Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
“What do you mean we can’t postpone?” I snap into the phone. I called our management team back in New York after the end of the show in Birmingham. Woke all their asses up in the middle of the night in order to figure out a way for the four of us to get a day off.
We need more, but we have at least another week of the tour.
“We just need an extra twenty-four hours. Insurance will cover the costs, and we’ll issue an official statement.”
“Reis, can you imagine the backlash? You guys signed up for this tour and now you’re skipping shows?
No, that’s unacceptable,” Bryn, the head of our label, says strongly.
His words and tone leave no room for discussion.
“The contract is very clear. There may only be a cancellation if there’s a band member’s illness.
An illness they are unable to physically be on stage for. ”
“This isn’t fucking fair!” I roar into the phone, snapping like a rubber band under tension. Rationally, I know I shouldn’t be yelling, but my emotions are frayed. I just need to get to her. I need to see her.
“I understand there’s something going on, Reis, I get it. But our hands are legally tied. I’m sorry.” Bryn actually sounds genuine and I run my hand through my hair.
“Yeah, thanks, Bryn. We’ll be in Cardiff tomorrow.”
“Good luck. If it makes you feel any better, sales are off the charts because of this tour. Not only that, but there’s a bunch of press that want to interview you guys after you get back. I’ll pass the information along to Louis.”
“Don’t. He’s been fired. Let go immediately. I don’t want him knowing, being informed, or knowing anything about us from here on out.”
The pause is awkward. Heavy. I know Bryn liked Louis, but I’m not above playing the ‘it’s him or us’ card.
“Alright, who is filling in?” Bryn asks stiffly.
“Paul. He’s worked with us for a while now, he worked directly with Louis and knows the ropes. More than that, we know we can trust him.”
“Understood,” Bryn says. “Okay, well, I’ll get Paul the interview information and I’ll talk with you after the tour.”
I agree, bidding goodbye and hanging up the phone before throwing my phone against the bed, watching it bounce and fall to the ground.
“Fuck!”
“I take it, it's not good news.” Adam walks in through the connecting doors between our rooms. He looks haggard, dark circles under his eyes. The spark that’s usually pushing us along on a tour is gone, his already-sharp jawline a little sharper with how he’s clenching his teeth in frustration.
“We can’t cancel Cardiff. We have to wait to get her until the tour's over,” I explain softly, running a hand down my face. I know they’re not going to be happy about it—fuck, I’m furious about it. But legally, we can’t.
“This is such bullshit,” he sneers.
“I know.”
“She’s in that shit town, thinking we abandoned her.”
“I know.”
He paces angrily in front of me. “She thinks we don’t want her anymore.”
My jaw clenches. “I know.”
“Reis, she thinks we don’t love her anymore. ”
“I fucking know, okay!” I explode, my hands pulling at my hair.
“What the hell do you want me to do, Adam? We can’t leave!
If we leave, the label could drop us. We could lose everything, and while I don’t really give a shit unless she’s with us, she wouldn’t want that!
You know that. She wouldn’t want us to throw a grenade on our lives. ”
“I can’t… I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“We can’t. Not yet. I’m going to keep watching her socials, I want you and Markus to call her business partner. Let’s get everyone around her and get intel. Then…then, the moment we’re finished here, we go directly to her.”
Adam flops back on my bed dramatically. “I don’t fucking like this.”
“Neither do I.”
“I’ll make some calls.” Adam stands up and walks out as I sigh frustratedly.
It’s going to be a long fucking week.