The last time I drove to the city my life had changed forever, I only hope that this trip results in change for the better.
Chapter Forty-One
REECE
“If you wanna work on your own Sean, you’re gonna have to get used to fronting the media and people on your own.” Sean unlocks his car, and we both settle in. I rub my stomach in a circle trying to ease the pain of that burger making its way through. “That wasn’t so bad. I just know there will be years of questions about this, that we’ll never really be free, you know.”
“We’ll sort this out once and for all this afternoon.” I pull out my phone and open a message to Madelyn.
All going as best it can. Have to do a press thing this afternoon. Will ring you when I know what we’re doing. Miss you.
The trip to the hotel was eerily relaxing. The monkey was well and truly off my back dealing with David. I would be stupid to think that this was going to be the last time I heard from him again. A sick sense of dread worked its way into my psyche, and I realised that I’m never going to be able to lower my guard to him. Sean pulls into the street, and there are people packing the entrance.
“Great more fucking paparazzi,” Sean says as he drives past the entrance and continues around the block.
“Get used to it, sunshine.”
“Just get on the phone and sort something out with Hannah. She will be able to get it sorted.”
I look over at him and shake my head. “Come on, we are two grown men. Surely we can sort this out. Pull over. We can do this.”
“Let’s just go to another hotel, tell Hannah we are going there and say that they misheard.”
I laughed at him again before turning to see that he wasn’t joking. “Sean. Are you … okay?”
“No. You used to do all this. Be the front man.”
I look over at him, and I can’t help the feeling of guilt taking over me. “I’m sorry if I took that from you. Have to admit that I’m the better looking for the cameras, though.”
“Ha. You dick.” The car rocks gently as Sean pulls into the valet area.
“Let’s get inside and then we can come up with a game plan.” The car door pulls open, and there’s a rush of people rushing to get to the car. I move towards the door and don’t stop 'til I’m at the front counter. Sean joins me as hotel security try and keep the reporters at bay.
“Hi there. Sorry about the crowd,” Sean starts. “We are here to have a press conference if you can fit us into one of your rooms and we would like to have two rooms for the night please.”
The receptionist seems a bit star struck and finally nods at Sean’s words and informs us that Hannah had called ahead and confirmed the room for us. Security is doing their best, but they are dealing with people thirsty for the scoop and bellowing out to get our attention. Sean slaps his hand on the counter in frustration before turning and walks over to the loudest of the vultures.
“Right. This is how it’s going to work. You, you and you,” he points to three of the reporters. “Get out. You’re causing a scene. You have been told that you will get a chance to ask your questions, but you persist in acting like tools. You are not permitted. The rest of you, calm it down.” Wow. The boy has balls, he doesn’t even care about the phones in his face recording every word. “Give us another two hours and you will have an all-access, no question off limits interview. Just please, have some respect for this establishment and be patient.”
The receptionist taps the counter with the two access cards. The tilt of her body doesn’t go unnoticed, and if I were the old me, I would have leered down her shirt that was gaping open and ask when her shift finished. The only shirt I want to be perving down is Madelyn’s. I turn my back to her and reach into my pocket to pull out my credit card.
“Charge it to this and can you organise some flowers for my girlfriend please,” I ask, putting emphasis on the girlfriend part. The smile dropped from her face but formed on mine. I have a girlfriend. I look over to Sean, who shakes the hand of a man wearing a shirt tagged as hotel security on the back. The reporters are herded into the formal hall, and there’s a scurry of hotel staff trying to set up the chairs. Sean strides towards the front door just as Hannah and Deni walk in.
“What kind of flowers would you like sent, sir?”
“Roses. A dozen long stemmed.” I give her the address of Trent’s pub and slide the three cards off the counter. With my credit card back into my pocket, I walk over to the group before passing over Sean’s room card.
“You handled that like a pro,” I tell him as Hannah and Deni make a beeline for us. Hannah smiles and plants a kiss on his cheek. “Let’s go sort out our plan. You and I have an interview to get to in about twenty minutes across town. They want an exclusive for the four o’clock news. Go freshen up, Deni’s getting some clothes delivered and come to our room when you’re ready. We’ll discuss it more when we drive over.”
I left Deni with Hannah and Sean while I hid out in my room. This television network has changed their whole show to cater for this exclusive interview. The door to my room hasn’t even shut properly before I start to strip off my clothes and jump in the shower letting the hot water wash the day away. I pull my worn clothes back on, and while I was waiting for the new clothes to arrive, I check my phone.
“Dammit,” I said when I realise I’d missed a call from Madelyn. I hit the redial button and hope I can catch her. I’m sure it’s going to go to her answering machine when it picks up.
“Hey,” she sounds down, and I’m ashamed to say that that tiny part of my ego hopes that it’s because of me.
“Hey. I thought I was going to miss you again,” I say with a laugh. “Where are you?”
I stop smiling at the snort she lets out. “I had to get out of town. You obviously haven’t seen the news. The place is crawling with paparazzi. Trent’s shifted all your stuff from your room into mine, but it was a close call.”
“Fuck. How the hell did…” I don’t even need to finish that sentence as I flop on the bed. “Fucking David. Geez, that man’s a cunt of a thing.”
I snatch the remote off the bed and turn the TV on. Sitting down slowly on the edge of the bed when I keep flicking through the channels to the one she obviously wants me to see. We are both clearly watching the same channel when David’s face flashes on the screen, we both groan at the same time. He looks livid. He shoved a journalist in the chest as he’s trying to get to his car. “I have no comment about those boys. They can go to hell where they belong. And as for Madelyn Worthrington – I knew she’d find some way to claw her way back into the spotlight.”
I hear Madelyn suck in a breath. “Fuck he’s an arsehole. I had to call the police.”
My blood runs cold at this revelation. “What happened?” I clench and unclench my fist as she tells me what happened. “Are you fucking serious? He could have run you off the road.”
“I know. That’s why I called the police. Unfortunately, this isn’t my first rodeo.”
Knowing that Madelyn would do anything to stay out of the spotlight, David’s words and actions piss me off too. I grab for the hotel pen and paper and start making notes about things I want to address, and Madelyn is number one.
“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” I say. I really don’t know what else to say.
“It’s not your fault. No actually, it is,” she laughs. “But this is not like before. I’m worried now that all that shits going to be replumbed.”
I grimace at the thought of her going through this all again, and it’s because of me. “They will dredge it up, but I’m going to do my best to deflect it.”
“So I take it the meeting went well then? I’m in two minds about landing on your doorstep. I don’t want to crowd you. I can stay in Dareton.”
My mind was already made up from the second she said she had to leave town. “No. I want you here with me Madelyn. You should have come with me originally. If you are here, at least I know that I can keep you out of the m
edia’s eye. I’m sorry this has been such a disruption. Trent must be fucking hating it.”
“Don’t mind Trent. He can hold his own. Trent’s told them it’s all booked out, but there are more of them coming by the hour. The thing is, I don’t think you need to worry about me. David’s not a person to take rejection well or quietly. He’ll be planning some kind of retaliation, you can bet your last pound on that.”
The panicked tone in her voice wasn’t lost on me. “I’ll handle it. I’m going to have a meeting now to see what kind of legal options we have to stop him from going to the media. Just don’t talk to any of those reporters.” I instantly feel stupid for saying it. “I know. I know. David was more than bloody over the moon when he found out you were my girlfriend.” For a word that used to cause me to choke, it slips out perfectly and feels right. Well, to me it feels right. Madelyn has gone quiet. “Madelyn?”
“I’m here,” she said in a quiet voice. “You told him I was your girlfriend?”
“You are, aren’t you?” I stop fiddling with the hole in my jeans at the knee and stand up straight. I didn’t even think to ask if she minded me telling others we were together. Another scissor kick to my ego. Why wouldn’t she want people to know we are together? “You wouldn’t like to be my girlfriend?” I brace myself for the letdown and wait for her to say that she’d changed her mind.
“I am. I was worried that all this attention might have you changing your mind.”
Oh, thank fuck for that. “No. If there’s anything I’m sure of, it’s you.” I’ve never put my heart on the line. There’s always been a very firm boundary around it and for that one terrifying moment of letting one of the walls drops, I thought she might have said no. If she did say no, I probably would have kept on asking. I told her about David’s grand plans to have a reality show with her appearing and I quickly backed up that I shot that idea to the ground. “I’m sorry that the place is crawling with them. I hate that they are after you. I hate it. They want me as the story, not you. I really want to say all this to your face. Are you going to be able to watch the interview?”
“I’ve had to cancel my shift at the store, and I’m halfway to the city.”
I clench my teeth when I hear that she’s not able to work. “I’m sorry, Madelyn. I never wanted this to happen. I didn’t want my life to affect yours.”
“It’s bound to happen. Do you have a game plan yet?”
Right on cue, there was a knock at the door.
“Hopefully, this is a change of clothes and I have to get going. We want to do an all access, no holds barred interview session so we can clear all this shit up and hopefully call off the dogs.” I made my way over to the door and looked through the peephole. Deni. I unlock the lock and push down on the handle. “Hi, Deni. Thanks for the clothes.” I hook my foot around the door to prop it open and hold my arm out for the bags.
“No problems. Hannah and Sean want to see you in five. You have to get going,” she said while turning on her heel, and calls over her shoulder. “You want to make the right impression with this interview, your future pretty much depends on what comes out of your mouth which will be broadcast to millions. Show them the real you. This new you is working well. Don’t be late, be tidy and good luck.” She doesn’t give me a chance to reply but then again, I don’t think she was telling me anything she wanted a reply to.
“All good?” Madelyn asks.
“That’s Deni. She’s David’s ex-secretary. She walked out with us. Well, Hannah offered her a job.” I realise that might not be what she’s asking about as I move my foot from the door. “You don't have to worry about her.”
Madelyn was silent down the line again. “I’m not. You just asked me to be your girlfriend. If you were getting women into your bed right after that, that’d be pretty low.”
“There’s only one woman I want in my bed,” I tell her as I lay my clothes on the bed. “I know this is going to sound sappy, but I know it’s only been a few hours, I really do miss you. I wish I could have asked you here with me.”
“Me too.”
“I was hoping that I could organise a car to take me back, now I don’t have to worry about that.”
“You’ve been up early and dealt with a lot today.” I smile at the sentiment and tell her that she has been too. “Is it wrong that I’m looking forward and both loathing the idea of having to do this interview? I’m going to set the record straight, and I’m going to call off the hounds. Drive safe and I’ll see you in a few hours. I’ll have a key organised for you.”
Madelyn laughs down the line. “Okay. Well, you go get your head in the game. Think before you speak and remember, you’ve got this. This is how you want to live your life now. You have a say in how your career is managed. I’ll see you soon.”
With a bolstered sense of confidence, I strip my jeans off and rip the tags off the new ones. As the waistband approaches my balls, my semi-hard cock bounces to life. “I’m telling you, you talking all ‘go get ‘em’ makes me all hard. And the thoughts of having you here with me tonight. Gonna have to take matters into my own hands before I go in front of the world’s media.”
Madelyn lets out of a soft laugh. “Yep, you pretty much are. Try and contain yourself 'til I get there in a few hours okay. You better go to your meeting. Good luck. See you in a bit.”
I drop the phone on the bed and move towards the hotel phone. Within a minute, I had the flowers being redirected back to my room rather than being sent to Madelyn. Thankfully the receptionist didn’t make a second attempt at trying to flirt with me. Within five minutes, I was sitting in Sean’s room while Hannah and Deni dished out what was going to happen.
“Well, for you, Reece, you have an interview across town. Don’t know how we got it but you are big news. Then you come back because my darling husband here did say no holds barred for this interview, so you want to make sure you have your answers sorted,” she said before turning her attention to Sean. “And you won’t want to reveal anything about our sex life, or you will be an ex-husband.”
We all laugh but quickly quieten when we all realise that just about any question could be asked. “Maybe if we started with a statement as to what happened with the band, what happened with management and plans for the future. Hopefully they will centre their questions about that.”
That’s what we are hoping for.
Chapter Forty-Two
REECE
Hope is for gamblers. The nerves have settled in. My fingers make the rolling motion despite there being no pick to roll. Hannah’s asked me so many times if I’m okay that I’ve lost count. I wipe my hands on my jeans again to try and dry the clamminess away. The nerves haven’t been this bad in a long time, and I hate this feeling. I feel like I’m walking to my doom, and I can’t get out of it now. I hear my name being spoken and it’s the host saying that the long-awaited and exclusive interview with Reece Ashton is coming up after the break.
Reaching for the waste paper bin to catch the burger I ate for lunch when I realise what I’m nervous about. It’s not the interview. It’s the person doing the interviewing. Jackson Worthrington. Another lesson learned, ask who is doing the interview. I can’t help to think that this is karma’s warped way of getting back at me or Hannah is an evil mastermind. I’m going with the former. I whip out my phone and fire off a text to Madelyn telling her that I’m actually scared as I shut down the phone, Hannah reappears by my side.
“Reece, I had no idea. I can cancel it if you like, tell them you are sick,” she sounds truthfully concerned. “I had a phone call asking for an exclusive with you for the afternoon news. I’ll find out what happened to the normal hosts.”
“It’s a bit late for all that,” I say as my stomach makes another turn.
“I’m sorry Reece. I will ring around and find out what’s going on. You’ve got this,” she says. “I know you do. By the way, saw an interesting tweet that you might need to explain.”
“Tweet? What did it say?”
“Let me grab it.” She hands her phone to me. ‘Reece is back, next step, to my arms’. “It’s by Happiness Handbags. Ring a bell?”
“Hannah, how many people have come out saying that I’m their boyfriend? I have no idea who this is.”
“Well, you need to know. It’s Caitlyn.” We stare at each other and Hannah’s expecting me to instantly know. Again, I’m drawing a blank. “Worthrington? Caitlyn Worthrington. Still no bells?” She waits for a beat before starting again, and I’m no further to connecting the dots. “The only time I recall us crossing paths with her was at a meet and greet about three years back. Within the next minute, you were both gone.”
“How do you remember all this stuff?”
Hannah reaches out and takes back her phone. “I remember all the times you left my husband to deal with stuff while you had your fill. That night David verbally abused Sean for having a girlfriend. Apparently he was meant to be off making out with rich girls in the office cupboard like you.”
The office cupboard! Some details come back to me. “I vaguely remember the location just not the person.” The image coming back clearer with each second. All we did was make out and cop a feel of each other. Hardly worth a mention and that explained why it was easily forgettable. “You’re going to have to give me a vowel to help solve the puzzle. Can you tell me what she looks like?”
The tone of disgust is not missed on me, “Reece? Seriously, you can’t remember who you slept with?”
“I didn’t sleep with all of them. I just made out with some of them.”
“Right, well it’s up to you if you want to talk about your relationship status, my suggestion, steer clear of it. They call it a private life for a reason.” I’m still trying to rack my brain with when I actually hooked up with Caitlyn. It was definitely just a pash and tickle. Even I know this looks bad and what looks worse is that I’ve hooked up with her sister. “You there Reece? I have a terrible feeling about this interview. Say you are sick and I’ll—”
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