Page 5 of Her Beastly Billionaire Rock Star
Beautiful was a good word to describe him as well with his long, silky almost-black hair that touched his shoulders. The first time she’d seen him, she’d been intrigued. His temper was the only thing she knew about him, and that was just through little snippets of television she caught from time to time.
Leaning back, Octavia squared her shoulders and grinned. “He does have to be on board, and he is. I spoke with his sister, Bella, last night. She’s assured Malakai’s compliance. What I say is law. For him and for you. Got it?”
So now, not only was Charlotte’s dad depending on her, but Malakai was too. She forced down the panic rising in her chest. People depended on her, and she needed to come through for them.
The facility door opened, and Malakai raised his arm and used a small suitcase to shield his face from the barrage of camera flashes. This was part of the plan, but even from where Charlotte sat behind dark tinted windows, it was too bright. She could only imagine how he felt.
He bulldozed his way through the paparazzi, breaking into a full run before reaching the car, yanking the door open, and diving in onto the seat opposite her. “Go!” he barked. “Now.”
Before the door was fully shut, the driver peeled out of the driveway. Malakai put his head in his hands, cursing under his breath and kicking the suitcase a few inches from his feet. “Stupid cameras.”
“Those stupid cameras are going to document your return to popularity.” Octavia crossed her legs and smiled. “You need to learn to love them. You’ll be seeing them until your band and your label aren’t threatening to dump you.”
“I get needing the cameras, but did there have to be so many?” he asked as he looked up.
Charlotte felt for him. How anyone could live under such scrutiny was beyond her. Everyone wanting to know everything all the time, just waiting for them to flounder and fail. It was a wonder people like Malakai were functional at all.
Since their first meeting, she’d done a little background research on Malakai Raven. He was the middle child with a younger sister and an older brother. All three shared the same color hair and gorgeous honey-colored eyes. Plus, from what she’d seen of Bella, height as well. Granted, to Charlotte, that applied to almost everyone she met since she was less than five feet.
Axel Raven, the oldest in the Raven family, was now a widower. He’d lost his wife three years ago, but so far, details of what happened had been kept from the public. They were both chefs, and her dream had been to open a restaurant. From what Charlotte gathered, Axel had thrown himself into making that dream come true to honor her memory, with help from Malakai.
Malakai brought his gaze to her. “You sure you want to go through with this?”
She quickly glanced at Octavia and nodded. “Absolutely.” Not. She had no idea how she was going to survive this. Her punishment for making the mistake of giving a client all the information.
Octavia liked the business they were in because she liked controlling people. Hollywood’s version of Hades. She had dirt on everyone important, and they knew it. That wasn’t how Charlotte’s father wanted things, but dementia was vicious. A vulture of a disease, picking its victims to pieces while their loved ones watched. It was the reason Octavia was running Charlotte’s father’s company.
“I guess in time we’ll see.” Malakai sat back, holding eye contact with her.
A tiny shiver worked its way down her spine. How was she going to live with this man and keep tabs on him? He was three times her size. All he’d have to do is pick her up and move her before going on his merry way.
She lowered her gaze, silently hoping that somehow everything would work out. Over the last year, she’d secretly been working to cut Octavia out completely, but it was hard when Octavia’s thumb pressed ever harder on Charlotte.
Digging deep, she pulled from what felt like a nearly empty well and said, “I’ll do whatever I have to do to make this work.” Her voice held a level of determination that shocked even her. Maybe her well wasn’t as empty as she thought.
Octavia turned her head in Charlotte’s direction, and even with the sunglasses on, she knew her stepsister was glaring at her. That was her typical response to Charlotte anytime she spoke.
Malakai settled back in the seat of the limo and crossed his arms over his chest. “I guess the same number of reporters will be at the house?” he asked and looked at Octavia.
With a nod, she said, “Hopefully as many or more. We need all the pictures we can get. Plus, they’ll be camped outside the house until you’re finished with the program. And since they’ll be salivating for you to fail, when you don’t, it’ll make it all the more believable.”
“Great.” He rolled his eyes and let out a big breath. “So, basically I’m under house arrest until this is over.”
One of the corners of Octavia’s lips curved up. “You had to know this wouldn’t be a simple fix. Another entitled elitist rock star getting away with murder.”
It was subtle, but Charlotte caught Malakai’s flinch. If the man was as bad as everyone thought, would he have recoiled at the accusation? She’d known he was more complex than Octavia gave him credit for, but this added a new level. What had really happened the night of the crash?
“Why do you always have to be so cruel to people?” The sentence was out of Charlotte’s mouth before she could stop herself. “I just mean—” She stopped short, remembering she’d be spending the next few months away from Octavia. In that time, Octavia could do anything she wanted, including putting Charlotte’s father on the street.
Yanking off her sunglasses, Octavia leaned forward. “Wise of you to stop where you did.”
“I feel as though I’ve stepped into the middle of something,” Malakai said.
Octavia’s nostrils flared as she held Charlotte’s gaze. “I run a company that requires a heavy hand. I keep my employees in line. If they don’t like it, they can always work elsewhere.”
Only, Charlotte couldn’t go anywhere. Not if she wanted to take her father’s company back. If she ever left, there was no way she’d ever have access to it again.
Settling her gaze on her lap, Charlotte held her tongue between her teeth a second. “I love my job. Octavia’s right.” Talk about a bitter taste. Saying that aloud made Charlotte nauseous.
