Erik reaches for it before I can stop him and opens it. He scans it and then turns it so I can read it.
I have trusted you with much.
You are not living up to it.
You have twenty-four hours to fix this.
—Dark Angel
I close my eyes as my publicist yaps on.
“I need three options based on the information I have given you within an hour or you’re fired.” I say, my voice tight, and disconnect, thumb mashing against the button. Not nearly as satisfying as slamming a receiver down.
Chapter eighty-eight
Christianna
I’m not sure what is happening. Rehearsal has come to a screeching halt, and we’ve been told the owners are coming down.
Erik and Remy walk out on the stage above the orchestral pit. I look down. I can feel the gazes darting back and forth. Much like the flies on the nutria. Invasive, looking for a host, but instead of survival, they want gossip.
I draw my shoulders up. Fuck them. I hid once, and feared for years. Denial and shame killed my Angel.
I look up and meet Erik’s wild blue gaze. He is focused as he strides to the center just above us. We crane our necks to look at him.
Remy stands a bit behind him, expression neutral. Meg is wringing her hands from the side.
What is he going to do?
A hush falls as his gaze tracks over the players.
“Tianna, come up here. Bring your violin.”
Shit. I rise, hearing snickers that are quelled under his focus.
I exit the pit and make my way to the stage. While I do, he starts speaking to those below.
“You know I am one of the best composers alive.”
That’s my Erik. Nothing if not confident.
“What you do not know is that for my new composition, I have had assistance. In this case, I have only written lyrics. All music was done by someone else.”
Murmurs break out. He’s known for being a difficult perfectionist. In fact, articles have been written saying he could never co-write because he didn’t think enough of anyone else to work with them.
I step onto the stage, stopping just behind him.
He turns and moves to me, bends down, whispering which song I should play.
I nod slowly, lift my violin and let the sadness and rage take me.
After the intro, Erik starts singing.
Standing surrounded by people, yet no one will give me the time.
I’ve tried to speak for hours.
I feel dead inside.
