“I want the job, Iris.”
“Which makes it extortion.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think he’s like that. He’s been reasonable about all of that. And the company, the family likes me.”
“Of course they do,” she reaches for my hand. “You’re beautiful and brilliant. Why can’t you just divorce now and fake it?”
“These are powerful people, they’d know.”
Iris frowns. “I don’t like it. But…you know what’s best for you. Just…be careful.”
“I have it all figured out. I’m going to play the game as written and then when it’s over, we split, and I keep my dream job.”
“I mean, be careful with your heart, Amanda. I know you. You don’t date casually. But it's because when you do fall in love, it’s hard. He’s got your career in the palm of his hand. Don’t give him your heart too.”
Chapter 17
Callum
“The thing you want to remember is that no one likes a camera hog. But don’t ignore them either. Keep your eyes moving, your head turning and your smile constant. Chin high and give them breadcrumbs. Always breadcrumbs.”
I’ve never instructed anyone on how to deal with paparazzi in the music industry before. I’ve never had to. Upcoming artists are always in the spotlight, so they’re used to it. And even the new ones catch on pretty quickly. Also, they’re supposed to work the room. Hold the limelight. Milk every photo they can because their faces are going to be everywhere. The more publicity they get, the more they sell. The more they sell, the more we make.
But the high tower side of things is a little different. Milking for attention doesn’t look good on the recording side. Our trick is to be aloof. Make it obvious that you know you are important but that it’s not about you. Pretend you are a little too good for that.
“Is there normally this amount of publicity on a random Thursday?” Amanda asks through a forced smile. The camera lights flash endlessly across our faces, dilating our eyes. But she doesn’t waver. She hardly blinks. And her actions are smooth.
She’s a natural.
“During a signing? Yes. We don’t always show face at early listening parties, but Noah talked me into signing with Courage in Crises’ record store tour for their new album,” I explain. I keep my hand on her lower back allowing for several photo ops here and there but mostly trying to move her through the crowd toward Spin-Off’s back entrance. “Basically, the band hasn’t put out new music in a while. They’re an alt band we signed years ago, back when pop punk was all the rage. Ever since Covid, bands have been pumping out music like mad and tacking a tour on to their new albums as well. The wave is HUGE and everyone wants a ride. CnC hopped on the new metal craze, and they have a record coming out in a month. And to pump the fans for that record, they released a copy to fifty vinyl shops around the US who have agreed to do early listening parties.”
“So, fans are lining up at these record stores just to stand around and listen to the new album before it releases?” she asks.
We finally make it to the door of the record store and security ushers us inside. Adrenaline falls as we are finally out of the sea of people and the assault of camera flashes.
“Yep.”
“Do we always make appearances at these parties?” she asks. “I mean no offense, but I doubt a lot of the pleather donning fans know who the suits are.”
I can’t help but grin at her bluntness.
Also, she’s not wrong and her intelligence alone is enough to give me a boner.
I tuck away an image of her for later.
She’s in a mermaid cut, black gown and her long hair was styled by our cosmetic team, pencil straight. She’s also wearing more make-up than usual. Dark, smoky eye and deep purple lipstick. It’s not required that we mimic the vibe of the band we are representing but it doesn’t hurt either. Unfortunately, thisindustry is all about appearances. That and money. Power. You get the idea.
“We do when the band is going to make a surprise appearance,” I answer as we make our way down the back hall.
“Wait. The band is going to be here?”
“Yep.”
“Do the fans know?”
“Nope.”
“That explains the insane amount of security.”
