Anna swallowed hard. Now that she was experiencing it firsthand, she remembered reading a few vague references to Eden having a fallout with her parents early in her career. Indignation burned in Anna’s chest for whatever Eden had been through.
“Richard Sandowski,” Eden’s father said, extending a hand toward Anna. “Are you Eden’s assistant?”
She took it, already anticipating his crushing grip. Anna did her best to match it. “Anna Moss. I’m the opening act. I just stopped in to congratulate Eden on the show, the same as you.”
“Good to meet you.” He gave her hand several hard pumps, and she refused to flinch. “Regretfully, Cathy and I didn’t arrive early enough to see the opening act.”
“Oh, that’s okay. We’re all here to see Eden anyway,” Anna said. Richard finally released her hand, and she stepped back against the wall.
Eden glanced at her, then back at her parents. “Thank you for coming.”
Her mother nodded. “Honestly, I was surprised to hear that you had an opening act for this tour. I thought you’d moved past the need for that years ago.”
Anna blinked at her, suddenly remembering what David had told her, that Eden needed the boost from Anna’s name to sell out the tour. She’d thought he was bullshitting her, but ithadsold out the day Anna’s name was announced. Even if it was true, Anna didn’t want Eden to have to admit it to her parents.
“An opening act isn’t a measure of my success,” Eden said. “I’m honored to have Anna on tour with me.”
Honored.Now Anna was blushing. If the circumstances hadn’t been so otherwise stifling, she would have definitely swooned at this unexpected compliment from her idol. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Cathy cleared her throat. “Actually, we stopped by to extend an invitation to lunch tomorrow. Peter will be there. He’s certain he could have helped you avoid the drop in sales with your last album. I’ve heardhis plan to get you back on track, and it’s a good one. He’d be willing to take you back as a favor to us.”
Eden seemed to get taller then, chin up, eyes flashing. “I’m fully booked with tour press tomorrow and perfectly satisfied with my current representation.”
“That attitude is unbecoming,” Richard snapped. “You’d do well to listen to us. God knows how much more successful you might be if you’d been less headstrong.”
A muscle in Eden’s jaw clenched, and Anna wondered what she wasn’t saying. Her parents hadn’t congratulated her or given her a single compliment on her performance tonight. All they’d done was talk to her like she was a petulant child, and Anna felt the irrational urge to call them on it.
“I’m not rehiring Peter.” Eden’s tone was flat and dull but hard. Like flint. Anna had the impression that if she struck stone, she might spark, and wow, that was unexpectedly sexy.
“You’ll reconsider that position after you hear what he has to say,” her father said. “Peter and I have always known what’s best for your career.”
Oh,hellno! Anna had had enough. She pushed away from the wall before she could stop herself. “Eden has been the top-earning female performer in America for over a decade. She’s the benchmark that the rest of us measure ourselves against, so I’d say she’s done anexcellentjob of managing her career, actually.”
Just like that, all eyes were on Anna. Eden’s lips parted silently, and her wide blue eyes blazed into Anna’s, but was that a spark of anger ... or gratitude?Please let it be gratitude.After a beat of shocked silence, Eden’s parents spoke almost simultaneously.
“I don’t recall anyone asking your opinion,” Cathy said, her voice dripping venom, while Richard barked, “That was absolutely uncalled for, young lady.”
Anna shrugged helplessly. She didn’t regret what she’d said ... unless she’d upset Eden.
“I’m not going to the meeting with Peter,” Eden told her parents, ignoring Anna’s outburst. “But thank you for stopping by.” Her gaze fixed on someone outside Anna’s line of vision, and she gave a faint nod.
Paris stepped into the room. “If you’ll follow me, Mr.and Mrs.Sandowski, I’ll show you out.”
“We aren’t finished here,” Richard said.
Eden’s chin went up. “Actually, we are.”
“Tomorrow at noon,” her mother said over her shoulder as she turned to leave. “Be there, Eden.”
Eden didn’t respond. Her parents left the dressing room, and Paris closed the door behind them. Eden stood there for a long moment, just staring at the door. Anna’s heart was racing, and oh God, had she really just called out Eden’s parents like that? Was Eden mad about it? The dressing room was too quiet. Then Eden exhaled heavily. She pressed a hand against her forehead, swaying slightly.
“Whoa, hey.” Anna grabbed Eden’s hand. It was cold and clammy. She tugged Eden toward the couch. “Maybe you should sit for a minute. You walked right off the stage into ... that.”
Eden let out a humorless laugh and dropped onto the couch, head back and eyes closed.
“Do you want me to go?” Anna asked.
Eden huffed. “You’ve already seen ...” She waved a hand in the direction of the door. “So you might as well stay.”
