Chapter 30
Skylar felt Damon squeeze her hand as they sat in Trenton’s office.
“I wish I had better news,” his friend was saying. “Your manager is still being held on battery charges, but the prosecutor wasn’t willing to even increase it to aggravated battery. The criminal harassment, unfortunately, is difficult to prosecute, as you have to prove the threats are clear, and the supposed gifts…” Trenton sighed. “A protective order was issued, which is enforceable across state lines if your manager comes after you again.”
“Former manager. At least I was able to fire his ass.” Damon’s eyes looked a little squinty. His head was still tender. He’d ended up diagnosed with a moderate concussion.
“I should have fucking killed him when I had the chance,” Skylar muttered.
Trenton raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“She’s joking.” Damon winced again, his hand moving to his head. “The Jimmy thing…” He trailed off. He’d told her while they’d waited in the hospital that he’d just felt sorry all around. The person he’d thought of as his friend had been even more insecure than he was, he’d said, and he hadn’t seen the signs at all. It was just like Mr. Sweetface to feel like it was all his fault for being what he saw as a bad friend. Sure, he’d been hurt, too, but all of it seemed unimportant to him. The way he acted did weird somersaults to her insides. “We’re actually here to see what you’ve come up with for Skylar.”
Skylar turned in her chair to stare at him. “You can’t seriously be worrying about me again.”
“Your issues are as important as mine.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Knowing what your options are is a necessary first step.”
“I’ve taken on Skylar as an official client, Dame. Unless she has you sign paperwork…” Trenton’s gaze moved to her.
Skylar hesitated. She trusted Damon, she knew she did, and it wasn’t like she was going to air details in front of Trenton, details that weren’t in the contract.
Damon had already risen from his seat. He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “No problem. I planned on waiting in the lounge.” There was no hesitation in his step as he left the room.
Damon had told her time and again—only what she felt comfortable telling him.
“I was able to obtain copies of your contracts, Ms. Reece,” Trenton said. “And I think I found a few options for you.”
She smiled at the use of her last name. She was only a one-name star and hadn’t heard it for a while. “It’s just Skylar. You can call me that.”
Trenton paused, but nodded with a smile. “I have a feeling we’ll see a lot of each other, even outside this professional relationship. Now, here, I’ve highlighted some phrasing that I want to go over with you.”
Her mind was reeling with jargon by the end of it, words that Trenton explained carefully and patiently, but it all boiled down to one thing. “So I can do this?”
“Yes. If you decide separating from Casemore Records is in your best interests, it can be done. There’s a cost, but—”
Skylar waved that away. “Money I’ve got.” Mandy could tell her exactly how much. Since she never spent any, it would be fine. “What about on their side? There’s another artist that’s supposed to have kind of a—” She swallowed, her throat going dry. “Well, a gag clause or something. So he keeps his fucking mouth shut.”
Trenton sat back in his desk chair. He studied her, and she shifted in her seat. “Are we discussing a nondisclosure agreement? There are many types of NDAs, and that is something we can pursue.” He pulled a notepad closer, raising the pen that he’d been using to help underline phrasing. “What specifically would you like in this agreement?”
“It doesn’t have to be detailed, does it?” Skylar reached for the copy of her contract that had been printed out. It didn’t have the language she had thought. Sure, it said she needed to agree to any interactions in writing, but nothing about nondisclosure or whatever. “Shit, was it never in here?” That was okay, she told herself as her head began to pound. It was probably only in Jack’s contract, since his father knew she’d never say a word. Only did they even have a contract together, since he was his son?
Trenton put down his pen. “Skylar? Would you like some water?” He was already getting up, moving to a mini fridge she hadn’t seen in the corner. He handed her a cold bottle, and she held it in her hands for a moment, taking a deeper breath. Trenton sat down beside her in the chair Damon had vacated.
His brow creased as he considered his words. He cleared his throat. “NDAs, outside of business purposes, can be difficult to enforce. If there is any type of illegal activity in the situation you’re concerned about, then the contract would be null and void even before the ink dried.”
“Oh, shit.” Skylar closed her eyes. Rape sure as hell was illegal, and there had also been drugs that night. “So nothing’s kept him quiet this whole time?”
“Not contractually, no, though if it was criminal…” Trenton let the word hang.
Skylar opened her eyes to study him. “Did Damon—” She bit her lip hard. No. She didn’t doubt him. Damon wouldn’t have run his mouth. “Never mind.”
“He wouldn’t break a confidence if you shared one with him,” Trenton confirmed. “Your face held a momentary expression, that was all. One I’m familiar with.”
“Great,” Skylar muttered. She was starting to give shit away herself.
“May I offer some unsolicited advice?” Trenton asked.
Skylar sighed. “Fuck, it can’t hurt.”
“The only way to escape this fear is to speak your own truth first. That removes any power you think he has.” He patted her hand and rose to move back behind the desk.
He was so fucking right, but even the idea of it terrified her.
Trenton sat, organizing the papers in front of him. “Would you like me to proceed with what I’ve outlined before?”
“Shit, yes. Expedited, if that’s possible.” She sat up straighter. “Oh, right, and can you whip up an employment contract between me and Mandy? I want my manager to be all official again so I can pay her.”
Trenton smiled. “That should be no problem. It’s sweet that you want to do right by her.”
Skylar frowned. “I’m not sweet. That’s all Damon.”
“Of course.” But the lawyer continued to grin at her in a way that she found annoying.
It was all wrapped up soon enough, and she and Damon returned to Jami’s digs, though technically Muscles was the one that owned the house. After everything that had happened, neither of them had wanted to return to the suite. Mandy had agreed to send both of their belongings over. The sooner Skylar could pay the best manager in the world, the better she’d feel.
It was still midday, so they had the place to themselves. She followed him into the guest bedroom.
“It’s too bad your head’s not up for any head-banging.” Skylar jiggled her eyebrows, and Damon laughed.
He lay on the bed. “I might be up for something less strenuous.” Only there were dark bags under his eyes.
“Shit, I was joking! Not that, you know, before, was bad or anything. Fuck, it blew my mind.” As Damon looked on, she tried to find the words. “I wanted—” She bit her lip. How fucking sappy did she have to be, admitting to just wanting to snuggle.
Damon held out his arms. “Come here,” he murmured.
She didn’t hesitate. Curling against him felt way too damn right, and his hands slid into her hair, working on tension she didn’t even know she had. “Damn it, I should be doing this to you.”
“You had a lot to think about today. Besides, doing this soothes me too.”
The quiet that fell was only interrupted by the steady heartbeat under her ear.
Skylar found for once that she didn’t want to avoid something. “What’s up with your tour? You were supposed to perform today, weren’t you?”
“I cancelled the first two performances, which was hard, but the fans have all supported it. The interview I did yesterday helped.”
“Because you told them fucking everything.” Skylar hadn’t been surprised. Damon didn’t seem to see a weakness in being vulnerable. He wasn’t even perturbed that she refused to say she loved him back. “I mean, except about us. You didn’t admit to us being a couple.”
His fingers slowed. “Is it so wrong, wanting to keep my love between us for a little longer?”
She buried her head in his chest a little tighter. “Don’t say it again!”
Damon laughed. “I’m working on the theory that the more I tell you, the more you’ll accept it. You are very loveable, Skylar.”
She still couldn’t quite figure out why he thought that, but hearing him trying to convince her would only embarrass her.
Damon’s hands slid to her back, holding her close. “What about your tour? When do you have to leave?”
“With all this legal shit, I told Mandy to cancel the whole thing. I wasn’t the primary performer anyway, so it’s not a huge issue. Besides—” She bit her tongue. Fuck no, she wasn’t going to say it.
“Besides… what?” he asked.
She rolled away. “Nope. I’m done.”
Damon wasn’t one to hold her in place, but he sat up on the bed as she scrambled to her feet, his face confused. “What’s wrong?”
He was going to give himself another headache if he scrunched his forehead like that. Or worse of one, she remembered, still seeing the lines of his exhaustion. She groaned, leaning over him again.
“Besides, this way I can stay with you. Happy now? I’m so fucking sappy.” She kissed his suddenly grinning mouth as she climbed back on the bed. The kiss drew out, their mouths clinging. She pulled away first. “Cool it, sweet face.” Her hand hovered over his cut, which had needed stitches. “No getting carried away.”
“Are you sure, Skylar?” Damon asked. “Your career is as important as mine. I’m happy, I can’t lie about that, but we’re both performers. We can manage long distance.”
“I told you. I’m breaking contract with my label. This is best.” She tucked her body against his. Almost all the time over the past couple of days, and especially while she rested with him, music had played in her head, a kind that she never thought she’d want to make. It was all filled with emotion, and not just shouted anger at the world. “I kind of need time to create. When all this bullshit is finished, I want to drop a new album. Something for me.” Specific lyrics pulled at her, ones she was almost terrified to write down but that wouldn’t go away.
“I can’t wait to hear it,” Damon said.
“Oh, you’ll wait. Ask Mandy about how I get when I’m deep in creative mode.” Skylar snorted. “I bet you won’t be so quick to say you love me after you experience it.”
Damon hugged her to him. “I just heard you acknowledge that I love you.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Skylar’s arms wrapped around him. “Go to sleep. You look like crap, all exhausted like that.”
He laughed again, the sound echoing inside her from where it vibrated under her ear.