Page 1 (2/2)

Our first five days were going to be spent stationary, at a hotel, before we officially joined the tour and started living on a bus We had been sent a seven page typed itinerary that included everything froraphers, to practicing with the backup band twice a day Eventually we pulled up to aand I was surprised when the driver announced we had arrived at our hotel A white-gloved doorreeted us in a fantastic British accent At the time I hadn’t yet realized that he wasn’t the one with the accent anys, while the doorman jurand lobby was surreal, an astounding palatial presence with a do crystal chandeliers reflecting light fros bathed the roos, sumptuous fabrics, and warm cream walls wrapped the lobby in supre in the grandeur of the nificent hotel, I noticed that all eyes were on us I wasn’t sure if we stood out couests that the hotel was likely used to, or if the awe in our eyes had caught their amusement I didn’t think I stood out that irly pink, but soirlish look with Sienna’s black, tight-clothes, high-heeled rock star look,pair

I was surprised when the woman behind the desk kneho I was, but chalked it up to the type of attention to detail that guests of a hotel of that type of stature would receive

"Good afternoon, Ms St Claire, welcome to the Royal Chancery We are very excited to have you here" The s woht it was odd that she was handing ave her my license and credit card Weren’t we all trained to walk to the front desk and hand over our license and credit card? I started to fumble in my purse as I spoke "Do you just need a license and credit card?"

The s clerk looked amused, but smiled as she spoke "No, Ms St Claire, that’s all been taken care of for you Please just enjoy your stay and let us know if there is anything at all that we can do for you Mr Waler, will show you to your room, if you are ready"

I looked at Sienna and saw that she had the saed her shoulders and gave er gave us a history of the hotel on the way up to our roos that were apparently impressive, but which I had never heard of

We arrived in front of a double door suite on the top floor of the hotel, and I was beginning to think that themistake He opened the door and we entered a luxurious suite that looked like it took up half of the entire floor There was a dining room table that seated at least sixteen and I could smell fresh flowers in the air It reminded me of the presidential suite my mother and I had stayed in at Jack’s hotel when she caht bulb finally flicked on in my dimwitted brain

"Mr Waler looked confused and more than a bit concerned "Heston International Hotels, of course Is everything okay, Ms St Claire? Mr Cole instructed the staff to take care of anything and everything you needed If this suite is not acceptable, I’m sure we can find one to satisfy you"

"No, no I’m sorry Mr Walman, the suite is beautiful That isn’t what I ood care of us I’ll be sure to let Jack, uh, Mr Cole, knoell ere treated" I watched as the er’s face visibly untensed, clearly relieved at my praise

He s else that I can get for you, Ms St Claire, before I depart?"

I looked at Sienna, who raised one eyebrow and smirked as she spoke "A bottle of tequila with a few lier looked at Sienna and smiled, then turned back toroom is fully stocked Mr Cole instructed us to add a few extra bottles of tequila, but I’ll have soht up with limes and salt anyway If it’s okay with you, I’ll have soht"

"That would be great Thank you, Mr Wolestion

Before the door was even fully closed behind thethe perks that cood" I turned and sestively "Does he have a brother for hed and for the third tiood care of me

I powered on my phone to call Jack to let him know that we had arrived safely and found his response to the last text I had sent before turning off ht

Royal Chancery is one of ours I’ll let the of the phone call thatthe shit out of his staff Thehalfway Over the last fewin his business He wasn’t rude, but when he asked for sootiation In fact, that was the way Jack was in every facet of his life, except when it came to me With me he was patient and collaborative, but I could tell it was so he worked to achieve Partnership didn’t coled to find a balance for me Except in the bedroo and co man that was innately him, but that was more than fine by me

We talked on the phone for almost an hour, and our conversation flowed easily, as it always did I thanked hirade to the suite, andme what’s his was mine now The only time I felt tension hen I ested Jack got quiet for a few ht ofout to clubs thousands ofhi with the crazy tour schedule, but I knew the dae had already been done I’d planted a srow to visions ofon me in a trendy club in London

Chapter 3

The next few days were a ind of tightly scheduled activities The tour proet us froraphed, measured, interviewed, lectured, trained and prepped for fourteen hours a day I found moments to call Jack whenever I could but most of our conversations were short and rushed

Thursday evening ere finally supposed to meet up with Double Strife, the tour headliners, ere returning froiu forward to seeing Justin again Justin was one of the two brothers who fronted the band Sienna and I hadnew o We had all stayed friends, often playing the same venues, until Siennaa few years back

It was no secret that Justin had a thing for s for ht e had too much to drink after a show, I had already known he wanted ht I’d just assumed his want for me was physical I was shocked at his sords which told s were much more than physical But a few days after Justin’s confession, Michael proposed and ed He was still friendly, but he kept his distance and was respectful of my new status