Chapter 15
Raleigh
I’D EXPECTED Dalton to want out after yesterday’s fiasco, but to know that he wasn’t going anywhere truly bolstered my resolve.
I think I’ve finally moved on to fully trusting him, and Mae is also well on her way there.
After stepping in yesterday, I know he’ll take care of Mae.
And that’s all that matters. Now, if we can just get through today, we can regroup and figure things out for the long haul.
The boardroom is fortunately void of Trenton.
His weasel of a manager is at the head of the table, flanked by a few men in suits.
Once again, Mae and I are the only women in the room.
As the door closes, I take peace in knowing that Trenton doesn’t show and that Dalton is right outside.
Mae gives me an easy smile, feeling the same things.
I pat her thigh under the table to tell her it’s okay to let her anxieties free.
Without Trenton, we’re able to make our own choices without his pressure.
I half expect there to be some comment on last night’s argument and ill-mannered behavior by Trenton, but all of that is ignored. Instead, they jump right to the conclusion I’d feared.
“Trenton wants to offer you the opening act position on his upcoming arena tour.” The straightlaced label manager announces the offer as if it were already a done deal.
“Forty dates, 30 cities and all in under a year.” A large poster is slid across the table.
Pictures of Mae and Trenton take up the top half of the poster and fade into the dates below.
If I were a casual fan seeing this, I’d think they were sharing the headlining responsibilities.
I watch as Mae gingerly takes the sleek roll into her hands. Her eyes are so full of pride that for a moment, I forget everything we’ve been going through and just let her soak up the moment of seeing her name and face connected to such a big tour.
“I want to do it!” Mae says strongly, zapping me out of the haze.
Trenton’s manager snaps his fingers and passes the marketing pieces to an assistant before turning to me. “We’ll make sure to send you material for social media. Rehearsals start next week.”
As the room starts to move, the tornado of a moment throws me from its grasp. I finally find my place in the whirlwind and turn to Mae. It can’t be too late to change her mind. The time spent on the road with Trenton could seriously injure her.
“I can fake it, even if we’re not getting along,” Mae whispers in defense, though I haven’t said anything yet to deter her.
“Do you really want to go through that?” I whisper back. The last of the men in the room leaves the door open as they exit, which leaves the outside hustle and bustle ready for us. This is no longer a private place to have this conversation.
“We always find each other on stage,” she reassures herself with a smile. “This could be good for us.”
Placing a hand on her wrist, I take a deep breath through the trepidation. “I need you to be sure.”
To her credit, not an ounce of fear is present when she responds. “I can’t pass this up.”
“There will be other opportunities,” I say, shaking my head. While I fight to balance the good and the bad within my own head, Mae just smiles.
“We’re not alone anymore, remember?” Her soft features harden with confidence as she motions to the door.
Dalton has angled himself into the room.
One look at him, and I realize that Mae’s right.
The two of us have been fighting against the machine for so long, and we finally have muscle on our side.
The quick high comes crashing down when I remember just who we will be dealing with.
Even with Dalton’s presence, we can’t be sure that it’ll be enough to keep things reasonable.
“Promise me,” I begin. “You have to promise that you’ll be honest. That you’ll come to me if it gets to be too much.
” Mae starts to laugh it off, but I raise a hand to silence her.
It’s very important to me that she hears every word of what I’m saying.
“We have to be done with his bullshit. You hear me? This can not be about you and him. It can’t be.
This needs to be about your career and your well-being. ”
Thankfully, the serious tone resonates. Mae raises her pinky, and the two of us link our fingers in promise.
In the midst of the pact, Dalton finds the courage to walk in.
He comes to a stop behind Mae’s chair. Raising my steely gaze, he nods in understanding.
We know that Mae’s willing to try, it’s just up to Dalton and me to see her through.
With Trenton in the mix, I think it’s going to be a lot harder than either of us realize.