Page 35 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

As if sensing my thoughts on him, Jace turns and glances at me over his shoulder. He looks over my frame, taking in the outfit I’m wearing tonight, and winks at me before turning back to the conversation with Evan and Donny.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen him so light and full of sunshine before, which makes me believe I’m the cause of it — and damn it, if my heart doesn’t do a little flip in my chest at the thought.

Screwed— that’s the only word to describe my situation, and I’ve got zero clue how to fix it before it’s too late.

The realization hits me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless. I've spent so long trying to reinvent myself, to be the perfect professional, that I've almost forgotten what it feels like to simply feel.

The old Mallory would have embraced this whirlwind of emotions, reveling in the passion and excitement of it all. But the new Mallory, the one I've worked so hard to become, detaches from her emotions.

I'm caught in a tug-of-war between my heart and my head. Every stolen glance with Jace, every secret touch, sends a thrill through me that I can't deny.

But with that thrill comes a wave of guilt - guilt over deceiving Brent, guilt over potentially jeopardizing the band's dynamic, guilt over putting my own desires before my professional responsibilities.

Do I want to fix it at all?

I’ve spent so long running from my old self, but what if I really need to find a balance?

As I watch the contest winner's face light up upon meeting Sweet Surrender, something clicks into place.

This - this moment of pure joy, of dreams coming true -this is why I do what I do. My goal isn't just about advancing my career or proving myself. It's about creating these moments, about helping artists connect with their fans in meaningful ways.

Suddenly, I realized that's what I want for myself, too.

Not just professional success but genuine connection—the kind of connection I feel with Jace, as terrifying as it is.

I want to stop running from my past and stop hiding behind the facade of the perfect professional. I want to find a way to reconcile all parts of myself—the ambitious career woman and the passionate, feeling person I've been trying to suppress.

The path forward isn't clear, and the risks are still there. But for the first time in a long while, I feel a sense of clarity about what I truly want.

Now, the question is; do I have the courage to reach for it?

12

Jace

The crowd’s cheers diedown, but the adrenaline continues to surge in my veins. It’s not the performance high that’s got me wired, though. The empty space in the wings is a reminder of Mallory’s missing blue eyes. Her leaving early with Sweet Surrender left a void that I’m itching to fill. God, when did I become so dependent on her presence?

I've always prided myself on my independence, on keeping things casual. But with Mallory, everything's different. I don't do dependence. I don't do feelings. So why does the thought of Mallory with someone else make my chest tighten?

After the night I’ve had, all I can think about is convincing Mallory to meet me at the hotel and feel her legs wrap around my waist. I’m still struggling to convince myself that suggestingthis was the right move, the best way to forget about her, but all I’ve done is become more fixated on her.

When we aren’t around each other, I need to be in her space and watch her facial expressions as she tries to work out Sweet Surrender’s next marketing plan. My favorite one is when she’s thinking long and hard about a possible step — her eyebrows crinkle, and then she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip.

She left the concert early with Sweet Surrender since they had that meet and greet tonight, so I didn’t get to see her when I walked off the stage. Seeing the empty space she normally occupies made my chest ache. It’s not a common feeling for me to have — I’m perfectly content with being on my own in this venture of my life — and yet Mallory brings them all out of me.

Each morning, I wake up next to her. It’s another day closer to me saying screw it and falling back asleep with my arm tucked around her waist. I’m trying to put that much-needed distance between us before things go in a direction they were never meant to — even though it feels like it’s already going there.

It’s only getting harder.

Each stolen moment, each secret touch is another brick in a wall I never meant to build. A wall between the man I was and the man I’m becoming. A man who might just be falling for Mallory Dominic.

Brent disappears into his room, eager to call Julia and make sure everything is alright with her, while Evan and Mia disappear intotheir own room hand in hand. Julia is only a few weeks ahead of Mia in her pregnancy, but Mia looks like she’s about to pop any day now — their daughter definitely has her dad’s genes.

As I watch them disappear into their rooms, a twinge of something catches me off guard. Brent and Evan have found their happily-ever-afters. They're building families and futures. And me? I'm sneaking around with Mallory, living for stolen moments and secret touches.

It's a stark reminder of how different our paths have become. We started this journey together, four guys with nothing but dreams and guitars. Now, I'm the odd man out, clinging to the rock star lifestyle while they embrace domesticity. It's not that I want what they have – or do I? The thought unsettles me more than I care to admit.

Donny nods to me right before he pushes through his door. I calmly step into mine and then make a beeline for my suitcase, resting in a corner of the room. I snag the towel I brought with me, knowing that I’d probably want to go for a swim at some point while we’re away and toss it over my shoulder.

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