Chapter 57 Reed
REED
After leaving Georgina with Isabel and Howard, I do a quick lap around the party, looking for Henn. But when I spot Aloha, chatting with the other writer from Rock ‘n’ Roll assigned to the special issue, I decide to intervene.
It’s been a bit of a juggling act to gently steer certain artists to Georgie, rather than Zasu, seeing as how I’m not technically supposed to be involved with interview assignments.
But, still, I’ve managed to finesse things to my liking.
Specifically, I want Georgina to interview my highest profile artists.
People like Aloha. Because, of course, I want Georgina to get the lion’s share of the glory and accolades when the special issue comes out.
That said, however, there are a couple high-profile males on my roster I don’t want coming within ten yards of Georgina. Lady-killers with big swinging dicks. Savage from Fugitive Summer is definitely one of them. Also, Endo from Watch Party.
“Hey, ladies,” I say to Aloha and Zasu. “Aloha, Georgina was looking for you. She wants to nail down what you’re going to do for your interview with her.”
“Oh. Zasu and I were actually—”
“Hey, Zasu. I think Georgina’s idea for Aloha’s interview sounds great. Would you mind letting her take that one?”
“Of course not. That’s fine with me.”
“Great. How about you interview Savage and Endo? They’re both around here somewhere. Maybe you could touch base with them now.”
“Oh. Okay. Sure thing.”
“I saw Endo playing corn hole a few minutes ago,” Aloha says.
“I’ll wander over there now,” Zasu says.
“Great idea.” When she leaves, I turn to Aloha. “Nail something down with Georgina. I want her to get the best interviews.”
She bats her eyelashes. “Aw, Reed. Is someone a smitten kitten?”
“Just do it, Aloha.”
I head back to the main room to look for Henn, and spot Georgina talking to Isabel across the room in a corner.
Of course, I stop and watch for a moment.
It’s something I’ve been doing all night—secretly watching Georgina as she charms my artists and friends.
I’ve loved seeing how seamlessly Georgina fits into my world.
How she lights up everyone who encounters her, the same way she lights up my house when she walks through the front door.
But, also, I’ve been watching Georgina from afar all night because I’ve been guarding her. Making sure nobody hits on her.
Georgina wants my artists to think my relationship with her is purely professional—so I’ve respected her wishes and kept my distance tonight.
But the downside of me keeping my distance is that none of my artists knows the hot-as-fuck reporter from Rock ‘n’ Roll is taken.
Indeed, they think she’s fair game. Frankly, it’s been a crazy-making situation for me, not being able to kiss her in front of everyone to make it abundantly clear she’s all mine.
As I watch Georgina and Isabel talk, it seems to me things are going well. They’re smiling and looking friendly. After a bit, the women hug, which tells me Georgina has landed an in-depth interview, and then Isabel heads off into the party.
I take two steps toward Georgina, intending to head over to her, when Savage from Fugitive Summer swoops in on his mark.
Motherfucker. The pair high-fives enthusiastically, which tells me this isn’t their first meeting of the night.
Fuck. They chat enthusiastically, their body language familiar and highly friendly.
But I keep my distance, out of respect for Georgina’s wishes.
I let her do her job. But when Savage puts his hand on Georgina’s shoulder—and then nonchalantly moves a lock of Georgina’s hair off her shoulder—all bets are off.
My heart thundering, I march through the crowd, and straight to the pair.
“I need to speak with you,” I bark to Savage.
“Can it wait? Georgina and I—”
“It can’t wait. Follow me.”
I grab his sleeve and pull him with me, leaving Georgina standing in shocked stillness, her mouth in the shape of a perfect “O.”
“Reed, come on, man. You’re cock-blocking me.”
Damn straight, I am.
I lead him around a corner and into an empty hallway and whirl around.
“Do not hit on the Rock ‘n’ Roll reporter.”
He shakes me off him. “She’s hot as hell.”
“She’s hands-off.”
“Who says?”
I pause. Fuck. I promised Georgie. “She’s here to do a job. Not to get hit on. I promised her boss nobody would hit on her.”
He scoffs. “I think we should let her decide if she wants to get hit on or not.”
“Go find the other writer. Her name is Zasu. She’s been assigned to do your interview.”
“Georgie and I have great chemistry. And we already have the whole thing figured out.”
“You’re doing an interview with Zasu. It’s not a request.”
He leans his shoulder against the wall of the hallway. “You want Georgina for yourself, don’t you?”
“My motivations don’t matter. The only thing you need to know is the owner of your label is telling you she’s off-limits. Now, go find Zasu.”
He pulls out a cigarette and slips it into his mouth. “Got a light?”
“No.”
He pulls the cigarette out of his mouth, winks at me, and saunters out of the room, throwing over his shoulder. “You’re too old for her, anyway, man. She’s only twenty-one.”
Fuck.
I run my palm through my hair and take a deep breath and leave the hallway.
Quickly, I spot Henn at one of the bars with Hannah, Josh, and Kat, so I beeline over there.
“Old Man Rivers!” Josh calls out when he sees me. He’s been calling me that nickname since our college days, but, in this particular moment, I’m not amused.
“Don’t call me that tonight. And order me a shot of tequila.”
Not surprisingly, everyone but preggers Kat enthusiastically joins me in doing a shot. After which, I lean into Henn’s shoulder. “Have you gotten access to his devices yet?”
Henn rolls his eyes. “Not since you asked me about it at the pool this afternoon.”
“Why hasn’t the bastard clicked on any of your phishing emails yet?”
“Sometimes, these things take time. But don’t worry. There are other ways to skin this cat. I’ll focus on it first thing Monday morning, once Hazel’s party is behind me.”
“Can you work on it tomorrow before Hazel’s party? I’m going to explode if I don’t get the ball rolling on this as soon as possible, Henny. I need you to do this for my mental health.”
“Who is this guy?”
I pause, weighing how much I can divulge to my best friend without feeling like I’m betraying Georgina’s confidence.
Henn is one of two people in the world—the other being Josh—I trust completely.
One of two people who get me completely.
And, besides all that, if I expect Henn, a white hat hacker, to use his superpowers to completely destroy someone, I’m going to have to convince him he’s using his superpowers for good.
“This is confidential.”
“Of course.”
“Not even Hannah, Henn.”
“I understand.”
I pause. “Gates was Georgie’s teacher in high school. Her senior year, he pinned her arms behind her back and kissed her against her will. He tried to rape her, but she ran away screaming.”
“Holy shit.”
My heart is pounding. My blood simmering. “It fucked her up, Henn. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but she’s traumatized.”
“Understandably. There’s so much that’s wrong about all that. I don’t even know where to begin.”
“I want to destroy him, Henny. Well, actually, what I really want to do is strangle the life out of him with my bare hands. But since I don’t want to go to prison, I’ll settle for ending life as he knows it.”
Henn’s jaw sets. “I’m on it. I’m pretty drunk right now, and I’ve got Hazel’s party to deal with tomorrow. But I’ll get access as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, brother. I don’t know how much longer I can keep myself from driving to the Valley and handling him myself.”
“Don’t do that.” He pats my shoulder. “Have a drink. Actually, have several.”
“I already have.”
“Have some more.”
He turns to the bartender and orders a gin and tonic for me, just as the Fantastic Four, as they call themselves—Aloha and her husband, Zander, and Keane Morgan and his wife, Maddy—reach the bar where my group is standing.
“No, I haven’t talked to Georgina yet,” Aloha says to me, before I’ve said a word. “We’ve been dancing.”
“Well, chop, chop.”
“Okay, okay.” But when the DJ starts playing “Sweet but Psycho” by Ava Max, Aloha shrieks and pulls Maddy, Hannah, and Kat to the dance floor.
When the ladies are gone, Henn addresses Zander and Keane. “Hey, do either of you have any weed on you? Reed needs to take the edge off.”
“Are there dicks in gay porn?” Keane says, holding up a joint.
“Do me a favor and take Reed onto the patio to smoke that thing. He needs something more than a gin and tonic to keep some homicidal thoughts he’s having under wraps.”
“Homicidal thoughts?” Keane says. “That’s no bueno. Come on, Reed. Z and I will fix you right up.”