Chapter 48
BIX
Walking through our suite, I try to resist the temptation to open the door to Slayer’s room.
But I’m too weak.
I enter his room and inhale the incense that still permeates it.
Then I force myself to walk back out and close it up again.
Forget him, I tell myself.
For a moment, I wonder if I should write a tell-all article about my weekend with a rock star. It would serve him right.
But in Sterling’s office that day, I probably signed some sort of waiver or NDA saying I’d never talk about my relationship with Slayer. Sterling will go to any length to protect himself and his star.
Suitcase in hand, I take the elevator down to Maurice at the concierge desk.
“Well, this is it...” I tell him.
“I hope you’ll visit us again,” says Maurice.
"I don't think it's in the cards," I tell him. "Could you please call me a taxi to the airport?”
“Of course, madam. But the hotel car is here, ready to take you.” He indicates a white Rolls-Royce just outside the lobby.
“A Rolls-Royce?”
“Yes,” he says. “Some of our guests demand it.”
“Oh, I’ve never been in a Rolls-Royce. Sure. That sounds good.”
He taps a little bell, and a bellman comes to take my suitcase.
I follow him out. But before I get into the car, I turn back to see Maurice waving goodbye, his hand on Toto’s collar to stop him from following me.
The Rolls-Royce is as delicious to sit in as it looks. This is a fitting end to my rock-star-girlfriend life.
The car purrs down the road. The chauffeur is a cautious type, and I’m glad for it. I couldn’t take any more drama after this morning.
The shower helped, but I still feel dirty. Used.
Not just by Carlos, but by Slayer, too. The way he treated me last night. And then having the gall to declare his romantic alliance with Valentina—when I was still his girlfriend.
Sure, it was a fake relationship. But he agreed to it. Sterling can’t be happy about this, can he? I hope he doesn’t think it’s my fault.
Just as we’re heading into the next town, my phone pings.
Where are you? the message reads. Then the phone lights up with a call.
“I’ve been calling you all morning,” Milo says when I answer. “The driver we sent to collect you says you weren’t at the hotel.
“Milo, I’m so sorry,” I tell him. “I should have called you first. I’m headed to the airport
“To the airport? Why?”
“Slayer doesn’t need me. You know that. You must have seen the front page of that paper today. He’s chosen Valentina. And unless you want your star to get in even more trouble for having a fiancée and a girlfriend at the same time, it’s best that I don’t show up.”
He sighs. “Since when do you believe tabloids? I thought you were savvier than that.”
“I saw it on the front page,” I protest. “They were kissing.”
“Haven’t you heard of Photoshop? He doesn’t love Valentina. That was just a PR ploy. Valentina’s not even here.”
I let that settle in.
“Slayer needs you right now,” Milo continues. “He’s in his dressing room totally freaking out.”
“Why?”
“Mrs. Tyson, Rafe’s mom, passed early this morning. I understand they were close.”
“Oh my God,” I say.
“The strange thing is...Rafe is taking it okay. It’s Slayer who’s falling apart. He’s closed himself off in his dressing room. We both know how strong he is, but something like this? He just can’t take it.”
"Are you thinking he won't go on?"
"I don't know, Bix. Sterling and I have never seen him this way."
“What do you want me to do?”
“Will you please come talk sense into him?”
I scoff. “What makes you think I have any influence over him?”
“I’ve seen the way he is with you. You’re different,” Milo says. “You told me you cared about him, so it’s worth it to come here and give it a try.”
“Okay.” I lean forward to speak to the driver. “Change of plans.”
The driver nods. “Maurice just phoned to tell me.”
I lean back against the seat, my heart breaking again—for Slayer.