Page 58 of Dangerous Encore
I hate when it'spersonal.
You can't reason someone out of a lust for revenge. Logan doesn't do boyfriend. If this guy's girlfriend wanted to fuck Logan instead of him, he's better offwithouther.
But the male ego doesn't respond to… well, toanything.
Not that the female ego is anybetter.
If I've learned one thing in this job, it's that people would rather get their way than their money. At least in thisindustry.
Alessandra's eyes meet mine. She puts her call on hold and motionscomehere.
I pull her office door open and step inside. She looks exactly like she did this morning—short hair neat, dark makeup perfect, sharp suit without awrinkle.
"Bella, please, I need my good cop." She motions to the phone, still sitting in thereceiver.
"Sure."
"This guy… he wants to hear that Logan willapologize."
"That's not going tohappen."
"Of course not. But the guy will buy it, and by the time it doesn't happen it will betoolate."
"And after the concert when he hates Logan twiceasmuch?"
"What's he going to do? Keep the biggest band in rock off the radio? No. He's fucked. He knows it. That's why he'spissed."
"It's a popstation."
"Pop, rock, it's all the same now. People want to hear Logan sing. People who listen to this station. That's whatmatters."
She's right, even if I'm not a fan of lying topeople.
Still, this ismyjob.
I need todoit.
I nod anokayto her and I pull the phone from the receiver. "Mr. Winters. It's nice to hearfromyou."
"Is it?" hesnaps.
"Yes, this is Bella. You remember. We talked about yourwife'scharity, and how excited we are to lend our bands tosupportit."
"Yeah." His voice simmers down anotch.
I'm the good cop. I can't let the guy know how irritating I find him. "Mr. Kingston wants to express his deepest apologies about what happened between the two of you, but unfortunately, he'sunavailable."
"He finally inrehab?"
I let out an incredibly fake laugh. I usually sell it better than this. Honestly, I'm not sure where Logan is… orwhohe's doing. "Something like that. He really respects the station, and he can't wait to play the concert. The band is ready to promote the show all over social media. They're really excited to support this charity. Your wife'scharity."
"Yeah…" His voicetrailsoff.
I wish I could say it's because he's realizing he's being an ass, but I know better. "He's preparing a formal statement. Mr. Kingston, I mean. He really regrets his pastbehavior."
Mr. Winters chuckles. "Going through all twelve of thosesteps,huh?"
God, what an asshole, mocking Logan's hypothetical rehab stint. "We can't wait to see you at theevent."
