“Before you sign this one, we should go over the rules so there’s no confusion and you understand exactly what’s expected of you.” His gaze turns hard. “Because if you break any of them? I’ll drop your ass off at whatever city we happen to be driving through. Understand?”
I hate both his tone and his threats, but I bite my tongue since this is important.
“Got it.” I motion for him to keep going. “What are the rules?”
“Of course, we’d like Phoenix to be sober and all that jazz. But more imperative than that…we’d like him to be in control.”
“Control…meaning?”
“Nothing that hits the online gossip sites, tabloids, or social media.” He makes a face. “Such as the recent video in which he had sex on top of a bar at a hotel while blitzed out of his mind.”
Lovely.
“Simply put,” he continues. “Your job is to keep him out of the news, out of trouble, and off hard drugs. I want him performing at his maximum capacity during every single show. Are we clear?”
“Yes.” Although I need him to clarify something. “Phoenix never had an issue with drugs when I knew him. How long has this been going on?”
Chandler’s professional demeanor morphs into something a lot more human. “While Phoenix never missed a party and dabbled from time to time, it’s never been this bad. Ever since we lost Josh…he’s been stuck in a downward spiral.” He rubs his chin. “Hopefully, things improve soon, or we’ll have another dead band member on our hands. Only someone with his talent can’t be replaced, so we’ll be screwed.”
“Right.”
He’s not worried about Phoenix because he gives a shit, but because his death would impact his bottom line.
Not that it concerns me. I don’t care.
He clears his throat. “Anyway, tonight he’s in a suite, but going forward, you’ll have adjoining rooms. You’ll also have the key to his room in case he locks you out.”
“We have to sleep in the same room tonight?” I bite out.
“Yes. I wasn’t aware you were joining us until last minute, remember?” He takes a breath. “Anyhoo, there are six bunks on the tour bus and one very small bedroom in the back that’s mine.”
At least it’s a whole lot better than sleeping in the same room. “Okay.”
“You’ll be expected to accompany him everywhere,” he carries on. “Even the bathroom if need be.”
Hard pass.
“I’m not following him into the bathroom.”
Those beady eyes become tiny slits. “Then you run the risk of being fired in the event he does drugs, goes apeshit, and ends up on the news again.”
Dammit. “I’ll pat him down beforehand.”
“It’s your money at stake.”
The driver slows to a stop in front of a hotel.
I’m about to gather my purse and luggage, but he stops me. “Not so fast. We haven’t gone over the most important rule.”
What’s more important than keeping him out of trouble?
“Which is?”
“There is to be absolutely no sexual relations between you two. We hired you specifically, so we don’t have to worry about that.” He crosses his arms. “Screw anyone else you want, but under no circumstances are you to ever screw him. Understood?”
Oh, I’ll be screwing him all right. Just not the way Chandler thinks.
“Trust me. There’s no way I’d ever have sex with him.”
“His suite is at the end,” Chandler says as he leads me down a long hallway.
Not that I need directions. The sounds of people partying are unmistakable.
When we reach the double doors, he hands me a key.
“Good luck.”
That’s all I get before he turns and walks away.
Thanks, Dicky.
Squaring my shoulders, I force myself to take a deep breath as I grab my suitcase with one hand and swipe the key card with my other.
The muffled noises I heard in the hallway are now so loud I wince as I cart my luggage inside.
“All right, everyone ou— ”
Words die in my throat…because there he is.
My mouth falls open as I peer up at him—and then down at the not one, but two, half-dressed women giving him a blow job in the middle of the room—while others carry on partying around them. Like this is completely normal behavior.
I’m too shocked to speak as I gape at him.
Despite my animosity—and disgust—Phoenix is still utterly gorgeous and mesmerizing.