Page 4 of True Stars Collide
“Once you return to California, you’ll live together at Liam’s place in Santa Barbara. The band will lay down all the tracks for the new album in Liam’s recording studio. You’ll kick off with the already scheduled 30 date/21 city North American Tour in the end of September. Now you can ask your questions.”
Liam shoved away from the table and stalked to the windows. “A marriage to save the band? That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.”
“C’mon, Liam. You know there are probably more fake relationships than real ones in Hollywood. It works,” Ian said.
“Why me? My reputation works. Why not Ben? He’s the other original member.” He struggled to regulate the red hazing his vision.
“You’re the leader of the band, not Ben, and you know it. You fucked things up. You need to fix it. Period.”
Liam turned and fixed his gaze on Zoe, who sat frozen in place. “There’s got to be some other way. What the hell would you do if we’d chosen a guy? Would I have had to marry him?”
Krissy snorted. “That point is moot. If you care so much about resurrecting Black Velvet Machine to its former glory, do it. Ian confirmed you and Zoe are both single.”
Irritated that Zoe hadn’t made a peep, he pointed at her. “Did you know about this?”
Zoe smoothed her wild tangle of ebony hair away from her face and gazed up at him, her whiskey-colored eyes unreadable. “No, I did not know about this.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? You’re okay with this?” He gritted his teeth.
“I don’t want to marry you any more than you want to marry me. But this kind of thing works. I want the band to be a success and I’m willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means acting like we…” She trailed off, her gaze dropping to her clasped hands.
“Well, you’re used to pretending, right? You’re just exchanging one bullshit image for another.”
Her nostrils flared and her lips tightened. “Grow up, we’re in show business. Everyone has a public persona. Although having an image for the public and faking a marriage aren’t exactly the same. But at the end of the day, I’ll be singing rock and roll and that’s what I want. If you can’t handle it, I’m fine with Ben. He, at least, has some manners.”
“Ben’s a shy, reclusive guy. It’s not enough. It has to be Liam,” Ian said.
Zoe’s cheeks flushed pink. “But isn’t it about making me look wild and impulsive? The husband shouldn’t matter.”
Krissy held up a hand. “Liam being his usual ‘Love ’em and Leave ’em Liam’ isn’t newsworthy. But the infamous Liam Jones in love? With the band’s new lead singer? The public will go nuts. It’s a much more powerful story.”
Bitterness filled his mouth. “How long?”
Ian’s eyes flared with triumph. The fucker. “For now, until the end of the tour. If it all goes as well as we anticipate, we’ll reassess then.”
“That’s not good enough. I’m willing to do this because I want it to work. But we need some clear parameters. I don’t want to have the album go platinum, the tour be a smash, and you guys keep telling us just a little longer. I gave up my public life a long time ago, but I won’t let you dictate my personal life forever. So, I suggest we agree, in writing, that we file for the annulment by the end of the year.” Zoe’s husky voice contained a steel thread through it.
Krissy glanced down at her client, a hint of approval in her half-smile. “Fair point. How about this. We agree that at the end of the year, we will assess how everything is going. If necessary, the marriage will continue for six month increments until it’s viable to end it. Deal?”
Liam slammed his hands on the table and glared at her. “Not six months. Ninety day increments. And there will only be two of those and then this farce will end. Take it or leave it.”
“Oh yes, you did study law in London, didn’t you? Fine. That works for us, Ian?” Zoe’s agent said.
Ian leaned his chin on steepled fingers. “Let’s have it drafted and signed today. We’ve got a lot to do before you two head to Vegas on Thursday.”
“Thursday? Like the day after tomorrow?” Zoe’s voice sounded like she’d sucked on a helium balloon, more Minnie Mouse than soulful singer.
“I thought you had to set up the show? How the hell are you pulling that off in four days? What the fuck?”
One of the suits flashed a smile. “Oh, we arranged the concert months ago, when we were setting up the tour. We didn’t know who the lead singer would be but of course, we knew one would have been selected.”
“Let’s get down to specifics while the agreements are drawn up, shall we?” Ian’s expression was as smug as his tone. His manager had him by the balls.
Liam knew the tour dates and had used them as part of his power play trying to force Austin’s hand. It all felt different now––he’d be living a total, complete lie. Just like his whole fucking life had been a lie before he found out the truth and bailed on law school and his parents. Bile rose in his throat.
He’d do it. Because at the end of the day, all he had was Black Velvet Machine. He’d already lost it once when Tommy died and Austin bailed. He might be a loner but he needed the group. So yeah, he’d sell his fucking soul to play and perform again.
Otherwise, he had no clue what he’d do with his life.