Page 82 of Tempting the President

Amelie knelt in front of me, her eyes shining with excitement. It was the opposite of what I felt, a stomach-churning fear that had my knees shaking under my dress. The fact that my outfit was almost completely transparent, made of lace and gossamer, definitely didn’t help.

Every time I caught my reflection on the mirror, I couldn’t help but cringe. My hair, my makeup, my dress - it had transformed me, turning a 12-year-old into someone who looked old enough to drink. To drive. To win singing competitions meant for individuals of legal age.

“Relax, my love,” my mother was saying. “You have this. You’re the most beautiful girl here, prettier than all the ones who sang before you.”

Dan came forward, standing beside Amelie as he ruffled my hair. “If you really want this, though, you just have to say one thing. Everyone’s gotta have a gimmick to win in these gigs, ya know?”

“What should I say?”

“Just look at the judges and tell them you’ll blow them one.” As he blew me a kiss and fluttered his lashes, I couldn’t help giggling while beside Dan, Amelie gasped and laughed. It was rare to see him act funny like that, and I liked it. He was more like my dad than a stranger when he was funny.

“You naughty man.” Amelie landed a playful slap on his arm.

Dan kissed her on the mouth, making her laugh even more. Turning to me, he said, “Remember. That’s exactly what you should say. You’re gonna blow them one.”

And I had.

I had said those words night after night, too innocent to know what they meant until a judge had thought the words were true and tried to sneak into my hotel room, demanding payment.

The memory crushed me, and before I knew it, I was on the ground, screaming and thrashing as a man fell on top of me, telling me he’d give me the best media coverage if I would blow him one—-

A second later, uniformed men appeared from nowhere, hauling him off my body.

Someone offered me a hand. “Ma’am?” The voice was gentle, soft, unthreatening.

I remained on the ground, dazed. The man looked familiar, and I stared at him until recognition dawned and I realized he had been one of the men supposedly tailing Kellion.

“Ma’am. Please let me help you up. I’m one of Mr. Argyros’ men.”

Shakily, I placed my hand in his. Behind him, I could still hear my attacker howling. He was a middle-aged man, with balding hair and wearing a crumpled suit.

As he struggled to be free from the men holding him back, he snarled, “Who do you think you are, bitch?”

The way his bloodshot eyes raked over me made my skin crawl, made me remember the times my own parents had forced me to sing in front of dozens of men like him.

“You’re a nobody, anobody, and you think you can do this to me? What’s wrong? Just because you’re spreading your legs forKellion Argyros now, you can’t blow me one like you promised your fans all those years?”

I covered my ears even though I knew it was pointless.

“You were a slut since you were a kid, and you’ll always be a slut—-”

“Ma’am, please let us take you home.” Kellion’s bodyguard drew me away, leading me to a black BMW parked a few feet away from us.

Had they been trailing me on foot as well as by car?They must be really good at their jobs if they could do all that without me knowing a thing. Thinking about Kellion’s security team helped me ignore the screams haunting me from behind, and I did my best to focus on them as the man opened the door for me.

Alone in the backseat, I could only watch through the window as we drove away, a dull sense of relief washing over me as the sight of the red-faced reporter still shouting invectives faded little by little.

“Ma’am?”

I blinked, realizing that the bodyguard had been trying to get my attention for some time now. When I glanced at him, it seemed like he already knew I didn’t communicate the way normal people like him did, didn’t wait for me to speak as he held out his iPhone to me. “Mr. Argyros would like to speak to you, ma’am.”

“You were so great, baby.” Amelie hugged me tightly as I left the stage and met her at the wings.

“Damn right,” Dan said. “Most awesome singer there. Because of you, Mommy and Daddy won’t have to be forced to workfor shitheads.” He tipped my chin up. “And didn’t I tell you that phrase was gonna win you the judges’ hearts?”

My dad continued to speak, but I barely heard him over the pounding of my heart. The way the judges had looked at me was weird. It made me feel weird. I was just glad it was all over.

“So remember those words and you’re gonna say them every time you finish a song, all right?” At my nod, he ruffled my hair again. “That’s my girl. You just do what Daddy says and it will always be good.”