Page 63 of In This Together

She was jealous of Andrea, heading up a record label. Of Sofia running Sanfia Records. Of Hannah and her gorgeous family.

‘So, Rosalie,’ Clarissa began, ‘what’s new with you? Any replacement yet for – what was his name?’

Whatwasnew with Rosalie? This morning, she had made an investment into a bio-genetics company that she’d been monitoring for some time, in anticipation of its inevitable IPO. Later today, she was going to Sanfia Records to continue her learning. Tonight, she had a daddy-date with Lance, who ticked every box she could think of. A CEO, like Daddy. Living in Greenwich Village. Never been married. No pets. Wanted his kids to be empathetic and accepting. Likes theatre and fine-dining. Oh, and straight. Hopefully, a year from now, she would be sitting in the St Regis with a baby who relied on her for everything. She would be too busy juggling things that mattered to waste time celebrating the death of ashy tones.

She smiled and said, ‘Not much to report. Though I did pick up Louboutin’s limited edition stud bootie yesterday.’

Squeals preceded questions that preceded statements.

‘There’s no pleasure without pain,’ Clarissa said.

‘Are we talking about the Russian or shoes here?’ Kaitlin asked, making them all laugh – all except Rosalie, who was ready to enjoy her egg-white omelette then swiftly return to the real world.

* * *

Rosalie’s cell rang just as she got out of her Porsche at Sanfia Records. Struggling to balance the box of New York’s finest cupcakes in one hand and her purse and cell phone in the other, she managed to hold the phone to her ear.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi, is that Rosalie?’

‘Yes, speaking.’

‘Rosalie, hi, great to speak to you. This is Jenna de Sanchez fromRolling Stonemagazine. I wanted to speak to you about Seth Young.’

She walked and talked with Jenna de Sanchez all the way to the studio. ‘All right, Jenna, let me speak with Seth and we’ll fix a date. It’s been great speaking with you. Tell Leonardo I owe him for this,’ Rosalie said, entering the sound booth where Seth, Billy, Frankie and Sofia were listening back to a track.

‘I have some great news and some less good news,’ she said. ‘I just got off the phone fromRolling Stonemagazine and they want to interview Seth in advance of the CMAs. Now, it’s going to have to be asap, preferably today by phone. I know the editor over there and he’s willing to make this a feature. The next edition is already planned and it’s out next week but they are really keen to get a piece on you and it’s pretty much the best publicity you could get.’

All other eyes in the room had gone wide and were focused on her… in a good way. But… ‘Thing is, I know you won’t like this part,’ she continued, her voice breaking as she met Seth’s gaze. ‘They want to mention Randy.’

Seth stood and moved close to her. ‘Rosalie…’ he said, with a tone that said whatever would leave his mouth wouldn’t be good.

Nervous and suddenly afraid of the bizarre way her heart was pounding in her chest with him this close to her, Rosalie looked past Seth to the break between the tiles on the floor.

She took a deep, steadying breath. ‘Look, you’re this tough, hot soldier guy, who happens to have a killer voice, knock-out lyrics and can play a mean guitar. You’ve also burst onto the music scene, getting your first airplay hit right out of the box and you’re lined up to play at the CMA Awards.Rolling Stonewants the scoop on you. But you also happen to be Randy Jonson’s brother and that elevates you from interesting to mega scoop for the magazine.’

‘You know I don’t want to ride on Randy’s rep. I want us…’ He turned to Sofia and the guys. ‘Sofia, Billy, Frankie and me, to do this.’

She tried not to show how sad it made her that he, like everyone else did, had dismissed her, failed to even acknowledge the part she was trying to play in making him a star.

‘We are doing, Seth,’ Sofia said, coming to his side, where they were both facing Rosalie. ‘We’re the A Team. The interview won’t be just about Randy, and we can make that clear, but you’ve got to appreciate that people are curious about you guys. Like, where has this insanely talented brother been hiding, huh?’

He folded his arms across his chest and sighed. ‘Yeah, thanks to her,’ he said, gesturing to Rosalie. ‘All right, Soph. I’ll do the interview, but I’m doing it for us.’

‘So I’ll call the magazine and say we’re on?’ Rosalie asked, no longer excited at all about helping her friend.

Seth looked at her in a way that almost knocked her from her heels, which would have had devastating consequences for the box of cupcakes in her hand. ‘I’ll do it.’

‘And maybe you could say a small thank you, just this one time? I mean, if only for the fact I called you a hot soldier guy.’

When Rosalie smiled, Seth Young blew her away with a laugh that threw his head back and came from somewhere deep inside him. ‘Thank you for calling me a hot soldier guy, Rosalie.’

She pouted and scowled playfully. For the first time since she had met him, Rosalie didn’t find Seth to be a poorly dressed ignoramus.

‘And I brought cupcakes,’ she said cheerfully, giggling when Billy, who it seemed only ever thought about his stomach, took the box of cakes from her.

‘Let me lighten your load, sweet lady.’

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