“My journal.” An anguished cry broke from her as she rushed forward. She stood at the edge of the pool with her hands over her mouth, unable to believe her sister could have done something so cruel. “What the hell, Ivy?”
Her twin glared at her. “Now there’s no proof who wrote those songs.”
“You forget that I have years’ worth of those journals. Every one of them proves you’ve been taking credit for my songs. Are you planning on destroying those, as well?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you doing this? All we have to do is release a press statement that confirms you write your own songs.”
“Why did you have to ruin everything?” Ivy demanded.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“It’s all your fault. Every bit of it.” Tears streamed down Ivy’s cheeks. “I can’t look at you anymore.”
“Ivy, why don’t you calm down and let’s talk about this.” Her sister’s behavior was scaring Mia. She started to put her hands on Ivy’s arms in an effort to connect with her, but her twin threw her off and backed up.
“There’s no need to talk. I hate you. I want you out of this house and out of my life. I’m sick of having you telling me what to do and where to go.”
“I only do that because I’m your assistant.” Mia’s frustration was continuing to build; she was at her breaking point. “It’s my job to keep you on schedule.”
“Well, I’m sick of it. I don’t need you.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I don’t want you around anymore. Get the hell out of my house.”
Ten
Tuesday night after a lonely dinner by himself, Nate sat in his living room with his guitar for company and came to terms with just how miserable he was being a bachelor. He was sick of coming home to an empty house and sleeping alone in his big bed. Sexy Skyping with Mia last night had been more frustrating than fun. He needed her here and now. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
His phone buzzed. Hoping it was Mia calling, Nate reached for it. “Hey, Trent.”
His business partner got right to the point without preliminaries. “Someone leaked that Ivy doesn’t write her own songs.”
“What?”
“Was it you?”
“No.” Nate cursed, half wishing he had done it. But Mia would never have forgiven him. “When did this happen?”
“This afternoon. I just found out.”
“This afternoon...” Why hadn’t Mia called to tell him? She had to know. “Have you spoken to Javier?”
“Not yet. I thought, given your connection to Mia, that we should talk about how you’d like the label to handle things.”
While Nate appreciated his friend’s consideration, he had absolutely no idea what would be best for Mia. “I think West Coast Records should come out saying we have no knowledge of this.”
“But is that true?” Trent sounded tense and weary. “I don’t have any idea what sort of unscrupulous business practices the label was engaged in with my father or brother at the helm.”
Where was Mia?
Was she corralled with her family as they strategized damage control? Ivy must be near hysterical. First there was the misstep at the AMAs on Sunday. And now this. But why hadn’t Mia called or texted?
“What if you make a pers
onal statement that you had no knowledge of the situation and that you will investigate and correct whatever mistakes were made.”