Chapter One
I hitched the strap of my purse up over my shoulder, took a deep breath, and prepared to enter the lion’s den. Almost literally, considering the people on the other side of the door would determine if I survived the next half a year.
Feeling like a new kid at a new school, I looked down at my clothes, second guessing my choice for the fifth time since I got dressed. Not that what I wore really mattered. In the nice slacks and elbow length shirt I’d chosen or a real suit or jeans or pajama pants, I wasn’t going to be any more comfortable with what I was about to do.
And even though I thought the pants managed to minimize the size of my butt somewhat and the light shirt distracted from my distinctly pear-shaped body, they couldn’t do magic. And certainly couldn’t erase my history.
So I took a moment to remind myself what the point of all this was. I’d come up with three good reasons. First, I needed the money. A steady paycheck would make all the difference. Second, subletting my apartment for six months would not only save me in rent, I’d actually be making a profit, assuming my sublet didn’t trash the place. Number two probably should have been a sub-item of number one, but it felt important enough to make its own entry on the list. And third, I needed to get away. Far away from my regular life. A vacation on a deserted island wasn’t in the budget, so this would have to do.
While I stood musing, the door opened.
“Are you coming in?”
“Yes. Sorry,” I said to the man looking down at me.
“Good. I only have a few moments to introduce you to the boys before my meeting.”
My heart skipped a beat. He was going to leave me alone with them? “Of course. I’m ready, Ryan.”
“Very good, Rebecca.” I winced. During my interviews he’d refused to call me Becca, and it seemed that trend continued almost a month later. But you don’t correct your boss on your first day of work, so I said nothing. He stepped aside and I walked past him into the room. His tall skinny frame made me feel even shorter, a feat I’d thought impossible.
I entered the room and plastered a pleasant smile on my face, hoping it hid my nerves.
The lounge was full of people. Some I recognized and many I didn’t. There was an air of celebration, blaring music, loud boisterous laughter, a lot of alcohol, and lots of attractive bodies draped casually all over the furniture.
From behind me Ryan yelled to be heard over the din. “Children, please. A moment of quiet.”
I could practically feel him glaring at them while the level of noise slowly lowered.
“Thank you. This,” he continued, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Is Rebecca Hall, my new assistant. She’ll be joining us for the European leg of the tour, and possibly longer, depending on how things go.”
There were a few muttered greetings, but most of the people in the room barely glanced at me and then went back to what they were doing before.
“I’m not done. As you know, your new management team has decided that given my close relationship with the band, it makes sense for me to serve as tour manager until someone else can be found to fill this position. And, of course, I am honored to do so. However, with my other responsibilities as well, I will be very busy. Normally I would never entrust your care to anyone else, but in this case I must.”
The hands on my shoulders squeezed hard enough to bruise and I could hear him gritting his teeth.
“Therefore, for your day-to-day needs, Rebecca will be the point person. She will be available to you twenty-four hours a day for any requirement or desire.”
A girl in a tiny tube dress snickered.
“Rebecca has been briefed on all of her duties, but as you know, we all work for you. Anything you need, anytime. If she can’t provide it, she will find someone who can. And when you inevitably get in trouble, it will be her job to get you out of it without alerting the press or the authorities.
I hitched the strap of my purse up over my shoulder, took a deep breath, and prepared to enter the lion’s den. Almost literally, considering the people on the other side of the door would determine if I survived the next half a year.
Feeling like a new kid at a new school, I looked down at my clothes, second guessing my choice for the fifth time since I got dressed. Not that what I wore really mattered. In the nice slacks and elbow length shirt I’d chosen or a real suit or jeans or pajama pants, I wasn’t going to be any more comfortable with what I was about to do.
And even though I thought the pants managed to minimize the size of my butt somewhat and the light shirt distracted from my distinctly pear-shaped body, they couldn’t do magic. And certainly couldn’t erase my history.
So I took a moment to remind myself what the point of all this was. I’d come up with three good reasons. First, I needed the money. A steady paycheck would make all the difference. Second, subletting my apartment for six months would not only save me in rent, I’d actually be making a profit, assuming my sublet didn’t trash the place. Number two probably should have been a sub-item of number one, but it felt important enough to make its own entry on the list. And third, I needed to get away. Far away from my regular life. A vacation on a deserted island wasn’t in the budget, so this would have to do.
While I stood musing, the door opened.
“Are you coming in?”
“Yes. Sorry,” I said to the man looking down at me.
“Good. I only have a few moments to introduce you to the boys before my meeting.”
My heart skipped a beat. He was going to leave me alone with them? “Of course. I’m ready, Ryan.”
“Very good, Rebecca.” I winced. During my interviews he’d refused to call me Becca, and it seemed that trend continued almost a month later. But you don’t correct your boss on your first day of work, so I said nothing. He stepped aside and I walked past him into the room. His tall skinny frame made me feel even shorter, a feat I’d thought impossible.
I entered the room and plastered a pleasant smile on my face, hoping it hid my nerves.
The lounge was full of people. Some I recognized and many I didn’t. There was an air of celebration, blaring music, loud boisterous laughter, a lot of alcohol, and lots of attractive bodies draped casually all over the furniture.
From behind me Ryan yelled to be heard over the din. “Children, please. A moment of quiet.”
I could practically feel him glaring at them while the level of noise slowly lowered.
“Thank you. This,” he continued, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Is Rebecca Hall, my new assistant. She’ll be joining us for the European leg of the tour, and possibly longer, depending on how things go.”
There were a few muttered greetings, but most of the people in the room barely glanced at me and then went back to what they were doing before.
“I’m not done. As you know, your new management team has decided that given my close relationship with the band, it makes sense for me to serve as tour manager until someone else can be found to fill this position. And, of course, I am honored to do so. However, with my other responsibilities as well, I will be very busy. Normally I would never entrust your care to anyone else, but in this case I must.”
The hands on my shoulders squeezed hard enough to bruise and I could hear him gritting his teeth.
“Therefore, for your day-to-day needs, Rebecca will be the point person. She will be available to you twenty-four hours a day for any requirement or desire.”
A girl in a tiny tube dress snickered.
“Rebecca has been briefed on all of her duties, but as you know, we all work for you. Anything you need, anytime. If she can’t provide it, she will find someone who can. And when you inevitably get in trouble, it will be her job to get you out of it without alerting the press or the authorities.
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