for you.” And Miles meant every word. Kev was the best at pulling off rock and this week he’d chosen a famous English song by Slade.

  “You think?” he asked, still sounding unsure.

  This was the first time Kev had shown signs of nerves and it worried him a bit, but he knew Kev was strong. He’d taken the criticism splashed across the tabloids this week with a pinch of salt. This was stage fright, not weakness. Annabelle’s tear-streaked face flashed into his head again and he sighed. He really had to find a way to fix things so she could leave the competition. Her nervousness wasn’t stage fright, it was weakness.

  * * * *

  Miles tried not to wince as Annabelle’s angelic, yet powerful voice was quashed by the flat monotones of the song. Watching her now reminded him of the bud of a flower being frozen, preventing it from blooming. Safri was that freezer and he turned to scowl at her. She raised her eyebrows and shrugged, as if to say ‘it isn’t my fault’. He knew differently and couldn’t wait until later when he’d tell her as much.

  Annabelle finished and again, Mhairi asked them for their opinion. Sander was the first to speak. “Anna, I have to say I’m disappointed. I thought after last week Safri would give you something that would make you shine. You blew me away at the auditions, and again on your first week here, but I think the song choices are holding you back.”

  Annabelle nodded sadly and her gaze dropped to the floor. Pain slashed Miles’s heart again and froze his tongue. He had no idea what to say to make her feel better, especially after her outburst this morning.

  “It’s not my fault, the song could have been so much more if she hadn’t insisted on wasting half the week rehearsing a song someone else chose for her,” Safri said vehemently to Sander. She turned back to Annabelle. “You know if you had practiced this more you would be better at it, don’t you?”

  Annabelle forced a smile onto her face and he was proud of how well she was holding it together. Pain shone from her eyes, but she wasn’t trembling. Was it that she’d gotten stronger or did she just prepare herself better?

  “I agree with Sander. The song choice held you back, I know you can do better, Annabelle. I really hope you get the chance to prove it.” Her eyes locked on his and he saw the anguish there. No, she wasn’t stronger, just getting better at hiding it.

  * * * *

  She was in the bottom three again along with another of the girls Safri mentored and one of the groups. They’d both performed their own song choice and Anna had given the CD Miles burned for her to the sound people.

  Safri had been wrong, she knew that now. The moment Mhairi had announced Anna was in the bottom three, she looked to Miles and saw the distress in his expression. The more she thought about it, the more she saw the song did suit her voice almost to perfection and she’d been an idiot to doubt him. After all, out of the three of them, Miles was the most successful and had more experience in the industry.

  He really was trying to help her and she’d acted like a twit, accusing him of some truly horrible things. But now that she had free reign to pick what she wanted to sing, she was going to make it up to him the only way she knew how.

  She stepped out on the stage and the spotlight shone down on her, blinding
her view of the judges’ panel and the audience. Ignoring the smoke swirling around her feet and the murmurs from the crowd, she imagined she was back in Miles’s recording studio, singing this song just for him—but this time, Anna didn’t close her eyes and retreat into the world she’d created. This time, she experienced it all.

  Anna poured her heart and soul into every word, using all the power in her voice and pushing it to the limit at the chorus. This was for her family, her friends, and more importantly Miles, all of whom believed in her, even when she wasn’t sure she believed in herself.

  On the last note, the spotlight dimmed and the crowd rose to their feet—the applause was almost deafening. Even Miles and Sander stood and she saw the sheen of moisture glisten in Miles’s emerald-like eyes. She tried to curve her lips into an apologetic smile, hoping he’d forgive her. His answering beam sent her pulse racing and her body zinging with heat.

  The other acts joined her on stage and they listened to the judges’ opinions. All the while, she kept her eyes fixed on Miles. He looked over at her occasionally. It was like he couldn’t keep his gaze away from her for very long. Wondering what he was thinking about kept her mind temporarily off the fact that she could be going home tonight.

  Both Miles and Safri put her through. Her mentor’s change of heart shocked her, but she quickly got over it. Sander voted for his own act which Anna accepted. Safri failed to do that for her the week before, and Anna found she was beginning to respect the muscled-up judge a bit more than she had.

  Relief and gratitude slammed through her with the intensity of a battering ram and she felt a tear escape, making her feel like a fool. Before she became overwhelmed, Anna hurried off the stage and made her way back to her dressing room. She closed the door and heaved a huge breath.

  Do not fall to pieces. You’re stronger than that, remember?

  The tears clogging her throat dissolved. She was starting to believe in herself. Her phone rang then, distracting her.

  After a quick glance at the screen, she answered. “Hi, Mum.”

  “Annabelle, honey. I just saw you running off stage. If it’s too hard, sweetheart, come home. We’ll manage. Nothing is more important than your happiness.”

  “I’m fine, Mum. Just overwhelmed.”

  “I don’t know, Anna, love. I don’t want you doing something that makes you unhappy.”

  Anna thought about it for a moment. She wasn’t unhappy; she was relieved and when she was on stage that last time, elated. This really was what she wanted to do with her life. Maybe she hadn’t been very strong to begin with, but two weeks in the bottom had put everything into perspective. Now she was living her oldest dream and she’d be damned if she was going to give up on it now.

  “You don’t have to worry. I love this. It’s just taken me a while to see it. I’ll do better next week, Mum, and I’ll get through. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?” she joked, trying to lighten her mum’s anxieties. After all, she had enough to deal with.

  “If you’re sure, though I’d rather you came home than be unhappy.” Her mum didn’t sound convinced, but Anna was. Everything was so clear now and going home was the only thing she had to fear. Except now, it wouldn’t only be because she’d failed her family.

  It had taken her this long to realize it, but when she got up on that stage and sang, the thrill that rushed through her was truly euphoric. She loved performing and now that she’d had a taste, couldn’t imagine going back to work at the shop.

  Nor could she imagine never seeing Miles again.

  If not for his help and support this week, she’d be left without a final song and chucked out of the competition before she could say ‘give me another chance’. And now she had to apologize for acting like a crazy person this morning. If he’d ever speak to her again that is.

  “I’m sure, Mum. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”

  * * * *

  Miles didn’t even bother to go and congratulate his acts. He went straight to Safri’s dressing room, fuming so hard that he thought the top of his head might blow off with the steam. After three pounds of his fist against the door, he opened it and walked in, slamming it shut behind him.

  “Miles, what on earth are you doing?” Safri demanded, her eyes narrowing on his reflection in the mirror while she applied more makeup.

  “What am I doing? Tell me you’re not serious, Safri. What the hell are you doing to Annabelle? You’ve sabotaged her performances the last two weeks running.” His voice boomed out in a roar and he worked to level it. “Do you want her to get kicked out?”

  She rose from the chair and spun to face him, her eyes narrowing and chin tilting. “Why do you care? She’s my act, and you didn’t even want her to get this far in the first place.” Her irritation matched his, but her words hit a nerve.

  Why did he care? He should be encouraging Annabelle to walk away from this, but he wouldn’t publicly humiliate her. He had to admit though, he was going above and beyond for her. After her first performance he’d been so mad he’d texted Dave to tell him what Safri was up to. Never before had he gone to so much trouble over an act.

  “You’re acting like a child and you know it,” he said, but before he could bring up the night at the party when she’d come on to him again, Dave barged into the dressing room, his face more flushed with anger than Miles had ever seen it.

  “I don’t know what you’re playing at, Safri, but know this,” Dave said, aiming his glowing red glare in her direction, his voice full of threat. “If you continue to screw around with this girl’s performances, I will make sure you never get a chance on this show again. The public loves her, and the ratings this year are through the roof. If you want to keep your backside on that judging chair. you better get over whatever differences you have with the girl and make her shine.” With that, Dave turned and left the room.

  Safri dropped her battle stance and her shoulders sagged. Miles knew she’d lay off Annabelle now. She needed this show more than he or Sander as her career went down the toilet years ago. Miles left reassured in his knowledge that Annabelle would have the help she needed.

  * * * *

  The next few weeks passed by quicker than he would have liked and Miles’s frustration only increased. Not once had he seen Annabelle other than on stage and he missed her terribly. The last few weeks she sailed through the live shows, her performances so spectacular they would put some of the biggest names in the industry to shame.

  But she hadn’t apologized for accusing him of betraying her. Nor had she been to any of the after show parties. He’d even tried showing up at the house a few times, hoping to catch her, but each time she hadn’t been there. She was obviously avoiding him and he was left feeling disgruntled.

  Again, he found himself ignoring his acts and on the hunt for Annabelle. He’d come to the stadium early, having been told by one of the girls who worked back stage that she liked to come in and rehearse before anyone else arrived. It’s how he’d missed her every other time.

  He walked through the public entrance and made his way to the stage, pausing when he saw her there. Her hair was tied up into a messy knot and her skimpy shorts and t-shirt were casual. Still, the way she danced around the stage in perfect sync with the backing dancers made his blood boil.

  He slipped into a seat near the back, listening to her enchanting voice recreate a famous song and make it completely her own. A flare of heat darted straight to his groin, and he was harder than steel in mere seconds. Miles shook his head in exasperation.

  For years he’d tried to be intimate with various women, both to fulfill his needs and to banish the memories of finding Cassie. Most of the time his body had failed him and the women had left his bed very disappointed. Now though, where thoughts of Annabelle were concerned, his hormones jumped to attention and little boy soldier wouldn’t stand down.

  Maybe Annabelle was what he needed. Maybe she’d help him banish the memories of finding Cassie’s body cold
and lifeless in their home. He never expected the guilt to go—didn’t want it to, it was what he deserved—but to be able to make love to a woman again would be enough.

  But if they were to start seeing each other, they’d have to be very careful. If the press got a whiff of their relationship it would be all over the papers and wouldn’t bode well for either one of them. Miles was certain it would be worth the risk.

  Already, he’d thought of a way to save her, like she was unknowingly saving him from his grief. His assistant was on the case, trying to find out how much money Annabelle’s family owed. He wouldn’t convince her to go home when she couldn’t make ends meet. He’d make sure everything worked out for her, just like he promised her it would.

  * * * *

  “Fancy celebrating?” Miles asked Annabelle when he found her in her dressing room after the show. She’d blown him away on stage and devastated his libido. He’d found himself again ignoring his acts and seeking her out straight after the final performance was over.

  “Miles, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said those horrible things the other week.” She stood and hurried over to him, remorse clear on her face. “I didn’t think you’d want to speak to me again.” Tears welled in her eyes and he couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms.

  “Of course I want to speak to you,” he whispered against her jasmine scented hair. He always wanted to speak to her. “Come and have a drink with me. You’ve never even celebrated getting this far. I have champagne on ice at home.” He didn’t want to press her to drink alone with him, but they had to be careful not to be seen together publicly. Going out together at this stage in the competition would have the paparazzi on their tails like bloodhounds.

  She smiled up at him and his chest radiated warmth. “Why not? I deserve it, don’t I?” The teasing glint in her eyes made him chuckle.

  “Yes, you do.”

  Chapter 8

  Long Night