Page 12 of Belonging to Them
“Oh, shit, I nearly forgot,” I whisper, starting to scramble off the bed.
Kingston wraps his arms around my waist and hauls me into his lap.“You have plenty of time.Calm down, sweetheart.Take a deep breath.”
He’s right.I have time to get ready.I have a shift at Dorado Terrace, then afterward is my lunch with Helena.I pull in a deep breath and release it, enjoying the comfort of Kingston’s embrace.
“All right,” he says, “go turn on the shower.I’ll join you there and make sure you’re extra clean, you dirty girl.”
* * *
Ella
Helena Tran is probably in her late forties or early fifties.She carries a little extra weight around her middle, her brown eyes are large and perceptive, and she’s absolutely gorgeous.Stylish, secure, everything I want to be when I grow up.
I love her immediately.
“So I’ve watched every one of your videos,” she says once our meals have arrived—large Caesar salads with breaded shrimp for each of us.“What you’ve been doing is incredible, and from what I can tell, you haven’t been riding on anyone’s coattails to do it.”
“Yeah,” I say, “I really wanted to do it on my own.I loved music before I met Sebastian, and I didn’t want him to feel like I was using him.I also wanted to know that my success came from my own work and craft.”
“There isnothingwrong with knowing the right people,” she says, “but I get what you’re saying.Just so you know, if you agree to work with me, I will be leveraging the shit out of all of my contacts—including, yes, Bastian Crown.”
“I’ve gotten to a point where I think I’d be okay with that,” I say.
“Good.”She takes a bite of her salad and chews, considering me all the while.
I’ve changed out of my maid uniform and into a nice blouse and pants, of course, but I wonder if I smell like cleaner, or if I should’ve double-checked that there’s no dirt smudged on my cheeks.
She says, “I have a personal question for you.”
My gut tightens with anxiety.“What is it?”
“If everything goes tits up with your relationship with Sebastian, are you still going to want to perform and record your music?”
“Yes,” I say.I’ve never been more certain of anything.“I loved music before I met him, and if the worst happens and we separate, I’ll still love music.”
“And would you continue to feel comfortable with me as your agent, even when I’m also his agent?”
“Yes, but jeez, Helena, you’re starting to freak me out a little.”
She smiles kindly.“I’m sorry.I’ve navigated a bunch of crap with my clients, and one of the worst experiences is having two former lovers fighting for my attention like I’m a kid in the middle of their custody battle.I’ve been that kid in real life, and I don’t want any repeats of the experience.”
“Understood,” I say.It physically pains me to imagine a life without Sebastian by my side—a life where he no longer loves me.But I force it for the sake of Helena’s question, and finally say, “He would be more mature than to put you in that position, and so would I.”
At least, I hope we would be.
But more than that, I hope we never have to find out.The idea of not having him in my life sends an ache spreading throughout my chest.
“I appreciate that,” Helena says.“I realize this isn’t an enjoyable topic, but it is important for helping to gauge whether you and I should pursue a professional relationship.”
“I understand.”
“This is an extremely stressful career,” she continues.“I’ve seen more than my fair share of break-ups and divorces, and it all happens in the public eye, under fans’ scrutiny.Even the most private couples will find their dirty laundry aired all over the internet.You may suddenly be the subject of intense criticism.”
I nod and take a sip of my lemonade.“I might need help with developing more of a thick skin, but every time a troll comments on one of my videos, it gets easier.”
It’s my own personal revenge.The trolls think they’re taking me down…but all they’re doing is making me stronger.
“Good,” Helena says.“You will have more fans than trolls.The trick is paying more attention to what the fans are saying, and less to the trolls.The human brain tends to focus on the negative.If it isn’t constructive, try to block it out.”
