“It’s funny you bring up what happened in college,” Rowan said. “Because the circumstances were almost identical, except that time you orchestrated it so I witnessed some random girl kissing Luke. This time you set it up to get pictures.”
She looked up at Luke. He didn’t know what she was talking about. “I’ll explain later,” she whispered.
Brett shook his head. “Rowan, I don’t know how you remember things, but I didn’t set anything up. This time or the last time.”
“I remember things just fine,” Laney said. “You threatened to post the pictures you have of me on the internet if I didn’t get Luke in a compromising position. You swore you’d delete them if I did what you asked, but I’d bet my next royalty check they’re still on your phone.”
A small bead of sweat formed at his temple and he shifted onto his heels. “I think the pressure of the spotlight is getting to you, Laney. I don’t have any pictures of you on my phone.”
Walter held his hand out. “Then you won’t mind giving me your phone.”
Brett looked at Walter’s hand and really started to sweat. “Walter. You’re really going to take the word of some air-headed, attention-seeking girl over me? I’ve been with this label for over ten years. I manage some of the biggest recording artists this label has.” He gestured toward Luke.
“Not anymore you don’t,” Luke said.
“What?” Brett asked.
“You’re fired. Whatever you have over Laney, you don’t have over me. After what you put Rowan through—what you put us through—you’re fired.”
“We have a contract!” Brett took a step closer and Luke let go of Rowan’s hand. He was going to need both of his fists when he beat the ever-living shit out of Brett.
“I’ve already talked to Walter. As of an hour ago, I’m no longer under contract with Wild West Records and by extension, you are no longer my manager.”
“Luke,” Rowan whispered.
He ran his hand over her head and through her hair. “It’ll be all right.”
“That’s bullshit! I’ve worked my ass off for you, to get you where you are. You’d be nothing without me and you’re going to give up your career for her?” He pointed at Rowan. “That’s exactly why I tried to get rid of her. You don’t have the drive necessary to succeed when she’s around. You think you’d be a number-one-selling artist if you’d been together this whole time? You think you’d have the legions of adoring fans you have if you were in a relationship? No! You’re where you are because women want you and guys want to be you andIput you there. You think you’re going to have that when you’re married and have kids? You think she’s going to want you touring the country when you’ve got a house full of brats? You think she’s going to give up her career for you? That bitch drags you down. You think—”
Luke was two steps away from Brett when Walter punched him in the nose. Hard.
Damn. Walter might look like someone’s nice grandpa, but he had a mean jab.
Brett grabbed his face, blood gushing through his fingers. “What the fuck?”
Walter pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and shook it out, pressing against his knuckles. “Samantha?”
Once again, she immediately popped her head around the open door. “Yes, Mr. Doll?”
“Ask security to come in and detain Mr. Carlson while his office is searched. Have IT go through his computer as well. Once Mr. Carlson turns over his phone for search, he’ll be free to collect his personal belongings from his office and be escorted out of the building.”
She didn’t even try to hide her smile. “On it.”
Security must have been right outside the door because they entered a few seconds later. One man pulled a chair away from the conference table and wheeled it over to Brett while the other officer pushed him down into it.
“Now, Brett, your phone. You can either give it to me—unlocked—or I can have these nice gentlemen retrieve it for me.”
Brett glanced up at the two men on either side of him. They both looked like they wanted him to choose the second option. He shifted and dug it out of his pocket, holding his thumb on it before handing it to the security guard on his right.
Walter took it and promptly handed it to Laney. “I’ll let you take care of that.”
Laney’s fingers flitted over the screen while Marla looked over her shoulder. Luke knew the exact moment Marla saw the pictures. Her lips pinched and she took the phone from Laney. “You need to make sure they’re not on his cloud as well.”
A few minutes later, she slid the phone across the table to Walter. “I think I got them all. Laney wasn’t the only one.”
He picked up the phone and held it out to Brett, who was still holding his nose. “If I catch wind that you have more pictures—of anyone—and any of them make their way onto the internet, I will make sure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.” He looked at the security guards. “Please escort Mr. Carlson to his office, then out of the building.”
The two men each grabbed Brett’s upper arms and led him out.
