“Well, aren’t we all getting cozy,” Kiki announced her presence, startling me enough that I bounced out of my seat and rammed my forehead into Troy’s chin. I should have been getting used to her sneaking up on me, but it was almost like she couldn’t help it.
“I slipped out of my chair, and Troy was just helping me get up,” I spewed defensively as I rubbed the throbbing spot on my head.
Kiki’s brown eyes cut from me to Troy, and she said nothing further on the matter. “It’s my turn to do a little work in the studio. Go on, now,” she shooed me out the door and slammed it behind me.
Through the window, Troy shot me a mischievous smile and waved at me, mouthing that he’d see me later. Draping my purse over my shoulder, I stared at my feet as I walked down the long corridor toward the elevators. Knowing the elevator might take ten minutes to get to me after I pushed the call button, I wrapped my hands behind the back of my neck, massaging out the tension I knew was there. Being so close to Troy that I could see the ring of gold in his eyes had me unnerved. Did I enjoy being scooped up by an incredibly fit, gorgeous man who had a voice like an angel and could play the guitar like he came out of the womb with a pick in his hand? Sure. But if I let that little voice in my head be brutally honest, I knew I was drifting into dangerous territory. Collin had been my rock, my champion while I was rising to the challenge, while Troy hadn’t noticed me until he recognized my musical talent. On the other hand, that little voice argued, how long do you really think things will last with Collin? Long distance relationships never work…
“Long week?” said Mr. Drake. I craned my neck and blinked, my inner struggle probably playing outwardly on my face.
“Still running on adrenaline,” I lied. Of course I was exhausted, but Mr. Drake was the last person on earth who I’d admit that to, especially after only a week of work. Even worse, my focus wasn’t totally on music, either.
He didn’t seem to notice I was busy daydreaming about two men who were practically polar opposites. “It’ll all come together. Harper Music will make sure of it.”
“Everyone’s doing a wonderful job. I won’t let you down, Mr. Drake.” I hoped I sounded as confident as I pretended to be. I could crash and burn and the entire population would move on to its next obsession before I’d even had my fifteen minutes of fame.
Mr. Drake’s blue eyes pierced through every time he looked at me. “If there’s one thing I have, it’s a gift for picking talent. You don’t fit the exact mold that Harper Music was looking for to replace Monica, but you’re self-made, and I can tell you can stand on your own two feet. I’m betting on it.”
“I’m really grateful for your faith in me.”
“It’s something that only people who’ve been in the spotlight can truly understand. It’s how I broke into this business, too.”
“Really?” I asked, never having given a thought to his background. I’d always assumed he’d been a savvy, calculating businessman who didn’t dabble in music except to make a profit. “Do you wish you would have stuck with it?”
Mr. Drake mentioned, “Sometimes I miss the days of constant touring and songwriting.” The cold sharpness of his eyes had softened as he was lost somewhere in his memories.
“Why weren’t you the next Steve Tyler then?”
Mr. Drake chuckled lightly. “I could have been, but life in the spotlight wasn’t for me. The cost ended up being too great, so I found my niche working behind the scenes.”
The elevator dinged open and we both entered. “Leaving for the day?” I asked, pressing the button for the ground level.
“No, down to the gym for me. Trying to stave off old age and the accompanying pot belly by a run on the treadmill.”
We reached the gym floor, which always smelled faintly of sweaty socks and antiseptic. Mr. Drake stepped off the elevator, waving goodbye and leaving me alone with my thoughts, which inevitably returned to fantasizing about the two hunky men who had graced my life recently.
Walking through the revolving doors and out under the muted gray sky, I buried my hands deep in my pockets and tucked my chin behind my scarf, hurrying off towards the apartment I’d been set up in. It was infinitely more modest than the hotel suite they’d flaunted at me for my audition, but I was still well aware of how much Harper Music was investing in my accommodations alone. I didn’t spend much time there but I’d made it home enough for my taste. I’d hung a few photos of Collin and me as well as some of my family to remind me that some people still loved Ruby Harkwad, not only Ruby Hawkins. Collin’s cactus had also made the trek to the Big Apple and sat on my nightstand so I was reminded of him every night before I drifted off to sleep and every morning when I woke up.
I wondered what Collin was up to at the moment. We’d talked briefly in the morning when his plane landed at JFK, but he was booked solid with appointments. I decided if his conference didn’t end soon, I’d go over and find him myself, even if it meant I had to endure listening to lectures from stiff engineers. If I got to hold Collin’s hand while someone droned on about solar sails or rocket fuel, it’d be worth it. Adjusting my purse strap, I entered the flow of pedestrians and headed toward home. Not a half a block into my walk, a pair of warm hands slipped over my eyes, letting only a few streams of light through the cracks of the fingers.
Oh, crap! My pulse revved dangerously high. I’m being mugged! I decided then and there that if I survived, my mom would never hear about this incident or she’d forever remind me that I should have listened to her and stayed away from big cities where nothing good ever happened.
Willing myself not to entertain the possible outcomes of the scenario, instincts from a self-defense class I’d taken a few years earlier kicked in, and I elbowed my assailant hard in the ribs, then twisted away from their grasp. Free from their arms, I pinched my eyes shut and swung my fists wildly, screaming for help. Sharp pain bolted up my right arm as my knuckles made contact with something bony. Whoever had grabbed me groaned and hit the pavement. I kept pummeling the air like a boxer warming up for a fight, too scared to stop, too terrified to run.
“What are you doing?!” a woman cried. In the middle of my panic, the strangest thing came to mind: I’d heard that voice before…
Opening my eyes, I discovered Collin sitting on his rear end in the middle of the dirty pavement, nursing a bloody lip.
“What is wrong with you?” a redheaded woman glared up at me from the ground next to Collin. Her heart-shaped face and straight-as-an-arrow nose made her attractive in an extremely obvious way.
“Ruby?” Collin said groggily.
My heart, still hyped up from my adrenal glands, took an express elevator down to my stomach. I’d just mashed Collin’s gorgeous face.
I dropped to my knees and cupped Collin’s cheeks between my hands. “I am so sorry! I had no idea it was you. I was sure I was being mugged.”
The redhead scoffed and shook her head. “In the middle of Manhattan foot traffic, in broad daylight?”
I tore my eyes away from Collin, who was wiping the blood away from his lips with a tissue the redhead had handed over. “Thanks for your help,” I nearly hissed, “but I’ve got everything under control. Don’t let us keep you from wherever you’re heading.”
Standing up to her full height, she was sleek, all skin and jutting bones, not unlike my greyhound, Murphy, and she had some of the longest legs I’d ever seen. She gazed down her perfect nose at me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I picked my jaw up off the floor and sneered, “Excuse me?”
“Ruby,” Collin interrupted as he stood with my help, pulling me close to him, wrapping his arm tightly around my waist. “This is Jill. My personal assistant.”
A light bulb went on in my brain. She was the one who’d been talking to Collin when we were on the phone the day before. How could I forget such a honeyed voice?
“Ah, the Ruby,” she crooned. Tossing her wavy auburn hair behind her shoulder, she held out a hand and firmly shook mine. She ga
ve me a once over faster than a flash of lightning strikes the ground, and immediately, I wished I’d put on more than mascara and leggings. Her skin was porcelain and perfect, giving her an elegant, ethereal glow, and in her four-inch spikey stilettos on the end of her toned, lean legs, she towered over me, making her closer to Collin’s level than mine. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Oh, right,” I said, finding a smile and plastering it on my face, then hugging tighter to Collin for comfort. “He mentioned a secretary. Briefly.”
She didn’t flinch at my cutting remark like I’d secretly hoped she would. Collin, cheerfully oblivious, didn’t notice any tension between us. “Are you done for the day? I thought we could go to dinner before I have to get back to the convention. Have a favorite spot?”
“There’s a chic little café a couple of blocks west that has the most divine pastries. Or, I’ve been wanting to try some of the pizza at Giorgio’s. I hear it’s legendary.”
“Lead the way,” Collin said.
I leaned my head on Collin’s shoulder, wishing we were alone but grateful to be with him, even if Jill was our third wheel. “How is—”
“Ruby, who are these beautiful people?” Kiki strolled up beside me and linked her elbow around mine. I was sure that woman could materialize out of thin air.
“Oh, hey Kiki. I thought you were recording with Troy.”
She waved her hand and adjusted her wooly coat on her shoulders. Her hair, which had been varying shades of pink only a few days ago, was now platinum blond, bordering on white. I imagined she liked to keep Casey busy with frequent hairstyle changes. Matching her outfit to her hair, she stood out like a beacon in the sea of dreary charcoal and black winter that passed around us.
“I wasn’t feeling it. Can’t force genius.”
Jill had been entirely unimpressed with me, but the moment Kiki graced us, she was could barely contain herself. “Kiki Loveless? What luck! I can’t believe I have the honor of being in your presence!”
“I know,” Kiki said simply. Jill introduced herself, bobbing up and down on her heels and clapping her fingertips lightly when Kiki agreed to an autograph while I ignored the fact that Jill hadn’t asked for mine. Technically, in the eyes of a majority of the population, I was still a nobody. Fishing through her crocodile skin satchel for a notepad, Jill handed it to Kiki, then masterfully posed for a selfie with her, pulling Collin into the photo.
“This’ll look great for StarTech. We’re already rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous,” Jill said, showing Collin the picture. I peered around his shoulder, and saw Jill, Kiki, and Collin looking like they were posing for a magazine cover. I caught a glimpse of myself in the upper left corner of the picture. My face was screwed into an unattractive grimace and my eyes were half closed. “I’ll just crop this a bit,” Jill said happily, cutting me out completely. “There! It’s posted.”
Kiki turned her attention to Collin. “Ruby, is this your beau?”
With Jill’s predatory gaze on us, I clasped my hand with Collin’s and asserted, “Yes. This is my boyfriend, Collin.”
Collin reached out to shake her hand and received the same air kisses she’d given to Troy instead. Slightly bewildered but immensely amused, his eyes twinkled. Looking down at me, he winked ever so slightly. My heart swelled with adoration. In the middle of a crowded city, such a simple gesture from Collin had incredible power over me, making me feel like the most desirable woman on the planet.
“So, where are we going?” Kiki asked, unconcerned that she hadn’t been invited. In Kiki’s mind, she was always invited.
“I was going to take Ruby out to dinner before I had to go back.” Collin glanced at his leather and silver wristwatch and frowned. “I’ve only got about an hour.”
“Come,” Kiki said, flicking her fingers to indicate we should be following. The rest of us fell into step with her, no questions asked. If anyone knew the city and the best places to eat, it was her. Stuck walking behind Jill, I noticed that even in heels, she basically glided down the sidewalk like a seasoned runway model. I smirked at the thought of pushing her from behind, just to see her fall, and kept my hands tucked tightly by my sides to prevent myself from acting on my childish impulses. Side by side with Kiki, Jill gave us a millisecond of privacy while wrapped up in an interview with Kiki.
“You look…different,” Collin remarked as we strolled along, letting the distance between us and Jill and Kiki grow. He readjusted his grip on my hand, winding his fingers between mine and sticking both our hands into the pocket of his wool overcoat.
“Different good or—?”
“Different good,” he quickly assured me. “Your hair looks lighter.” He fingered a lock of hair just behind my ear, then let his fingertips brush along my earlobe and down my neck. He stole a quick but passionate kiss while Jill blabbed on to Kiki. Involuntarily, I shuddered from the tingle it sent through my body.
“Harper Music is particular about how it brands its musicians.”
Looking quizzically, he asked, “They’re not going to change you so much you’re unrecognizable, are they?”
“I doubt it. Though they have been very…” I paused while thinking of how to best phrase my thoughts, “tenacious with their preening, but no one’s said anything about plastic surgery. Not yet, anyway. Besides, you’re one to talk. A new haircut and a sharp new suit?”
“You like it?” Collin asked, smoothing the wrinkles out of his tie with a few strokes of his hand. “The company paid for it all. Jill picked them out for me.”
Instantly, I liked the suit a lot less.
Dinner was all too short. Kiki had led us to a low-key Indian restaurant where she must have been a regular; no one seemed to care she was who she was. They seated us immediately and Kiki ordered enough food to feed an army. I wanted to eat, but a knot twisted in my stomach. I tried to brush it off, telling myself it was the curry, but that nagging little voice in my head about had a meltdown every time Jill brushed her manicured claws on Collin’s arm. Why did she keep touching him so much?
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’ve got to get Collin back to the convention,” Jill said out of the blue. Judging by the pleased look on her face, she was anything but sorry.
Collin gave me a brief peck on the lips before Jill scooted him out the door, waving over her shoulder. “Thank you so much, Kiki for joining us for dinner. Ruth, it was fantastic to meet you,” she chirped, her voice upbeat but ingenuine.
“Likewise,” I said with a fake smile so big my cheeks hurt. Two could play that game. I held my smile, twiddling my fingers at Collin as I watched him being towed away by Jill.
“Did she just call you Ruth?” Kiki asked, an amused smile turning up the corners of her lips.
With a great, defeating sigh, I dropped my head onto the table and fought the sting of unshed tears that swam in my eyes. Kiki grabbed my shoulder and shook with surprising force. Begrudgingly, I sat up and pushed the feral bits of hair from my face and ran my napkin under my nose for good measure.
Kiki said, looking me squarely in the face, “Ruby, if you want to keep Collin, you’ve got a fight on your hands.”
Chapter Fourteen
Brevity seemed to be all I could get out of anyone lately. First Collin, then Vanessa. She was back at school for her final semester and had flown out to enjoy the social aspect of her father’s newest company for the weekend before heading back. That girl would travel anywhere for a good party. Before meeting Antonio in Boston that evening as promised, she showed up bright and early on Saturday, banging on my door and startling me awake.
“You realize after today, I refuse to be seen with you in these clothes,” she said as I pulled a sweatshirt over my head.
I rolled my eyes and retorted, “I’d hate to be a blemish on your social status.”
Vanessa rocked back on one foot and planted her fists on her waist. “You know what I mean, Ruby. You are a starlet now. People will be critiquing and judging and crit
icizing every little thing you do and if they don’t like what they see, they’re not going to care what you sound like and that will translate to crappy sales.”
I slouched a bit, knowing she was right. “You sound like Wanda.”
“I don’t know who Wanda is, but I like her.”
“The one who inflicts the scourge of beauty on me,” I grumbled, “Let’s get this over with.”
I hid my unsightly outfit under a knee length down feather coat of which Vanessa thankfully approved. All morning, Vanessa scoured the racks, piling clothes onto my outstretched arms, then making me model them so she could decide whether or not to nix them. I filled her in about Jill, my pining after Collin and wishing we weren’t a million miles apart, the anxieties that haunted me, wondering if I’d be able to live up to Harper Music’s expectations, and in return, Vanessa offered concise advice, too focused on the clothes to really be hearing me. Still, spewing out all that was weighing on me was therapeutic. By lunch, my spirits were lifted, and I was dragging around my weight in outfits and shoes that I wasn’t sure I’d have the gall to wear. Some of the heels were pushing dangerous heights. I liked my flats, and if I was feeling particularly daring, kitten heels did nicely.
“I expect you to be wearing these gorgeous clothes the next time I see you. If I don’t, I’m going to come over and burn your old wardrobe so you have no choice.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed, saluting Vanessa smartly.
“You’re such a dork.”
“That’s why you love me.” Pulling out a beautiful but intimidating pair of chili pepper red heels, I honestly asked, “Do you really expect me to wear these? I’m envisioning myself in the hospital with a broken ankle.”
“So make sure you get in some practice. Then next time you see Jill, you’ll be on a level playing field.”
When a Star Falls (Stars Book 1) Page 11
