Page 38 of Not Another Rockstar
“Get off the car, Bee. We’re leaving before you get arrested.”
He wished her vengeful spirit didn’t turn him on so much.
“I’m not going to be arrested. How’d you know I was here?”
“Olivier had someone from our security team posted outside your apartment, and when I got there this morning to check on you, they said you’d left in a taxi. All it took was a call to Olivier to find out what you were up to.”
He stepped closer, and her smile widened.
“Ah ah. Another step and I take off the side mirror,” she threatened. “I’m a big girl, Axel, I can take care of myself. If I wanted you involved in this, I would have called.”
“I can see that.” He backed off a little. “Olivier told me that you’d promised to pass on the information about the intruder to the police.”
“Given their attitudes at the break-in, I don’t think what happened at my studio was high up on their list of priorities, and I wanted to send Mr Sheen a clear message: leave me the hell alone.”
“I suspected you were coming here to confront him, maybe get him fired.”
“I don’t want to get him fired. He destroyed my work, so I thought I’d give his jeep a custom job.” She would have sounded rational if it wasn’t for the yellow paint dripping out of the doors. “We saw how much he loves neon, so I thought yellow would be the best choice.”
“Okay, you’ve had your fun.” He offered her his hand. “Let me help you down, and we can get out of here before we are arrested.”
“I’m not done yet.” Phoebe picked up the crowbar.
Smashing up the car would attract too much attention. It wouldn’t be long before the sound drew security.
“Look at the gearbox—it’s probably not ever going to run again. It’s ruined, let’s go,” he reasoned, but she shook her head.
“Bee, get off the car and let’s go!” Axel smacked his hand on the hood in frustration.
“Careful.” She pointed the crowbar at him. “Those hands are expensive, and I wouldn’t want to be accused of harming another band member.”
“Have you been drinking? This isn’t like you.”
Or maybe all that bottled-up anger was finally coming out.
“Maybe this is the new me. A me who is taking back control.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face and took a deep breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout, but can you please come down? You can do as much destruction as you want, but you being up there is making me nervous.”
Phoebe’s expression softened, and he thought she was considering it.
“What the hell are you doing to my car?” a man interrupted, appearing behind them.
Given the wide eyes and rigid expression, this was the owner of the vehicle. His thick, rosy skin meant he either drank too much or spent too much time in the sun. Axel winced under Gunther Sheen’s astonished gaze; he didn’t like being gawked at.
“Making a masterpiece, Mr Sheen.” Phoebe bowed, drawing Sheen’s attention. Axel tried not to enjoy her theatrics. “Since you like my artwork enough to break into my studio, I thought I’d gift you a personal commission.”
“You’re a fucking lunatic. I’m calling the police,” Sheen barked, reaching for his phone in his beige corduroy trousers. “Axel, Mr Adler, you should get away from her. She’s deranged.”
Phoebe let out a howl of laughter. Axel wished they’d left when they had the chance.
“You don’t have to call the police, we can settle this,” he said, not wanting this splashed all over the papers tomorrow.
“Axel, butt out, or your car is next,” Phoebe warned.
Axel raised his hands in defeat, but he didn’t move too far from her. She shot him a look that read,Aren’t you a knight in shining armour?
“Please go ahead and call the police,” Phoebe said with a smirk, stepping down from the roof to the bonnet. Her rage kept her steady.
