“Did you at least use a condom?”
I chewed the inside of my cheek and didn’t say anything. He muttered a curse under his breath.
“That’s none of your business,” I said. Meanwhile, I cursed myself for not using a condom. What the hell was wrong with me? Although he’d been a great guy, I didn’t know his past sex life. Not only did I not want to get pregnant, I also didn’t want an STD.
Damn it. Stupid. So stupid.
“My focus is on your career. Something is up with Gio and you.” He pierced me with his gaze. “You don’t have to tell me what I can see for myself. Therefore, we have to make sure you actually do what you came here for.”
“Of course I will.”
“I’ve seen this before.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Seen what?”
“Women get lost to stardom.”
“Bullshit, Ru. This is not the first star I’ve worked with.”
“This is the first one where you’ve slept in his bedroom.”
“Are you kidding me?” I stormed off and headed for his car. “This meeting is over.”
He placed the keys in his pocket and followed me to the rental. More flakes fell. I got in and he did right after. Instead of starting the car, he sat there with his hands on his lap. “I’m sorry.”
“I can’t believe you,” I said. “You bought a building thirty minutes away?”
“I’ve seen all of this before. Trust me. There’s two ways this ends. A guy is a money maker in the industry. He sees a shiny new girl on the scene. He plays with her and he either A, has sex with her until he gets bored and moves on. The whole time, he keeps her from working with anyone else. He hypes her head up, telling her that he just doesn’t want to share her talent. And then there’s B.”
I rolled my eyes. “What’s B?”
“If she proves to be the type of woman that will deal with his shit—and it’s a lot of shit—then he’ll keep her around. Maybe, he’ll even make her his wife. Not that it matters, women aren’t important to him. It’s the music and the fame that’s got him addicted.”
“This isn’t every man in the industry.”
“Oh really? Name these great guys.”
I had nothing to say.
He continued, “And don’t think that this woman who becomes his wife will ever follow her dreams. Look at all the stars out there that are married. Usually, it’s a headliner and some background singer or up-and-coming songwriter that is now pregnant or running around with two of his kids. And where is he? He’s out and about, hooking up with the next shiny new girl on the scene.”
I put on my seatbelt. “You’ve given this too much thought.”
“I don’t have to think about this. It happens all the time.”
I pointed at him. “Ru, you’re my manager, not my love doctor.”
He sneered. “There goes that word again.”
“What word?” I asked.
“Love.” He spat it out. “You said it twice. Last week, I couldn’t convince you to leave your place or meet one friend and now you’re talking about me needing to stay out of your love life.”
“This is bullshit, Ru. And are you telling me that this was your important meeting?” I gestured at the broken-down building. “You wanted to show me a place that I should stay in so that I wouldn’t become Gio’s sex toy or future lonely wife?”
“I don’t want to leave you in that house with him.”
“That’s not your choice.”
He nodded. “That’s fair, but we both know I won’t go if I think he’s dangerous for your career.”
“Ru, you’ve always had my back, but what’s up? You and I both know this is bullshit.”
He shrugged.
“You’re focused on the wrong things.”
He snorted. “I’m focused on the wrong things?”
“Yes. Your attention needs to be on contracts and clauses, not where I sleep or who I choose to date.”
He gripped the steering wheel but still hadn’t started the car yet. “So, you’re dating?”
I had no true answer for him.
Are we dating?
Gio and I were definitely fucking. That I knew for sure. In fact, all I could think of was getting back in Gio’s bed and letting him spread my thighs.
But dating? Are we? What the hell are we?
Ru tapped the steering wheel with his finger. “I don’t know if anything has occurred between you two or not, but I should let you know this...”
“What?”
“I overheard Gio’s maids talking about all of the women he’s had at his house this winter. Apparently, there’s a different woman every night lying in the same bed that you lay in now.”
But he said there’s been no women.
Jealousy hit me. My heart hurt. I knew that there was no rational reason for it. I looked away from Ru and stared out of the front window. “I don’t believe you. And even if that’s true...we weren’t together...and we’re not together now. He can do whatever he wants.”