Chapter 5

Chelsea stared at the newspaper headline with the photo sprawled below it. The entire front page was the story: “Billionaire Rock-star Colt Montgomery” who wasted his money on women and partying. According to the story, which she could not help scanning with her eyes, he had no direction in life and had perhaps already contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

It also implied that he had no use for the money he made and squandered it carelessly. The writer went on to add that he might have recently contracted a disease at the recent groupie hang-out at an undisclosed location only twenty-four hours before.

She shuffled in her seat in the cabin of the limousine. Reading the paper and seeing all the nasty things written gave her the willies. She had no inkling whether they were true or not. What she did know was what she saw, and that alone made her want to go to confessions.

Tony sat beside her with Colt sitting directly across from them. Tony leaned close, moving his lips as he read the print. She could smell his aftershave and sweat mixed in together. It wasn’t a bad odor, but she’d rather he not lean in so close. She continued to read the article, but something didn’t feel right.

“How did they get this?” she blurted out.

The photo was taken in the band’s hotel suite. Only a few people were allowed in there, including the band mates, the manager and herself. Her memory flashed back to that very morning how she walked in on the two women lying naked on the bed and Colt returning from the bathroom in his birthday suit. His manhood had stood erect and pointing at her.

A small gasp escaped her lips at the memory, and her cheeks flushed red. She pushed the picture of him aside and thought about the photo on the front page. It had to be someone with a key, she surmised. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach at the thought of someone close to Colt taking the photo and sending it to the papers.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Colt’s hard tone cut through her thoughts.

Her emerald eyes flew to his. His hazel ones were glaring at her and she could feel them burn into her skin. “Wh-what do you mean?” her voice came out in a squeak.

“You know what I mean,” he grated. “You came into the room. Think about it.”

“Hey,” Tony’s voice broke in with some amount of acid. “You know damn well she didn’t do this.”

“She’s got you fooled,” Colt retorted.

“You’re just pissed because she saw your dick, and you can’t do a damn thing about it. You think that every female who sees it should know what it’s like. You fucking well know that Chelsea wouldn’t fuck you.”

Chelsea flinched with each word that Tony spat. Her eyes widened, and her mouth gaped as she watched the men toss scorching looks at each other. It was evident there was no love lost between the two of them. Colt was arrogant, and Tony was easygoing. That’s what she originally thought. Now, Tony was giving as much as Colt was.

“It wasn’t me,” she said softly, her pulse racing out of control.

“I know,” Tony turned to her, his voice softening. “He knows it too.”

She looked at Colt, who was eyeing them both with hard stares. His jaw was set, and his lips were in a thin line. She tried to keep his gaze but had to look away. He was too intense. The hatred he exuded for her was tangible that it brought some tension in the vehicle. It was so thick she could karate chop it with her hand.

When she chanced another look at him, he was staring out the window. She folded the paper neatly, placing it back on the seat beside him. It was his problem anyway, but she was the one who may have to clean up the mess. Reid was going to have a fit. That much she knew.

They drove for about ten minutes in silence, which was eventually interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. She quickly plucked it from her purse, fumbling to answer it before her grumpy rock star boss could get annoyed.

“He-hello?” she answered softly, almost a whisper.

“Did you get the pass?” Molly’s voice was loud and cheerful.

She flinched, moving the phone half an inch away from her ear. “No. Molly, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. I’m new, and I don’t think having my friend come to the concert is going to sit well with my boss.”

“Okay, I get it. Next time then,” Molly’s voice lowered.

Chelsea heard the disappointment in her friend’s tone. “I’m sorry Molly, next time, okay?”

“Okay,” Molly replied and hung up.

“Is everything okay?’ Tony asked.

She sighed. Was she to tell him? She wasn’t sure. Chancing a glance at Colt, she noted his head was back on the seat with his eyes closed. His lips were slightly parted, and she could hear a soft snore. Good, she thought, relaxing her shoulders.

“My friend, Molly,” she replied in a low tone. “She wanted to attend the concert tomorrow,” she looked at the time on her phone. “Tonight … it’s tonight.” She seemed surprised that it was already a new day.

“What you’re saying is that this friend of yours wants to attend the concert tonight?” he asked.

“Y-y-yes,” she stuttered.

“Then it’s done.” He grinned. “She can enter with you as your guest. Chelsea, you are the manager’s assistant. You are allowed to have guests.”

“I am?” she breathed, her stomach fluttering happily.

“Yes, call her. Tell her to come early so she can leave with you.”

“Thank you!” Chelsea was so happy that she flung her arms around his neck without thinking.

The slight commotion must have awoken Colt because when her eyes flicked to him, he glowered at her and a weird look crossed his face. She quickly pulled away from Tony, blushing wickedly.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized.

“No problem, it’s not every day one gets hugged by a nice girl as you.”

A snicker, followed by a grunt from across the seat apparently caused Tony to look at Colt. He was leaning back with his eyes closed, but he was clearly not asleep as his lips twisted into a smirk and his jaw was tight.

The limo moved along smoothly. Inside, the silence became uncomfortable. She was not one to talk much, but the tension between the men was depressing her. Colt was a jerk, she knew that. Still, it was difficult having to deal with it. Only a few days on her new job, and she was already regretting not taking a cashier job back home. Her local supermarket was quiet and boring, but at least she would not have to deal with the likes of him. She glared at him through slotted eyes.

Norbury was a very small and quiet town. There was a vast difference between the hustle and bustle of New York as opposed to the almost obscure town in Virginia. She’d wanted to leave so badly that she would have done anything … well almost. While searching her local advertisement for a job, she came across other means of getting away. There was the option of becoming a mail order bride. But the very thought of marrying someone she hardly knew scared her half to death.

She shook her head, forcing her mind to think of the new article and the photo. Could it be one of the band members? She doubted it was Tony. He’d never do that, would he? No, she was certain it wasn’t him. It must be either Mike, Andrew, or Cory. It had to be unless one of the girls let someone in.

She picked up the paper again. It made a rustling sound, and Tony looked at her. He narrowed his eyes, and she shook her head, reassuring him that she was fine. In fact, she needed to see the photo once more. She stared at the two girls sprawled on the king-size bed.

They were asleep. She was ninety percent sure of that. If they let someone in, then they would be pretending to sleep. Still, she doubted that. She was certain it was one of the band mates.

The vehicle came to a stop, and Colt raised his head. Immediately, his eyes rested on her before dropping to the paper in her hand. She folded it rather awkwardly, dumping it on the seat while avoiding his eyes. Tony slid from the cabin and held out his hand to her. She took the hand, gracefully extricated herself … until her heel snagged something and she went tumbling.

“Easy there,” Tony said, catching her and steadying her.

She imagined the grin on Colt’s face and the pleasure he got from seeing her stumble. She straightened her back, walking towards the hotel front door rather awkwardly. Her feet hurt from wearing the three-inch heels all night. Tony stepped aside to let her through, and she smiled sweetly at him.

* * * *

Colt could not get rid of those bright green sparkly eyes. Whenever he closed his eyes, they popped behind his lids. As he opened his eyes, they met emerald ones. There were diamond-like flecks in them, which shifted with her mood. He could not figure her out. What was her act? He’d never met such a chameleon before. One minute she was this nerdy girl from God knows where and the next she transformed into a goddess.

The limo came to a halt, and he opened his eyes, which rested on Chelsea. He still could not help wondering about her. Tony stepped out first, offering his hand to her. She took it and stumbled. Without thinking, his hand reached out to help her, but thank God, Tony did the job. He didn’t want to give her the wrong impression.

He watched as they walked towards the hotel door, she with an unsteady gait. It was obvious her shoes were killing her. A small smile played on his lips but faded as soon as he stepped into the lobby and met his manager’s eyes.

Reid was waving a paper. His face was dark, with lips stretched tight and his eyes as hard as tempered steel. He walked past Chelsea and Tony, heading in his direction.

“You are set to ruin yourself aren’t you?” he bellowed. Colt flinched at the venomous tone flung at him.

“Listen,” he started, but Reid was not listening.

“Why do you make my job so difficult? Do you need a new manager?” the older man asked, waving the paper precariously close to Colt’s nose. “That can be arranged!”

“Calm down, Reid, let’s go up to the suite and talk,” he replied to his manager.

Reid snickered. “Calm down? You want me to calm down. Okay,” he threw his hands up in the air, along with the paper. The dismantled paper flew in all directions. “Okay, I’m calm.”

“Suite?” Colt jutted his chin towards the elevator where Chelsea and Tony stood waiting.

Reid stalked away in silence. In just three or four strides, he was standing inside the elevator cubicle awaiting them. His eyes had not softened, and his back was rigid. Chelsea saw the tension in his shoulders. Colt came in and punched the floor number. He stood facing them all, a smirk on his face. She inwardly shook her head, wondering what he found so funny.

She was so deep in thought that she hadn’t realized that the elevator had stopped and the doors had opened. She was headed towards her room when Reid stopped her.

“You, yes you,” he said when she looked at him. “Come.”

She was the last to enter the suite, closing the door behind her. Colt sat on the sofa, leaning back in a relaxed manner. Tony leaned against one of the bedroom door frames and Reid moved past his desk to the window overlooking the city. He pulled the drapes back, and immediately, the city lights flooded in. It would have been a beautiful sight hadn’t there been the anxiety of the moment.

“How long have I been your manager?” Reid asked but did not wait for a response. “What, fifteen years?”

“Yeah,” Colt replied. “Look, I don’t know how they got that photo.”

Reid, who had turned his back and was looking out the window, spun around. He had his hands jammed into his pants pocket. “You never know anything, Colt! That’s your problem.”

“What are you getting mad at me for? Find the one who sent the photo to the press and chew them out.”

“That’s not the issue, Colt,” Reid’s voice registered his frustration.

“What is it, then?”

The manager massaged his brow. “Your attitude towards your own career. You don’t seem to give a fuck about your actions and the consequences.”

“I thought that’s what I was paying you for,” Colt’s sarcastic tone sliced the air.

Reid closed his eyes, nodding slowly. “You think that’s my job, to clean up after you? Fine.” He sighed loudly. “I’ll clean up after you, and you get someone else to make you the money.”

“Don’t be like that man.”

“I’m just doing my job. I’ll run around to clean up the messes you make, and you get yourself another manager to take care of the real ‘managerial’ stuff. Isn’t that what you said?”

“You know what I meant,” Colt replied.

“Colt, you have a concert tonight. If I spend my time trying to fix this, I lose time preparing for what really matters. Do you get that?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“Chelsea,” Reid looked at her. “What do you think about the photo. Who sent it?”

Her heart started beating heavily. “I-I-I didn’t do it, I promise.”

“I know that. I mean who do you suspect?” He looked intently at her. “Don’t be shy, tell me what you think.”

She glanced at Tony who was looking at her. She could not read his expression. Colt’s eyes, however, bore into her. He seemed to be challenging her to name her suspect. A flash of his bare torso crossed her mind, and she felt a spot of heat in her belly. No, she wasn’t hungry, so what was it?

“So?” Reid urged.

“I-I-I think, so-someone who,” she trailed off. Her heart was pumping fiercely, and she had started sweating on her back and behind her neck.

“Who?” the manager prodded.

“Has a key,” she replied.

Reid smiled, and his eyes softened towards her. “You’re a smart girl. That’s why I like you.”

She flushed embarrassingly. “Thank you.”

“That’s means we have a mole,” Tony piped in.

Reid shot him a glance and chuckled. “You watch too many spy movies.” He laughed and shook his head. “Mole my ass.”

“What then?” Tony asked, shuffling his feet.

“Ask your friend, he seems to know all the answers. He doesn’t care. Maybe he sent the damn photo himself,” Reid nodded towards Colt.

“Stop with the crap, Reid,” Colt shot back.

Reid ignored him and beckoned Chelsea over. “Here, when it’s light out, after you’ve had some shut eye, call this number. Ask for Gracie, tell her you are calling on my behalf and ask her to dig around for info on that photo.”

“Gracie,” she repeated, taking the piece of paper he handed her.

“Yes. You got that?”

“Yes, sir.”