Page 90 of Kneeling for Them
He better think about it.I need some time to figure this out.I also need Alyssa’s last name.Sebastian isn’t going to know.Kingston isn’t going to know.But the person who gave Alyssa a non-disclosure agreement to sign—she would know.
Fuck.I’m going to have to call Trina.
My break is over, though, so I return to work while I think about how to approach the woman who, briefly, I considered trusting with my musical aspirations.
She told me to get in touch anytime.She said I could call her—she gave me her card.
So I can do this.I just have to ask for what I want.
As soon as my shift is over, I hustle to put away the cleaning supplies and then pull out my phone and Trina’s business card.
She answers my call immediately.“Ella!Please tell me you’ve had a chance to think it over and you’re ready to sign with me.”
It’s so far from what’s actually happening right now, my head spins.Recovering quickly, though, I lie, “Oh, yes.”
“Oh, that’s fucking fantastic!I’ll get the contract drawn up again.”
“Cool,” I say, “and thank you.I’m really excited.”
“Nervous, too, it sounds like,” she says, likely picking up on my tone.
“A bit,” I say, forcing a smile because I know it’ll change my voice.“I’m sure you see that a lot, though.Who else do you represent, besides Sebastian?”
“Oh, not so many that I won’t have time for you, don’t you worry.”
“Right, but who are they?”
“Let’s see.There’s Cassie Ellis.Also, Church of Fortune—I’m assuming you’ve heard of them.”
“I have, they’re amazing.”
“Rob Feinz.But he hasn’t broken out quite yet.He just signed an amazing deal with a record label, but I can’t share details yet, of course.Honestly, Bastian’s my biggest client, but with the right nurturing, they can all be stars, and I fully expect them to flourish.”
“That’s really great,” I say.
“It is.You’ll be one of my stars, too—I’m so excited!Do you have any other questions for me?”
I pause, gnawing on my lip while I try to come up with a good segue.Fuck it, thereisno good segue.“Well, I was wondering…could you give me the name again, of the woman Sebastian harmed?I’d like to speak with her.”
“Why on earth would you want to talk to her?”
“I just…it would help if I could get her side of the story, hear her point of view.”
Trina’s quiet for a moment, and then she says softly, “Look, I understand this is hard for you to swallow, given your relationship with Bastian.But no good can come out of talking to the poor woman.”
“I think it could provide closure,” I say.“For both of them, truly.”
“No,” she says.“I’m not going to do this.I’m protecting both of you—you need to let this go for your own mental health, kiddo.And I’m protecting the woman who Bastian assaulted because she needs to be able to leave the past in the past.”
“I understand,” I say.
“Oh, good.I just don’t want you to waste your time and creative energy on something so old,” she says.“So you’re dropping it?”
“Yeah,” I lie.
“And you’re still ready to sign that agreement with me?”
Shit.I wish I could ignore that.But I don’t want her to think the only reason I was calling was about Sebastian’s past.“Yeah, sure,” I say.“Do you want to email me the contract?I can look it over and sign.”
