Page 58 of Ravaged By Lust

I’m down to my last dollar, I’m driving aimlessly around Los Angeles, and – worse of all – I’m crying my stupid little heart out on the freeway because my dreams have been utterly, totally shattered. Nothing can solve my problems. I’m truly at the lowest of the low here.

The producer’s harsh words echo in my ear as I drive.

I’m looking for solid talent, not a flash in the pan.

“You’re such a fool coming to LA thinking your fantasies will come true,” I whisper to myself with both hands tightly clutching the steering wheel as I change lanes for the hell of it. What direction I’m going? I don’t even know. I just need to drive, to escape this nightmare.

I decide to call Mom.

“Hello?”

Mom’s smooth voice immediately calms me, and I begin to tell her everything. I tell her how I came to LA. How I saw Bishop again. How I really thought I might’ve had a chance with my dreams and everything as I walked into Mickey Miller’s office, but also how I was being so stupidly naïve. All those years wasted just sitting around in my bedroom writing silly songs and uploading them online for no one to see. I’ve spent seven years working as a cashier, watching my brother and his band become famous, whilst I threw away the best years of my life. For what?

For nothing.

“You did become viral,” Mom replies. “Which means you’re good, Chloe. Talented. A few million people can’t be wrong.”

I scoff. “I’ll make no money going viral unless I can release more music. Better quality stuff. But sometimes people just want to see handsome young men sing, don’t they?”

“Don’t become bitter, Chloe.”

“Bitter? I’ve just had the biggest producer in the music industry ask me to leave his office.”

“Never forget your dreams, Chloe,” Mom tells me calmly. “If your dreams are worth fighting for, then fight with everything that you’ve got. Trust me. I should’ve fought harder when I was your age for the things I wanted. I thought I found true love once, but then I let it go.”

I wipe the tears from my cheeks. “You mean Dad?”

On the other end of the phone, Mom takes in a deep breath.

“I loved your dad, Chloe, but I’m talking about a time before him.”

“Oh.”

I would really like to know more about this story, but suddenly there’s a new notification on my phone. Someone else is trying to call.

“Sorry, Mom,” I say. “Someone’s trying to ring me. I’ll call you back.”

“Okay.”

I switch to the incoming call, and immediately Mickey Miller’s deep voice dominates the car’s speaker system.

“Chloe Stoll?”

“Uh… hello?”

“It’s Mickey Miller here.”

I know who it is.

“Yeah?”

What the hell does he want with me?

“The funniest thing just occurred to me when you left. Bishop Hayes, of all people, stormed right into my office. He says he can help your situation, and, despite my better judgment, I listened to his request. I want to see you again.”

“Okay, like, right now?”

“Turn around wherever you are and get back here in the next ten minutes. I won’t wait any longer than that.”