Chapter 13
Richard
I popped two Excedrin tablets into my mouth, then quickly gulped it down with the scalding hot coffee on my desk.
But the burn in my throat had nothing on the throbbing happening in my skull caused by this fucking problem that’d been dropped in my lap when I was supposed to be spending the week with my boys.
One of the newly signed pop artists had been caught not only drunk driving but then assaulting three officers, running from the fucking scene through the woods, and then causing a fight in the holding cell once they finally got her to the station.
Her behavior was a breach of contract, and I was damn well fucking letting her go from Nightwork Records. I let a lot slide when it came to criminal behavior, but putting other people’s lives at risk by drunk driving? It was an immediate deal breaker for me.
But we still had to deal with the fallout of signing a controversial artist, and damage control was doing my fucking head in.
To think I had to leave my boys for this shit. That just pissed me off even more. After the morning Kalin had, he needed comfort and reassurance and a shit ton of cuddles. And I couldn’t fucking give him any of that because one of my artists went off her fucking rocker.
“What are we doing about Ansley?” the head of HR asked. She was in control of all contracts and would coordinate with the company attorney accordingly.
“Terminate her contract, effective immediately. She not only put herself at risk, but she put everyone on the road with her at risk.” I looked at Darwin.
“Release statements. Inform the public we do not condone this behavior and that Ansley’s actions do not reflect those of this record label or the other artists we have signed with us.
Had we known of her reckless tendencies before signing her, we would never have signed her in the first place. ”
Darwin nodded once, quickly jotting it down in his notebook.
“Right now, we focus on damage control. Clear this company of this mess.” I looked at Meghan, the head of the events department.
“Host a charity fundraising event—something that supports victims of drunk drivers and their families. I need it made clear what side we stand on.”
“Some may see that as some kind of fake attempt to save our asses,” Darwin warned me.
“And they can kiss my ass. Do you realize how many were just subjected to what Ansley did without consenting to it? It got blasted all over social media and the news. People are outraged. The least this company can do—the least I can do—is apologize for what I seemingly condoned. I have words to give, and I have money. I know money doesn’t fix all things, but maybe it’ll help some with whatever financial burdens they were left behind with when they lost their loved ones because of the reckless, careless actions of others. ”
Before I could continue, my phone began ringing on my desk. I frowned, reaching to grab it. I’d told my PA not to send any calls through until this meeting was over. If she was forwarding a call through, it had to be more important than this shit show I was eyeballs deep in.
“Hello?”
“Richard—” Kalin was panicking. I bolted upright in my chair, my fingers tightening around my phone. “I’m swarmed in the grocery store. There are reporters everywhere, and there’s so many fans, and Spike can’t help me because he can’t get through the crowd safely—”
I hurried to stand. “Hang on, little one. I’m on my way, okay? Are you somewhere safe?”
“The manager let me in her office,” he choked out. “I want to go home.” His voice trembled, breaking my heart. “Please hurry.”
“I’m coming. Let me call you back on my cell, okay? Just breathe, little one.”
I hung up, then snatched my cell out of my desk drawer, hurrying to type in his number.
“Meeting over. I have an emergency.” Then, I was out of my office, my phone to my ear.
“Kalin?” I asked when my boy answered. He sniffled.
“You’re doing so good. You haven’t passed out.
Just keep breathing. I’m on my way. What store are you at? ”
I hurried down the stairs, knowing the elevator would be too slow for my fucking tastes. My bodyguards, having sensed the urgency in my steps, were right on my heels, which I was thankful for. I usually didn’t use them, but they knew without me having to say a word when I needed them with me.
“Whole Foods,” he whispered, sniffling again. “It’s not far from your building.”
“I know.” I did all my grocery shopping there. “Why isn’t Spike with you, little one? I thought you two were shopping together.”
“We split up to different stores to get the shopping done faster. There’s a meat market he prefers. Something about it being—” he hiccupped—“fresher.”
“Where is he now?” I asked, needing to know if he was safe. I hoped like fuck he was.
“In the car. I told him I was calling you to come get me out of this shit.” He began blowing his nose. Thankfully, he didn’t sound so panicked anymore, and the shaking in his voice had quelled some. “I hate this.”
This was what I’d been afraid of—the media swarming my boys instead of me. What if one of them had hurt Kalin or Spike? What if Kalin had passed out while they were damn near trampling him to get statements?
So much could have fucking gone wrong.
“To Whole Foods,” I instructed the driver once I reached the car. One of my bodyguards must have called for the car for it to have been waiting on me.
“Sir, what’s going on?” Marco asked once we were inside the car and heading for the grocery store Kalin was trapped in.
“Kalin is trapped in Whole Foods. Reporters and fans decided to swarm him while he was shopping.”
He nodded once. “Spike’s whereabouts, sir?”
“In the parking lot in the car,” I told them.
“One of you please call him and tell him to meet me at the penthouse. I’m coming home with Kalin shortly.
” I focused back on my call with my boy.
“You hear that, little one? I’ll even have ice cream delivered, and we’ll binge out on unhealthy shit tonight. ”
He laughed softly. “That sounds really good. Chocolate?”
It was his absolute favorite flavor. I’d never buy him anything differently.
“Of course, little one.”
Within minutes, we were at the store, and I stayed on the phone with Kalin the entire time, keeping him calm and distracted as I told him about the mess with Ansley I’d had to deal with this morning.
“I’m coming in, okay? Stay with me.” Then, I angled out of the car, ignoring the flashing of cameras and reporters shouting in my face.
Fans screamed out confessions of love and their excitement over my relationship with Kalin and Spike.
Marco and Henry kept everyone off me as I strode through the crowd and into the store.
“Manager’s office,” I snapped at one of the cashiers, who was staring at me with wide eyes.
“Through the double doors in the back left of the store. First door on the right.”
I headed in that direction, and the moment I walked into the office, Kalin rushed to his feet and crashed into me. I stuffed my phone into my pocket, then gripped the back of his thighs, lifting him. He wrapped his arms and legs around me, tucking his face into the curve of my neck.
I looked at the manager, who was sitting silently on the other side of the desk.
“Thank you,” I told her. She nodded once.
I rubbed Kalin’s back, dropping a kiss to the top of his head.
He was beginning to tremble in my arms, no doubt beginning to crash.
“Let’s get you home, little one.” Then, I turned and headed for the exit, breathing easier now that Kalin was safe and sound in my arms.