Strike (Sphere of Irony 2)

“Right then. I’ll eat then call a cab so you don’t have to drive me back to the hotel. It’s only a few minutes away.”

He agrees and we dig in , serenaded by international rock star Adam Reynolds as he belts his way through an impressive rendition of Wrecking Ball.

Fuck, if the public only knew.

An hour and a half later, I collapse onto one of the leather recliners in my hotel suite, new contract in hand.

No more Lila.

I close my eyes, trying to imagine how great it will be to work and go on tour and not have to deal with her. No more of that stupid bloody show of hers, either. Thank god for that. I’ve avoided her as much as possible, but she still catches me with those damn cameras now and then. When she does, I try to curse a lot so the footage will be useless.

I chuckle at the thought, my eyes still closed.

A sharp rap on my door breaks my little fantasy.

Hell, it better not be Adam. I’d be shocked if Hawke brought him home already. We both live in the Chateau Marmont. Each of us for similar reasons. Neither of us particularly cares for L.A. and neither of us wants to settle down in a house alone. That would be admitting that we’ll never get our girls back.

Pathetic? Maybe. I can’t be bothered to give a shit.

Stupidly, I yank open the door without checking who it is and find myself face to face with Lila Griffin, surprisingly without her camera entourage.

“What the fuck do you want, Lila,” I growl, feeling the hostility heat the blood in my veins like a match to gasoline.

“Why yes. I’d love to come in,” she says acerbically, shoving past me into the suite.

I slam the door a little, okay maybe a lot, too loudly. “Why are you here, Lila?” I cross my arms over my chest and give her my most intimidating stare.

She stands her ground. I’m impresse

d. She’s either brave or stupid. “You think you’ve gotten rid of me?” she snaps out. “You haven’t. Not by a long shot. I’ll make you sorry that you left my dad… that you left me.”

So she knows we’ve jumped ship from her dad’s record label. “Like I give a fuck what you do.” I stalk over to where she’s standing, hands on her hips and a hideous, twisted grimace on her face.

Towering over her, I make myself perfectly clear. “Get out. Don’t ever come back. If you do, I’ll make your life a living hell. Daddy isn’t going to be there to control me anymore so you’d better hope I never see you again.”

Lila’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. She quickly contains her reaction, her mouth spreading into a flat evil grin. “You fucked up, Dax. You could have had it all. My dad’s power and influence, my show to make you a household name, me . Now I’ll make sure you know what it feels like to be fucked over.”

Who the hell does she think she is? She’s a bloody nutter.

“Leave. Now.” I walk back over to the foyer and open the door. “Or I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

Lila does as I ask, swinging her hips as she teeters on those ridiculous heels of hers. I step back when she attempts to touch my chest as she walks by, her hand swiping nothing but air.

That smug smile of hers disappears. “See you soon, Daxey.” Then she walks out the door.

And out of my life.

I haven’t felt this good since… let’s just say it’s been a long time.

Kate

“Let’s go out!”

“Abby, I’m knackered. I don’t want to go out,” I whine.

My flatmate comes into the lounge and frowns. “You’re leaving in two days. I’m not going to see you in forever. You need to get up and do something with me. We’re going out and you’re not saying no.”

“Ugh!”