I didnotwant to hear about his conquests.But curiosity won out and I let him keep talking.
Todd studied me for a heartbeat.“I took the seat next to her, and we chatted a bit.She had this kind of sadness to her, but she was kind and intelligent.Great voice and body.We really hit it off.I was into the conversation and so was she—the connection was amazing and I could tell she was feeling it too.”
I swallowed a yawn as well as the desire to askbut was she really?
“And then her boyfriend joined us.”Todd’s tone shifted toward hard.“Fucking guitar player of all things.How the fuck am I supposed to compete with a guitar player?And weird thing is, he had a jacket that looked almost exactly like yours.”
Ice slid down my spine.He was talking about Danny.Which meant he was talking about me.
“And you didn’t even remember me the next time we met.”Todd fixed a frightening gaze on me.
Thank the goddess for public places, right?“I didn’t flirt with anyone else when I was with Danny.He was my universe.”There were few things I could say with more certainty.
“Youfucking liar.”Todd’s reply was a low growl.It would be less scary if he was shouting, but he didn't want anyone else to hear him.“You led me on that night, and you don’t even remember because you’re such a whore—”
“Do not.”I bit off the words.Like he was the first guy to feed me bullshit like this?“It’s not my fault you confused kindness with a pick-up.”
“Then you do remember.”
I shook my head.“I remember who I was and I know who I am.I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but any connection you saw was in your imagination.”
“Bullshit.”Todd’s smugness was back.“You can’t convince me of any of that, because I was there.I was also there when you dumped your precious guitar player the instant I offered you a solo deal.”
Pieces slammed together in my mind, and an entire picture formed.Was he really— He hadn’t— “You’ve strung me along for more than a decade because I wouldn’t sleep with you?”No.That was so petty, it belonged in a TV movie.
“Not just you.Every bitch who ever pulled shit like that.You all deserve it, but you were the only one to take the bait.You selfish, self-centered—”
I stood and slammed my palms on the table, not caring that everything clattered and drew the attention of nearby tables.“You pathetic fucking asshole.I’ll see you in court.”
Todd grabbed my hand as I spun away, and yanked so hard I lost my balance and landed on the bench next to him.My skin crawled at the contact, and I struggled to break his grip.
“The offer is simple, gorgeous.”He pressed his mouth to my ear and my stomach lurched.“Sleep with me, and I’ll kill the contract.You were enough of a whore to leave for fame, and you can be a whore one more time and fuck me.”
I yanked free and stumbled back a few steps.I didn’t care who was watching us.“Keep your filthy dick away from me.”I spoke loud enough the entire section would hear.“Anything else you have to say to me can go through my lawyer, whose information will be in my next complaint response.”
I turned and stalked out of the restaurant, and was halfway to my car when my phone buzzed with a text from Todd.
We both know you can’t afford a lawyer.Offer stands.
“Fuck you.”I screamed at the screen before jamming the device in my purse.
This was real.This was actually happening.I’d been hit on and groped and worse by my share of creepers, but this…
And it didn’t matter, because I was still stuck in this shitty contract, working with him.
Twenty
Brandon
I was coming unhinged.My mind was in tatters, at that point between the high of inspiration and the crash of exhaustion the next morning.
I was falling apart and I needed to pull myself back together.Going off on Adam this morning was a mistake.The last thing I wanted was to push him out of my life, regardless of the past.Regardless of the different ways we approached life, I’d never forgive myself if I lost Adam.If I let the same thing happen to him that happened to our father.
That thought was fixed in my mind as Danny told me Adam was indirectly responsible for our company assets being stolen.
No, that wasn’t right—the responsibility lay with me.I’d given Adam access, and that made this my fault.I’d wasted more than a week of Luna’s time.Danny’s.Cole’s.Phillip’s.I’d cost the company money we shouldn’t have had to spend.This was on me.
I assured Danny I was fine, and forced my way through the rest of the work day.