CLASS ACT (A BRITISH ROCKSTAR BAD BOY ROMANCE) by Julia Gardener Page A

dyslexia thing getting picked up by the media.”
     
     
    I nodded. “Okay, anything else?”
     
     
    Jared looked around as if afraid to be overheard. “Send me everything you have on him. I want his daily coursework.”
     
     
    “I will-”
     
     
    “And don’t tell Heath that you’re doing this. As far as he knows, you just send me a monthly summary. He’s already accused us of micromanaging him. Let’s not give him any more ammunition.”
     
     
    It was a strange request. “That seems unusual.”
     
     
    “You work for me, not him. He’ll just get distracted from the tour if he keeps getting information he doesn’t need. His job is to perform and sell out shows. This tutoring thing is a means to an end. Not the ends themselves.”
     
     
    I didn’t feel comfortable lying to Heath but Jared was the one who hired me. “Okay, but it’s just a couple weeks of coursework.”
     
     
    “That’s good enough,” he stated firmly. I guessed he wanted to know how badly Heath was doing. If the rock star’s days were numbered, then he’d have to find someone else to manage. Jared could get a jumpstart if he learned that Heath was making terrible progress. “Just keep me updated on his progress.”
     
     
    I watched as he walked away. Jared seemed more concerned with the business than his client’s emotional well-being. Heath had to deal with him a daily basis. No wonder he was frustrated with his record label and its management staff.
     
     
    I killed time by going over Heath’s homework. He was showing steady if slow progress. The major breakthrough had been the use of sheet music.
     
     
    Strangely enough, Heath had fewer issues reading words written on sheet music. I wasn’t an expert on the subject but I guessed it had to do with the multiple parallel lines used in sheet music. They may have helped Heath read better and eventually develop an interest in music. I looked at other dyslexia treatments and exercises as well.
     
     
    Nevertheless, you had to deal with it on an issue by issue basis. Heath’s problems could be unique and require unique solutions. It was important that I give him patience and space. That was the key to approaching a problem such as this.
     
     
    I was so into my work that I didn’t see someone approach me from behind.
     
     
    “Doing homework on a party night?”
     
     
    “Heath!” I said out loud, turning to face the man himself. “What are you doing here?”
     
     
    “The question is what you’re doing here,” he smirked, a glass of alcohol in each hand. His chest was still exposed but he had dried the sweat off his body. “After the party started you were nowhere in sight. I didn’t even see you acting like a wallflower. Did my performance disappoint you?”
     
     
    I smiled and put the papers away. “No, just getting an early start on the coursework.”
     
     
    He handed me a glass. “Take it, Charlotte. You’ve earned a break.”
     
     
    “Thanks,” I said, taking the glass. I took a sip before speaking. “I ran into Jared.”
     
     
    He stopped drinking and his eyes narrowed. “What did you talk about?”
     
     
    “Just how you were doing,” I answered with a white lie. “I told him it was too early to make a definitive statement.”
     
     
    Who was I kidding?
     
     
    That was a straight out lie.
     
     
    I felt a pit grow in my stomach.
     
     
    Heath sighed. “His career is tied to mine. I go down and he joins me on the breadline.”
     
     
    “Technically, he’s my as well boss,” I joked which didn’t help his mood. “If it’s any comfort, I told him you were doing well.”
     
     
    “It is,” he replied. “I didn’t see you at the encore.”
     
     
    I cursed under my breath. Of course he would notice my absence. “I loved your performance. I just didn’t want to end up losing my hearing. I think I’ll stick with the VIP booth.”
     
     
    Heath flashed his boyish grin. “Like Megan? I could always give you a