Chapter 19
The after gig party had moved from the club back to Chris’ privately owned house, or rather, mansion.
There was a huge canopy stretched out over the patio area which was accessed via the three sets of French doors that had been thrown wide open.
The well manicured lawns sprawled beyond the flagstones, lined with shrubbery that drew your eye down the perfect gardens.
Winding paths ran around the edge, leading to a summer house.
They had contract caterers provide a mammoth amount of food, and waiting staff drifted around the house and gardens with trays of champagne cocktails and miniature food.
There was a full bar in operation in the office at one end of the luxurious hallway offering a range of drinks.
Only the major players from the relevant companies were left, along with the band and the invited few.
Grace felt giddy at being in the middle of all it; never in a million years would she have imagined ending up here.
Glancing around the house she took in her surroundings, catching Izzie and Ben holed up in one corner looking very cosy together.
She smiled as Izzie caught her eye, offering her a reassuring grin.
Grace returned her attention to Alex as he guided her across the vast space, weaving in and out of people as he made his way across to Max and Jez.
“So did you enjoy your own private little rendition of his song?” Jez quizzed her as Alex talked to Max. “I have to say you must be pretty special to get him veering off track.”
As she opened her mouth to reply Alex jumped in before her. “She is. What’s wrong with you? You’ve been shitty all night.” Grace watched the heated exchange between the two men, feeling a little uncomfortable to say the least.
“Me? What’s up with me? Hey I’m not the one that decided to stir up shit with Chris just to please this month’s piece of ass.” Jez sneered at Grace as he lifted his bottle to his mouth, draining the remaining liquid. Max tried to stifle a grin without much success.
“Oh, is someone jealous, Jez? Do you not have a hot piece of ass to show off to? I suppose that’s the benefit of fronting the band though.
Alex can kind of run the show whereas you, you’re just stuck at the back, hiding behind your drum kit.
” Grace held her own, not needing anyone to fight her battles for her.
Alex stood next to her smiling as he saw Jez squirm under the retort.
Max snorted with laughter, earning a shoulder punch from the heavily muscled drummer.
“Yeah, we don’t wanna upset your Chris now, do we?
You are so far up his fucking arse. C’mon, babe, I need a drink.
” He grasped Grace’s hand as he knuckle bumped Max.
He fought to suppress a smile when he saw Grace wink at Jez over her shoulder as they walked away from the pair.
Lowering his lips to her ear he whispered to her, making sure she was okay, which she assured him she was.
It would take more than a drunken asshole to upset her.
She was here to support him. The only thing that bothered her was that she had idolised Jez for years.
Realising what a prick he was had been a blow but nothing she would lose sleep over.
Grace spent the next hour making small talk with men in suits as some of them quizzed her, working out that she had been the one standing in the wings.
The one he had sung to so beautifully. God, she would remember that for the rest of her life.
If this dream ended today at least she’d have the memory of that.
“Babe, I gotta go talk to Chris for a minute. Will you be okay with Izzie? I really won’t be long, I promise.”
Kissing her softly he left her with his sister as he walked out of the room and headed down to the makeshift bar in search of his manager.
He wanted to make sure the meeting he had requested had been organised.
He heard Ben fall in step beside him, “Is this what I think it is? You’re gonna tell him you want out, aren’t you? ”
“Ben, the contracts are up for renewal. I just wanna make sure that I work in a lot of down time for me. The endless fucking touring is killing me. Anyway, since when did Jez turn in to a fucking tosser? You should have heard him with Grace earlier; I had to really rein it in.” They stood outside the office that housed the makeshift bar, both leaning on either side of the hallway mirroring each other’s stance, one foot firmly rooted to the floor, the other leg bent at the knee and foot rested against the wall, their hands firmly tucked into their jeans pockets.
“You only just noticed? He’s always been a prick.
You’re just usually zoned out to it. No offence but your head’s not been in the game recently.
He’s probably done a line or two as well as drunk his own body weight in booze.
” Ben rubbed his hand along the back of his neck.
“Look, just take it easy on Chris. He can negotiate a good deal if we keep him on side.”
Alex smirked at him, suddenly not understanding what this hold was that their manager seemed to have over the guys.
He knew Izzie had never liked him, she could barely mention his name without shuddering.
He was sure the feeling was mutual but that wouldn’t be a problem for much longer.
Izzie was no longer his PA after tonight. Tomorrow she was his sister again.
“Right.” Holding his hand aloft, Alex high fived Ben before tapping on the door and disappearing inside to speak to the arrogant son of bitch.
Ben made his way back down to the room where he had left Izzie with Grace.
Lifting a glass from the tray of a passing waiter with one hand, he collected something that resembled a miniature burger topped with green leafy fronds with the other.
Scanning the room his eyes searched for Izzie.
The amount of bodies had dwindled but he still couldn’t see her.
Deciding that the pair must have stepped outside he made his way towards one of the open doorways.
His eyes searched the sea of people swarming around the grounds; he still couldn’t see her.
Strolling across the lawn he paused outside the hired in toilet bays – so over the top, why they couldn’t piss in the house toilets he didn’t know – hovering for a few minutes, waiting to see if the girls emerged from there.
That proved fruitless. Scanning the area again he realised he hadn’t seen Jez or Max either.
His pulse instantly spiked. He knew the pair of them together was bad news but even more so when they’d downed who knows what.
His need to find the girls became more desperate.
Even both the girls together were no match for the two drunken men.
Alex jogged across the lawn, tense from his brief encounter with Chris.
He had spotted Ben wandering around outside, presuming his girlfriend would be in the same vicinity.
“Hey, where’s Grace? I can’t see her inside.
” Alex ran his eyes over Ben’s face, the worry immediately apparent.
If he was worried something must be really wrong.
The guy was so laid back he was virtually horizontal.
“I can’t find her or Izzie, but more importantly I can’t find Jez or Max either. Al, we need to find them. Now.” The normally serene man now appeared to be stressed out; the beads of sweat running down Ben’s temples gave him away.
Alex’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw working from side to side. He now scanned the grounds looking for his sister or Grace.
“They’re not out here, man. Believe me I’ve looked. C’mon.” Ben grasped Alex’s shoulders, turning him and almost shoving him into action, pushing him towards the open doorway and back inside.
The distraught pair didn’t communicate, both still scanning the room as they walked through the main room before crossing the hallway to the bar area.
Ducking his head inside, Alex ran his gaze over the room which was almost empty.
It was way past midnight, the majority of the guests had started to drift off leaving mainly the band and a few record company or management people floating around.
The familiar feeling of fear settled over him now; his arms were beginning to tingle.
He could hear the swishing in his ears growing louder.
Grace would know how uptight he would be if she hadn’t stayed where he left her.
She wouldn’t have wandered too far; something was seriously wrong.
Lifting his fist he punched the door frame as he exited the bar.
Standing in the hallway Ben ran his hands through his hair in frustration. It was then that Alex heard his sister’s voice. Loud and angry.
“Max, get out of my fucking way right now!” Her voice was shaky, almost hysterical.
Not stopping to make sure Alex was with him, Ben shot off at a startling pace in the direction of her voice.
As he neared the end of the hallway he heard Max laughing.
Rounding the corner at the end, her voice was louder now, but more worryingly Ben heard someone slapping at skin.
He prayed to God that it was Izzie hitting Max and not the other way around or he may just do time for this.
They took the stairs two at a time, both of them desperate to get to her now.
As they neared the top Izzie came into view.
She was pushing at Max who appeared to be standing guard outside a door.
“Fucking move, you bastard!” she yelled as she pummelled his chest with her fists.
The man remained sturdy, his legs spread, keeping his balance as the poor girl tried in vain to move him.
Reaching out he grabbed Izzie in a bear hug, gripping her arms to her sides, immobilising her.
“Get your fucking hands off of her right now!” Ben roared as he ran full pelt towards them. Max dropped his arms instantly, holding them aloft in submission. Izzie, seizing the moment, stepped to the side just out of Max’s reach.
“Whoa, calm down. I’m just giving Jez some privacy. Nothing to worry about.” Max backed off, his eyes growing wide. Ben landed one almighty punch roughly on the stunned man’s jaw causing his head to snap sharply to the right.
“Ben, it’s Grace. He’s got Grace. I couldn’t stop him. Max wouldn’t let me past.” Izzie sobbed the words out.
The normally relaxed man growled in Max’s direction before pulling Izzie into his arms, holding her tightly.
Alex’s vision blurred, fury ran through his veins.
Scanning Izzie quickly, making sure she was safe in Ben’s arms, he turned his attention to the door in front of him.
Trying the door knob he wasn’t surprised to find it locked.
Taking a step backwards he steadied himself before lifting his foot and ramming it into the door.
It took two hefty blows before the door flew open.
The sight that greeted Alex almost caused him to vomit from the anger surging through him now.
Hearing the roar that escaped his mouth sent Ben cold.
“Wait here. Do. Not. Move.” Ben warned Izzie before he entered the room behind Alex just in time to take in exactly what was happening. He watched as Alex grabbed Jez yanking him away from Grace with such force he that he flew backwards across the room.
“Get her and Iz out of here. NOW!” Alex screamed, his focus now completely on the man that lay dazed on the floor with his jeans now around his knees.
Gripping the shirt of his so called friend he dragged him upright prior to raising his fist and slamming it squarely into the face that would no longer taunt him.
Grace stood cowering in the corner like a naughty child.
Her shirt hanging off of her shoulders revealing the lacy bra she had bought that morning.
Bruises were beginning to bloom on her wrists where Jez had obviously gripped her tightly.
Her breath came in heaving sobs, exhaustion from fighting against the huge man finally hitting her.
Turning her into his arms, he saw the black streaks running down her face as the silent sobs wracked her body.
The realisation that the ordeal was over enveloped her.
Ben’s heart was filled with rage and sadness at the same time as he watched this delicate young girl tremble, her eyes wide in shock as though she had not registered what had actually happened.
Ben moved in front of her, blocking her view of Alex and Jez.
Lifting his hand he gently repositioned her shirt back over her shoulder before steering her from the room, all the time putting his body between the terrified girl and the fight.
As they emerged from the room he handed her over to Izzie.
Removing his jacket he wrapped it around Grace as she continued to shake violently.
“There’s a car outside, Iz. Take Grace to Alex’s place, not his mum’s.
I’ll come get you from there. Go.” He watched briefly as the girls, huddled together, walked down the stairs.
Taking a deep breath he re-entered the room, although quite who he was going in to protect was unclear as he watched his friend pound his fists into Jez as he cried monstrous tears.