Chapter 18
You haveno idea what youve done. You have no idea of the damage youve done to her, Brandon says.
Andrea’s representative is standing in front of me. He’s wearing one of his gray suits and his glasses are slightly crooked on the bridge of his nose, as they always are when he’s nervous.
His body hasn’t stopped shaking. He’s clearly upset, but at this point I could care less how he feels.
He’s manipulated Andrea enough, and it’s high time that I step in to take charge of this situation.
You think that giving back her money and making her the rightful owner of her property is damaging to her? You have a very interesting concept of protection, then.
You dont understand, Brandon states as he walks towards me, causing me to turn and look at him.
The office is full of people. Right now, there are contractors who are working on remodeling this room, because I’m determined to change the image of the label and do things differently from now on.
From what Ive learned in my time owning this label, Andreas contract wasnt the only unfair one. Several famous groups and solo artists represented by the label had similar contracts that were keeping them from receiving the full benefits of their hard work.
But I’m willing to change things.
Have you ever wondered why I was the one who acted as the executor of Andreas fortune?
Because youre a smug, controlling asshole.
Enlighten me, I declare, though I’m barely paying attention to Brandon are he follows me with every step I take.
I did it all for her, because Andrea is the kind of person who would give her money away to others without hesitation.
Let her do that, then, if that’s what she wants.
You dont understand. She wouldnt do that out of altruism. Her mother has lived off her funds for years. The woman is like a leech who takes everything from Andrea. What do you think will happen when she finds out that her daughter has a fortune of almost thirty million, and that she owns an apartment downtown? She’ll try to take advantage of her. Shell put her out on the street, Brandon insists.
After I review the color palette the contractor has handed me I confront Brandon, feeling certain that his words are just excuses.
Believe it or not, I trust her. Shes a strong woman, and she’s capable of dealing with her own problems.
You dont know her like I do.
Maybe, but the Andrea you thought you knew no longer exists. You found her when she was just a child, but shes twenty-five now. Shes a grown woman, and she doesnt need you to take care of her all the time.
Brandon glares at me with obvious contrariness, but it’s clear he knows he’s been beat.
Besides, I wont let anything happen to her. I know that wont placate the man, but it also isn’t any of his business how I engage with her.
You think youre saving her, but youre going to end up being her ruin, Brandon says. His words are filled with hatred and disgust. I know that if he could, he would spit in my face and tell me to go fuck myself. But he cant do that, and we both know it.
That reminds me. I need you to sign the new contract, I tell him as I walk over to my desk and grab a copy of it.
I hand Brandon the contract and a pen, and the man starts to look it over. Ive made some adjustments. For example, Ive given Andrea more liberties.
Of course, you have. Brandon looks at me, eyes full of hatred. What if I refuse to sign this?
Ill find a better representative to take care of her.
Brandons hands clench into fists.
I glare at him. I know hes waiting for any opportunity to hit me.
My hands settle on the wooden desk, and I lean towards him so that only he can hear my words. We both know I dont like you, but Andrea does care for you. She trusts you, and thats the only reason I haven’t gotten rid of you and your services. But I’ll tell you this now: dont challenge me, because this is a battle you cant win.
Brandons anger is evident.
Ill sue you for this.
You can try, I dare him.
Finally, he signs the contract with his left hand. His hand doesnt stop trembling.
Strangely, his handwriting looks familiar. I didnt know you were left-handed.
Theres very little you know about me, Brandon says.
Once he finishes signing, he tosses the pen on the table and turns away. But before he leaves, he turns to look at me one more time. One day shell notice what kind of scumbag you are, and she’ll leave you. And then Ill be the one there to pick up the pieces.
After saying this, he leaves, slamming the door loudly as he exits the studio.
Silence falls around me for a moment.
No one has to tell me that these contractors are probably all thinking the same thing about me. The gossip hasnt stopped swirling since yesterday when Logan and I confronted each other in front of the club.
By now, Logan has left the country. According to the media and his own agent, he would return to London for a season so he could give himself a well-deserved break from the media and concentrate on his own career. But I know its all a lie.
He probably did some research and realized that its not in his best interest to mess with me.
That hasnt shut up the reporters, who won’t stop talking about us. For the last twenty-four hours, the tabloids havent stopped talking about the subject. They’ve been writing Andrea off as a submissive girl who is incapable of getting ahead while her controlling boyfriends clutches still hold her back.
It’s clear that none of them really know her well enough to realize that she is anything but a helpless little mouse.
I confess that I believed it myself the first time I saw her. Now, I realize I was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
As my thoughts fly to her, it’s almost as if I’ve invoked her, because I receive a call.
I need you to come get me.
Her words are direct and although they’re serene, I sense a certain alertness in her voice that sets me on edge.
Tell me whats going on, I ask her as I grab my car keys. I know she’s been recording an interview for television on a well-known news.
There are too many reporters waiting for me in front of the studio door. Im afraid I cant get out, Andrea says.
Ill be right there, I promise her.
Cursing to myself, I hurry to my car without stopping to think about anything but her and her safety.
Unfortunately, this has been happening to us since yesterday, when the internet started blowing up because of the fight between Logan and me.
In a matter of hours, we were trending. People do nothing but talk about us, and the paparazzi are following us everywhere.
Andrea is still inside the studio when I arrive to pick her up. She’s accompanied by three security guards who escort her to the buildings private parking lot.
She looks gorgeous in her outfit, which is a dark blazer and matching baggy pants, and a pearl pink corset that is bordered by flowers that trail around her breasts.
The image would be much more attractive if her face wasnt furrowed with fear. She immediately gets in the car and puts on her seat belt. Get me out of here, she says.
I obey without complaint, driving through the crowds that crowd the entrance to the parking lot. Finally, I manage to get us lost within New York traffic.
Only then does Andrea sigh, clearly overwhelmed, braiding a lock of her hair repeatedly.
I wont be able to stand this for long, she tell me.
You wont have to, I promise, taking her hand.
How do you know? She looks at me in anguish.
Because Ill work it out.
My words seem empty right now. This is too big a crisis for me to simply snap my fingers and fix it.
Trust me, I ask her, and Andrea nods.
She entangles her fingers with mine, and though I can feel her pulse racing, it slowly begins to calm down as I squeeze her hand. She’s trusting that I have the power to fix this whole misunderstanding.
And for now, thats all I need. I need her to trust me enough to know that I will fix everything in time.
Even if I dont know what strings Im going to have to pull to do it just yet.