Page 101 of Love is a Harmony
A knock sounded on her open door, and she looked up to find Devlin leaning on the frame.
“You look deep in thought.” He walked into her office uninvited.
“I’m busy, Devlin.”
“Yes, I imagine so. Drew Stone’s tour is coming through L.A. tonight, is it not?”
She nodded. “Before a short break, yes.” Drew and the rest of the tour were flying out here to do one show, leaving the buses a few states away where they’d rejoin them in a week. “And I have to attend some media obligations with him beforehand, so I really must finish what I’m doing.”
“Oh, I won’t take much of your time.” He dropped into an empty chair across the desk from her and crossed one leg over the other. “I’d like some assistance with Noah Clarke.”
She raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the pain his name evoked. “He’s your client.”
“Yes, but this news about his marriage has sparked a lot of activity in the media. Interview requests mostly, but Noah isn’t answering my calls right now.”
“He’s in England for his brother’s funeral.”
“Yes, I know, but this is the perfect time to capitalize on the publicity. I need him here. Do you think he’d answer your calls?”
Probably not. She stared at Devlin. Was he serious? “I’m not calling to convince Noah to leave his grieving family for some media appearances.”
“But this is an important turning point in his career.”
Melanie narrowed her eyes. “Devlin, I have been patient with you because you’re young. I forgave your premature release of rumors about Noah’s marriage because you’re his publicist and control the narrative right now. But these rock stars we work for, they’re more than music or sales numbers or media requests. These are real people, and you will never last in this job if you refuse to see that. Let Noah mourn his brother.” She looked to her computer. “Now, I have work to do. I expect you can see your way out.”
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond to her harsh words, and she didn’t care if he did. Melanie was tired of this business, of caring more about the perception of a person than the reality.
Once Devlin was gone, she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her face. People like him were tailor made for this job, and she once thought she had been too.
But wasn’t that why she created Rockstars Anonymous? So her best clients had other people who cared for more than their careers? People who could see that the kind of person they were still mattered.
Maybe she was wrong.
She’d tried to be cold, unfeeling, a shadow of the girl who’d loved Justin.
And she’d failed.
* * *
There was nothing like a Drew Stone concert. The energy. The dancing. It wasn’t merely a concert. Drew put on a show.
The other act had been good. No one would ever be able to watch Beckett Anderson on stage and not fall in love with the country boy.
But Drew was something else entirely.
He strutted across the stage with Lola, his lead dancer and girlfriend, acting like they owned the world. In this place, they did.
The best part of Melanie’s job was visiting the tours of her clients and experiencing the energy and excitement they carried with them. It beat sitting back in her office.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Dax muttered at her side. “I mean, where does this confidence come from?”
“It’s just who he is.” That was the only answer Melanie had. Some people could stand in front of thousands and charm the lot of them. Noah, Ben, and Jo had this to some extent too.
But Dax… well, he’d never done a concert. Despite being the most successful client she had, his fans had never seen him live—it protected his identity.
“I can’t wait to go on tour again.” Ben grinned. Like Drew, he was meant for the spotlight.
“When doesFatehead back out?” Dax asked.
