Page 51 of For One Night Only

No matter. I’ll just have to strategize with Wade to figure out how to reset the narrative. I know the publicity team has already been working overtime on my reputation.

But Theo Blake isn’t my biggest villain today. No, that honor rests solely on my mother’s shoulders. I try to spend the rest of the morning taking care of myself. I tidy my suitcase; try to meditate; take a long, luxurious bubble bath; meticulously rewash my face and hair—none of it works. I still feel dirty, tainted.

Used.

Because what kind of mother steals from her own kid? Those royalties belong to the band. Tonya isn’t really much of a mother at all—she’s just one more vampire trying to take something from me, and I’m tired of it. Once I’ve dried and styled my hair and put on a new face full of makeup, I swallow down my nerves, pop in my AirPods, and call her.

“Valerie, good, I was hoping you’d come to your senses.”

That’s just like Tonya. No greeting, no recognition. Just straight to the topic that interests her today.

Pulse racing at the impending confrontation, I swallow, sinking onto the bed. “Hi, Mom.”

“Have you already called Gina about writing and recording your next album, or should I? I know studio space is at a premium right now, but I’m sure she can bump someone, get this out before the concert.”

My stomach twists. “We’re not recording an album we haven’t written yet in less than four weeks. That’s impossible.” We’re not recording an albumat all.

Mom huffs, as if my objection is ridiculous. “If you just buckled down and focused, it wouldn’t be that difficult. I’m telling you—you need to work as hard as Taylor Swift if you want to survive in this industry.”

This is what my mom expects—unattainable levels of productivity. She wants me to meet impossible standards when it benefits her.

“Taylor Swift is one of the most prolific songwriters in our generation, and…” I clench my fists. “You know what? No. I’m not going to try to reason with you. We need to talk about that contract with Label Records.”

She lets out an audible breath. “Absolutely. You owe them an album, and you need to meet your obligations.”

Wow. My head swims at her audacity. “No, I don’t.” My jaw clenches, and I pop up from my seat on the floor to resume pacing.“That contract expires the day after the concert—but you only want us to make an album because it’s your last chance to squeeze money out of us.” Blood rushes in my ears. “What the hell did you do with all those royalties?”

My voice shakes as I say it. I know she never wanted me to find out. She wanted to just coast on my success for the rest of her life.

“Excuse me? You think it’s unreasonable that I want to get paid for my work? I quit my job for your band! How was I supposed to put food on the table if I wasn’t getting a steady paycheck?”

And here she is, making herself a martyr. I ball my fists. “No one asked you to quit your job! You inserted yourself into the Glitter Bats and started trying to control everything.”

She lets out a humph. “You werechildren. Someone had to make sure you weren’t completely taken advantage of.”

“By someone else,” I say, my hands trembling as the adrenaline hits.

“What?”

Blood rushes in my ears. “You made sure we weren’t taken advantage ofby someone else, because you were doing it already. I don’t care if the contract was legal—it’s wrong!”

“Oh, Valerie, you sound hysterical. Do you need to go refill your prescription? At least take a drink, honey.”

I slam my fist down on the comforter. I cannot believe her. “I read the contract. You can’t pretend you’re innocent here. Stop gaslighting me.”

“Gaslighting? Your generation is so paranoid.” She laughs. “You just need to fulfill your obligations, sweetheart. Someone needed to take care of you back then. You were so impressionable. And who better than your own flesh and blood to protect you? I put so much time into your career. You owe me another album.”

My throat tightens, but I refuse to cry. She’ll be able to hear it in my voice and then she’ll just call me weak. “I don’t owe youshit.”

She huffs so loudly I can hear it through the speaker. Her voice turns sharp. “You know, you’re lucky I’ve only taken a few of the many talent management jobs I’ve been offered over the years. I could easily be working with your competition.”

Not sure who she means by my competition, but I don’t even care. I wish I knew how to hurt her the way she’s hurt me.

But she still somehow holds all the power.

“What do I care? You’re not my manager anymore.”

She sighs. “Call me when you’ve calmed down—you’re being so goddamn emotional right now, it’s embarrassing.”

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