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I mmy updated Jenner’s electronic calendar.

She loved working for him. Although he was so busy at the moment that she barely saw him. Right now, he was in his studio. He’d converted part of his guesthouse into a studio and office. There was still a one-bedroom apartment, not that they ever had guests.

A knock on the door made her startle. It opened and she relaxed, thinking it had to be one of the guys. They were the only ones who would walk in without waiting. Although, they wouldn’t usually knock, either.

So she was surprised as Lauren strode in.

God. She always looked amazing. Today she had on a pair of black tailored pants, a white shirt with a large ruffle down the front, and a black blazer with gold buttons.

“You always look so gorgeous,” Immy told her.

Lauren stilled, giving her a shocked look. “Oh, um, thank you. That’s very . . . kind.” She said the last word as though she hadn’t experienced anyone being kind to her before.

That made Immy sad.

“It’s just the plain darn truth,” Immy told her. “You always look beautiful. So polished and perfect. I wish I could get my hair to stay in place or wear gorgeous clothes like you do.”

“Are you always like this?”

“What do you mean?” Immy asked. Like what?

“I thought it was an act when I first met you,” Lauren told her. “Figured there was no way you could be this . . . nice.”

Immy blinked at her. “Is there something wrong with being nice?”

“It’s just that usually people your age aren’t this genuinely kind and sweet anymore. We all have it beaten out of us.”

“Beaten?” Immy whispered.

“I didn’t mean literally.”

“Oh. I’m just . . . me.”

But maybe she was too nice? Perhaps she should harden up a bit? Be more ruthless?

How did she do that, though?

“I guess you have plenty of people to protect you, don’t you? When you’re on your own you have to be tougher, more ruthless.”

Immy wasn’t sure she had it in her to be ruthless. It didn’t sound like fun. But she guessed she was lucky. Although . . . it wasn’t like her life had been a bed of roses.

“I didn’t realize you were coming to see Jenner this morning,” Immy said. “He’s not here.”

“That’s all right. I’m not here to see Jenner. I’m here to see you. May I sit?” She gestured to the chair across from Immy’s desk.

Okay, so Jenner didn’t get a lot of visitors and she probably didn’t really need to have these chairs. But there was nothing wrong with wanting to look professional, right? There was also a sofa which she sometimes curled up in if she was getting tired.

Which happened quite a lot.

“Uh-oh. I don’t get a good feeling about this.” Why would the other woman want to talk to her?

“Look, Immy, I just want to speak to you about what happened the last night of the tour.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“When you pretended to be ill so Jenner would go back to the hotel to check on you.”

Wow. Just wow.

Had she really just said that?

Immy wished she hadn’t told her that she looked good now.

“I didn’t do that.”

“No?” Lauren tilted her head to the side. “Are you sure?”

“I never pretended to be sick. I told him that I was fine. He was the one who insisted on checking on me.”

“Jenner is cute. Famous. Talented. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting him.”

“He’s not cute.” Jenner was handsome, gorgeous, attractive. Cute didn’t come close to describing Jenner. “He’s far more than cute.”

When Jenner was around, everyone else faded into the background. It wasn’t just his looks; it was his superpower.

“Uh, right. He’s not cute. But we still need to speak about your relationship with him. Listen, Immy, the thing is that you’re just not good for his image.”

“I’m his friend and his assistant.”

“Yes, yes.” Lauren waved her hand through the air, looking impatient. “I’m working hard to get his career to the next level. And in order for Jenner to reach that next level, he needs to be available.”

Immy didn’t get it.

“Available for what?”

“Available as a man. Most of his fans are females aged twenty-five to forty. We need him to be free.”

Okay. Now Immy got it and she wasn’t sure she liked it. “He’s not a sex object.”

“Of course not. He’s hugely talented. But things like doing VIP party appearances will boost his popularity with the public. He just doesn’t need any distractions at the moment. He has to concentrate on his career. And I don’t want to be mean?—”

“So don’t,” Immy said quickly.

“What?”

“If you don’t want to be mean, then don’t be mean.”

It was a simple concept to understand, she thought.

“But I just need to tell you this,” Lauren said.

“I thought you said you didn’t want to be mean. What you’ve got to say is obviously gonna sound mean, so don’t say it.”

“But it’s my job.”

“Glad I don’t have your job then,” Immy told her fervently.

“It’s just . . . I don’t want you to be hurt.”

“You don’t want to be mean and you don’t want me to be hurt, but you’re gonna say this anyway, am I right?”

“Uh, right.” Lauren appeared startled. “Jenner can’t get distracted, by anyone.

I understand you probably have a crush on him, but you should find someone else.

You’re very pretty and lovely, you’ll soon find someone.

And Jenner can remain free for his fans before he finds someone more . . . on his level.”

Ouch.

Pretty and lovely, huh?

Those words should be complimentary, but the way she said them sounded so condescending. Especially when she’d followed that up by saying that Immy wasn’t on his level.

“I was wrong,” Immy said.

“I know.”

“You aren’t beautiful. Not anymore.”

The other woman’s eyes widened and she swallowed heavily. Instantly, Immy felt bad. This wasn’t her. She wasn’t mean.

“I take it back,” she said quickly. “You’re still beautiful. Just a bit mean.”

“I know you think I’m the bad guy and that’s fine with me.

Do you know how hard it was to get to where I am?

I had to fight. Every day. But I’m good at my job and I know what I’m doing.

Jenner hired me for a reason and I’m going to give him what he wants.

To do that we need to project a certain image.

And Immy, you are cute and sweet, but you don’t fit with him. ”

Immy worked hard to keep her hurt from showing. “Right.”

She wasn’t saying anything that Immy didn’t already know.

But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

“It’s not enough anymore to be talented.

It’s a harsh world out there and you have to be the whole package.

You really should move on and find someone else.

Someone who will have time and attention for you and won’t be surrounded by beautiful, single women all the time. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

“I knew you’d want to do what was best for Jenner.” The other woman stood. “And this is what his career needs. He told me it was his dream to be famous and rich, I’m sure you don’t want to get in the way of his dream.”

No. That was the last thing she wanted. All she ever wanted was for Jenner to be happy. Immy watched as the other woman walked to the door, turning back.

“I think you’ll thank me. Better than him breaking your heart. The way all men do.”

Right.

Immy knew about heartbreak. It was splintering right now. After Lauren left Immy knew she couldn’t stay in her office. She needed a break from this house.

When they’d first moved in together, she’d loved it. They’d lived in a crappy apartment in a terrible neighborhood and the guys would never let her walk around on her own.

She hadn’t been able to work much, so she’d done most of the cooking and cleaning.

She’d loved taking care of her guys.

Then Jenner’s career took off and everything began to change. Sampson and Abe quit their jobs to work for him. They’d moved into this huge mansion in a gated community. Jenner had also insisted on hiring a cleaner and a gardener.

Everyone had been so happy about the move. Especially now they were in a safer community.

And yet Immy often found herself longing for the days when they’d lived in that horrid apartment.

Standing, she left the office and walked toward the house. But when she walked in, it was so quiet and cold. She didn’t think she could stay here.

She should go and take a nap. That would be the sensible thing to do.

But she was tired of being sensible.

She was going to go have a drink instead.

Immy arrived at the small, rundown bar about twenty minutes later. She’d discovered this place about six months ago.

It wasn’t trendy. It didn’t serve a hundred different types of cocktails. It wasn’t the place to be seen, like where Jenner would go.

Maybe Lauren was right.

They weren’t suited. She wasn’t going to fit in with his life and the last thing she ever wanted was to stand between him and his dreams.

Perhaps if he’d shown a sign of wanting her . . .

Move on, Immy.

But God it hurt.

She sat in her usual bar stool.

“Go sit somewhere else.”

The voice came from the man next to her.

It was rough, almost broken. As though he’d damaged it at some stage in his life.

She turned to glance at him. He was hunched over his drink, his long hair down to his shoulders and liberally sprinkled with gray.

He wore an old coat and he had to be hot. He looked rough and unkempt.

“I like sitting here,” she told him. “It’s my usual spot.”

She got the feeling she’d surprised him although he didn’t move.

“You been here before?”

“Yeah. Lots.” Slight exaggeration.

“Not the sort of place for a girl like you. Go somewhere else.”

Gosh. Bossy.

“I will not. I like it here. I come here to drink and think.”

“No one likes it here. And no one comes here to drink or think.” He held up his glass. “This stuff tastes like shit.”

She giggled.

“Immy! Your usual?” Amos, the barkeeper, walked over to her with a frown. She wasn’t offended. Amos was always frowning.

“Yes, please, Amos. You’re looking good today.”