CHAPTER 3 ALEXIS
I guess I didn’t consider the ramifications that would come from Alexis Bodega’s engagement.
Clearly my father did.
He’s eating up every second of attention I’m getting because of it, and I just want to run away straight into Danny’s arms.
The urge is strong, but he’s not getting back to me. I tried calling him this morning, but the call went to voicemail.
Either he had his phone off or he’s ignoring me, but he hasn’t replied to my texts. He hasn’t tried to call me except for once last night when I was still accepting congratulations from everyone inside that dumb restaurant.
I have no idea what he’s doing at all, and that’s a little terrifying.
And really, Brooks? A cliché dessert plate proposal? I expect more from a real proposal, but my dad wanted this done publicly and in front of his dad, so he jumped at the first opportunity he had to make it happen.
More cars are parked across our gated community's front entrance than I've ever seen before, and my phone has been ringing nonstop. Everyone has seen the news, and everyone who has ever been even the smallest part of my life is chiming in to wish me congratulations.
Except for Danny.
Not that I expect him to, but it would be nice to at least hear from him.
It’s so hard to tell if these are genuine messages of goodwill for my future or if these people are just out for an invitation. The truth of the matter is that Alexis Bodega’s wedding will be the event of the century. It'll be a who's who of Hollywood elite and the music industry's top members.
Whoever I choose to design my dress will see exploding business as a result.
Whoever I choose to style my hair will be booked for the next year.
Whatever jewelry I choose will sell out in stores.
Whatever shoes I wear will give that name brand a lift.
And the vendors? Booked solid for the foreseeable future.
We haven't discussed the finer details yet, but people are already asking me about everything from the dress to the date to whether we’re going to try for babies soon. And my favorite question of all was whether we plan to tie the knot before my next album drops.
Nothing like trying to get release dates ahead of everyone else.
I don't know what kind of questions Brooks is getting, and frankly, I don't care.
I don't want this attention when it's all a lie. I played along with pretending he was my love interest back when it didn't matter, back when I didn't want the negative attention that comes with having a public dating life.
But that was also back before I had these feelings like I'm having for Danny Brewer.
I don't even know why I said yes. My dad walks into the room just as that thought pierces my mind. Oh, yes. There's the reason for the yes in the flesh.
He's smiling from ear to ear, clearly happy I did what he told me to do. He holds papers in his hand, and I'm not entirely sure I have any interest in seeing what they are.
My phone rings again, and I check just to ensure it's not Danny. It's not. I send the call to voicemail and nod to the papers in my dad’s hands. “What are those?”
“The first draft of your amended contract,” he says. He hands the papers over to me. We didn't discuss exactly what would be in the amended contract, but since I took the first step in doing what he asked me to do, I guess this is his way of keeping up his end of the deal.
“Do you want to give me the highlights, or do you want me to read it?”
“I took out the clause about me having final say over everything.”
My brows lift. “That sounds like a promising start.”
He chuckles. “It's the beginning, but it's also the end, Alexis. I didn't agree to anything more than that. I'm still your agent, and ultimately, I will still act in the best interest of your career.”
“Can we get a clause in there that talks about how you act in your daughter's best interest?” I ask, my anger rising.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what it means,” I spit. “I don't want to marry Brooks.”
“Why are you so opposed to this? You seemed on board with it when I first brought it up.” He shrugs flippantly, and maybe it’s his attitude that’s pissing me off. Or maybe it’s just him.
“How was me telling you to find a different way to fix this me being on board?” I ask.
He's always heard whatever he wants to hear, even if it's not the words I'm speaking.
“Hey, you’re the one who wants the costars, the guest spots on your albums. I'm doing this for you. Don't you see that everything I've always done is because I'm trying to make you happy?”
“Forcing me to get engaged to a man I have no romantic interest in is supposed to make me happy?”
He rolls his eyes. “This isn’t about love. It's about opportunity.”
“You don't think I could get those kind of costars on my own? Do you think I need D-Three in order to see the kind of success that I want?” I’m pushing his buttons, but I’m beyond the point of caring.
“I didn't say that. You know how much I believe in you, Alexis. What I'm saying is this will open doors more easily for us.”
“For us,” I say flatly. “This has nothing to do with your hopes, dreams, or aspirations. It's all for us.”
“If I get some benefits from it, that's my business,” he counters.
I blow out a frustrated breath and hand the contract back to him. “This isn't good enough.” I feel strength coming from my heart—from knowing I’ve found something with someone else. It’s giving me the kind of strength I need to stand up to my father.
“What do you want from me?” he asks.
“I want you to be my dad.”
His eyes soften for a beat at my words. “I am your dad. I've always been your dad.”
“No,” I say. “When you signed on as my agent, I became a client to you rather than your daughter.”
“You don't think we've been managing both well?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I've been wrestling with this for some time, Daddy. But I think now that I'm twenty-eight and thirty is right around the corner…maybe now is a good time for me to work with another agent. I need my dad back.”
I don't miss the look of complete and utter devastation that passes across his face for a beat, but he covers it quickly as his eyes turn hard on me. “Fine, then. Marry Brooks, and you'll get what you want.”
It's more blackmail. It's more convincing, more strategy, more manipulation. I tell myself that it's coming from my agent, not from my dad, even though they're one and the same.
But if this is what it will take to get myself a new agent and regain control of my life…then maybe it's exactly what I need to do.
He stares at me for a long beat then takes that ridiculous amendment to our original contract with him as he storms out of the room.