Page 20 of Ravaged By Lust

Maddie elbows him in the side. “That’s not very helpful, Axel.”

“Ah, no pressure or anything,” I reply. “Everything I’ve ever worked for hinges on this meeting. Got it.”

I already knew all that, but hearing it from Axel doesn’t help. Maybe I should turn around now and head back home. I’m only going to fail at any public performance in front of this record producer anyway. What the hell was I thinking coming here in the first place?

“You can stay here in our house,” Axel suggests. “We’ve got plenty of space. And bedrooms.”

“Yep, Chloe,” Maddie says. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you’ll like.”

“Thank you,” I reply. “But like with Mickey Miller, I’ll prefer to do things myself. I’ve booked a temporary place to stay on an app already.”

“I get you,” Maddie says, nodding again.

I check the time on my phone. “I actually have to start heading over there now.”

“I can drive you,” Axel says, rising from his stool.

“I’m okay, I’ll get a taxi. Stay here and look after your lovely pregnant girlfriend.”

“Hey, I’ve literally just tested positive. I’m not immobile.”

“You sure?” Axel asks me.

“I want to do this all myself,” I reply. “I hope you don’t take that badly. I just don’t want a repeat of what happened in high school.”

Axel sits back down. “I understand.”

I say goodbye to Maddie. I tell her we’ve got to meet up in the next few days, and she gives me good luck for the meeting. I collect my bags and head out the front door.

I order a taxi on my phone. The app says it’s going to be ten minutes. I’m happy to wait outside the house. Just me. Alone.

Okay, Los Angeles. Give me your best shot.

I know this is going to be my one chance at success on my own terms. I better not screw up this meeting. As Axel reminded me in there, everything hinges on Mickey Miller’s verdict. But I shouldn’t worry because I’ve spent years getting ready for this moment.

But it’s fair to say my nerves are freaking the hell out right now.

Suddenly, a car pulls up in front of me. Tinted windows. I can’t see inside. It screeches.

This is no taxi.

What the hell?

The vehicle stops, and Bishop Hayes steps out of the side passenger seat. He looks straight at me with a fiery intensity. There’s no doubt he’s here because of me.

He speaks before I even have a chance to react.

“You and I need to talk, Chloe.”

6

SEVEN YEARS AGO

CHLOE

Another night with Bishop in my bed. My room’s window is still open from when he stealthily crawled in here not even an hour ago. A slight breeze wafts in so we lie under the bedsheets to keep ourselves warm.

And to be as close as possible to each other.