Trust (London Love #5)

“That is absolutely not true!” Kieran blustered. “Per your contracts, anything you produce in-house automatically belongs to the Blitz corporation.”

I was gobsmacked. I hadn’t known that. And I was furious—with management and myself for not paying attention sooner. “That is highly unethical. Especially as it was stolen from a private account.”

“Nothing is private here.” Kieran Williams laughed. “It’s all in your contract. So I suggest you sit down and make yourself familiar with the track, since we will be on a tight schedule. I don’t expect any more of these ludicrous tantrums. We expect professionalism here, at all times.”

Musa snatched his phone from the table, held it up. Then pressed the stop button.

I cheered silently and made a promise to myself to get my own phone and stop using the company one, like Musa had told me to do ages ago. How stupid was I? But whatever, we had this meeting on tape now.

I turned and helped Josh lift Cork from his chair. I had no idea how they’d even got him here in the first place. He could barely walk and the sweat was pouring off him.

“I’m not well,” he mumbled as Josh pretty much carried him from the room, the rest of us right behind them. Kieran Williams shouted empty threats at our backs and I turned and gave him a long, hard stare.

“Come on,” Bash said, his hand steady on my back as we walked out together. “Good job,” he whispered once we were outside. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not going along with all this bullshit. You always do, and then we all go along with it too. It has to bloody stop.”

“I know.” I felt really fucking bad about that.

“I had a daughter two weeks ago,” Bash continued. “Josie’s still in hospital with her. Baby was premature. I haven’t slept since.”

“Congrats!” I smiled and patted his shoulder. “Well, you need to be with Josie then, not swanning off to bloody wherever.”

“Hell, no,” he said. “Good to see you.” He shook my hand. Then he disappeared.

I had no idea what to do, but I followed the others outside and held onto Cork… Cam… I really needed to get used to calling him that because all these stupid alter ego’s had to go…while Josh stomped around, his phone to his ear. He ended the call.

“Cam’s mum’s on her way. She didn’t even know the hospital had let him out. His immune system is too weak to be out like this. He should be in bed on oxygen. Have they no sense?”

Right on cue, Lauren appeared, yattering away on her phone. She was heading straight for us, purpose in her stride. I held up my hand. Stop.

Make it fucking stop.

Right now.

Enough.

“We’re done, Lauren.” Musa.

“But—”

“No but.” Lee. “Just…the hell off.”

Thank you, Lee.

She stomped off without an argument. I could hardly believe it.

“Gray, dude, You know? Don’t you?” Musa asked.

“Know what?”

Musa pulled me aside. “Cam has some kind of chronic lung disease. Management thought it would be better clickbait to seed the rehab story, since lung disease isn’t cool enough for the Blitz brand, and we don’t want to upset the fans, do we? It’s insane. They have absolutely no shame. And that Kieran Williams is going down. We’re all heading to meet with Josh’s mate now, and after that, we’re going to sue the shit out of everyone. You in?”

“Why the hell did no one tell me?” I hissed. I felt so angry. Betrayed. Embarrassed.

“Because you were waltzing around being some bigwig actor and not taking our calls. Wake up, Gray. We’re so fucked that it’s not even funny. And Cam needs out. Now. This isn’t doing him any good.”