Page 54 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Only time would tell.
Chapter 22
Damian was alreadyat the label’s office when Fran arrived on Wednesday. The office was a hub of activity. The fourth quarter madness was in full swing and most of the 50 staff were at their desks. Phones rang, music blared and tinsel hung from most monitors. A Christmas tree, decorated with silver and red tinsel, with fake snow tinting its branches stood in a corner. Fran stared at it. Was it from Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm? Probably not, but wherever it was from, somebody had cared for it. Planted it, pruned it, tended to it, perhaps even named it. She smiled as she thought about a teenage Ruby naming Nettie. Ruby put her all into whatever she was doing: singing or selling Christmas trees. Fran did the same with her work. They had far more in common than either of them first thought.
Fran waved at a couple of colleagues as she sat, dumping her bag on the empty chair beside her. It was already weird being back here, away from Mistletoe. Everything in London was so loud, especially in this office where DJ wars broke out every day. The air was thicker. The expectation heavy. In Mistletoe, only the moment counted. Of late, all of Fran’s moments in Mistletoe had been glorious. One particular night stood out as five-star rated.
Damian got up from his desk opposite to give her a hug. “Thanks for coming back.” He squeezed her tight. “Sorry to make you, but Tenny’s not coping. To be honest, she needs more than me. Maybe more thanyou. Could we get another singer to have a chat with her? She’ll really listen to them. When I talk, she tends to glaze over. The social media stuff isn’t helping, but it’s more she needs to speak to someone who’s been there and done it.”
Fran pursed her lips. Maybe that was what Ruby needed, too, to get over her big-stage fright. Fran was surrounded by singers who hated the big stage right now. “Let me think about it and have a word with Jules.” Jules was Fran’s boss and the label co-founder. She dealt with issues far better than her partner, Niall, who tended to flip out and create chaos. Plus, Jules would know who might be available this week.
“By the way, I love your outfit. Those colours really suit you.” Damian pointed a finger at her. “You look alive.”
Fran glanced down at her mustard top and teal-blue trousers. “Thanks.” She bit down a smile. “How are the numbers looking, if we gloss over Tenny’s possible breakdown?”
Damian nodded, walking back behind his desk. “Good. Fast Forward are holding their own with Skinny YouTube Star and Cupboard Boy – in sales and streams. Top three at least judging on the Monday figures, and that’s better than we hoped.”
Fran sat, drumming her fingers on her desk. “Good. They’ve just got to get through a barrage of press on Friday, a gig Friday night, and a TV appearance on Saturday.” She looked up at Damian, keenly aware of her clashing schedules. “They’re not being interviewed on Saturday as well, are they?”
Damian shook his head. “Nope. Just a single performance, nothing else.”
“Okay.” Fran paused. “When are they due in?”
“Midday for rehearsals and pep talks.”
Fran blew out a raspberry in contemplation. It was always tricky with new artists. She remembered Delilah being a nervous wreck. However, Delilah always had steel inside her. Even when she was getting flack in the press and getting trolled on social media, she carried on regardless. The press had linked Delilah to a new man every week, which annoyed the heck out of her. It had annoyed Fran, too.
She clicked on her email and swatted a few away. Only 167 to go. Email was the curse of her life. Somebody a few desks away turned a song up and got moaned at for doing so. They turned it down right away.
Then a hush settled over the office.
Somebody clearing their throat made Fran look up.
The hairs on the back of Fran’s neck prickled when she saw who it was. Delilah. With her long, blond hair and slender frame, she looked every inch the pop star. She’d been at least a stone heavier when she’d started, but the trolls and the cameras took their toll.
Fran didn’t have to look around to know the whole office was gawping. It didn’t matter how many times her workmates met pop stars, their fame always rolled out before them and tripped people up. Today was no exception.
Only Fran knew the look on Delilah’s face was hesitant. Everybody else just saw the chart-topper.
Fran moved her bag and motioned for Delilah to sit.
Delilah glanced around the office, then did so.
“Everybody will get over you being here in a minute, just sit still like a normal person.”
Delilah rolled her eyes. “I am a normal person.”
Fran spluttered. “You were never normal.”
Fran hadn’t seen Delilah for ages, and she’d wondered how it would be when she did. So far, Fran’s heart-rate was steady, her mind calm. It was an improvement on all the times Delilah had made every muscle in her body tense – not in a good way. Perhaps having no time to worry about seeing her was one reason. Plus, Fran had moved on. Having someone else meant Fran had let go of the past a little more. Now, seeing Delilah didn’t cause her to panic. It was almost normal.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were on tour?”
“We built in a festive break, so I’m done for the year until we start the European leg on December 29th. I had a meeting with my producer here this morning, so I thought I’d stop by and say hi to you.”
Damian walked over and gave Delilah a hug. They’d always got on when she and Fran were together. “Can I get you both a coffee?”
Fran could have kissed him. Damian always did have superb tact. “Yes, please,” she replied. Then Fran ushered Delilah over to the sofa in the corner of the office.
