Page 40 of Giving Chase

"If you'd been at the meeting, you'd know," Will says, his tone softening slightly. "She fought the board, Chase. Told them she wouldn't take the promotion unless she could keep managing us. She's staying on."

The news hits me like a bucket of cold water. "She... what?"

Will nods, then looks pointedly at the woman on the couch. "Who's she?"

I shrug, the movement making my head spin. "No idea. Met her at... a bar? I think?"

Will runs a hand over his face, looking suddenly tired. "Okay, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to call this woman a cab. You're going to take a shower and try to sober up. Then we're going to talk. Really talk."

I want to argue, to tell him to leave me alone, that I'm fine. But the look in his eyes - concern mixed with a steely determination - tells me it's not up for debate.

As Will helps the disoriented woman out of the house and into a cab, I drag myself to the shower. The hot water helps clear my head a little, but with clarity comes shame. What the hell am I doing?

By the time I emerge, Will has cleared away the bottles and opened some windows, letting in fresh air. He's sitting on the couch, two cups of coffee on the table in front of him.

"Sit," he says, pushing one of the mugs towards me.

I obey, the caffeine helping to further cut through the fog in my brain.

"Talk to me, Chase," Will says softly. "This isn't just about Eliza, is it?"

I bristle slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Will sighs. "Come on, man. This isn't the first time you've gone on a bender. Remember after the Grammys? Or when your dad showed up out of the blue last year?"

"So I like to party sometimes," I say defensively. "We're rockstars. It's what we do."

"No," Will says firmly. "It's whatyoudo. And it's getting worse, Chase. I'm worried about you."

I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Worried? About what? I'm fine. This was just... a misunderstanding. I thought we were losing Eliza. I overreacted. It won't happen again."

Will looks at me for a long moment, like he's trying to decide whether to believe me. Finally, he nods. "Okay. But Chase? You need to talk to Eliza. She was pretty upset when you didn't show up to the meeting. She thinks you're angry with her."

Guilt washes over me. "I'll call her," I promise. "Explain everything."

"Good," Will says, standing up. "And maybe... take it easy on the drinking for a while? For all our sakes?"

I nod, even as a part of me bristles at the suggestion. I don't have a problem. I don't. This was a one-time thing.

As Will leaves, I'm left alone with my thoughts. Relief that Eliza's staying on mixes with shame over my behavior. But underneath it all, there's a nagging feeling I can't quite shake. A whisper in the back of my mind that maybe, just maybe, Will's concern isn't entirely misplaced.

I push the thought away. I'm fine. Everything's fine. And now that I know Eliza's not leaving, it will all go back to normal.

It has to.

I Am the Fire

ELIZA

I've just wrappedup a grueling meeting with our legal team about a 360 deal dispute with Lila Rose, our latest pop sensation. It's the kind of day-to-day work I've been neglecting in favor of Hall of Fame preparations, and the pile of tasks on my desk seems to grow exponentially.

As I settle into my ergonomic chair, my eyes drift to the framed multi-platinum plaque on my wall - Incendiary Ink'sPhoenix Risingalbum. Chase's intense gaze stares back at me from the cover art, and I feel a familiar ache in my chest. I haven't been to rehearsals in over two weeks, telling myself it's because I'm swamped with work, but deep down, I know it's more than that. Every time I see Chase, every time I hear him sing, it gets harder to maintain this careful distance I've cultivated.

My intercom buzzes, jolting me from my reverie. "Ms. Kerr? Your 2 o'clock is here. Megan Clark from Music Insider."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "Send her in, please."

Megan Clark breezes in, all sleek professionalism and barely concealed ambition. Her eyes dart around my office, no doubttaking in the evidence of my success - the awards, the platinum records, the photos with industry bigwigs.

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