Page 164 of Paint the Town, Dove
Lions and wolves.
Only lions and wolves.
“How did you not know?” Paisley taunted. “Do you not have a phone?”
“I have a fucking phone I’ve just been –” He shot me a heated glance. “I’ve just been busy.”
“Well, it’s nothing new,” Paisley popped another chip in her mouth, picking a wedge from between her teeth. “We’ve all seen the stories about you. Why do you think I want to gtfo?”
Now it was my turn to snap.
I ripped away her precious bag of chips and crumpled it in my hand. “You will not speak, not a word, until you learn proper English, little girl.”
She scowled. “Please, you’re literally like, five seconds older than me.”
I turned to her bonehead manager and tossed him the bag of chips. “We’re done here. She’ll be of no use to my client.”
“Scarlett –” Tav tried.
“Tell that to Donny!!!” Paisley cackled, throwing her feet up on the soundboard. “He was in my bed last night and the night before that and the night before –”
“Morty, escort this brat out of here.” I turned to Kyle. “Mr. Binx, I suggest a rehabilitation of sorts. Less EDM more… how you say, alternative folk? Could be good for her soul.”
He swallowed, grabbing Paisley by the arm. She was still prattling on as Morty guided her out. “YOU WILL HEAR BACK FROM ME! I DON’T EVEN NEED RYDEN TO BE FAMOUS…”
Before Kyle could exit the room, I nicked his sweaty suit sleeve between my fingers. “Ms. Devora does not utter a word about Ryden or anyone in this room, unless she wants a career-destroying scandal that will make Ryden’s fuckups look like Oreos for breakfast.”
He nodded like a sheepish clown and exited the room. I kicked the door closed with the back of my heel, and leaned against the wall. “Oh, sorry.Was I meant to save that partnership, Tav?”
Mallory face palmed, grabbing her belongings before running out to presumably smoothen things over with Kyle and Paisley.
Morty hid a smile that tugged on my heart.Good Morty.
“Well that didn’t go accordin’ to plan, thanks Red.” Tav wiped the sweat off his brow. “The label brought her in cause she was an up and comin’America’s Sweetheart, if you catch my drift.”
“And she was meant to what,tameRyden? Make him look better than he is?”
“Not tame, maybe deflect,” Tav offered. “Shine the scope on new news, not what happened at Radio City.”
“She’s a fucking child,” I bit back.
“She’s a year younger than you folk, actually.”
“Ryden’s a rock star,rock-star, Tav. You know the meaning? R-O-C-K.”
“I know what you’re sayin’, Red.”
“Paisley is an EDM vocalist. Why the hell did the label bring her in? Nepotism?”
Tav sighed. “Jackson’s niece, CEO of Arc & Shield.”
“Well!” I clapped. “There you fucking have it! Once again, a terrible play from the higher ups!”
“But those headlines… anything’s better than an abuser.” Ryden shook his head. “You shouldn’t have done that, Scarlett.”
Scarlett. Not Dove, right.Scarlett.
“You didn’t even want to work with her,Ryden.” I crossed my arms. “You’ve said it far too many times to convince me otherwise.”
