Page 77 of Heart of a Rebel

Every time Eloise’s eyes find mine, I plaster on a forced smile and wait for her shoulders to relax. She doesn’t need to see how on edge I am about this.

Security is nearly impossible with this many people coming and going, because there are no barriers in the middle of the desert for me to shield them behind. I can’t help but constantly watch my surroundings every time Eloise steps off her tour bus. Feeling like she’s in a snake pit, and I’m not sure which one is going to bite.

My phone ringing cuts my thoughts short.

“Adrian,” I answer.

Before I was Enemy Muse’s band manager, I rarely got calls or texts. Now the fucking thing never stops ringing. Or pinging. Or blinking.

It’s fucking annoying—and my job.

“How are the press events going?” Nathan’s fake cheery voice on the other end of the line is always grating.

“Fine.”

“Not going to elaborate?”

“No.”

It’s not that I don’t like the guy—okay, maybe I don’t. But it’s that for the head of a record label, he’s still got enough time to be micromanaging. And it’s not because he gives a shit about them personally. He just wants to check in on his cash cow to ensure its still producing milk.

“Where are we at with Eloise?” The real reason he’s calling finally comes through.

“She’s still not committing to anything after this tour.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to convince her.”

Fuck, this guy. “Excuse me?”

“She’s tired, we get it.” Nathan forces what sounds like an exaggerated sigh because there’s no way he actuallygets it, he just wants me to think he does. “But there’s no time for them to be taking breaks right now. I can give her a month or two, but that’s it. You know how things move in this industry. If they’re not careful, they’ll be forgotten just as fast as they were discovered.”

Sounds like your problem.

That’s what I want to say, but I don’t. As much as I’d like to tell Nathan to fuck off, I’ve made it as the band’s manager this long for a reason. I know how to stay levelheaded. And with the festival already causing enough stress, I know better than to go poking a bear.

“I’ll talk to her.”

I can feel Nathan smiling on the other end of the line and it makes me clutch my phone harder.

“Is that all?”

“Actually.” Nathan makes a clicking sound with his mouth like he’s just now remembering something. “There’s been a lot of chatter about their last charity event. From my understanding, Eloise went off script.”

“Your point?”

“The last thing we need right now are waves. I appreciate her little causes and whatever makes her feel relevant, but after Sebastian’s sex tape and Rome’s paternity scandal last year, let’s keep the gossip to a minimum.”

“Meaning?”

“Put a lid on it.” Nathan’s tone is uncompromising.

He’s the type of man who is used to getting what he wants and controlling everyone around him. I’ve managed to keep him off the band’s case for the most part, by being their barrier for his bullshit. But as the years have gone on, the label just gets more feral, and it’s becoming impossible.

Give, and they always want more.

“I’m not sure what you expect me to do,” I say, feeling fed up. “Eloise has a right to say whatever she pleases. And given the recent incidents and the fact that shehas a stalker, I’m inclined to let her do whatever she needs to take back her own power in this situation.”

“It’s cute you care, but this isn’t a request.”

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