Page 18 of For Wrath and Redemption
I wanted to turn this job assignment down, but I couldn’t do that to Conrad. He was desperate, and the promise of a promotion was too tempting. And I’ll admit, I find challenge enticing, and Jonah Hendrix will definitely be a challenge.
If I can succeed here, it will do wonders for my career.
My career,andmy relationship.
The last one has my heart quickening. The idea of proving myself to Conrad, of earning his affection, is intoxicating. Succeeding in this job will prove to everyone that I’m capable of climbing the ranks at Innovation Media on my own, and then Conrad and I won’t have to keep our relationship hidden. Helping his son will show Conrad thatI’m worthy of the title of girlfriend. I’m worthy of a place in the Henderson family.
I ignore the fact that Conrad doesn’t want his son to know about us. He said Jonah can’t learn of our relationship foranyreason. I also ignore my own doubts about our relationship.
I push it away and tell myself that it’s necessary. I’ll sort it all out later. Right now, I have a job to do. I just have to work hard, and it will all pay off.
As the plane takes off, I mentally run through my to-do list. I sent several emails on the way to Jonah’s hotel room this morning. I contacted the firm’s lawyers, as well as non-profit organizations in every city along the tour schedule. When the plane levels out, I take out my laptop and get back to work crafting a volunteer schedule worthy of Saint Teresa.
If Jonah cooperates, I truly believe we can reverse the public’s opinion of him.
If.
I’m not naïve. I know this man is a wild card. I know this won’t be easy. He told me as much, and Sav and Mabel confirmed it. But I’m not backing down, despite my nerves.
I won’t let him intimidate me, no matter how disarming I find him.
The hotel in Stockholm is breathtaking.
It’s a waterfront property with views of the Royal Palace and Gamla stan. The lobby itself is gorgeous, but the hotel also houses multiple five-star restaurants and a luxurious Nordic spa and fitness center. I’ve never stayed somewhere so elegant, and I get to be here for the next four days.
I must look like a starstruck child with how wide-eyed and impressed I am as we’re escorted to our rooms. It’s polar opposite from the rest of The Hometown Heartless. The band members and their entourage are unfazed. They probably stay in hotels like this all the time, and I can’t help but smile to myself because that means for the foreseeable future, I will be, too.
I follow everyone to the elevator, keeping a close eye on Jonah’sback, and wait while Hammond punches in a code. Then we glide quickly to the top floor. We all filter into the hallway, then Hammond starts handing out key cards and rattling off room numbers. Sav, Mabel, and Torren all have their own rooms, but when he gets to Jonah and me, the room number is the same. I already knew about this, but Jonah didn’t, and the way his bandmates have all halted in the hallway, I can tell they’ve been anticipating his outburst.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’m sharing a room with her?” Jonah glares at Hammond while ignoring me. “She doesn’t have to be up my ass, Ham. I’m capable of sleeping without her acting as a watchdog.”
“Sheis right here,” I say with a sigh, and he flicks his attention to me.
“Youdon’t have to be up my ass,” he repeats, then gives me a sardonic grin. “I’m capable of sleeping withoutyouacting as a watchdog.”
I roll my eyes. “I told you. Every moment you’re not on that stage, you’re with me.”
His jaw pops as he sneers at me, and then he turns his wrath back on Hammond. I fold my arms and watch with everyone else as Jonah squares off against him. When Jonah’s biceps flex, I worry that he’ll throw a punch, so I drop my eyes to his fists and find his index finger picking at his thumb. A nervous tic? I store it away in my head, then look back at their faces. Hammond, to his credit, stays relaxed and unbothered. I can’t tell if he loves his job or loathes it, but he has the patience of a saint.
“You said I’d have my own room,” Jonah grits out.
“That was before you flew to New York, got drunk, wrecked a rental car, and committed a Class E felony.”
“This is bullshit.”
“I agree. I told you in Paris. You’re the priority here, and since I can’t trust you to take care of yourself, it’s this or we call off the tour and you check yourself back into rehab.”
“We’re not calling off the tour.”
Hammond nods, then his voice drops lower. It sounds concerned, and I’m taken aback by it. He cares, really cares, about Jonah.
“I know that’s not what you want, and I’m inclined to believe it would do more harm than good right now.”
I furrow my brow at the cryptic statement. More harm than good?Does he mean because of finances? Because of the label? When I glance at Jonah, he’s lost some of his ire, and that confuses me further.
“Fine.”
Jonah punctuates his concession by holding out his hand and letting Hammond put the key card in his palm. Hammond does, and then he returns to business.
