Rebecca stepped into the hospital room and froze, shocked by the sight of the woman lying on the bed. The only color was the cascade of bright red hair. Her lips were pale, her eyes closed hiding the famously glorious blue that was her trademark, her lashes laying against her white skin, which matched the white sheets beneath her.
“She’s going to be okay.”
Rebecca swung around and stepped back, startled by the gorgeous creature behind her. The red-haired woman could be none other than Kara Jamison, Lila’s sister. With that red hair and the same pale skin, the two were similar, and yet, dramatically different. Whereas Lila was waif thin, this woman had curves that absolutely couldn’t be natural. They had to be created by a meticulous surgeon because figures like this woman’s…well, that just wouldn’t be fair!
“Lila is going to be okay,” the woman said again.
Rebecca’s jealousy vanished at the other woman’s obvious distress. The same stunning blue eyes that stared out from so many advertisements and concert posters were in this woman’s face, but somehow, they were different. Rebecca couldn’t really define the difference. Perhaps it was the tears that the woman refused to let fall, but hovered on the tips of her lashes. Or maybe it was just the stubborn denial, the determination in the woman’s shoulders.
Whatever it was, Rebecca’s empathy soared and she nodded her head. “She’s going to be fine. From what the doctor said, she just needs sleep.”
“And food,” the woman said, still staring at her sister lying in the hospital bed. “She’s so thin.”
Rebecca agreed. Lila had lost too much weight, and she’d been a thin woman to begin with. “I heard that you and Marcus have come up with a plan to help her relax.”
The woman’s hand was shaking as she held the Styrofoam cup of coffee. Rebecca laid a hand on the woman’s arm, trying to offer comfort.
“Yes. A plan, but it is all dependent on Lila learning how to stop working.”
Rebecca laughed softly. “That’s the clincher, isn’t it? Delilah…I mean, Lila…she is the definition of a workaholic, isn’t she?”
The woman’s lips stretched out into what Rebecca suspected was a weak attempt at a smile, but the humor wasn’t there in her pretty blue eyes.
“Yeah. Lila needs to just…” She didn’t finish the sentence, just shook her head and then looked down at the black coffee in her hand. “She has to learn.” There was a slight tremor when she said those words and Rebecca knew that Kara Jamison was hanging on by a very thin thread.
“If Marcus has put a plan in motion, it will work. You know him. He doesn’t fail.”
The woman’s eyes moved from her sister. “You don’t know Lila very well, do you?” she said, and there was that humor once again. “Lila has…well,” she looked down at her coffee again. “Let’s just say, we had a tough childhood and Lila needs to….” She breathed deeply. “She needs to succeed.”
Rebecca almost laughed. Delilah James’ music was played around the world, almost every album she’d released so far had reached the top of the music charts. Her music aside, she had a coveted contract with a famous makeup company, a perfume named after her, numerous other endorsement contracts, and her concerts were sold out for the next year.
But Rebecca understood that there was something else going on. Something deeper. “We’re going to help her.”
The woman looked back up and smiled, this time the emotion reaching her beautiful eyes. “Thank you.” She jumped suddenly and shook her head. “I’m so sorry! I haven’t even introduced myself! I’m Kara, Lila’s sister.”
Rebecca took the woman’s hand in hers. “I’m Rebecca Freeman, Marcus’ personal assistant.”
Kara’s eyes widened. “You’re the famous Becca?” She laughed, a genuine sound now. “Lila talks about you all the time! I didn’t believe you actually existed. The way Lila talks about you, you must be a miracle worker!” She shook Rebecca’s hand. “It is a real pleasure to finally meet you. Lila is a huge fan of yours. Several conversations revolve around ‘Becca did this’ or ‘Becca fixed that’.” Those blue eyes rolled and she laughed softly. “Apparently, you’re some sort of genius at everything.”
Rebecca blushed at the praise, not sure she really deserved it, but it was nice to hear. And the words really did ease some of the jealousy she felt towards the singer.
“So…where is Marcus?” Kara asked, looking out the door.
Rebecca’s eyebrows went up. “I’m sure he’s around the hospital somewhere. He was going to check in with the doctors and meet me here.”
Kara turned back, nodding her head, and Rebecca’s body tightened with something she couldn’t really define. That strange sensation intensified when the redhead looked back with speculation.
She couldn’t ask about it since Marcus stepped into the hospital room at that moment, interrupting the silence. “It’s all taken care of,” he announced. “I’ll talk with Becca, get her up to speed. She’ll send an itinerary, directions, arrange for a vehicle, and all the other small things that Lila will need in order to recuperate.”
Rebecca pulled out her notebook, pen raised in anticipation of instructions. Sure enough, Marcus rattled off several things that needed to be taken care of. When Marcus finished explaining, Rebecca looked up at him, startled by the plan. “Are you sure this is going to work? I mean…it’s pretty isolated where you’re sending her.”
Kara smiled gently towards the hospital bed and the sleeping woman. “I think it has a pretty good shot at working. Lila has always dreamed of owning land. Her schedule just never allowed for her to do anything about it.”
The three of them moved out into the hallway, going over the details. Marcus came up with a few other actions and Rebecca offered some ideas as well. When they were finished, Rebecca nodded and closed her notebook. “I’ll get this taken care of.”
“Jenny can help you,” Marcus put in, referring to his administrative assistant who never traveled with him but was adept at making things happen from afar. Where Jenny had gotten most of her contacts and resources, no one ever knew. But the woman was magical.
“Okay, anything else we need to think about?” Rebecca asked, and looked between Marcus and Kara. There was a moment of silence as they all tried to anticipate what might go wrong with their plan, but in the end, all three of them nodded, thinking that this just might work.