Chapter 19
POV Gravity
PRESENT DAY
ONE WEEK LATER.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2024, AT 7:26 PM.
"Is there anything about you I need to know?" Avalon returns, offering me a can of soda.
I'm here because she requested a private meeting and welcomed me into the comfort of her apartment. It's not very big, but it has an amazing view of the city.
I've been suppressing a sigh ever since I arrived because the orange coloring the sky is breathtaking. It looks so much like a painting through the large window.
I want to focus on the conversation with Ava, but honestly? Would it be too much to ask for a minute of silence to appreciate one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever witnessed? Even though the skyscrapers stand tall in the city, nothing compares to the sunset.
"It's incredible, isn't it? I have to admit, even though I spend my time stressed out with them for working with one of the biggest bands right now, I have the privilege of paying for an apartment in one of the tallest buildings in New York and being swallowed by this beauty." Her smile at the end of the sentence pulls my attention back to her. "You're not happy with the contract, but I promise you'll be rewarded."
Avalon picks up her iPad. Her lips stretch into an even bigger smile, as if she's trying to convince me to see the bright side of this decision.
I've been struggling since the proposal to weigh the pros and cons of accepting. At first, my answer was no, but the anger I felt toward Ashton the day I was shown the contract made me want to go against him, so I gave hints that I would accept. Then, when I was alone rereading the contract, I knew I could be choosing a definitive path.
Being a stylist is a long-held dream. The only times I considered giving up were during my worst moments—Winstow and Milan. The two times when dreaming seemed like a waste of time and energy, when I questioned what and why I was fighting for a career destined to be my downfall.
When Magdalene fired me, in that tiny moment, I saw my dream, everything I'd dedicated my last years to, turn into a cloud of smoke and evaporate.
Being desperate is not just a sign of weakness; it leads you to make stupid decisions you’ll probably regret, but one thing I'm sure of is that I can't lose anything else. Throughout my life, I've been losing and giving up things, driven by fear and uncertainty.
This contract only has advantages in my eyes: I’ll be working with one of the biggest bands—just as Avalon mentioned—gaining visibility by being involved in the tour, seeing new places, gaining experience, time, and money to invest in my own atelier.
Sure, requesting a clause that takes Ashton’s freedom of casual sex away was a small revenge for the past, but deep down, it's also a way to prevent him from ruining my opportunity to reach the top. Enduring him through the process is the only downside, and I also give up marrying someone I truly like.
"So, any news about you that could be exposed? Any past?" Avalon pulls me back to her first question.
I chew on the inside of my cheeks, pondering.
My past is seven years away. Sometimes it even feels like life has gone back on track, but then something reminds me that we buried bodies, not ghosts.
"No."
"Great." She slides her finger across the iPad screen, her focus intact. "I’ve prepared a dossier on Leo Bandit," she continues speaking, not looking at me. "It’s his birthday tomorrow, you should know he’s one of the most famous rappers. He sent the invite to The Reckless two months ago, and the band accepted, more for social reasons." A sigh escapes from Ava. "Important detail you might want to know: Ashton slept with Bandit's ex-wife."
"Tell me something new."
I finally open the soda can, taking a sip because I think I’ll need it to swallow the lump stuck in my throat.
Avalon lets out a nasal giggle.
"When I started working with them, I was more positive and saw the good in everything, but when it comes to Ashton, is there any good side?" She frowns, and the question is sincere. "Because with everything that’s happening, I’ve been more stressed than I normally get with work. I love what I do, but the amount of problems to solve always makes me wonder if I should quit."
"And leave them to themselves?"
"How long would they last?"
"Less than you think." We laugh together. "I’ve known them for years, and they've always been like this, but they’re a family, and that’s what I love most about them."
"They make me feed the fans at every show. I can get mad, but that’s what keeps me going with them. Because they're not like the others I’ve worked with. Even though they're famous, they didn’t let it get in the way of the good hearts they have." A contented sigh flows from Ava. "Ashton has this big problem, getting involved in controversies, and I swear, sometimes I want to strangle him for giving me so much work." She illustrates by choking the air. "But his heart is huge."
I haven’t seen Ashton that way in a long time, and it’s interesting to hear someone speak about him so fondly. I don’t even know if he knows Avalon holds this kind of regard, but if not, he will realize it eventually.
"Anyway, I’ve been talking too much!" She laughs, straightening her posture. "I want to go over a few details with you on how to act around your friends because there will be a lot of questions, and lying to them won’t be easy. But it’s important to keep it discreet, alright? A secret stops being a secret when the wrong people find out. By the way, is it okay if I book the same room for you and Ashton at the hotel in Miami? Because, I mean, if you two sleep in separate rooms…"
A thick breath escapes my mouth as I shift my hips, locking them to control the discomfort.
"We’ll have to share the room this weekend?"
"If you sleep in separate rooms, it’s going to be awkward. Ashton doesn’t go out with any woman and let her sleep in a different room."
I raise an arched eyebrow, studying Avalon’s slender and worried face. Clumsily, she pushes a brown lock of hair behind her ear.
"I’m already regretting this contract, Avalon."
"Think of the positive side: when it’s all over, you’ll have what you’ve always wanted."