Page 43 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

Mallory

Hilary’s name flashes onmy phone for the second time in five minutes. Each ring is a sharp reminder of my failure.

Jace’s hand around my wrist should be comforting, but it only amplifies the conflict raging inside me. This wasn’t part of our deal - this warmth, this connection. It’s making it harder to remember why I need to walk away when the tour ends.

“Sweetheart,” Jace says, and just that term of endearment alone melts away the sadness swimming within me.

“You’re right,” I blurt, tears blurring my vision. “I’m not okay.”

“So, talk to me.”

I shift my attention to the door and frown. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

He shrugs. “They can wait on me for a few more minutes. I’m more worried about you.”

Somehow, that only makes the tears fill my eyes more, and a few roll down my cheeks. “I’m failing,” I whisper before swiping at the tears, desperately hoping they would vanish so I don’t appear vulnerable in front of him.

Jace rises from the bed, walks over, and comes to a stop in front of me. “Hey,” he says, his finger pressing against the tip of my chin as he tilts my head back enough that he’s looking into my eyes. “Why on earth would you think that?”

The genuine concern in his voice catches me off guard. There’s more to our relationship now than physical attraction, and that scares me more than any professional setback ever could.

“They have another interview today,” I manage to say, and then I shake my head. “I was supposed to meet them there thirty minutes ago, but I never woke up to my alarm.”

This was my chance to prove that I could do this, that I had changed my ways and could be taken seriously, yet I've screwed up most of the time.

Jace brushes the pad of his thumb over my cheek, his touch achingly gentle. He leans down, pressing his forehead against mine, his eyes locked on mine. The intimacy of the momentsteals my breath. This isn't the Jace I'm used to - the cocky rockstar, the passionate lover. This is someone new, someone vulnerable and caring. I'm stunned by the overwhelming urge to melt into this version of him.

"Mallory," he whispers, my name a caress on his lips, "you're more than just this job. You're brilliant, resilient. I've seen how hard you work, how much you care. One setback doesn't change that."

His words wrap around me like a warm embrace, soothing the panic that's been threatening to overwhelm me. But they also stir something deeper, something I'm not ready to face. Because if Jace sees me this way, as someone worthy and capable, what does that mean for us? For this arrangement we've so carefully constructed?

“Why are you so hard on yourself?”

“You’re beautiful, amazing, and you can do anything you put your mind to. There’s no reason for you to be doubting yourself right now, especially when I’m the one to blame.”

That statement has me snapping my eyes open, and I frown.“You?”

He shrugs. “If I hadn’t kept you up talking or craved touches, maybe you would’ve woken up on time. That’s on me, and I’m sorry.”

“I’m a big girl, Brooks. I could’ve said no and walked out last night. It’s on me, and now I’m going to pay the price.”

As if getting into my thoughts, Hilary calls yet again, and I groan before sliding my finger across the screen. “Hilary, I’m about to be on my way. Is everything okay?”

“You said you would be here,” she snaps. “I don’t appreciate being kept waiting.”

“Did something happen?”

No, but the radio host wasn't pleased. They've rescheduled for this afternoon, but they're threatening to bump us to a less popular time slot. This could cost Sweet Surrender significant exposure."

The weight of her words settles in my stomach like lead. This isn't just about one missed interview. It's about my credibility, my future in this industry.

If I lose this job, it won't just be Sweet Surrender I'm letting down. It'll be every contact I've made, every opportunity I've fought for. I'll be right back where I started, the party girl who couldn't get her act together.

“But that doesn’t change anything. We’re going to have a conversation about this. I expect to see you standing in front of me in the next twenty minutes.”

Before I can respond, she’s hanging up and a wave of dread fills my stomach. There’s no way they’re going to keep me on their team after all this, and I’ll once again show everyone that Mallory Dominic can’t get her life on track.

“Uh uh,” Jace says in front of me. “Don’t do that. You’re already thinking the worst and that’s only going to make you feel more terrible. Trust that you got this, sweetheart, because I believe in you.”

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