Surviving (Surrender 2)

Both girls look at each other and sit.

We all wait in silence until Amber finally breaks. “She made me do it! At first it was harmless stuff trying to make Rave look bad for Sayge’s image. We figured they would ask Raven to step back and then it would eventually lead to trouble in their relationship.”

“Shut up, bitch!” Kelly yells at Amber.

“Blake, will you please call the officer in to escort Kelly to another room? It may be better to hear this from them individually.”

Blake opens the door and tells waiting officer what is going on and where to go. Once we are alone Amber starts talking.

“When I started, Kelly was nice to me. She told me what happened in Vegas. She acted sincere, and I was dumb enough to believe that Raven was a lying bitch. She wanted her old job back so she could prove to Mike she was good enough to be a representative. Her goal was to land Sayge. So one night while drunk we came up with a plan. Charlie left her phone on the desk one day, and she got into her pictures and forwarded a photo of Raven with another man. We didn’t know it was Finn, but it looked romantic enough to cause problems. So we set up a fake account and sent it to the website. When that didn’t work, she became determined. She had friends send messages to the Facebook page. I tried to back away from her, but she blackmailed me that she would go to Mike and tell him it was all me.”

She starts crying and looks straight at me. “I really needed this job. I thought if I could get a few more pictures she would leave me alone. She gave me some sort of device that scrambled our tablets together, and I had access to all your pictures on your iPad. Then at the launch party she got close enough to you that the scrambler worked on your phone and text messages. But nothing seemed to work for her. You were becoming more and more popular, and Sayge was climbing the charts. She decided to step up her plan, and I had no choice but to go along. After the SCENE article came out and then when your identity was released, you were a fucking celebrity. She flipped. She found Andy and the Music City Enquirer, and we met with him one night. It took a few dates with me and then a night together and then we hung a carrot in his face. The biggest chance in his career so far–to take down the local golden girl. I provided him with Christie, Sami, and Raine’s name for sources. He did extensive research, and we both confirmed the details from his interviews. He knew where we worked, and Sayge was our client. When he tried to call here for fact checking, she acted as Mike’s assistant to say “no comment” but spoke off the record. He used the information and wrote the article on fake information we gave him. Then we disappeared on him. When the article came out, he called us several times once the lawsuit was filed. I felt terrible, but I was in so deep. Then I was working so closely with you any personal information could be linked back to me. When Finn found the virus in your computer and phone, we no longer had access to anything personal.”

“Andy mentioned that you may have something else planned. Now’s the time to fucking tell us.” Declan practically growls.

“I’m not sure of all the details, but something about messing with some tour dates to make Raven look incompetent. She’s been talking to the tour organizers secretly acting as Raven’s assistant. She’s trying to make it where you have to fire Raven in the middle of the summer, and someone else has to take over.”

“This bitch is whacked! Does she really think there’s anything that would make me fire my wife? What about you? Are you whacked? Besides Raven, do you have any idea what you did to Andy’s career? He is fucking broke with no job in sight, and drinking himself to oblivion. You and your goddamned partner almost ruined a man. Not to mention you’re a fucking whore!” Declan screams at her.

I touch his arm, trying to calm him down. The only sounds in the room are Amber’s cries. Everyone is looking at me, but I can’t think if anything I want to say to her. There are a thousand words on the tip of my tongue but how can I follow up with Declan calling her a whore. The words hang in the air, and she has no defense.

“Amber, you’ll need to tell all this information to the officers in a bit. You are officially fired, and I doubt you will ever get a job in PR again. Raven, do you want to press charges?”

“Mike, I need to think about it. I don’t want any bad publicity for MJ right before we leave for tour.”

He nods and I get up to leave. I look at the woman I thought was my friend, and she’s still crying.

“You know Mike, even though Andy’s article hurt me, he took the appropriate measures to verify his story. He’s a victim too. He may be a good candidate for Amber’s replacement. His actions were at least an indication of his drive and ambition.”

Amber’s face falls with my words. Mike will probably never talk to Andy again, but the implication is there.

“Charlie, will you, please relay a message to Kelly for me?” I say so everyone can hear me. “Declan and I both warned her not to fuck with us while we were in Vegas. She had fair warning. There’s a good chance she’ll never get a job in the music industry in this town again. Also, as soon as I get to my laptop, I’ll update each of our media sites with the news that we found the source of the slanderous article and Amber and Kelly’s names will be available to the public.”

More sobs fill the room, but I walk out without another look.

Chapter 56

New York City

Arriving in New York four days early was turned out to be a great idea. Since this was the kick off city, there were endless meetings. Performers had their own sets of meetings with sound techs and lighting crews. I was busy meeting with other band managers, safety committees, PR reps and the event organizers. I stayed quiet most of the time because I could already tell the people that were assholes. I made a point to have a meeting with the guys each night with updates and news on any changes.

Declan and I had little time to spend around the city, but we did sneak away one day. I shopped a little, and he complained about not having any more room for my shit on the bus, but shut up when I took him into La Perla. Once I picked the lingerie I would wear tomorrow night under my dress for the kickoff concert, he forced me into a cab back to the hotel.

Sayge is the fourth band in tonight’s lineup. We’re escorted to a private area where the other bands are. Declan and the guys introduce me to a few of the bands they’ve met this week. He holds me close and links our fingers. It doesn’t go unnoticed that he spins my wedding rings around my finger. Since this is my first time behind the stage at a truly organized concert where Sayge is an act, I’m not sure what to expect. Declan told me it’s a totally different experience than last summer because it was a regional tour playing small venues.

A few of the pretentious assholes I met this week are standing around in a circle in the back. I point them out to Declan, and he rolls his eyes. A few minutes later one of them comes over and starts fawning over Sayge. She gives me a death glare until Declan raises my fingers to his lips and kisses my rings. Her face drains of color, and she leaves us alone.

An hour before it’s time to hit the stage, I guide them back to a table and review everything one more time. Once they finish the last autograph they are free until we meet at the bus tomorrow morning. I reiterate the time several times for Nate and Cooper’s sake. I’d hate to have to bust their balls the first city of our trip.

The stage crew starts running around us setting up so I give them each a hug and wish them luck.

Declan pulls me to the side “You don’t leave this side stage Raven. I want to see you at all times. Until I can let everyone know you’re mine, I need to know you’re safe.”

“Dec–”

“No arguments. You may be our Manager, but right now you are my wife, and I’m telling you to stay in my sight. I promise to get better throughout the summer.”

“Okay, honey. In your sight.”