He doesn't let go of me. I know he's right, I should think about it, but I've thought about it enough. I know what I have to do.

"Steele! Let's go, bro!" one of the guys yells through the open door.

"Annika,"

"Just go, Steele. Please."

He hugs me closer to him, like he's never going to let go. He kisses me on the top of my head and lets his lips linger there.

"Annika, you're a smart girl. Don't make the same mistake twice."

"Dude!" they call him one last time, more annoyed than before.

He let's his hold on me go and squeezes my hand, "You promised you would never leave again," he says with a sad smile, recalling the night we spent together, "think about it, babe. Listen to your heart," he says, quoting a line from 'Forever Girl'. Steele kisses me one last time on the forehead.

The bouncer holds the door open. Steele looks at me one last time but I can't look back at him. My mind is made up. He jogs toward the open door. I keep my gaze focused on the ground. I can't watch him go. The pain is too much.

I want to scream. I want to kick something. I want to run back inside and throw myself into Steele's arms. I want to stay. But I don't. I pick up my phone again and drop a pin for an Uber.

Chapter 10.

"Well, this is a surprise, Annika," Jayne says, "I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

I take a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of her desk and cross my legs, "I left somewhat unexpectedly. I thought it would be best if I did."

"Why? Did something happen? Everything seemed fine when I last spoke to you - well, considering the incident and all."

I prepared for this conversation the entire way back from New York. I went over what I was going to say again and again, but right now, I can't seem to recall any of it.

I inhale a deep breath to prepare myself before I speak, "Jayne, something happened while I was with Steele Rush."

Jayne leans forward onto her desk, concerned, "is everything okay? What's going on?"

"When you assigned me to Steele Rush, I was a little hesitant, but I thought I could handle having them as my client so I went ahead anyway."

"I don't understand."

"Oh, God, Jayne, this is so embarrassing." My face flushes. I'm sure I will remember this as the low point of my career, that is if I still have one after this conversation. "When I was younger, in college, I worked at The Reading Room. It's the bar where Steele's career took off."

"I'm familiar with it," she comments quizzically, letting me continue.

"Well, we kind of had a 'thing' back then." I use air quotes to give emphasis to what I mean without actually saying it.

"A thing?" she repeats back.

"Well, maybe it was more than a thing. We were together for a while. I didn't think it would matter at this point in my life. We haven't spoken in years." Jayne raises her eyebrows. "Steele approached me when I arrived. He confessed that he still had feelings for me. I told him that we couldn't - we shouldn't.

"I sense a 'but' coming."

"Yes. There's a 'but'," I sigh, "we did." I turn my eyes down, unable to look directly at Jayne.

She leans back in her chair and entwines her fingers. We sit in an uncomfortable silence for what feels like an eternity. This isn't looking very good for me.

"Shit, Annika," she begins, "you're putting me in a tough spot here."

"I know," I say quietly, "I'm sorry."

"Sleeping with a client is grounds for termination. This could effect your entire career - and your reputation."

"I know." I'm holding back tears. I worked so hard to get here. How could I let myself lose control like that?

"Was this a one night thing?"

"No," I reply, ashamed.

"So I guess there was some truth behind what Steve heard about the two of you?" she asks rhetorically. I remain silent.

"I need to think about what to do here, Annika." My stomach turns. "Do you love him?"

"What?" I ask, startled.

"I'm asking because you mentioned there is history between the two of you. I mean, having a fling with a client is unacceptable. Is that what it was or is there more to it?"

"I don't know. I think I love him"

What?

What the hell just came out of my mouth? Do I mean that? Did I just say out loud that I love Steele? Oh my God.

"I can't say I'm not disappointed by what happened, but I think we've all been in a situation where love makes us do strange things. I've known you since the beginning of your career, Annika. I know you are a woman of integrity. There must have been some strong connection to throw you off your game."

"Thank you for understanding," I reply meekly.

Just because Jayne is understanding as a friend, doesn't mean my job is any more secure.

"Of course." She leans forward again, "you and I have history as well, I'm going to do what I can to try and smooth this over before it becomes more of an issue - or before anyone else finds out. Let me decide on a course of action."

"I appreciate that." I feel somewhat relieved at least.

"Now let me ask you a question - as a friend."

"Sure, what?" I ask curiously.

"If you do love Steele, what are you doing here?"

I'm taken back by her question, "what do you mean?"

"I mean, you think you love him. If Steele loves you, why are you here and not with him?"

I stare back at her, bewildered. Why would she ask something like that?

"Jayne, this job is my world. Steele is a rock star. You know what they're like. I can't throw everything I worked for away just to get hurt in the end and be left with nothing."

"How do you know you're going to get hurt?"

"I don't."

"Exactly. I'm just saying, Annika, sometimes, despite the odds, things have a way of working themselves out."

Do they? Not really in my world, they don't. I lived through this nightmare with my parents already.

"For now, why don't you compile all of the data you collected thus far and put it in a report for me. Let me figure out what I'm going to do about the rest of this situation."

"Okay. I can do that. Thank you so much."

"Of course, Annika."

I stand up and turn to leave.

"And Annika?"

"Yes?" I reply, turning back around.

"As your friend - not your boss," she says with a smile, "listen to your heart."

Funny. That's the second time I've been given that advice in the last couple of days.

I smile, "thanks."

I leave Jayne's office and go back to my own. I actually feel much better getting all of that off my chest, even though I don't know what the repercussions are going to be.

I sit at my desk and open my laptop. I weed through the files of information I collected on Steele Rush. I mindlessly flip through pages of data without really paying any attention to what I'm reading.

I stop when I come to a picture of the band. It's not necessary to my work, but I must have saved it when I started my research - before I left to meet Steele on tour.

I stare at the photo. Steele is front and center - of course. God, he looks so hot. He's standing in his signature pose, thumbs hooked in his pockets, head cocked to the side, hair hanging over part of his face. He looks every bit the rock star that he is.

Do I really love him? Does it even matter? I let out a loud sigh.

What a shitty mess I've gotten myself into. How can I listen to my heart when my head is telling me otherwise?

My heart is telling me to go to Steele - to find him and love him. That there's a chance things can work out - no matter what. That true love will always find a way.

Then, my head butts in with logic and reason. My head reminds me that what we had, or think we have, isn't love - it's lust. It's attraction. It's something that will never work. I tell myself that even contemplating giving up my career and my beliefs are just some ridiculous notion - a fairytale.

I have a good head on my shoulders. A person's heart can lead them to make very bad decisions. I would be stupid to do anything that defies logic and reason. It never leads to anything good. Does it?

"Hey, Annika."

I close the photo of Steele Rush and turn around, startled out of my never ending train of thought.

"Oh, hi, Tina. What's up?"

Tina is one of my coworkers. I mentored her for a short time when she started at MTM. She's young and sweet and still comes to me for advice from time to time.

"Not much. Just heard you were back so I thought I would say hello." She proceeds into my office and takes a seat, "I was wondering if I could ask you a question?"

"Sure," I spin my chair around and give her my attention. I need a break from my daydream anyway.

"I'm not sure if you heard, but I was assigned to Brianna Bell a couple of weeks ago."

I roll my eyes. Brianna Bell is one of the hottest teen stars right now and the epitome of what the world perceives as an entitled princess. Everyone in the business knows what a nightmare she is to work with and what a mess she's making of her public image. Nobody wanted her as a client. I'm sure that's how Tina, one of the newest members of the PR team was assigned to her.

"Lucky you," I reply sarcastically.

"Yeah, I know," she agrees, "anyway, she's giving me a really hard time. It's like trying to manage a toddler. I can't back out, but dealing with her is literally torture. Any advice?"

I ponder her question. I've been lucky to never have to deal with any of the teen sensations and their parent/managers. I feel Tina's pain.

"Grin and bear it? Drink a lot?" I joke.

Tina laughs, "thanks. That's what I've been doing. It's not making things any easier."

"Honestly, Tina, you just have to stand your ground. Let her know you're the boss. Her manager hired you to do a job, and you need to do it. You have to be firm. She probably won't like it, she's used to people following her ridiculous orders, but that's what you're there to do."

She thinks about my suggestion before answering, "yes. I know that's what I have to do. I just need to get on her level enough for her to listen to me."

"Try pounding your fists until she pays attention," I reply, trying to make light of it. Tina laughs again.

"How was Steele Rush?" she asks, changing the subject.

"Pretty good. I had my own issues with some adults that act like obnoxious teens," I think back to Jesse and Jasmine, "they're equally as unpleasant."

"I bet."

"They're tour is almost complete and I did what I could to help on the financial end. I just have to finish up this report," I reply, nodding at my computer.

"Cool. I'll let you get back to that then. Thanks for listening."

"Anything I can do to help, although I don't know any of that was actually helpful."