‘What do you care? Anyway, look, your missus is calling you,’ said Jez sarcastically. ‘The mini music mogul at work.’
Across the pool Emma was waving at them. Thanks to a tip-off from their manager Nathan, Emma had landed a job as a marketing assistant at EMG, Argent’s parent company, which had given her the excuse to attend the album shoot. Her new job meant they hardly saw each other these days, but Alex was genuinely glad she was doing so well in her career; in fact they both shared a dream that one day they would end up in New York ruling the rock industry: she running a major label, him a reclusive musician, occasionally emerging for a huge televised concert at Madison Square Garden or somewhere. And to think this was the girl who used to bang on the floor whenever they turned the music on in the flat downstairs.
‘Still looking hot, though,’ said Jez, giving Alex a complicit slap on the back. ‘Still pretty foxy. You’re lucky I gave her to you.’
Alex glared at him. ‘You gave her to me?’
‘Yeah, like after I’d finished with her. Warmed her up for you, didn’t I?’
Emma had always denied going near Jez Harrison when they had all lived in the big house in Fallowfield, but Jez was always making sly suggestions that they had slept together.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ whispered Jez. ‘Our little secret, eh?’
‘Piss off and do your interview, Jez,’ said Alex, walking out of the bar. ‘And try not to be a total cock this time.’
Emma was waiting for him by the pool. ‘I’m off,’ she said, kissing him. ‘Phone me the second you hear about the chart.’ She looked at him and frowned. ‘What’s up with you?’
Alex groaned. ‘Sorry, it’s Jez. All this time I’ve known him and I still can’t work out what drives him. Apart from spite, of course.’
‘You do know he’s jealous of you?’ Emma smiled, lighting a cigarette and looking at Alex sideways.
‘I wouldn’t say that,’ said Alex.
‘All right, he feels threatened, then,’ said Emma. ‘You’re a better singer, musician and songwriter, plus you get more attention from the girls.’
‘I do not!’ he protested.
‘Hey, I didn’t say you took them up on it, did I?’ She grinned.
‘Well, I can’t help it, can I?’ said Alex. ‘Am I supposed to wear a mask?’
‘Absolutely not. I’m not having my very gorgeous boyfriend hiding away from anyone.’
He paused for a moment. ‘Can I ask you something?’
Emma glanced at her watch. ‘I was supposed to be in London an hour ago. But seeing as it’s you . . .’
‘Did you ever shag him?’
She looked at him with confusion. ‘Shag who?’
‘Jez, of course,’ he said, annoyed.
Her face started to cloud with anger. ‘Alex, I’ve told you a dozen times I didn’t.’
‘It’s just that on the night I first met you, Gavin said he’d slept with one of the girls upstairs ...’
‘I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, Alex. It was so long ago.’
‘So you did sleep with him?’
‘No, I didn’t. I told you.’ She shook her head in frustration. ‘You’re an idiot, d’you know that? It’s the biggest bloody day of your career so far and what are you doing? Arguing like children with Jez Harrison. Well, get over it, Alex, because Jez is part of the band. Yes, he’s a wanker, but he’s a bloody good frontman, and without a frontman there is no Year Zero.’
‘I can’t believe you’re siding with him!’ said Alex petulantly.
‘I’m not siding with him!’ cried Emma, throwing her hands up in the air. ‘Are you even listening to the point I’m trying to make here? This isn’t about me and Jez, it’s about you and your insecurities.’
‘You said you were late,’ he said sulkily, refusing to meet her gaze. ‘Hadn’t you better go?’