Page 70 of Love is a Harmony
Now, he wished he hadn’t sent Stella with Dax, that she was waiting on the other side of those doors.
But more than that, he wished to see Melanie.
20
Melanie
It was late when Melanie got home from the airport. She waved to the taxi driver as he drove away, leaving her in front of her building with the small suitcase at her feet. She’d only been gone two days, and it wasn’t long enough. Unlocking the front door, she shouldered through it into the lobby.
At this hour, none of the other residents were here, not like she’d recognized them. Melanie never took the time to get to know her neighbors, and in the last week, she’d been gone even more than normal, burying herself in work.
She powered on her phone as she waited for the elevator and watched all the notifications come through. Twenty-one emails since she boarded the flight in Chicago. Two missed calls—both from her dad—and a handful of texts from various people.
Nothing from Noah.
But then, she hadn’t expected anything.
Once the elevator reached her floor, she walked down the dark hallway and unlocked her apartment, walking into the space that never felt like hers. With a sigh, she dropped her keys on the table in the entryway and kicked the door shut.
Slipping off her heels, she walked into her room and sank onto the bed. She loved traveling, but this time it didn’t give her the relief she’d sought. Being with Drew was fun, always fun, and Piper calmed her with her advice, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling she shouldn’t have gone.
Rubbing her eyes, she knew she shouldn’t go to sleep until she showered and got through at least some of these emails. The job never ended.
Not wanting to move to get to the bathroom, she decided on emails first. Most were media requests she’d deal with when she was back in the office Monday morning. Others were from a new client of hers who had questions. So. Many. Questions. The newb could wait.
One email caught her eye from a local news station.
Ms. Snyder,
We would like to have Noah Clarke on our show. His impromptu concert tonight caused quite a stir among his fanbase, and we will give him the platform to speak if you wish.
-Kevin Brinkman
* * *
Melanie knew Kevin. She knew he’d grill Noah on all the things he wasn’t ready to speak of yet. There was a link in the email, and Melanie clicked it. A news report pulled up. The camera panned over hordes of people clogging the street outside of the bar Melanie handpicked for Noah’s show.
She’d tried to forget this was the night, that she should have been there instead of hiding in Chicago. The purpose of the show wasn’t to draw a crowd in person, but to draw one online. By tomorrow, the video would no doubt have gone viral thanks to Melanie’s team.
And yet… the reaction to Noah after he hadn’t performed in months. His fans loved him, and why wouldn’t they? He smiled into the camera, a full-watt smile that told Melanie he loved them too.
She paused the video and stared at his face. He looked tired despite his obvious joy at the fan reaction. Noah was someone who’d always sought approval, sought love. Maybe it was a reaction to how he’d grown up, or maybe it was an ego thing. But Noah wouldn’t be Noah Clarke if he wasn’t a showman. He was so good at making people believe he cared. Was it because he did?
Melanie clicked out of the email and opened another, this one from her dad.
Mel,
As of Monday, Noah Clarke will no longer be one of your clients. The label is placing him under the care of Devlin Norris.
Melanie’s breaths stopped as her lungs squeezed. They were taking Noah from her? Devlin was a young publicist with the potential to be good, but he wasn’t her. He didn’t care about his clients’ careers, only their reputations.
Which was probably what a publicist should care about.
Melanie forced breath into her lungs. She had to find a way to convince her dad she was best for Noah, that no one knew him like she did. Because when the news about Stella got out—and it would—he would need her.
She settled her eyes on the rest of the email.
I know you’re probably thinking we’re punishing you for your relationship with him, but Mel, this was Noah’s decision.
