through.
“You’ll meet me to talk about your contract,” he says, “Tomorrow. Nice and early. Nine in the morning. At the Jugged Hare.”
His grip tightens again and I nod desperately. I know the pub. It’s a low -life strip bar he took me to once. A place where Dez does all his shady deals.
“Remember Summer,” he whispers evilly, as I gasp for air, “you’re nothing without me. If you cross me it’s not just your friends who’ll get hurt. So be a good girl and do as you’re told. Don’t try anything clever, and come alone.”
He releases the grip and throws me back onto the bed. I sprawl on the covers, choking.
Through the spots in front of my eyes I see Dez turn and leave the room, but not before giving me one last pitying glance.
“And if you ever see Adam Morgan again, I’ll kill you both,” he concludes.
The door slams, and I wait with my breath held until I hear his footsteps on the stair, and the Sing -Win door close.
Only then do I let out a full breath, and let the tears flow.
Chapter 10
I wait a full hour, until I dial Adam’s number with a shaky hand. I’d hoped I’d calmed down enough to sound normal. But as soon as I say ‘hello’ Adam is onto me.
“Summer, what’s wrong?”
His words come fast and anxious. I guess my cheerful telephone voice still didn’t fool Adam.
“Nothing,” I say, trying to sound upbeat.
“Why weren’t you answering my calls?”
“Um. I was just rehearsing,” I say. “I had the music loud. I couldn’t hear you.”
Adam breathes out.
“Don’t do that to me baby, ok? I worry when you don’t answer the phone. Are you sure you’re al l right?”
I feel tears rising to my eyes. Everything Adam says sounds so caring. I can hardly stand it. Especially knowing what I’m about to do.
“I’m fine,” I insist.
“O k.” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Hey, can you send my Sing -Win contract over?” I ask. “No reason to bring it in person. Just email it.”
There’s a pause.
“Why?” Now there’s full on suspicion in Adam’s voice.
“I just wanted to take a look at the terms,” I say, praying I sound casual.
Over the last hour I’ve formulated something of a plan.
Maybe I can use my Sing -Win contract to stall Dez. I have no intention of passing up Sing-Win and going back under his management. But I need something to convince him I’m taking it seriously. To stop him fulfilling his threat to Tammy.
Perhaps there’s something in the Sing -Win contract which will give Dez pause for thought. Certainly he’s not the greatest with paperwork. Complex legal terms might buy me some time. If only I can find the right ones.
“Summer, what’s wrong?” Adam’s voice is authoritative now.
“I told you. Nothing.”
“I can tell when you’re lying. If you won’t tell me over the phone I’m coming over to get you.”
“I…”
“Stay there,” says Adam. “I’ll be ten minutes.”
“No!” I almost shriek the words. “I… I mean. Don’t come over.”
All I can think of is Dez’s threat.
I’ll kill you both.
“I’m in the middle of composing,” I explain weakly. “I just need to be by myself for a bit.”
“Okaaay,” says Adam, sounding confused and worried. “Shall I pick you up later then? For our date?”
“I’m really tired,” I stall, “I think maybe tonight isn’t such a good idea.”
“What’s going on Summer?”
Adam sounds distraught, and my heart jars. I’m sure he’s already planned something amazing for this evening.
“Nothing.” I force the words out. “It’s just… Everything has happened too fast between us. I need some space.”
“Are you saying, you don’t want to see me anymore?” asks Adam.
I close my eyes, trying to drive back the pain. Because I know what I have to say.
I can’t risk Adam.
“It’s for the best,” I say, my voice trembling.
There’s a long pause, and it feels like my heart is breaking.
“Ok,” says Adam, in a dead-sounding
“You’ll meet me to talk about your contract,” he says, “Tomorrow. Nice and early. Nine in the morning. At the Jugged Hare.”
His grip tightens again and I nod desperately. I know the pub. It’s a low -life strip bar he took me to once. A place where Dez does all his shady deals.
“Remember Summer,” he whispers evilly, as I gasp for air, “you’re nothing without me. If you cross me it’s not just your friends who’ll get hurt. So be a good girl and do as you’re told. Don’t try anything clever, and come alone.”
He releases the grip and throws me back onto the bed. I sprawl on the covers, choking.
Through the spots in front of my eyes I see Dez turn and leave the room, but not before giving me one last pitying glance.
“And if you ever see Adam Morgan again, I’ll kill you both,” he concludes.
The door slams, and I wait with my breath held until I hear his footsteps on the stair, and the Sing -Win door close.
Only then do I let out a full breath, and let the tears flow.
Chapter 10
I wait a full hour, until I dial Adam’s number with a shaky hand. I’d hoped I’d calmed down enough to sound normal. But as soon as I say ‘hello’ Adam is onto me.
“Summer, what’s wrong?”
His words come fast and anxious. I guess my cheerful telephone voice still didn’t fool Adam.
“Nothing,” I say, trying to sound upbeat.
“Why weren’t you answering my calls?”
“Um. I was just rehearsing,” I say. “I had the music loud. I couldn’t hear you.”
Adam breathes out.
“Don’t do that to me baby, ok? I worry when you don’t answer the phone. Are you sure you’re al l right?”
I feel tears rising to my eyes. Everything Adam says sounds so caring. I can hardly stand it. Especially knowing what I’m about to do.
“I’m fine,” I insist.
“O k.” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Hey, can you send my Sing -Win contract over?” I ask. “No reason to bring it in person. Just email it.”
There’s a pause.
“Why?” Now there’s full on suspicion in Adam’s voice.
“I just wanted to take a look at the terms,” I say, praying I sound casual.
Over the last hour I’ve formulated something of a plan.
Maybe I can use my Sing -Win contract to stall Dez. I have no intention of passing up Sing-Win and going back under his management. But I need something to convince him I’m taking it seriously. To stop him fulfilling his threat to Tammy.
Perhaps there’s something in the Sing -Win contract which will give Dez pause for thought. Certainly he’s not the greatest with paperwork. Complex legal terms might buy me some time. If only I can find the right ones.
“Summer, what’s wrong?” Adam’s voice is authoritative now.
“I told you. Nothing.”
“I can tell when you’re lying. If you won’t tell me over the phone I’m coming over to get you.”
“I…”
“Stay there,” says Adam. “I’ll be ten minutes.”
“No!” I almost shriek the words. “I… I mean. Don’t come over.”
All I can think of is Dez’s threat.
I’ll kill you both.
“I’m in the middle of composing,” I explain weakly. “I just need to be by myself for a bit.”
“Okaaay,” says Adam, sounding confused and worried. “Shall I pick you up later then? For our date?”
“I’m really tired,” I stall, “I think maybe tonight isn’t such a good idea.”
“What’s going on Summer?”
Adam sounds distraught, and my heart jars. I’m sure he’s already planned something amazing for this evening.
“Nothing.” I force the words out. “It’s just… Everything has happened too fast between us. I need some space.”
“Are you saying, you don’t want to see me anymore?” asks Adam.
I close my eyes, trying to drive back the pain. Because I know what I have to say.
I can’t risk Adam.
“It’s for the best,” I say, my voice trembling.
There’s a long pause, and it feels like my heart is breaking.
“Ok,” says Adam, in a dead-sounding
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