Page 1 of Daddy Enforcer
Chapter 1
Billie
“The music keeps playing, I’ll keep raving, the party won’t quit tonight!” I sing, my voice supported up by a backing track but the heart and soul in my words all me. “I said the party won’t quitall night!”
With a final flourish, I’m surrounded by my team of backing dancers as we whoop and cheer, the thousands in attendance screaming and hollering my name like their lives depended on it.
I might only by twenty-two, but in my years working in showbiz I know a good crowd when I see one. And as they all chantBillie B! Billie B! Billie B!over and over, I know that I need to give them the encore that they deserve.
My fans have been with me through thick and thin. From my first appearances on kids TV, all the way through to chart topping success and millions of album sales and billions of streams—I’ve always had the kind of loyal following that any performer would dream of.
“Okay, so who wants to hear more?” I holler into my microphone, only to hear my manager hissing angrily into my earpiece.
“No encore. No time. Damn it, Billie,” Trent says, his voice full of frustration. “You know we don’t do encores this late. Improvise. Tell them the encore will be at the next show!”
Urgh.
I hate this.
I can’t stand letting my fans down…
“Well, you can all here more at my show at the Space Bowl next week!” I say, my smile big and bright but my eyes betraying the sadness I feel at not being able to give my fans what they want. “Thank you all so much for coming out tonight! Have a safe journey home and I’ll see you next time!Woo-hoo! We outta here!”
And just like that, the house lights dip and dance, and I rush off the stage along with my team of dancers and backing musicians.
It doesn’t take long before I’m backstage, catching my breath, and knowing that despite the disappointment of no encore, my fans will know that I gave them everything. But that aside, now it’s time for me to do my own thing…
I’m hot. I’m sweaty. I’m actually totally ready to party too.
“So, guys, I’m thinking another all-nighter,” I laugh, taking a water from my assistant and already planning how many drinks and luxurious VIP areas I’m going to be going wild in over the course of the next eight hours. “You all know we can rock up anywhere and get right in!”
I look up and see that my dancers aren’t smiling and joining in the fun with me. And as I take in their serious faces, I have a sinking feeling that their lack of enthusiasm is something to do with my manager, Trent Ashville…
“Guys?” I ask, a shiver running over me. “My asshole of a manager is behind me, isn’t he?”
The dancers smile awkwardly and quickly disperse, leaving me to turn around and face the music with Trent.
“Yup, it’s your asshole of a manager alright,” Trent says, a smirk on his face. “And sorry, there won’t be any parties tonight. And maybe not for a while either.”
“Like, what the hell?” I spit, stomping my foot. “We know the deal. I work my ass off, make the money, do as I’m told… and then I get to let loose. That’s the frickin’ deal, Trent!”
I’m suddenly feeling way angrier than maybe I should be. But I don’t care. I work my butt off and get to do what I want after. I love performing for my fans, but I love my me-time too.
I wait for Trent to respond. I can see that he’s thinking something over. Maybe he’s realized that he can’t keep me working this hard without the reward of fun at the end of it…
“Billie,” Trent says, a smile on his face as he wraps his arm around my shoulder. “You know I’ve got your back, right? We’ve been on this journey for three years now. You were an ex-child actor when I stepped in, and now you’re selling out stadiums. Right?”
“Yeah, that’s true,” I laugh. “I mean, I think my talent has something to do with my success. But I hear you. You’ve put me here, I know that.”
“Well, here’s the thing,” Trent says, his eyes flashing over toward a couple of tour security guards as they usher the remaining dancers and support staff out of the room. “You’re so high profile now that you’ve actually attracted some… unwanted attention.”
Wait.What?
“I don’t like the sound of this…” I say, my heart skipping a beat as I try to figure out what Trent is talking about.
“Okay, let’s sit…” Trent replies, taking me by my arm and guiding me over toward the cozy tour couch that’s directly opposite the rider table with all its sweet treats, drinks, and snacks. “There’s been quite a serious threat made on your life, Billie. We think it’s probably just some random crazy person. But we can’t be sure. I know that other stars have been targeted by aggressive foreign governments and dictators in the past. We can’t rule anything out.”
My heart is now beating a million miles per hour.
