Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
H e’d wake her, talk with her a little longer. See what she truly wanted.
Dylan’s phone buzzed quietly, and he tilted the screen away.
Bax sent a message to the group chat. Texk has committed to more interviews for each of us this week. Did you see the list of publications?
Yep. Texk was using them so the journalists didn’t print a story about their trainees. The media didn’t really care that the two main vocalists had gone out on a double date. However, for them to not release the story and photos, they wanted access to bigger stars. Blackmail in the form of increased circulation. Looking forward to that , he replied.
Rain typed next. I’m working on choreography with the trainees. He’d drawn the short stick of explaining to a group of talented eighteen-year-olds that women may have ulterior motives when wanting to be around them. That had been them ten years ago.
During their call last night, Kane had been certain the guys’ dates had sold those photos to the press. He was also confident Texk monitored their texts and had told them to conceal their real thoughts around this issue unless they were in person or on private lines.
Tae ended the chat. I’ll join them for a few gigs. Tae’s feedback would level them up.
Their combined efforts would resolve the situation. Dylan exited the chat and looked out at the Seoul city lights. He knew Paris should stay in Paris. Dylan hissed out a breath at his maturity. The right decision sucked.
His time with Mallory had been a surprising gift. The promise of more had sent his imagination whirling. That euphoria being stolen from him was both annoying and on some level expected, because that was how this last year had gone.
Stop .
He wasn’t a delusional eighteen-year-old who thought he could have it all.
Their chemistry probably wasn’t even as hot as his imagination was making it seem. His aching body told him he was lying to himself.
Mallory probably wasn’t as clever, or witty, or easy to be with as he’d thought. She’d simply spoken English in a foreign country when he’d been alone. She’d entertained him while others around him demanded. He wasn’t into her.
He was really lying now. But he rolled with it.
Mallory blinked against the bright winter sunlight filtering into the trendy Seoul café. She had arrived early for her meeting with the Texk assistant Sunny who had a real estate license.
Mallory loved hotels, but after cooking with Dylan’s mom and sister, she’d spent the whole next day craving some of her mom’s meals. She was no chef like her cousin Violet, but she had a few dishes she loved to cook. The thought of having a small kitchen tempted her enough to email Oliver and ask for his help. He’d made the arrangements.
Now Sunny, the realtor tasked with finding her a furnished short-term rental for the month, was due to arrive any minute.
Sipping her steaming green tea, Mallory observed the bustling street traffic outside, marveling at the ancient temples and sleek high-rises etched into the cityscape. Crowded, modern, and ancient, Seoul would be thrilling to explore.
Plus Asia was the origin of dragons. How had she not visited this continent before? What continent was Dylan going to next? When did he leave Seoul?
Dylan had been so sweet with his family. And after, in the limo, he’d seemed really sincere and supportive of her success. That made him even more attractive to her.
A text pinged from Dylan, as if he’d known she was thinking about him. Heard part of a new ballad in my head today. One of those sappy ones that will pair Bax with a diva from a pop band.
Cute. I love when my muse amazes me.
Yes, but how do I chain the muse up to finish the song?
Mallory breathed in the aromas of the bakery. Feed them good food so they want to stay around. Caffeinate them so they want to stay up. Exercise, eat well, and sleep. If those fail you… She hit send.
Yes? He sent an emoji poking on three dots.
Whisper sweet praise to them in your deep voice. The muse will be held in rapt attention. You’ll even lure other artists’ muses to your side. The muses will hold a concert for you.
He replied with a heart fingers emoji. Effective. Her heart was filling.
Ugh. Why did it matter how appealing Dylan was? They were simply colleagues. Or maybe buddies? Ha. Was she developing a friendship with a rock star? The odds of that happening were smaller than the odds of a dragon swooping across the plaza for a dip in the fountain.
“Mallory, right? I’m Sunny,” a peppy voice chimed in from behind her.
Mallory jumped and turned to see a slender woman her height, probably a decade older, taking the seat across from her.
Sunny had beautiful, clear skin, but her concealer didn’t quite hide the violet shadows under her eyes. Texk must work everyone crazy hours like they did Dylan.
“Hi, yes, thanks for helping me find a place.”
“Happy to help.” Sunny hailed the waitress. Despite her tired eyes, an energetic aura buzzed around her, and her friendly manner put Mallory at ease. This was the right decision.
Over a spread of sweet rice cakes and a large salad, Sunny picked her brain about what features Mallory was looking for in a short-term rental.
“Two bedrooms.” If she extended her lease, her cousins would definitely pop over for visits. “I’d love a view of the water.” Sunny would think she was spoiled. “The water is relaxing, which helps me to write.” Mallory felt herself flush. “Plus, it’s pretty.”
“Water view is a great idea. If you decide to buy, it improves your resale value. I’m so jealous of your career.” Sunny sounded heartfelt. “Your parents must be so supportive for you to have gotten so far. All my parents want is for me to stay home and have babies.”
Mallory opened and closed her mouth, not sure what to say. Her parents had been supportive. She didn’t think they’d be pressuring her about babies, but they would have loved them.
“T.M.I. Sorry.” Sunny waved off her own comments. “Back on track. Water. As in the Han River? Waterfalls in the mountains? An island? The coast?”
Whoa. So many options. At least this she could answer. “Han River, please.” They’d driven along the river on the way to the hotel from Dylan’s parents’ house. The dark ripples had made her sleepy but had also filled her head with images of creatures below the watery depths. Her muse definitely wanted the water.
“Right. Great choice.”
She would love to see the other locations too, but maybe on a future visit. Her commitments were all in the city center this trip.
The book signing turnout was better than expected. That was good news, but it left Mallory with no time to find a vending machine. Despite the fun, her throat was dry from the travel and meeting people. A bottle of water would fix that.
She added her swirling cursive onto the book’s title page for a fan who’d done her makeup with extra glitter. The fan dragon-saluted her in thanks and chatted until the next fan in line nudged her to move along.
Draining, but rewarding.
This was only her first signing at Texk Entertainment’s Seoul headquarters. She had several more on her schedule. Mallory flexed her cramping fingers underneath the table. By the end of the week, she’d have to dictate her novels.
Mallory took another stack of hardbacks from the boxes Francois had brought in earlier and added them to stack on the table. The corner of the top book caught Mallory’s bracelet and tugged at the stack. Bent, torn, and damaged books would present a poor image to her fans. Mallory grabbed the hardbacks and got them back in order. She jiggled her arm to free her bracelet.
“Oh, so cute.” The twenty-something fan with her face edged in blue dragon scales lined in gold tugged at the charm, in an attempt to help or to have a look. The inexpensive hook stretched out of shape.
No way it would stay on now.
What did that mean? Paris had been such a mixed bag of delights, and now her bracelet symbolizing the trip wouldn’t even stay on. The thread of fate tying her to Dylan was truly ending. She had to adore the rock star from afar, like his millions of fans. Sigh . Facing reality was a challenge.
The fan flushed red, making the scale makeup on her face more vivid, as if the damaged clasp had been her fault. “So sorry.” She hurried off.
“Not at all.” Mallory called after her to put her at ease. She discreetly pocketed the jewelry before greeting the next eager reader with a smile.
Suddenly, off to the left where the hallway led to the corporate offices, she caught sight of Dylan in a ball cap.