Chapter 8
STEPHANIE
Two and a half years ago
I try to expel all of my nervous energy before going inside the room.
If I were alone at home, I would jump on my bed or leap around the room.
Since I’m walking down a wide hallway inside a major arena with a constant stream of workers passing me, that’s not an option.
Instead, I walk in a zigzag pattern, hoping it will help.
The closer I get to the room, the more my body reacts to my nerves, and the zigzag movement of my feet becomes a little more erratic.
I deliberately go to the back door of the room, hoping to slide in under the radar and minimize any disruption from my late arrival. I open it, and those plans go up in flames. Turns out I opened the front door of the green room.
My gaze instantly snaps to my boss, McKay.
He’s standing with his back to everyone while intently talking on his phone.
He seems agitated, but I’m not surprised, since his ASM—me—is late.
I look around for Alyssa, since I’m supposed to be shadowing her this evening, but don’t see her.
The people who’d noticed my entrance slowly return to whatever they’d been doing previous to my arrival.
As I survey the papers and diagrams covering the table, I can tell they’ve been busy for the last twenty minutes, and I worry about what I’ve missed.
McKay hasn’t noticed me yet, so I try to slide into an empty chair before he does, but at that moment, he ends his call and turns around, locking eyes with me.
A wave of new energy hits me. McKay’s eyes scan over my torso, taking in the sloppy band T-shirt.
His look is tight and unapproving. I don’t know if it’s because I showed up late or because I’m wearing the band’s T-shirt. Most likely both.
Chase looks up from the papers he’s been perusing and follows McKay’s line of sight. His ocean-blue eyes open wide. “I didn’t know you were supposed to be here too.” He begins to stand up. “I should have?—”
“Stephanie,” McKay’s voice rips through the room, “let’s pretend you’re not wearing the merchandise for sale at tonight’s concert and focus on the fact that the meeting is already underway.
” McKay doesn’t say any more, but he looks down at his watch and back up to me, as if to say, I can measure how long you’ve worked for me with the hours on my watch.
I open my mouth to speak, but it’s Chase’s voice that fills the room.
“Sorry, mate. That’s all my snafu. I made a mess of something and asked her to clean it up for me so that I wouldn’t be later to the meeting than I already was.
I even insisted she wear that ridiculous T-shirt, but that’s ’cause I’m a pop star and we tend to do narcissistic things like that—especially when beautiful women are involved.
” He slides his sunglasses onto his face with an air of arrogance, but for some reason, I can tell it’s all an act to back up the lie he just told.
Chase’s last words suddenly register.
Chase Collins thinks I’m beautiful? What do I do with this information?
I stare at him as he gives McKay an easy and charmingly dimpled smile.
McKay looks back to me. “We can table the discussion on your tardiness and wardrobe choice.” He turns his attention back to the room in general.
“Sorry about the interruption, but we now have something more pressing that we need to discuss.” The muscles in his jaw literally flex as he takes a long breath.
“I was just made aware that,” he places the palms of his hands on the table, as if to brace himself, “the reason Alyssa has been delayed is because she was in an automobile accident. She won’t be able to make it to tonight’s concert. ”
The room falls silent for a full three seconds before a loud barrage of worry, alarm, and questions start coming from every corner.
“Alyssa is going to be fine.” McKay tries to calm the waters, but no one can hear him above the team’s noise.
“She’s broken her femur and needs emergency surgery, but it’s nothing life threatening.
” His voice is raised, trying to be heard above the commotion, but very few people actually hear him.
He raises his voice and tries again. “They say she’s going to be okay! ”
Again, through all the commotion, it appears no one can hear him.
Without thinking, I throw two fingers in my mouth and whistle loud enough to get everyone’s attention. Silence falls. “He’s trying to tell you that Alyssa is fine.”
Everyone’s eyes shift to McKay for a confirmation of my words.
“Well, she’s fine-ish.” McKay’s face is tight.
“Like I said, she will apparently need surgery on a broken femur. That will take place in the next few hours. But,” he raises his hand, shaking slightly, into the air as if calling us all to battle, “the show must go on, and this is why we have emergency protocols in place. I’m sure .
. .” his head drops, and then he looks at me.
That’s when reality steps up and punches me hard in the face. It’s obviously a metaphorical punch, but I can’t help but think that it’s a little payback for my earlier less-than-friendly intentions with Chase.
Emergency protocol in this situation calls for the ASM to take over when the SM is unavailable. However, there’s a large—no, gaping—hole with that plan, and McKay seems to have realized it: I’m the ASM!
It’s my brand-new, not-even-two-hours-old job!
Tonight was supposed to be about me learning how Vision Design Productions does things, because even though I’m experienced, every production company has different protocols.
Even inside the same company, each event can have a different system.
I’ve never done an event with this company and have no idea how they handle anything.
I’m great at what I do, but it would be quite a feat to stage manage a show of this magnitude with absolutely no preparation.
Another reality hits me, and it’s one that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Alyssa isn’t just the SM and McKay’s business partner—she’s also his wife.
Someone else in the room seems to realize the same thing and speaks up. “McKay, were the girls with her?”
“No.” McKay’s emotions start to show a little bit more. “They are at her mom’s house. They weren’t going to come tonight.”
“McKay,” a woman sitting directly to his left reaches out and squeezes his hand, “don’t you think you need to go to the hospital to be with her? Because if you do?—”
“No. It will be fine.” He quickly swipes at a tear. “I can head over when we’re done. Another hurdle is that our ASM, who would normally step in seamlessly to fill Alyssa’s shoes, is brand new as of today. This is Stephanie James.” He gestures to me.
A small seed of an idea plants itself in my brain.
McKay continues. “We have to go over what needs to be covered and how to move forward.”
That small seed of an idea, planted in my brain no less than five seconds ago, shoots up into a full-fledged plan.
It’s an insane plan, but a plan nonetheless.
I turn to face my boss of less than ninety minutes.
“McKay, you hired me because you obviously think I can be an excellent ASM, and your instincts are right. I am good at what I do. I’m really good.
And I sought out your company because I know its reputation.
” McKay opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off and plow on with even more confidence.
“Your company isn’t the best because you and Alyssa are the best. Your company is the best because you and Alyssa hire the best.”
The wave of calm I expected when I showed up early finally finds me.
Work is where my nerves become my ally, my body stills, and my mind has laser focus.
“The team sitting in this room is the most capable group of people to make this concert happen without a hitch. I know you’ve had countless meetings going over every single detail of tonight.
” In my peripheral vision, I see many people in the room turn to face me.
“McKay, your job today was to make sure our client understood how well your people have things under control and then to stand back and let them do their jobs.” I turn to the room, which consists of around twenty-five of McKay’s people as well as Icefall’s lighting and sound crew.
“Do any of you have questions about your responsibilities today?” No one moves or speaks.
“Are you confident enough in your responsibilities that you could spare a moment and fill me in on what you need from me tonight in Alyssa’s unfortunate absence?
” People shift in their chairs, sitting forward as they enthusiastically nod their heads.
I don’t need to stand up, but I do because it will suit my purpose.
Looking directly at McKay, I state, “This is an extraordinary moment when your company gets to show Icefall, one of the fastest-growing acts in the past several decades, how amazing your people are and how good your company is going to make them look. But this is also a moment when these people,” I gesture around the room to his team, “get to finally support you in the same way you have supported them. Go to the hospital and be with your wife. Your team knows what they’re doing, and they will go over every detail with me—as many times as they need to—before the lights go up tonight. ”
The entire room is looking at McKay, waiting for his response.
He puts his hand up in what is obviously going to be a protest, but Chase speaks first. “Mate, two years ago Icefall wasn’t all that big of a deal, but you took on this concert anyway.
We hired you because of your reputation with people.
There was something special about you and your team.
Don’t disappoint me now by being the biggest drongo ever.
” Chase takes off his sunglasses, stands up, puts his large hands on the table, and leans toward McKay with a stern look on his face.
“If you don’t leave to go be at the hospital with your wife and let your team do what you hired them to do, I will tell everyone I know that you are a nightmare to work with and that I’d rather eat out of a dunny than hire your company again.
” Chase continues to stare at McKay with a look so ferocious that I think he could set the room ablaze.
Then, about five seconds later, he breaks into a smile and gives McKay a little wink.
“Your work here is done, mate.” He sits down and looks at me.
“So, you’re the new SM now. Let’s do this. ”
Hours later I find a seat in the now-empty auditorium, pop open a can of Diet Coke, and take a long drink. I close my eyes and breathe for the first time in hours. The concert went off without a hitch, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t sweating bullets the entire time.
“I think I owe you this.” I open my eyes to see Chase Collins holding a T-shirt that looks around my size.
I can’t help it—I start to laugh. Before he hands it to me, he turns it around.
“I even signed the back.” Even though it’s obvious where his signature is, he points. “I’m hoping this impresses you.”
I laugh even harder. “What you did on stage the last couple of hours was enough to impress me. I don’t think you need to try anymore.”
“I disagree. I’m pulling out all the stops—you’re not only a beautiful woman, but you’re also funny, intriguing, and, from what I saw today, first-rate at what you do.
” I don’t know how to respond, and the heat of a blush fills my cheeks.
“I mean it. I’ve never seen anyone take charge like you did today.
Somehow you kept control of everything and empowered everyone around you while doing it. ”
I search for what I could possibly say to someone like Chase Collins after such an amazing compliment. “That was everyone else, not me. Tonight was amazing in spite of me, not because of me.”
“Everyone was great, but I think you’re underestimating your role in tonight’s success. And I’m still hoping you’re impressed by the autograph.” He flashes me a cheeky smile.
A snort escapes me before I can stop it. “I’ve never seen anyone sign a 50/50 cotton-poly blend with such flair before. It truly is incredibly impressive.”
His rich laughter rings through the stadium, robust enough that it echoes in the empty space. “See what I mean? Funny.” His smile seems so genuine. “I was going to get a bite to eat with my band mates, but I’d be happier if I could have dinner with you instead.”
I almost choke on my shock. “You want to go to dinner with me?”
“Absolutely I do.”