Face the Music (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (3 page)

“I don’t understand that,” Jocelyn said. She swallowed hard. “We have enough to get through…”

“You don’t understand how it works,” Chad said. “You just draw your pretty pictures and let me deal with all this.”

“That’s not fair to me, Chad. I know what I’m doing. We can get through the next quarter without any extra money. I’m sure our current deals…”

Chad made a fist and punched the table. “Current deals? Micromanaging all those little shithole stores?”

“Shithole stores?” Jocelyn asked. “They are doing business with us.”

“Fuck them!” Chad growled. “I want bigger.”

“What if I don’t? It’s my business.”

Chad grinned. “Our business. Remember that.”

Chad approached Jocelyn, tugging at his suit jacket. He gently touched her shoulder and leaned down. His tie dangled in front of him.

“Enough of the business bullshit,” he whispered.

His mouth came down to Jocelyn’s. Jocelyn accepted the kiss because it was easier to do than fight back or tell Chad that they were never going to be an item. A year ago, Jocelyn would have had Chad’s tie wrapped around her hand, pulling at him. Wanting him closer. Wanting him to kiss her more deeply than he was right now. But that was before he showed his true colors.

Chad stood back up and Jocelyn tried her hardest not to look disgusted.

“Don’t be pissed at me,” he said. “The last thing I need is you acting like a bitch because you were wrong about something.”

Jocelyn forced herself to nod.

“Good,” Chad said. “I have a lunch meeting to attend. You know me, I never stop.”

“I know you,” Jocelyn said.

Chad slid his hand from Jocelyn’s shoulder up to her neck. She winced as though she were ticklish. But she wasn’t ticklish, at least not there. She was afraid.

There were many sides to Chad, none of them very appeasing.

When Chad left the room, Jocelyn knew she had two choices. She could cry or she could have a cigarette. If she cried, her makeup would be ruined. And that would be a whole other mess if Chad found out or someone saw her. Sure, she had quit smoking a year ago (right when she met Chad because he told her it made her look ugly and weak), but there were times when she just needed one.

Like right now.

The mix of anger and fear was spreading like venom throughout her entire body.

Jocelyn stood up and walked out of the meeting room. She went to her personal office. It wasn’t as big as Chad’s office, which was even pointless because he spent, maybe, one day a week in there.

She kept a pack of cigarettes hidden in her bottom drawer. She took one cigarette and a lighter and tucked it away in her hand. It was so dumb to walk around like this. Like she was a teenager sneaking cigarettes from her parents or something. Jocelyn was a grown woman and could do whatever the hell she wanted. She owned her own business, made money, and if she wanted to smoke…

Jocelyn opened the backdoor and stood on a small balcony. It was a maintenance exit used for roof access for repairs or whatever. It was also a nice spot to stand and have a smoke.

Guilt ran through her body as she lit up and took a deep drag. She coughed and took another drag. Then a third one quickly after. She remembered being back in high school when it was allegedly so cool to smoke.

This right now had nothing to do with addiction or looking cool. It was just something that calmed her when Chad was a complete ass. Which was every day, all day long.

It should have never gotten as serious as it did. They had fun between the sheets, but Chad started playing with her emotions in order to take over the company Jocelyn started for fun. It was a project for college that took off. Now it was big and Chad was the one steering it… in whatever damn direction he wanted.

The door opened behind Jocelyn. She took a drag and threw the cigarette over the ledge. She blew out the smoke and waved her hand, knowing there was no hiding it.

“Jocelyn?”

When she turned and saw her father, her face burned red. “Dad.”

“Thought you gave that up?” he asked.

“Gave what up?”

“Are you really going to try and lie to me?”

“Are you really going to come here and criticize me?”

“You’re a grown woman.”

“Fine. I was having a smoke.”

Her father shook his head. “I wanted to stop by and see how your meeting went.”

“Fine, I guess. Chad… you know him.”

“Yes, I do. Smart man.”

“You trust him?”

“Do you?”

“He’s just so… something.”

“I gave you both a stern warning about mixing business with pleasure,” Jocelyn’s father said.

She nodded. The advice from the great and powerful Victor Jacksenne was something to be taken seriously... because he was always right.

“I don’t really…” Jocelyn held back. She and her father only had a close relationship because of their business connection. Her father had helped get her business off the ground. He ran his own concert promotion company. Before that, he was heavily involved with a record company, which he sold for a lot of money. The last thing he needed was Jocelyn’s problems on his back. “It’s just so different than what I thought.”

“Most business is,” her father said. “But you keep going and in time, you might be able to sell the entire thing or continue growing.”

“Chad is insistent on getting more investors,” Jocelyn said.

“Don’t you agree? Do you talk to him about it?”

“He’s been smart with everything so far,” Jocelyn said, waving her hand. “Don’t worry about it or me. It’s good.”

“So good that you’re outside smoking?”

“I’m nervous. That’s all. Those meetings aren’t my thing. I don't like people dangling money in front of my face.”

Her father smiled. “You’re so much like your mother. She only cared about art. Making art. Creating art. But the second the business side came into play, she hated it. She used to drink a lot of wine, you know.”

Jocelyn giggled. She loved hearing stories of her mother. She passed away when Jocelyn was three years old. A fast moving breast cancer that wasn’t caught early enough. The lesson taught Jocelyn (and her father) a hard lesson that money couldn’t take care of everything. So she enjoyed hearing about the mother she barely remembered.

“How’s your day?” Jocelyn asked.

“Oh, my day is great,” her father said. “You want to talk about being annoyed? I have two bands I’m trying to get on tour together. Willow Son is barely climbing out of the grave they put themselves in. And then there’s Gone by Autumn. Super hot band, but one of the guitarists is nursing an injured hand.”

“I read about that,” Jocelyn said. “Drugs? Drinking?”

“They won’t comment,” her father said with a sigh. “Which makes it all that much harder on me. Because I can’t figure out how to get these two bands on the road together.”

“Sounds like you need a cigarette,” Jocelyn teased.

“Or a good scotch. Care to join me for lunch?”

“Yeah, sure,” Jocelyn said. “You buying?”

Her father laughed and then took a phone call. He held the door open and nodded to Jocelyn. His face then turned a little red, his eyebrows darting down.

“What the hell is this about?” he growled. “So they’re playing other shows now? Okay. And they have a guitarist? So this can go forward? Hey, Sam, listen to me for a second. It’s not easy to sell something that’s broken. Got it? Not without good reason.”

Jocelyn patted her father’s arm and walked away. She heard his voice getting louder. It made her shudder a little. Because it reminded her of when Chad raised his voice. She hated when that happened because things always would get worse.

(3)

Asher's hands were twitching. He never got nervous like this. Hell, even when Gone by Autumn signed the big contract, he wasn’t this nervous. Sam sat on a chair next to him, texting someone. They were sitting on metal folding chairs. Not very comforting, but then again they were backstage at the Gone by Autumn show at The Jack.

The band had opened their set with a two-song explosion that sounded damn good. JT showed no signs of fear and didn’t miss a single note in either song. It tore Asher up a little, knowing that if necessary, he would be completely replaceable.

A woman came walking into the backstage area, a big smile on her face. She waved with both hands. She had big, pretty brown eyes. She was like a breath of fresh air, but Asher knew to play it close to his chest. He wasn’t going to sleep with a reporter like Ryan and then have all hell break loose. Even though Raine was a sweetheart of a woman and perfect for Ryan’s rockstar edge, this woman was not going to get the chance to be any of that.

“Sam,” Asher whispered.

Sam looked up. He sighed and tucked his phone away. “Hey, remind me to tell everyone I know to kiss my ass later.”

“Not having a good night?” Asher asked.

Sam didn’t respond. He stood and offered his hand to the woman. “Steph, it’s great to see you. Didn’t know you were out front?”

“Yeah, I’m going to write this from the front and back. Seeing the band on stage for a show and then coming to talk to the lone ranger back here.”

“Lone,” Asher said. “Thanks.”

“You know the routine,” Sam said in a nasty voice. “No bullshit, okay? You paint this the wrong way and I promise you’ll never talk to anyone in this band again. Got it?”

“Whoa,” Steph said.

Asher grabbed at Sam’s arm. “Hey, man, put the fangs away.”

Sam looked down at Asher. “I’m trying to help you here.”

“Why don’t you go take a walk? I’m fine.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Asher said and looked at Steph. “She ain’t gonna crack me.”

Sam walked away, hands in his pockets. He went out front to the concert. The sound of the band on stage echoed in the backstage area. It pissed Asher off and his jealousy was getting the best of him.

“Can I sit?” Steph asked.

“Please,” Asher said. He kicked Sam’s chair toward Steph. “Tell me exactly what you want.”

“I want a story,” Steph said. “You know that. I mean, you guys are on the peak of world domination, then
BAM
, a car accident sidelines one of the guitarists. How do you plan on getting through this?”

“Simple,” Asher said. “The band is on stage, right?”

Steph smiled. “Without you. How’s that feel?”

“Honestly? It feels like shit. I hate that I’m not up there.”

“What’s the prognosis?”

Asher lifted his left hand and wiggled his fingers. He winced in pain. “Getting there.”

“Still hurts,” Steph observed. “Mind if I put that in the story?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yeah. I’m not here to screw you.”

“Damn. You can go then.”

Steph blushed. “I meant... the story…”

Asher leaned forward. “So why don’t we grab a drink and talk? After the show.”

“You sure about that?”

“Nope. But your eyes are pretty and I love your smile.”

Steph leaned toward Asher. “I bet you say that to every woman you want to sleep with.”

“Of course I do. It always works.”

“Always?”

“Yup. Between that and the fact that I’m a fucking rockstar, they melt…”

Steph straightened back up. “Too bad for you, Asher, I deal with rockstars and big egos all day, every day. Doesn't do anything for me.”

“Good for you. How big is my ego?”

“I’m starting to run out of air to breathe.”

Asher laughed. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Sure.”

“My ego isn’t the biggest thing in this room.”

Steph snorted. “Wow. You know how to take a story off course, huh?”

“I try.”

“Tell me about the accident.”

“What about?”

“Stories are flying left and right.”

“What do you believe?”

“Whatever you tell me right now,” Steph said.

“I wasn’t drinking. I wasn’t high. That's not my thing. There was nobody in the car with me either. I was leaving a show and I was heading to see a friend."

“Hook up?”

“No. Cemetery.”

Steph raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Friend of mine was killed in a car accident ten years ago. So when I’m in town up there, I stop by the cemetery and pay respects.”

“At night?”

“What do I care? That was the only time I had before we were leaving town.”

Steph nodded. “So was this a press thing?”

“What? The cemetery visit? No.”

“The accident, I mean.”

Asher swallowed hard. “You know, I respect what you all do. For bands like Gone by Autumn. For people like myself. I’m a household name because of the publicity our music gets. But the two people in the car that were chasing me… they’re criminals to me. They were working an angle and put me in danger. Not only put me in danger, but everyone I cared about. Plus, what about their friends and family? What if they were the ones that crashed and got hurt? Or killed? All for a picture of me? Come on…”

“That’s a noble stance,” Steph said. “What about litigation?”

“I’m alive. I’m healing. I have shows, tours, and albums to take care of. There are fans out there right now waiting for me.”

“Yet you’re back here.”

Asher looked at his hand.
I am back here. Hiding. Slumping in a chair.
He flexed his hand.

“You never know when a rockstar wants to take the stage,” he said and stood up. “There’s your story, okay?”

“That’s not a whole lot to go with.”

“Then be here after the show,” Asher said. “Leave all your stuff in your car and hang with me for the night. I’ll give you something to write about.” He looked down at Steph. “But what I plan on doing, you’re not going want to share… you’d hate for your mother and father to read about your incredible night with a rockstar.”

Steph blushed and Asher winked.

I still got this…

He squeezed his left hand tight and walked toward the stage area. Stepping up a few steps, Asher was able to see it all. He was standing a few feet to the left of Blake. Watching the guys on stage, playing their hearts out, especially JT, sent another fit of jealousy through his body. He shook his head.

Another step and he was just about level with the stage. Nobody could see him though. He hid in the shadows, like the tech guys who were making sure everyone sounded great on stage.