ISLA~
This city reeked of attention, whether it was from the beggars, the people, the press all of them wanted to be seen doing something, anything.
The city of Granvil was big, and what they'd call 'happening'. And that happening kept me up all night, strategizing and thinking.
Damage control was my specialty. It was how I climbed to the top quickly in the entertainment industry where lots of shit happened. And now I had one last issue to finally clear up.
With the rub of my eyes I jumped into the shower while listening to a podcast on relationships and human behavior.
I laughed softly. "People really are something else" I took a good look at my reflection on the shining bathroom walls before washing the soap off my body.
I was no different from them come to think of it.
I dressed up, adjusted my tie and was out from my hotel room before seven am. which was on the same floor Elara my new client was.
In one year I'd be done with this crappy job and probably I'd look for something worth doing to pass time again.
I went down to the lobby, making calls left and right to secure an escape for Elara from the things called people who somehow by passed security and decided to hold a rally in a goddamn five star hotel.
Outside, the press waited wanting to get even a single word from her. I understood it was their job, but she had emotions too. The video alone was traumatizing . Bombarding her with questions now was just cruel.
I could even see some regular ass people who seemed not to know a thing about all this hanging around with the gradually growing crowd. Joblessness in this country sure was sky rocketing.
Luckily her gadgets had been taken off her two days before the tour, and from how she looked yesterday, my guess was that she hadn't seen or heard anything yet.
I was staring at the nuisance from inside, wondering why she was so popular. I mean I had never even heard any of her songs but it was how her location was leaked that really got me thinking.
The hotel manager approached me finally after I'd waited for over thirty minutes.
"Your management is bad really." I cut to the chase skipping all the unnecessary talk. "My client is stuck in here and what if she gets attacked?"
"We are taking care of it ma'am" He said looking more worried than I was.
Yeah, this was going to cost him a lot.
"I'm not old don't fucking call me that" I walked away from him while he followed behind me apologetically.
I now stood outside her room. The whole floor had been paid off to avoid close contact with others. Normally, she didn't mind it so I was told, but with the way things were going she was sure to get attacked at any point.
I adjusted my suit, put on the most believable smile and knocked on her door.
No answer.
"Please don't be what I'm thinking," I whispered to myself as I knocked again. Still nothing.
I opened my hand, and the hotel staff who had come with me handed me the master key. I unlocked her door and pushed it open slightly.
"Ms. Jones?" I called out and still got no response. I walked in anyway. In the dark room a figure definitely her, stood by the curtains staring out the window.
"Permission to switch on the light" I said already doing it.
The first thing to get my attention was the phone on her bed. Great.
She turned and faced me. This was not our first meeting, but I hadn't introduced myself yesterday either.
"Who are you?" she asked "And why are you everywhere?"
"I am Isla Matthew, your new manager" I introduced myself. She scoffed then fell back onto the bed.
"Why didn't anyone tell me about the video?" she asked "I would've gone out there without any knowledge like yesterday and be laughed at, called names and what not"
I remained quiet. She pointed to the door then looked at me.
"Get out. Leave. I want to be alone"
"You have to get ready Ms. Jones. You have a flight to catch" I replied trying not to get annoyed by her arrogance. I couldn't blame her though, falling from grace in less than a day could mentally destroy a person.
"I'm not going anywhere" she turned to her side and curled up.
"You don't get to decide that," I heaved a sigh "We've taken care of the media and Chris, you have no reason to be worried"
She sat up almost immediately.
"Did you not watch the videos?" she questioned "People speculate a lot" she sniffed as tears rolled down her eyes "I don't want to be labeled as anything"
"Fuck!!!" she muttered as she broke down in tears. I hated this job, now I had to play the care taker to a frustrated twenty-four year old.
"That is why you have me," I said moving closer. "I'll clear your name and reputation" I paused for a brief moment.
"And, I'm not going to force you to sing today" I added. "But we really need to catch that flight and never show weakness Ms. Jones, no matter the problem walk like you own the world."
She got up and walked into the restroom without a word.
Yeah, not sure this was helping.
---
I walked out of her room and turned to her personal security guard. Ben.
"How well do you know Elara?" I asked.
"Not too well, I'm new. Been working for six months"
"Will she try to harm herself?" he shook his head. That was perfect which meant one less thing to worry about.
My phone buzzed nonstop, with calls from Freecs and the company. She was the face of multiple brands. The one selling at the moment. And all of this was threatening everything.
"Hello" I answered Freecs, assuring them that she'd be there but nothing more. Even I won't advice her to sing.
I returned the call to the company. "You better have good news for me" Richard said, managing director of the label.
"She saw the videos," I said. "Turns out she still had her phone"
"No, that was taken"
"I'm not blind I know what I saw." he went quiet for a while. "She won't be able to sing today" I added.
"Please don't tell me that." he sounded annoyed. "Eight hundred and sixty thousand tickets sold and you're telling me…"
"I can clear her name," I cut in. "But the show will have to be canceled or rather postponed till after the court hearing"
"Court hearing? What court hearing?"
"Chris, he's suing her" I answered.
"That bastard" he groaned "This is bullshit" the call ended.
The press broke through moment later. With their numbers, it was difficult to get her out. As we maneuvered through the crowd with lights flashing here and there, questions being thrown at her, we were able to get her into the car and away from the chaos.
As the car pulled away, my phone buzzed again.
LAWSUIT FILED: CHRIS MAXWELL VS. ELARA JONES.
I stared at the screen for a while before switching it off. I then caught her eyes through the dark screen.
She had seen it too.
There were last minute plans. The show was canceled. Elara was flown back to Redid where the hearing was to begin in a month.
Things were going much better than I expected.