Chapter 5
NOELLE
“I thought you lost it there for a minute, babe.”
I scrolled through the PopWiz website and shoveled another spoonful of Rocky Road ice cream into my mouth—straight from the carton, but the picture of Conor and Ashley leaving Nobu in Malibu, holding hands turned the creamy chocolate goodness in my mouth to sour milk.
I swallowed a marshmallow whole and answered Dina on a cough. “Yeah, looks like they’re all in on the fake dating now.”
“Totally saved your ass after the AM LA crash and burn. The way they both stormed off the stage after the performance now looks like a cute lovers’ spat instead of...creative differences.”
“The show and Ashley did Conor dirty by sneaking in that lip sync. He never would’ve agreed to it, and I don’t think we should be in the business of tricking our clients.
” I shoved the melting ice cream across the coffee table, and Jane flicked her tail and immediately dipped her head into the carton.
I snatched it away. “You can’t eat chocolate. ”
Dina sucked in a breath. “I beg your pardon. I eat dark chocolate regularly. Are you saying I look fat?”
“I was talking to my cat.”
“First sign of madness. Look, I understand that, Noelle, but it’s your job to manage these people.”
These people. As if Conor were a piece on a chess board that I could maneuver at will. He hated that in the Five2Go days—they all did—and here I was forcing him into it again.
“And you’re doing a fantastic job so far. Who knows? Maybe Conor and Ashley took the suggestion and ran with it. Maybe the hookup is real. That would make it easier for you.”
Easier? It would crush me.
“The hookup is not real, Dina. I would even say they hate each other at this point. You’re witnessing some good acting. Maybe Conor should follow his bandmate Sam into the movies.” Was I trying to convince Dina or myself?
“Whatever. I don’t care if they kill each other...
after the tour. But right now, we have a little buzz going.
PopWiz already picked up on it in their blind items.” Dina smacked a kiss over the phone.
“And it’s your success, babe. I’m already figuring out which office you’ll take over when you get your promotion. ”
A little thrill ran up my leg. It almost soothed my unease about Conor and Ashley playing kissy face for clicks and likes. Almost.
Dina slurped something—probably her triple-shot oat milk vanilla latte, extra hot, one pump hazelnut, light foam.
I knew it by heart because I’d ordered it enough for her.
The order for my assistant would be a lot easier—iced coffee.
Maybe I’d add a shot of syrup just to give her something to remember.
Dina interrupted my daydream. “I was actually calling about the tour bus. It’s remodeled, ready, and parked in the studio lot near the airport. After the concert at The Greek, you’ll be taking it down to San Diego.”
“We?” I reached for my glass and nearly knocked it over. Wine and Rocky Road—dinner of champions...and stressed-out publicists—assistant publicists.
“Figure of speech. We’re all in this together, right? Your success is our success and all that. Nolan’s going to be on the bus documenting everything. He’ll even take a few videos to post between concerts. You might need to take the bus a few times if it’s faster to get to the venue than flying.”
“You want me on the bus with Conor and Ashley.” I gulped the wine, the liquid bitter against my sugar-coated tongue.
“Yeah, about that.” Dina cleared her throat.
“Ashley is making noises about flying to all the venues, but you can figure that out. You got her to go all in on the fake dating. Also, Ji-yoon is out. Her management has her on a whole other schedule for this tour. She’ll be flying in for most of the shows and staying at different hotels. ”
I didn’t want to tell Dina that Conor convinced Ashley to go all in—and the only ploy he used was to sweep her into an embrace. I couldn’t blame Ashley. There was something about a Conor Flynn embrace that blocked out the rest of the world and every problem in it.
“You’re off to a buzzy start, Noelle. When you have PopWiz posting an item, you’ve entered the pop culture landscape.
It’ll get easier when the tour starts. I see you nailed down the event with the radio station before the first concert.
Make sure Conor and Ashley play up their connection.
You’ll have the fans shipping Conley...or is it Ashnor, in no time.
Get them invested. Ticket sales are starting to pick up. ”
I liked Connell better. Who was I kidding? I was an assistant publicist. I did not warrant a shipping moniker with a popstar.
“I’m on it, Dina. I have a good feeling about this tour, and I’m excited about the bus.
” I pushed up from my couch, startling Jane, who probably figured I was there for the long haul.
I dumped the remainder of my wine into the sink and rinsed out the glass.
“Can I go to the studio tomorrow to check out the bus?”
“Absolutely. It’s going to be your home on and off for the next few months.”
I was going to make sure it was mostly off. If Ashley was gonna fly between venues, so could I.
***
The banging on the front door caused me to drop my lipstick in the sink, leaving a smear of red on the porcelain that looked like a murder scene clean-up attempt. It just might be once I confronted the jerk at the door.
I strode across the living room and yanked the front door open. I narrowed my eyes at my neighbor, his bare chest already sporting beads of sweat from his workout in the courtyard.
“Can you knock like a normal person, Matt?”
“Sorry.” He rolled his pumped-up shoulders. “I was lifting, and I guess I got carried away.”
“Is that what you came over to tell me, that you’re lifting?” My gaze wandered over his left shoulder and landed on the dumbbells next to the planter. Matt Russo had decided the planters in the courtyard of our apartment complex were a good substitute for a weight bench.
“It’s Jane.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “She got into my apartment again. I need to shower. I tried to get her out, but she’s hiding under the bed. Don’t you feed that cat?”
“I just fed her.” I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe she’s after the rats in your place.”
“Hey, that rat was a one-time deal. Hasn’t been back since Jane scared the shit out of him.”
“She’s making sure he doesn’t come back and infiltrate the rest of the units.” I dropped my lipstick on the table next to my front door. “I’ll get her.”
Matt and I had an understanding. I wanted to stay on his good side because he owned and managed the building. How a guy who didn’t seem to work managed to purchase a whole-ass apartment complex, I had no idea. I was afraid to ask. And Jane liked him.
I followed him to his place, stepping around the weights surrounding the planter. I poked my head inside first and called out to Jane. If she came when called, she’d save me a trip into Matt’s apartment where the skunky smell of weed clung to every piece of furniture.
Maybe Jane was over here getting a second-hand high.
She mewed in response but didn’t show one whisker. I stepped into the living room, glancing at the walls plastered with band posters. Was Matt 32 going on 13? I nearly tripped over a stack of albums on the floor when I spotted a Five2Go poster in the corner. Matt didn’t seem like the fangirl type.
Matt came at me dangling a piece of bacon from his fingers. “I tried to lure her out with this, but maybe she’ll take it from you.”
“Jane doesn’t eat bacon.”
“She does here.”
I snatched the bacon from his fingers and tip-toed into his bedroom. A figure on the bed stirred, and a woman rolled onto her back, exposing a set of impressive tits.
Jumping back, I whispered, “What the fuck, Matt?”
He shrugged. “That’s Destiny. She’s sleeping.”
Avoiding Destiny, I dropped to the floor and flicked back the duvet brushing the carpet. A pair of glowing eyes met mine, and I jiggled the bacon at Jane. “Kitty, kitty. C’mon, Jane.”
She darted past me, ignoring the bacon and dashed out the front door. I peeked outside, and Jane stared back at me, flicking her tail from the edge of the planter box in front of my door.
“Maybe she just wanted to cuddle with Destiny.” I thrust the bacon out to Matt. “You want this back?”
He held out his hand, and I dropped the bacon in his palm. He stuffed it in his mouth and crunched.
I jerked my head away from the sight, and my gaze landed on the Five2 poster again. I pointed at it. “Didn’t figure you for a boyband fan.”
“Yeah, I thought I should add it to my collection since Ian Pope...” he waved his hands around the room.
“Ian Pope, what?” I raised my eyebrows in expectation of...I didn’t know what.
“My sister’s engaged to him, and he kind of helps me out.”
“Your sister is Ivy Chase, the author?”
“Yeah, yeah. She doesn’t use Russo. Maybe I shouldn’t have even told you, but...” he put his greasy bacon finger to his lips.
“Yeah, no. I won’t mention it.” I stepped to the door. “Ian Pope owns this apartment building? Why did I think you owned it?”
“I wish. His corporation owns it, and I manage things for him.” Matt glanced over his shoulder. “Between you and me? He just gave me the gig to keep me out of trouble.”
“And does it?”
A smirk hovered on his handsome face, and he tousled his auburn hair with one hand, flexing his bicep. “Mostly.”
“Okay, well, I’ll leave you to...Destiny. Thanks for letting me know about Jane.”
I emerged from Matt’s place and took a deep breath of fresh air. That explained how I landed this apartment in West Hollywood after my roommate got married and moved her husband into her place. The agency had found the it for me, and I knew we did some work for Ian Pope.
I’d have to tell Conor that Ian was my landlord.
But first I wanted to check out the tour bus. Once I secured Jane in the apartment, I finished my makeup. As I grabbed my keys, my phone rang, and I saw Dad’s picture on the screen.
“Hey, Dad. I was just leaving.”