Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ASH
Dani bursts through the door of her father’s office.
“They’ve assured me they won’t follow up on the story, but I’ve had to promise them an exclusive behind the stage insight if the tour goes well.
Apparently, the channel’s social media is going crazy with fans wanting to know Ash’s whereabouts and if he’s okay.
Your little stunt this morning might actually be a positive. ” She raises her brows.
“Mine?” I’m so fucking mad, I feel my jaw tick. “This has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she winks.
“This is nowhere near funny Dani. Do you know how much damage this has caused?”
“I don’t know why you’re shouting at me.”
“Alright, you two. Ash—I said I’ll deal with it, and I will,” Bernie interrupts.
I’ve spent the last twenty minutes explaining exactly what happened the night Dani pounced on me and how I got propositioned by the other girl. I was nervous about explaining his daughter’s actions, but he didn’t seem surprised.
“Anyway, where were you last night, exactly?” Bernie asks.
“I overslept.”
“That’s not what I asked. You weren’t in your hotel room, so where were you when you overslept? Or rather, who were you with?”
I rub my eyes, not answering him.
“Tell him, Ash.” Dani gloats.
I glare towards her; my eyes tightening.
“Alright Dani, you can go now.”
“But Dad,”
Bernie’s baritone voice shuts her down. “I said go. I’m not best pleased with you, young lady.”
Dani pouts like a child and screws up her nose at me before she leaves. Jesus, she can be fucking immature at times. I’m glad she’s gone; I was losing my cool. However, Bernie’s next question knocks me off balance.
“Did you visit Calla last night?”
There’s no point in trying to lie. “Yeah, I think you know I did.”
He sighs. “What does she make of all this?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Hmm, that doesn’t sound good.” He gets up from behind his desk and lays a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t want to say I told you—”
“Then don’t,” I snap before I remember who I’m talking to. “Please, don’t Bernie.”
He gives me a sympathetic smile, then takes a seat on the sofa in his office. “Did you catch up with your mother at all?”
“Yeah, she was pleased to see me.”
“Good. Did you tell her about the tour? I bet she’s proud.”
“She is, no matter what I do, Bern. You know my Mum.” I smile. “Then I had to explain we were away for three months.”
Bernie seems concerned. “How did she take it?”
“She’ll miss me, but she’s cool. My Aunt doesn’t live far from her, so that’s something.”
“Good. You know Liz can call the office if she needs anything at all.” There’s that look in his eyes again. The one he always has when he refers to my mum.
“Yeah, thanks Bern. I’ll let her know.”
Bernie raises a brow, “You’ve got some grovelling to do.
Not just with me, but the rest of the band, so you better get your arse in gear.
You’ve got a personal appearance tonight.
Brace yourself for questions about the photographs.
It’s unavoidable now,” he says with a double brow raise this time followed by a tight-lipped smirk.
“Then we fly back to New York at midnight.”
“So soon?”
“We’ve scheduled the tour rehearsals for the day after tomorrow so get yourself in shape Ash,” Bernie says firmly.
“I will.” I’m a man of my word, but what I wouldn’t do right now to spend a few more hours with Cal. More time to mend what my manager’s assistant—or daughter as she’s otherwise known—has destroyed.
When I get back to the hotel, the boys are far from pissed off.
“Don’t sweat it, man. Lead singers always get attention. It was good publicity if nothing else, although Dani? Really?” Brett laughs.
“I told you she jumped me.”
“Yeah, okay,” he smirks.
“Fuck off, I’m not in the mood.” I snap.
“How is Cal?” Tommy asks.
“Not good.”
“You want to talk about it?”
I rub the back of neck, attempting to ease the tension. “Not now, Tom.”
He nods like he gets it. “She was pissed off, right?” He pushes a little more for an answer, but Brett muscles in.
“This is why dating is not worth the hassle. I never date. I want to be free to do what I want.”
Then Max adds, “Yeah right. I bet if that little piece from Pink Shimmer showed any interest, you’d be on it.”
“Beautiful way to put it, man.” Tommy laughs.
Max drapes his arm around my shoulder. “Look Ash, Brett’s not far off the mark. You honestly think you can be in this game and keep it in your pants?”
“You think I can’t?”
“Just saying you’ll be tested, that’s all.
The girl in New York was just a sweetener.
Things are about to get intense on another level and I’m not sure it’s right to keep Cal hanging on.
I’m only saying this to save you heartache down the line.
I like Cal. She’s a good girl. You wouldn’t want to hurt her. ”
“Too late,” I confess.
“Didn’t you explain?” Tommy adds.
“She wouldn’t listen. She saw the photos and just lost it.”
“Look, we were all there doing the same thing. Some of us took it further.” He winks and Max interrupts.
“All of us took it further, Tom, apart from the blue-eyed boy here.”
“Exactly. We don’t have women waiting for us, but Ash does, which is why we did what we did, and he sat talking to Bernie all night.
” Then Tommy turns to me. “Look man, Calla is wrong on this score; we know it and so do you but take a step back and look at it from her point of view. You’re away, she doesn’t see you for months, and then these images appear of you covered in women.
Right or wrong, she’s gonna be hurting.”
Tommy’s words hit me then. What kind of reaction did I expect? If this were the other way around, would I take the news with a pinch of salt? No way. I’d be going out of my mind.
“If you want this thing with you and Cal to work, you can’t go chasing other pussy man—”
“For fuck’s sake, Brett. Have you been listening to anything we’ve said in the last five minutes? When will you get it in your head—I didn’t do anything, okay? I fucking didn’t,” I shout, turning towards him.
He holds his hands up. “Alright, alright. I was just winding you up a little.”
“Just don’t. I’m wound up as tight as I’ll go.”
The boys go quiet. They probably don’t know what to say, and just as I finish my outburst, Bernie enters the room.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything?”
“Nope, just chewing his ear off about this morning.” Brett strides over to the water cooler, pouring himself a long glass.
“I told you this would happen, Ash. You let the boys down.”
“I got it Bern.” I press my lips together knowing the boys don’t think that. They’re just trying to help. “I don’t intend to let anyone down in the future.”
“Good, because the band is going off like a rocket. I need you here, ready to roll.”
“As I said, I’m all in.”
“Good.” Bernie smirks. “Let’s get to work. You’ve got a podcast with Capital Radio in 20 minutes and a full evening of interviews.” He’s about to leave when he catches, himself. “Oh, and Ash? If I catch you so much as contemplating a visit to Calla’s tonight—”
“You have no worries there, Bernie. She’d probably slam the door in my face.”
Then he leaves the room, nodding in understanding.
If there’s one thing I’m learning about Bernie, he’s not stupid. He probably knew all along where I was last night but decided not to give me grief about it.
Bernie wasn’t wrong about back-to-back interviews, and by the end of the day, I’m washed out. I love our songs, but I’ve sung the acoustic version of Honesty more times than I wanted. We couldn’t have picked a worse number. It stung like a bitch.
What I want to do right now is jump back in a cab and head straight to Cal’s. We left too much unsaid, and it’s tearing me apart, but what can I do? We have a flight to catch, so there’s no way I can get there. How the fuck will I cope without her.
It’s while we’re waiting in the lobby of the Rosewood Hotel, I spot a hot and bothered Dani marching towards me. What the fuck does she want?
“Get over here,” she signals. I turn to look at the boys who give me a quizzical look. I’m in for a mouthful. Her voice is low when she growls, “What the hell did you say to my father this morning?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“Bollocks. He’s just given me a formal warning. My own father!”
“You know what Dani? I don’t care. You fucked things up for me with Cal, which reminds me, how did you know I was with her this morning?”
“Oh, I didn’t. I was calling to let you know we’d made breakfast TV. It was a bonus when Calla answered. I couldn’t believe my luck.”
“You bitch.”
“Not really. You deserved it.”
“Calla didn’t. How could you be so cruel? Do you realise what you’ve done?”
“And do you know how much time and effort I’ve put into this band? How much of a financial investment you are? You can’t just swan off when it suits, just because you’re missing your girlfriend.”
“Don’t change the subject. You knew about this whole thing with the press before you had any idea I was with Cal, right?”
“Maybe. As I said, speaking to her this morning was a bonus.”
“Tell me something. Was it you who tipped off the photographer in New York? Did you set me up?”
Dani chews the side of her lip for a moment, screws up her mouth to a pout and taps her index finger against it.
“I suppose I could have let slip your location during lunch with my friend Gina and her boyfriend. I mean, surely it wasn’t a coincidence she was there that night and you stuck your head in her cleavage. ”
I take in the deepest breath, my nostrils flare and my hand's fist. “I fucking knew you had something to do with this.”
“Of course I did, but only because I had to kick start this machine. The band’s music is amazing Ash, but it’s not the only thing fans look for. You pining after your girlfriend wasn’t doing any good, so I helped things along. Oh, and did I mention, Gina’s partner is a freelance photographer?”
What the fuck did she just say to me? It takes a second to process, and my heart is beating so fast, I’m worried I might lose control of my anger. Somehow, I keep the majority inside but fuck me, I’m on the boil. “You’re fucking lower than a snake’s belly.”
Dani stalks right up to me. She whispers in my ear, grit in her tone. “Believe me, I can get lower if I have to. This whole bloody band relies on you, so if you fail, they fail. Don’t push me, Ash. I can do worse if I have to.” When she pulls away, I get a warning stare.
“Don’t threaten me, Dani. I work for your dad, not you. I won’t take your crap and I’m pretty sure he won’t either.”
She raises a brow. “You know Ash, my Dad likes you. You remind him a lot of himself, so he says, but sentimentality won’t cut it with me.
Don’t you dare make a fool out of me. If that ever happens, I’ll make sure you’re out.
Blood is thicker than water at the end of the day.
” She stares at me with daggers in her eyes, and I do the same back.
I could get myself in some serious shit if I respond.
“Now, get your act together and go get in that taxi. We’ve got a plane to catch, and you haven’t got time to slope off with your little girlfriend before take-off.”
I don’t reply to her sarcasm and instead, pick up my belongings and head to the door.
I feel sorry for the porter who tries to take my bags because I shrug him away and act like a total arsehole.
All I need now is for the boys to rip me a new one about what they’ve just witnessed.
They probably thought Dani was just telling me off.
I’m worn out with all this bullshit, and in no mood for jokes, so they better keep their mouths shut.
Having to catch this flight is a thorn in my side. All I want is to see Calla. I can’t handle leaving without putting things right and making her see the truth. I don’t know if she’s given up on us or not.