“You mean Nate?”
I frowned at hearing his name.
She pulled back, staring up at me.
“Your ring is gone, and you showed up here with only your security,” I said. “So you finally recognized he was dragging you down?”
“Very funny,” she commented. “You’re trying to get the story on what led up to that video?”
My eyebrows dipped. “What video?”
Her frown deepened. “Yeah, like you don’t know.”
I brought her body into mine again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But you confirmed that you’re single. Which is everything I need to know.”
It was as if everything I’d thought about relationships, in particular, my getting involved in a relationship, fell by the wayside. When looking Lena in the face, the warnings of my past were no use.
After that, the song ended, and the DJ began playing a fast song. More guests began moving onto the dance floor.
“I’m not interested in how it feels to fly,” Lena said before stepping out of my hold.
“Why not?” I asked with a smirk.
“I’m afraid of heights,” was her answer before she walked away.
I turned, following her with my gaze, watching the sway of her hips in the knee-length, green dress she wore.
“Afraid of heights, my ass,” I mumbled, watching her walk away.
Chapter 5
Lena
I sat on the edge of the hotel bed, my latest cell phone in my lap while my assistant ran down the different people and companies that’d reached out to me over the past week.
She lived in New York, and we touched base at least once a week over the phone or video call.
“Oh, and don’t forget about that trip to New York in a few months,” Demetria said. “We’ve put it off as long as possible, due to …” She trailed off.
“Yeah, I know.” I rolled my eyes. After that video surfaced and my very public breakup with Nate, I’d put everything on hold. I refused to do most public appearances and photoshoots. I knew I couldn’t remain out of the public eye forever. Not if I wanted to keep my career going.
“But that’s what? Three months away?” I asked.
“We could make it sooner,” Demetria offered. “Maybe if you have new music, we could time it right and have the photos from the shoot come out around the same time as your next single.”
My stomach muscles clenched. I bowed over, placing my elbows onto my knees and my head in my hands. I couldn’t say out loud that I had nothing new to offer.
“That won’t work,” I mumbled.
“It was only a thought,” Demetria said.
“I know. Thank you for trying to help. And thanks for keeping my schedule in line.”
“It’s my pleasure. Do you want me to make any calls or have your mail forwarded to … wherever you are?”
I still hadn’t told Demetria where I was. Aside from Rayven and Jodi, who no longer even worked in my industry, I was off the radar. Exactly how I wanted it.
“No, you don’t need to do that,” I told my assistant. “Listen, if anything comes up, you let me know. And I know I don’t need to tell you this, but if anyone asks, you don’t have my new number, okay?”
