Page 47 of A Suite Temptation

Chloe knew how it felt to think she was not good enough. Rejection was an all too familiar emotion.

“My new signing, Sibling Rivalry, is the hottest band in the country at the moment. So, I’m thinking it might be a good idea to have your fans believe there is something between you and the lead singer Zapp. I can just imagine the two of you setting all of LA ablaze if you appear as a couple on the red carpet at the awards show on July fourth.”

Chloe stirred from her sad, private musings. “What do you mean, something between us? I have a boyfriend.”

Or at least she hoped so, after last night she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t know what to do about Jordan. She’d been strategically linked with other famous men in the past, but this thing with Zapp would be something else. When she’d pretended to date those other guys, she hadn’t had a real boyfriend. Refusing to acknowledge Jordan’s place in her life would be lying.

Isn’t that what you have been doing for months? For years. How is this any different?

And would Jordan even care? The way things had gone last night, she was wondering just where his head and heart were at when it came to them.

“Um. Can I think on that for a moment, Foster? Maybe get back to you in a couple of hours. I need some sleep.”

Foster rose from the table with an indignant huff and gathered up his things. “Alright, but don’t take too long. I need to get this romance set up with the publicity people so they can start sending some rumors out to the press.”

As soon as Foster had gone, Chloe headed upstairs. Alone in her bedroom, she locked the door. She called Jordan’s number, but to her heart’s sad disappointment, it was Sheila who answered.

“Hi, Chloe. I’ve just downloaded your new album. It’s fantastic. Congratulations.”

She’d gotten to know Sheila over the past few months, and they had become friends of sorts, but as much as she liked Jordan’s assistant, she wasn’t who Chloe was seeking.

“Oh, thanks, Sheila. Um … I was wondering if I could talk to Jordan?”

“Jordan’s in an executive meeting at the moment, and from the look of it, his diary is full for the rest of the day. Back-to-back appointments, I’m afraid. I can leave him a message and ask him to call you when he gets a spare minute.”

A message. She was reduced to leaving messages. “Ok, could you please check and see when he is due back in LA. I really want him to come to the All American Music Awards on the fourth of July.”

She wasn’t giving up without a fight. They had to talk face to face. Jordan needed to understand her insecurities, and why she’d been so angry last night. If she could talk to him, then maybe he would at least agree to come to the awards. He didn’t have to do the red carpet, but knowing he was in the crowd would mean the world to her.

“Of course, let me check his diary. Just a moment.”

Chloe waited. This was the sensible thing to do. Sit down and discuss their relationship before things got completely out of hand. But her mind had other ideas, her childhood trauma seeped in and began to whisper.

You know this is how it always ends. With people not wanting to listen to you. With people walking out the door. Jordan won’t come to the awards. Don’t fool yourself that he actually cares.

Sheila finally came back on the line. “Hi, Chloe, sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve checked Jordan’s diary, and from what I see he is not scheduled to be back in LA for another couple of weeks. Did he say anything different to that when you last spoke? He’s busy and I know he can lose track of appointments, but I would be surprised if he hadn’t at least mentioned the Royal family barbecue on the fourth of July. It’s a big annual thing at his parents private estate in New York.”

“Um, yes, I must have forgotten. Thanks, Sheila.” She hung up the call. Jordan hadn’t made any sort of mention about his family gathering.

I won’t beg for his love. If I’m not a priority, then he should have the guts to tell me.

Chloe called her manager. “Hi, Foster. I’ve had a think about the Zapp idea. And, as usual, you’re right about how this will help with the new album. I think we should go ahead and set up the fake romance.”

It was her last roll of the dice. Throw another man in Jordan’s face and see how he reacted. If things went how she hoped they would, he’d excuse himself from his family’s party, get on a plane and come to her. If he didn’t, she would accept that he didn’t love her. That they were finished. After that she would do as she had always done.

Move on with her life.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

The Royal family estate

Fourth of July barbecue

The heady scent of the annual Royal family barbecue filled the air. From where he stood on the large stone patio, sipping an ice-cold homemade lemonade, Jordan had the perfect vantage point to observe the enormous hot plate containing enough meat and vegetables to feed a small army. He chuckled under his breath. “Who is going to eat all that food?” Between him, his parents, and younger brother they would be lucky if they made a small hole in the mountain of barbequed delights.

“It’s lovely to have most of the family together for the fourth of July. I’m just disappointed that Bryce couldn’t make the trip,” remarked Alice Royal, coming to stand alongside Jordan. With the opening of a new resort in Edinburgh a matter of days away, the eldest Royal son had not been able to spare the time to come home.

The annual family get-together at his parent’s home just outside of New York City was an important event. Alice had gone to great lengths to have the house decorated in patriotic red, white, and blue. Even English-born Edward was decked out in an apron festooned with sparkly hamburgers and hot dogs. It was the one day of the year when he allowed himself to become an honorary American.

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