Chapter 33

LAYLA

I am sitting in a booth next to Jason. He just told me that he likes what he sees and I am feeling like I want to leave the table but when I am just about to walk away, he grabs my arm. I look at where he is holding onto my arm and then I look back at him.

"What is going on?"

Then it is clear to me that he maybe had one too many to drink. He comes closer to me and smiles while he says.

"I just wanted to sit and have a nice little chat with you"

I immediately feel as if I do not want to aggravate him. So, I smile back at him and say.

"Why don't we just go dancing? That is much better than sitting around, don't you think?"

He looks at the crowd dancing and then he says to me.

"I think that is a good idea"

I feel relief as we make our way to the dance floor. I need to get close to Rita for my safety. I do not know who Jason is or what he is capable of but I am not planning to find out all by myself. Finally, we get to her and the rest of the crew.

I quickly hook my arm in Rita's arm and Jason is not too far behind. I quickly whisper in her ear.

"You have to save me. I think Jason is drunk and he is kind of manhandling me"

"Really?!"

"Yes, please. He is coming"

"Okay, okay, come to this side"

She quickly pulls me to the other side of her and then kind of distracts him while I make my way out of the club. I know the safest place for me right now would be back at the hotel. I do not want to go down that road again.

I know by now what the tell-tale signs are of someone like that and I do not want to taste that again. I will speak with him when he is not drunk but when he is drinking, I will make sure I am not around him. I do not let him destroy the night for me as I look out the window while in a taxi back to the hotel.

Paris is beautiful at night and I wish I can walk around just looking at everything but after what just happened, I do not feel safe enough to be alone. I get to the hotel and then make my way to my room.

Once again I find myself alone in the room and it gives me time to just take a breather. I decide to take a bath to just wash off everything that happened tonight. I know that we are flying out tomorrow morning early and the best thing for me to do right now is get sleep.

I guess the rest of the tour will be exactly like this. Work very hard for two to three days and then maybe get a rest day. I must say that I am starting to enjoy my job. I just hope that I will qualify to do this permanently.

Then, after a nice long bubble bath, I make my way to my bed. It is not long after my head hit the pillow that I fall into a deep sleep. I know that I am going to have a good night's sleep tonight.

"Layla! Wake up"

"Hmm?"

"Layla you going to miss the plane"

"What?!"

I jump up from my very deep sleep and then I see everyone is already dressed and packed up. I can not believe that I did not hear my alarm go off and I realized that I am beyond late. I grab some clothes and run to the bathroom to get dressed.

Then as I finally get out and throw everything into my bag, the last person walks out of the room. I am so glad that Rita woke me up because otherwise, I would still be sleeping. We quickly make our way to the van and then I sit next to Rita.

"Thank you for waking me up"

"Hey, what are friends for?"

We laugh together and then I look around me and to see if Jason is there. Luckily, he seems to be in another van.

"So what happened last night when I left the club?"

She starts to giggle and then she tells me everything.

"Well, you were right about one thing, Jason was very drunk. He started looking for you and when he could not find you he kind of got into a fight with some random guy. I do not know who it was or what it was about but let's just say that they both were too drunk to have a newsworthy fight"

"What?! Really?!"

"Yeah, but I think that they might have got in a few punches"

"I can not believe I missed all the action"

We laugh again and then she says.

"Maybe, just maybe you were the cause of the action"

"I think you are just grabbing for straws here"

"He was pretty mad for not finding you there"

It does not bring back good memories when she says things like that because I remember how I was in the middle of that kind of fight and that kind of anger. But I look out the window and just try and remember where I am.

I want to take in every last piece of Paris because I know I am leaving it soon.

JAKE

I am finally packed and ready to go. I am sad that I could not walk the streets of Paris again but this time I had some other things on my mind. Then there is a knock on my door and it is Mark.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes"

I walk with them and then I put on my hoodie and my sunglasses. I wave to the crowd and last time and then I leave in the limo. I had some great experiences here in Paris and learned a lot more about the wolf.

We get to the airport and just as I am getting happy for not seeing a crowd standing outside, I am sadly mistaken when I enter the airport. The crowds are forming a line all the way to where I am supposed to go to.

I am very grateful for my bodyguards and they always do a great job keeping the fans away. I remember how I wanted the fans close by at the beginning but right now, I will be swamped if some of them get loose. Finally, we are outside to get into the jet and I can breathe again. I stop just before entering the plane and just give Paris one last look.

Then as I enter the plane, my eyes eagerly search for Layla. I was looking forward all night to see her today but as I walk through the plane I see everyone except her. I find myself to be miserable when I enter into my private room because I did not see her.

Then I start to wonder whether she is okay and if she is still with us. I would hate that Stacy has maybe fired her and not let me know. I have to somehow find out if she is still here without raising any suspicions.

The last thing that I need is Mark on my back because I might be falling for someone on the crew. We have had this problem not too many months ago and I remember how Mark told me that I should not get involved with the crew.

But I know that this one is different from all the other times. This time it would be real. It would not be out of lust but this time it would be out of love. Mark then shows himself at the door and then I say to him.

"Can we do the itinerary just a few hours later? I just need to sleep for a while?"

"Yeah, of course, man"

He is just about to leave when I call him back.

"Could you maybe just get me, Stacy?"

"Sure"

It is not long after I have asked him to send her to me that she knocks on my door.

"Come in"

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, please take a seat"

I watch her carefully take a seat across from me and she almost seems nervous.

"I was just wondering if you have decided anything about our new stylist?"

She frowns and then she looks at me.

"Well, what I know about her is that you looked very well last night and I was actually wondering what you were thinking because I do not want to fire her and then you like her"

I almost feel relief filling my heart because I know that she is still on board. I try to sound as professional as possible and then I say.

"I think she did very well. I dare to say even better than Laura. I think we should give her the position as my stylist"