Chapter Eleven
Ethan wasn’t even listening to his manager right now.
Dave Hogan, or Davey as they called him, was the kind of guy who never took his eye off the ball. That was why he was the best in the business and why he never let any of them forget it.
True, he’d seen The Strum through the recording of global smash hits and the resulting financial windfalls plus the many well-deserved awards and accolades. So long as Jaime, Ethan, and Henson continued to create great music, Davey was on hand to put the necessary wheels in motion to ensure that it paid off for all concerned.
So Ethan knew Davey was worried about not just the band’s interests but his own healthy payoff when he sat Ethan down for a little ‘talk’.
It was a week after the London tour.
Damn, that had been a smash. Ethan always had a different feel of things when he played London. There was just something about the arenas and the audience; they gave off their own unique vibe so apart from anywhere else. Once you were on that stage, it felt like you didn’t want to leave. The energy had been bursting night after night, each concert sold out to massive crowds.
Having Mandy with him had been the best part of it all.
Keeping a real relationship with his kind of schedule had always been a no-no. He was always on the road, closer to his band brothers than any other person. It was tough for anyone to ever get into that clique. Only the die-hard groupies had a pass into their world, and that was simply short-term till some other hot willing body came along.
With Mandy close, it suddenly seemed like everything he did had meaning. After each show, he couldn’t wait to get out of his sweaty gear and wrap himself around her. Sometimes she joined them at the after-parties and the meet-and-greets but most times, she was content to wait on the sidelines till he was ready. He’d meant what he’d said in his song, the one he’d written specially for her. She was the light to his darkness; she chased the demons away. He had nothing to fight anymore because with her, there was no conflict he couldn’t overcome.
Soon enough, he didn’t even need the booze or the crazy shit he’d been into just to get high. It was great that her job ensured she stayed close to him all through each performance, and it gave him the perfect idea to keep her with him no matter where he went.
He’d never forget how happy she had been when he told her his great idea. “When we get back home, I’m calling Jessica. Fans have been digging the whole new look, if any of the talk all over social media is anything to go by. My publicist says it’s been a great success with the fashion press, too. And the guys in the band all think it looked wicked, like they say here in London.”
He’d tweaked her nose as she’d smiled, and he went on, “So I’ve decided. I’ll get Jessica Charles’ firm to handle the band overall – so long as you get to style our costumes when we’re on tour. We have a new album coming out in three months, and after that we’re launching a world tour to promote it. I’ll expect you to be working on that.”
Mandy had gasped, her eyes filled with shocked disbelief. “That would be awesome, Ethan! Something like that will definitely make my career.” But then she’d looked doubtful for a second. “But I’m totally unknown – for now anyway. I’m not sure Jessica will want me to take over such a big responsibility as a world tour.”
Ethan had cupped the sides of her face and stared straight into her eyes. “Jessica will just have to agree to those terms. I want you with me, Mandy. When I’m on the road; whatever capital in the world I’m in, you will be by my side. I’m not going to spend months at a stretch away from you, and I won’t expect you to give up working just to follow my band around while we tour. With you working as our stylist, it will be the perfect arrangement.”
Her doubtful expression still lingered. “So…in short, I’m being picked simply because I’m Ethan Tyler’s main squeeze and he wants to make sure I stick around, huh? Really flattering.”
Ethan sighed deeply. “You know better than that. You forget that I’ve been wearing your creations for this past week on tour. Your stuff is like you, Mandy. Young and modern. You have an eye, an attention to detail and real talent. I wouldn’t be wearing it if I believed otherwise. And that’s why you get to style The Strum during our tour. Because you deserve the opportunity. Getting to see you as often as I want is just a bonus.”
He’d melted her heart the rest of the way with a wolfish grin and a kiss.
And now Davey was coming at him with this bullshit. His advice? Now that the London gig was over, Ethan should cool things off with Mandy. Like what the hell?