Page 61 of Ravaged By Lust

Chloe blinks. I can see that she is as nervous as hell. She slowly takes in the information. The last time I saw her as terrified as this was when she stepped up on stage in Crystal River High’s gymnasium to audition for Ravaged.

“In front of your team?” she asks. “Live?”

“You’re not going to choke up again?” Mr. Miller asks.

“Yeah, I might be ready,” she blurts out.

Mickey Miller leans back in his chair with a groan. “I thought so. And I’ve also been thinking that I’ll get Bishop to coach you over the next few days, seeing as he’s so keen to vouch for you. You are his responsibility now.”

Chloe’s eyes dart back up to me accusatory.

I didn’t know anything about this. Mickey and I didn’t discuss anything about me coaching her. The producer sits there with a smug look on his face as both Chloe’s and my faces drop.

Chloe goes from terror to disgust.

“What?” she asks. “Bishop is going to coach me?”

The producer grins for the first time all day, his fake teeth shining.

“Yes, he is.”

23

CHLOE

Bishop grabs my arm from behind as I walk out of the producer’s office, clearly wanting to get my attention. I just knew he’d attempt something like this – forcing me to spend time with him, coaching me - hence why I’ve tried to leave this freaky building as fast as I can.

“Chloe…”

I spin around to face him. “What just went on in there?” I ask the rockstar both sharply and as quietly as possible so that neither Mickey Miller nor his receptionist can hear.

“Chloe.”

He says my name again, and it’s freaking infuriating. He leans in close to me, his lips forming into a sad pout. Is he trying to appear… caring?

That is certainly not one of Bishop’s strong emotions.

I rip my arm away from his grip. I’m not having that.

“Don’t give me such a dopey face,” I say to him, rolling my eyes. He really wants me to think he cares? I don’t know what game he’s been playing with that record producer, but I don’t like the feeling that I’m being humiliated somehow. They want me to play in front of a board of suits? And Bishop is supposed to coach me to do this? It all sounds like a practical joke and I’m at the receiving end.

You can’t blame me for thinking that. Bishop has got a past form for embarrassing me in public.

Screw him. I’m not losing my dignity to appease a producer, even if he’s the biggest one in the world.

“You heard what Mickey Miller said,” Bishop tells me. “He’s actually giving you a second chance.”

“Is that what you call it? Sounds a lot like he wants me to entertain his high-flying friends. Here, look at this poor nervous girl who can’t get a word out.”

Bishop stands back. He’s frustrated with me, but he’s deciding to hide it. “This is another chance, Chloe. A lot of people don’t get something like this.”

“And you want me to thank you for it? My savior?”

“Chloe, it’s Mickey’s idea that I coach you for this thing. I never asked to do it.”

“Bullshit. You love that we’re now paired up.”

“I’m telling the truth. I didn’t know about it until just then when he told you.”