Chapter 19
chapter
nineteen
“You want to silence me? Try shouting over the storm you created.” - Haven
HAVEN
The hallway is quiet except for the hum of the fluorescent lights. Anita is gone, which is good. I don’t exactly want to get into it with her again so soon.
Two guards stand in the middle of the hall, wearing the band’s standard staff uniform. They are blocking the corridor, arms crossed and feet shoulder-width apart.
I stop when I reach them and tap the closest one’s shoulder. I recognize him as one of the guards who accompanies the guys daily.
“Are you going to say I’m a groupie when I get back and not let me in?”
He smirks. “No, Ms. Gaillard. We know who you are.”
“And Anita can’t put a ban on me, right?”
He chuckles and looks at the second guy.
“No, she doesn’t have the authority to block you from Mr. Vale’s room.”
“Great. That’s all I need to know.” I start to walk away, but turn back. “Brett and Rob, right?” They nod. “Do you two need anything from the cafeteria or vending machine?”
“We’re good,” Brett answers. “Thank you.”
I need coffee. No, what I really need is a shower and to brush my teeth. But for now, the liquid pick-me-up will do.
Walking to the elevator, I push the button and try to shake away all the insanity I’ve felt since Cy collapsed. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, and yet it seems like weeks.
Not to mention evaluating my emotions or the gut punch of terror I felt when he mouthed help before falling. Ugh.
Why me? Why does he need me? How have we gone from mortal enemies to this? Me. I’m the problem. I know it. The smart me would’ve made sure he was admitted and alive and then left before he ever woke up.
The elevator dings, the doors slide open, and there she is—Anita.
She leans against the back wall, all casual, and stares at me. It’s like she has been waiting in here. That’s not creepy at all. I glance at her hands and make sure she isn’t holding a knife.
“Well, are you getting on?”
“I don’t know,” I say, very aware of the danger I am in. “Are you riding it back down to hell?”
“Funny, Haven. Doesn’t Cyrus want us to get along?”
I suck in a deep breath and decide to be a bigger person.
“You’re right. If you’re going to try, then I will as well,” I say, stepping onto the elevator and hitting the button for the first floor.
“I see you’ve gotten comfortable as my son’s protector. I’m so happy you’re taking the job seriously,” she says, voice silky with condescension.
I don’t flinch.
“I won’t apologize for caring if that’s what you’re after.”
“Oh, darling,” she drawls, lowering her voice like we are swapping secrets. “You’re so transparent.”
“Excuse me?”
“I know you think that because you’re Auguste’s daughter that you’re special.
You mistake proximity for importance. You’re good at lingering on the edge of things, hoping someone will invite you inside.
Like a stray dog waiting for scraps, you’ve always begged at Cyrus’s feet.
But he played you then, and he is playing you now.
Just because he wants you to shield him from the truth of his own demise doesn’t mean he suddenly wants you to be his girlfriend, or anything else. ”
With my arms folded in front of me, I make sure not to show that her words hurt.
“And you’ve always mistaken cruelty for power. I’ll never understand how you dug your claws into my father’s heart. He’s a good man, and one day he’ll finally wake up and kick you to the curb. That will be the happiest day of my life.”
Her smile sharpens.
“That won’t happen. Auguste loves me.”
“So you say.”
“Haven, please be realistic. I know your type. Girls like you fall in love with guys like my son because they make you feel like you are somebody. You clamor for a kind word, while he keeps you around to stroke his ego. You want him to fall on his sword for you, but you are the one who bleeds. Cyrus has particular tastes in women.” She looks me up and down.
“He wants someone glamorous, who has value. Someone who won’t fall apart the second the spotlight gets hot, or tuck tail and run at the first sign of trouble. ”
I’m so angry that I’m tempted to face prison charges just to feel my hands around her throat and watch her choke to death.
“It’s funny that you should say that, Anita.
From where I’m standing, you’re the one crumbling under the pressure.
” Her glare darkens. “You aren’t his manager.
You can’t control his life. What did you do to make that a reality?
I’m dying to know. Poor mommy can’t handle that Cyrus is an adult and doesn’t need her anymore.
Empty nest syndrome must be tough for you,” I say, and mock sniff.
My claws are fully out now. I’m so done with her. I have been for years, but now…now I’ll never bite my tongue again.
Anita leans in close enough for her perfume to overwhelm me all over again.
“Say what you want about me, but we both know that you’re the reason Cyrus started using in the first place.
You broke his heart. My son is a sensitive, creative soul, and you crushed him when you ran away.
Now you’re back…and I know you plan to ruin him,” she whispers.
“Just like everything else you touch. Don’t confuse his temporary defiance of me for devotion to you.
I won’t let you bring him down again after he’s worked so hard to get himself right. ”
“Wow, you’re delusion knows no bounds. I have no idea what you’re talking about. How did I supposedly break Cyrus’s heart?”
“Please…you know exactly what you did. Don’t play innocent with me. Besides, don’t you have a fiancé or something? Or did you already ruin that, too?”
My muscles flex as I take a small step toward her. My pulse is thunderous, causing a headache to form behind my eyes.
“Get used to disappointment,” I whisper.
“Because I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know what you think you know, but I’ll tell you this.
I’m here to do my job, and part of my job is to protect the band, and that means Cy.
That is what I will do. If you get in my way, I will steamroll right over the top of you. ”
She steps back, mouth twitching with the same hatred she’s always shown me whenever my father isn’t around. She can be as sweet as key lime pie when he’s around, but when he isn’t…
“Enjoy your little power trip,” she says. “But when this fantasy of yours all goes to hell, and it will, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The elevator doors open, and Anita steps out, her hips swaying in her designer outfit paid for by my father. Her shoes click-clack down the hallway like they are laughing at me.
I don’t follow and just let the doors reclose.
Leaning back against the wall, I stare at my faint reflection gleaming in the metal.
I can’t let her win, but I just need a moment. I forgot how depressing and draining dealing with my stepmother can be.
Collecting myself, I pull out my phone and text my father.
Haven: Dad, where are you?
Dad: Just in the cafeteria, talking to Declan.
Haven: I’ll be right there.
I hit the door-open button and step out. Of course, that is when my phone decides to ring. Charles’s face is glowing on the screen, and that same twinge of guilt resurfaces.
“Hey there.”
“Hey, Teddy Bear. What are you wearing?”
I look around in confusion and then check the time on my phone. It’s nine in the morning on a Sunday.
“Um, the same thing I was wearing last night.”
“That tells me nothing. Is it hot? Have you been thinking of me?”
“No. I spent the night in the hospital because Cy collapsed on stage.”
“There is no need to get pissy with me. It’s not like I follow everything the band is doing. I had no idea,” he says, and I can hear the annoyance in his voice.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I walk over to the large window that overlooks the parking lot and try for a reasonable and calm tone. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to pull off either.
“I sent you a text.”
“You did?” There’s a long pause. “Oh, so you did. But still, is that any reason to be such a bitch? I finally have a day off work and want to talk to my fiancée, and you act like this?”
“I’m very tired and not in a great mood. Can we talk later?”
“Forget it, I’ve got things to do.”
“But you just said you have the day off,” I say, and feel like I’m suddenly being gaslit and emotionally manipulated. I’ve had my fair share of both for years and don’t appreciate it.
“Yeah, well, now I’m busy. Talk to you later.”
Click.
Oh no, he didn’t just hang up on me like a child throwing a tantrum.
I call back, but it just rings.
“Son of a bitch,” I grumble and put the phone away.
I can only deal with one of the men in my life at a time, and right now it’s my father’s turn. My head is aching, and my skin feels like it has hornets buzzing under it as I march for the cafeteria.
My father is off in a corner with Declan, sipping coffee, smiling, and eating. I may kill him just for looking happy. That is the kind of mood I’m in. But as soon as my dad spots me coming, his face lights up, and the anger begins to fade.
He jumps and takes two strides to meet me, drawing me into a bone-crushing hug. That’s it, the last of my fear, anger, and everything else evaporates. He is warm and wearing the same cologne that he has since I was a little girl. My dad is home in a hug.
“There’s my Rock Star. You look incredible. I’ve missed you so much,” he says, pulling back and beaming at me.
“Hey, Dad.”
Despite being in my twenties, I feel like that little girl who sat on her father’s knee, in his massive office, pretending to sign rock stars and win awards all over again.
“Sit with us. Declan was just telling me what an incredible job you’ve been doing.”
My eyes flick to Declan.
Really?
“I’m trying, but I haven’t had much time to come up with more strategies to promote them yet.”
“Nonsense. Since you took over all the accounts, the pages have grown, and downloads are up. Die For Me, is trending for the top five right now.”
My gaze flicks between Declan and my father.
“Like overnight?”