Chapter 43
Alara
S o, that just happened, and the mixture of emotions is a bit overwhelming. Of course, I'm excited. Who wouldn't be? I just also happen to be slightly terrified.
Everything is surely going to change. People are going to treat me differently. They're going to assume I slept my way here, and they're not completely wrong. I mean, Nix says he wanted me on tour with them regardless, but his feelings for me had to play even the smallest part in the decision.
Rayne is going to lose her shit. I flip the phone on my lap over, deciding it’s better to tell her now than wait.
Me: It's official. Papers are signed.
Rayne: Celebrate with an orgy.
Oh my god. I choke back a laugh, flipping the phone over immediately so nobody can see. My little outburst attracted attention, and now everyone is looking at me. "Sorry," is all I manage to say while Glen huffs with disapproval .
"We will do the press release first thing tomorrow morning. Do you have a decent photo of yourself that you can email me?"
I blink up at Glen, dumbfounded. Photo? Press release?
"Yeah. I can send you something." I nod.
"Great. I'll get the announcement typed up this afternoon so it's ready to go once I have the photo. People are going to be curious about you. Maybe you could agree to an interview or two?" He tilts his head.
"We can all do one together," River suggests.
"Yeah. I like that.” Glen nods. “Although, you should keep whatever physical activities the five of you participate in to yourselves. It won’t help rumors."
"Chill the fuck out, Glen," Ender snaps.
See. I knew people would think I’m fucking them all. I sigh. I'm getting the vibe that Glen isn't a fan of me, and I can’t blame him.
Glen raises his hands. "It was just a suggestion. The tour starts next month. Just be at the airport when you're supposed to be. I really don't want to have to try and track anyone down."
"He's alluding to me." Ender sneers.
"If the boot fits." Glen shrugs. "You have twenty-five shows. Fourteen cities. Three months."
"Okay." I nod, making a mental note of all of this.
Twenty-five times on stage singing for thousands of people. All of this to sing twenty-five times.
"You will need to prepare six to ten songs, depending on how long they are. "
"Ten." My eyes go wide, and my head whips over to Nix. "You told me six."
"It's a thirty-minute set. If that's six songs for you, then that's what it will be. You have to be up there for a minimum of thirty minutes and a maximum of forty. We can start recording your back tracks in the studio tomorrow or whenever you're ready." Glen’s bored tone pulls me back in.
"Okay, six to ten songs and recording tomorrow," I repeat.
"We can take turns going with you to the studio," River chimes in.
Glen clears his throat. "Studio time will only qualify as bonding time if the whole group is together."
"Bonding time?" I have no idea what he's talking about.
"Yeah. It's part of the contract. You have to actively bond with the band once a month. I don't care what you do. Go shopping. Go on a hike. Watch a movie."
"Did the old opener have to do that, too?" I blurt out, without thinking.
"Does it matter? It's in your contract," Glen snaps. "I just need to get through the last few important things before my next meeting, so if you could keep from interrupting, that would be helpful."
Smug bastard. I don't like this guy. I should be allowed to ask questions.
"We will assign an official security team to work with you, as opposed to the private company that is currently assisting you. The new team will coordinate with Nowhere Forever’s and report back to me with any issues. Oh, that reminds me. What name will you be performing under?"
"My name," I clap back. There's no need to make anything complicated. "Alara Grey is fine."
Glen nods, writing something down on the piece of paper, when Nix leans down to whisper in my ear, "You're doing great."
I smile, grateful for his reassurance.
"Compensation will be offered in the form of a weekly stipend.
This will be limited, with the remaining lump sum of the funds offered to you upon the completion of the contract.
Should you need additional funds prior to that, it may be requested in writing, but I think it's safe to assume you will not need any more than two thousand dollars a week.
" Glen's words run together as I try to process them.
"Did you just say you’re giving me two thousand dollars a week?" I try to keep the shock from my tone.
I saw the total amount of compensation noted in the contract, but I didn’t think I would see any of that until after we finished the tour. Maybe I should have finished reading those damn papers.
"You will make any necessary arrangements needed to move in with the band, immediately."
"Wait, what?" My eyes go wide.
"It's all in the contract." He rolls his eyes.
Yeah, well, I didn't get to read that part because I was being rushed. I don't say it out loud, but the way he's talking to me is pissing me off. He's acting like I had months to review the document when he knows damn well I didn’t finish.
"You will be required to live with them for the duration of the contract."
"What?" My brows furrow.
Live with them? I have to move in with them. What about my house?
"Again, Miss Grey, it's all in the contract."
"Obviously, I didn't read that part," I hiss, growing tired of his smart-ass remarks. If this man says the word contract one more time, I’m going to lose it. "Their apartment only has four bedrooms." I toss my hands up.
Glen just shrugs like it's not his problem. How the hell do they work with this guy?
"She can have my room," River suggests.
"Yeah, River and I will share a room. We spend every night together anyway," Lane agrees.
"Most of my things are already in his room. I can have the little bit of clothing I still have in mine moved out pretty quickly."
"Thank you." I offer the two of them a smile.
"See, no problem." Glen's fake grin makes me want to slap him in the face. "You can get all your things and get situated. The security team will coordinate moving whatever you need. Your first check will be produced for you tomorrow."
This is all a lot at once. I have money, but no need for it, because I don't get to live in my house.
Should I keep all my stuff there so I have somewhere to live after the tour?
Wait, what happens after the tour? Will it even be safe to live there?
What if there are a bunch of people who try to harass me to get photos or an interview?
"Calm down. We will help you," Lane says, placing a hand on my right shoulder.
I don't even know when he walked across the room.
"You're not in this alone." He’s more serious than usual. It’s… protective.
I take a deep breath, relaxing slightly until I realize there are three of them touching me at the same time. The warmth from Lane's hand protrudes down my shoulder, heating my body from the top as I become hyperaware of Nix's grip on my right thigh and Ender's leg pressing against my left.
"I–" I start and then stop briefly. "Would it be okay if I stayed at my house tonight and moved in tomorrow? That way, I can get everything I need. Nobody mentioned me having to move in."
"It's something I had added." Glen sighs, making me feel a little better about it. At least the guys haven't been lying to me.
"I don't see any issue with giving her the night," Nix jumps in.
"Fine. As long as the group agrees, one night is fine. If you don't have any more questions, I'm going to ask you all to leave. As I mentioned, I have another meeting." Glen leans back in his chair, crossing his arms in a way that makes his gut seem bigger than before.
Even if I did have a question, he wouldn't bother answering it. There's no point in wasting my breath .
Lane squeezes my shoulder, reminding me that he's there as Ender's leg moves, so he can stand. Lane's hand slides away around the same time Nix's does, and I find myself missing their touch. All of them. And now I'm going to have to live with them. This should be interesting.