Page 19 of Accidentally Hitched (Unintentionally Yours #1)

Callum

“ T he thing you want to remember is that no one likes a camera hog. But don’t ignore them either. Keep your eyes moving, your head turning and your smile constant. Chin high and give them breadcrumbs. Always breadcrumbs.”

I’ve never instructed anyone on how to deal with paparazzi in the music industry before.

I’ve never had to. Upcoming artists are always in the spotlight, so they’re used to it.

And even the new ones catch on pretty quickly.

Also, they’re supposed to work the room.

Hold the limelight. Milk every photo they can because their faces are going to be everywhere.

The more publicity they get, the more they sell. The more they sell, the more we make.

But the high tower side of things is a little different. Milking for attention doesn’t look good on the recording side. Our trick is to be aloof. Make it obvious that you know you are important but that it’s not about you. Pretend you are a little too good for that.

“Is there normally this amount of publicity on a random Thursday?” Amanda asks through a forced smile. The camera lights flash endlessly across our faces, dilating our eyes. But she doesn’t waver. She hardly blinks. And her actions are smooth.

She’s a natural.

“During a signing? Yes. We don’t always show face at early listening parties, but Noah talked me into signing with Courage in Crises’ record store tour for their new album,” I explain.

I keep my hand on her lower back allowing for several photo ops here and there but mostly trying to move her through the crowd toward Spin-Off’s back entrance.

“Basically, the band hasn’t put out new music in a while.

They’re an alt band we signed years ago, back when pop punk was all the rage.

Ever since Covid, bands have been pumping out music like mad and tacking a tour on to their new albums as well.

The wave is HUGE and everyone wants a ride.

CnC hopped on the new metal craze, and they have a record coming out in a month.

And to pump the fans for that record, they released a copy to fifty vinyl shops around the US who have agreed to do early listening parties. ”

“So, fans are lining up at these record stores just to stand around and listen to the new album before it releases?” she asks.

We finally make it to the door of the record store and security ushers us inside. Adrenaline falls as we are finally out of the sea of people and the assault of camera flashes.

“Yep.”

“Do we always make appearances at these parties?” she asks. “I mean no offense, but I doubt a lot of the pleather donning fans know who the suits are.”

I can’t help but grin at her bluntness.

Also, she’s not wrong and her intelligence alone is enough to give me a boner.

I tuck away an image of her for later.

She’s in a mermaid cut, black gown and her long hair was styled by our cosmetic team, pencil straight.

She’s also wearing more make-up than usual.

Dark, smoky eye and deep purple lipstick.

It’s not required that we mimic the vibe of the band we are representing but it doesn’t hurt either.

Unfortunately, this industry is all about appearances.

That and money. Power. You get the idea.

“We do when the band is going to make a surprise appearance,” I answer as we make our way down the back hall.

“Wait. The band is going to be here?”

“Yep.”

“Do the fans know?”

“Nope.”

“That explains the insane amount of security.”

Did I mention how hot she is?

The next two hours are a clusterfuck of media, crazy fans, loud music, photos, raffles and the appearance of the band.

The entire time, Amanda is engrossed. While the music plays, she listens, eyes closed, fingers drumming.

She talks to fans about what they like and why they like it.

Favorite concerts and homemade t-shirts.

One fan, a young girl with wrists full of crafted bracelets, explains that she made a different bracelet for every CnC song and asks if Amanda wants one.

“I’d love one! But I don’t know many of their songs. Surprise me. Give me one I should listen to if I want to truly understand the heart of the band.”

The girl is super excited, and Amanda actually wears the bracelet.

After that, she talks to the band, and I watch from across the room at her energy and personableness.

“She’s really something,” Noah nudges me. I almost forgot he was here.

“She seems to enjoy it,” I say, trying to keep an indifferent face.

“Enjoy it? Bro, she’s in her element. I don’t know how you found a woman who is both hot and talented, but you did it. She’s a unicorn.”

I glance at him, my arms crossed. We are standing behind the counter away from the chaos. Meanwhile, Amanda is right in the middle of it. I don’t love it but there’s half a dozen security guards standing by the band alone.

“She’s different than anyone I’ve ever known, that’s for sure.”

Noah smiles and nudges me again.

When the band makes their way back to their bus, we take the opportunity to leave too.

We walk down the back hall and out the door.

Cameras flood our vision again. The bus is parked as close to the building as possible, though some fans have still managed to get close enough to reach out and touch the guys.

Meanwhile, we follow two guards off to the side where the Escalade is parked.

“That was crazy,” Amanda laughs, holding her dress as we walk.

“That was nothing. Wait until we go to concerts,” Noah grins.

Just then, a photographer dashes under the tape and runs at us. One of the guards blocks her from getting too close and I pull Amanda against me and widen my stance.

“Mr. Hardin! Is this your wife?”

Fuck.

I knew it was only a matter of time before people did their homework (or dug into business they don’t belong in) but it’s still a loaded question that I need to answer carefully.

“She’s the love of my life,” I say with a tight smile, pulling my shades out and covering my eyes. Meanwhile, I have my arm around Amanda. She has one hand on my shoulder and the other on my chest.

I can literally feel her heart pounding into her ribcage in panic.

“Does this mean you will be the next CEO of Hardin Records?” the woman asks.

Jesus Christ. They never relent. I’m about to knock the camera clean out of her hands when Noah steps in, his Hollywood smile in full force.

“That’s how familial hierarchies work, isn’t it? Nothing gets past you.”

While Noah is doing what he does best, getting a tan in the limelight so I don’t have to, I realize most of the security is focused on getting the band safely to their bus, which has opened up a valve for the paparazzi to leak in our direction.

The cameras are flashing.

People are yelling.

And Amanda looks terrified. She brings her hand to her face to cover it. And I pull her hand down, lowering my face to hers.

“Look at me,” I smirk. “Don’t look at them. And don’t look like we did something wrong. Give them what they want, and they’ll have no story.”

Amanda swallows hard, her body softening against me.

And I kiss her.

“That was a damn good save,” Noah tells me as we make our way to the elevator at Hardin the next day.

We have a meeting with my dad and brother and a few others from logistics.

There’s a big signing coming up in Nashville and while that should be the focus, the only thing anyone is talking about today is the photo leak on the internet from yesterday.

“What was a good save?” I ask, raking my hand through my hair as the elevator door closes.

I prefer to stay out of the media, out of the light, and out of breakroom conversation.

But ever since Amanda got here and we made our little announcement, it’s been easier said than done.

More like damn near impossible. Everyone wants to see who is marrying into the Hardin family.

And the questions arising in the comment sections are less than savory.

Is he capable of love?

Is she pregnant?

Is she a gold digger?

I’ve always followed a strict rule: Don’t read the comments. I like to think Amanda is following this rule too.

“Don’t tell me that kiss was spontaneous. You did it to get ahead in the game,” Noah says.

“I did it to appease the paparazzi. She looked like a deer in the headlights. I hate the press. But good press is obviously better than bad.”

“Call it what you want but it saved your ass. And, it gave you an edge. Your brother has got to be shaking in his boots right now.”

We exit the elevator and I’m not going to lie.

It had crossed my mind that Avery would see that kiss.

It also crossed my mind that it would, as Noah put it, give me an edge.

He may have more of a reputation for dating around than I do.

But the women he goes out with also have reputations and the media knows that and rarely takes Avery’s ventures seriously.

Noah and I are the last to walk into the meeting room. My dad, Avery, Brendan from reliability, Dalton from logistics and Emily from HR.

“Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour,” Brendan grins. Emily cracks the smallest of smiles but other than that? It’s crickets. No one looks particularly happy.

“Let’s get this meeting started,” Hiram huffs. “My sinuses are flaring, and I have a splitting headache.”

“I agree,” Avery says, taking a sip of his coffee. “So, what are we opening with? Callum’s face littering the internet right now? That seems to be a juicy topic.”

“I was thinking Nashville,” Hiram says while popping a couple Dayquil. “Or did you all forget that we have a company to run? Tell me what I need to know.”

Noah as usual knows to take the conversational cues that Hiram is annoyed. Mostly with Avery and I but still. “Her name is January Parker. She’s a mix of Memphis blues and modern country. Her demos are catchy and edgy and–”

“When are we going to Nashville and how much is this going to cost me?” Hiram cuts to it.

“It’s a weekend trip,” Dalton says, pushing his always sliding glasses up the slope of his nose. “Her manager has it all set up. We go in for drinks, dinner, check out the studio.”

“It’s in the bag,” Noah cuts in. “This is more for PR than anything. We snag January Parker and launch a tour with say, Malina Mavis? It’s the catalyst for a whole new genre for Hardin.”

“Malina Mavis?” I ask. “She’s already been on tour this year.”

Noah holds up a hand. “Festivals. She’s done festivals. But word is she wants to go solo. We work with Davies Records, tell them we have an opener that is sure to fill the arenas, and we have our foot in the door.”

Hiram coughs and it’s obvious he doesn’t care about any of the details as long as the potential dollar signs are significantly higher than the current. “You boys know best. Work together to make it happen.”

His eyes flicker from mine to Avery’s, avoiding everyone else in the room, all the while saying the words his mouth didn’t.

“Speaking of working together,” Avery starts in, and I tighten my jaw. I knew he couldn't go one meeting without saying something. “I feel like Callum’s recent antics might be a little problematic for the face of Hardin.”

I lean back and cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t think you have room to talk considering every other day there’s a photo leak of you and a different woman.”

Avery leans in, his eyes hot on mine. “I have been dating Zoe exclusively for months now. Which if I had to guess is a lot longer than you’ve been with what’s her name.”

“This meeting is over.” Hiram says and everyone knows that as the cue to leave the room. Everyone but Avery and I. Noah closes the door on the way out and Avery turns to stand in front of me.

“I don’t know what you are trying to pull with all of this. But I see through it. And I’m sure our dad does too. Isn’t that right?”

He turns to look at our father who looks…tired. And annoyed.

“If you want to know what I think, it’s that both of you need to stop measuring your dicks and put your heads back into the business."

“Don’t you think that’s what I am trying to do?” Avery shouts. But it’s not a commanding shout. It’s whiney. Like he always is. Like he always has been.

“I think what you’re trying to do has always been obvious,” I state. “You want to run the company but don’t know the first thing about running it. You like the perks. The name. The benefits.”

“Says the man who never takes a risk. Never pulls the trigger. And never so much as considered marriage until our dad said–”

“Both of you shut up and let me say what I am going to say!” Hiram’s voice booms and we stop. Avery looks like he’s in trouble, but I put my hands on my hips and look down, biting my tongue so hard I think it might bleed.

“I don’t care what either of you are up to. But if it costs me money, if it makes us look bad, you can forget about running Hardin Records all together.”

Avery laughs, wiping his hand down his face.

But I lock eyes on my dad. “Nothing matters more than the face of Hardin.”

I’m not sure that he believes me, but it doesn’t really matter.

Hardin will not fall while I am still standing inside it.

The stakes are high.

And that means one thing–

I have to up my game.