Ember

25 - My brothers advice

Ember

“What’s up with your face?”

“I’m not in the mood, Hannah.”

Hannah looks at me curiously, and then she looks at Caren. They seem to be reviewing the band’s schedule for when we get to Texas. Hannah has taken it upon herself to be Caren’s right-hand woman.

Right now, I can’t wait to get to Texas. Once we get there, this tour is over, and we can start recording our album.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

I like Caren; she has a sweet nature, yet she’s not a woman to be messed with either. Caren takes her job seriously and does wonders for the band’s public image. So naturally, Matt hates her, but she puts him in his place quickly enough.

Every day, Caren posts on our social media pages, and every day we gather more followers and fans. Caren is even in talks with the record company about Dun’s Dungeon joining a world tour if the album does well. The tour has no headlining act, but no one seems to mind. The tour will be massive, and five other groups will join us if we get the gig. Thankfully, not Nate and his band. I don’t think any of us would ever tour with that man again. I don’t know all the details yet. However, the idea of traveling outside of the US is beyond exciting to me.

I sit down with Caren and Hannah and explain what happened outside with Nate and Marco. “He can’t really have us thrown off the tour, can he?” I ask Caren.

She brushes down her blue business suit skirt and then tucks her red hair behind her ear. “No, Nate doesn’t have that power. You guys signed a contract, and it wouldn’t be worth what it would cost to compensate you this close to the end. However,” I groan because I don’t like the sound of that, however. “Nate could make your life very difficult, Ember. Nate Rigby has a massive following. If he decided to spread lies about you, it wouldn’t be good.”

“You wouldn’t be able to fix it?” I know the answer to my question before Caren gives it to me, though I asked it for clarification.

“When a man like Nate puts out that he was wronged, people listen. That man has ruined careers bigger than yours before now.” I scrub my hands over my face in frustration. “Of course, I would do everything in my power to limit the damage. Just be aware that once thoughts and doubts are planted, it’s not easy to change them.”

Great, just fuckin.g great!

“If Colin and the others lose everything because of you…”

“Don’t threaten me, Hannah!”

She gives me a hard stare and breathes deeply through her nose. “I’m not. I’m just saying that if Nate wants to, he could ruin us. Would sleeping with him be that bad?”

My eyes widen in shock. I can’t believe she just said that!

“He’s not too bad to look at. It probably wouldn’t even last more than twenty seconds. What’s a few seconds compared to the rest of your life?”

It’s so easy for Hannah to sit there and say all of that; she’s not the one who would have to have se.x with that pig.

“My mother taught me that men like Nate don’t stop just because they got what they wanted. They merely have something to hold over you - a way to make you do exactly what they want when they want, if you don’t want anyone to find out. If I slept with that pig, it wouldn’t be the end of it,”

“Ember is right,” Caren sighs. “Sadly, she is. Men like Nate secretly record the act and then use it against the girl. I’m pretty sure that’s how he’s gotten away with half of the things he’s done to women in the past. The man is a moron, but he’s smart when it comes to blackmailing someone.”

“I don’t care!” Hannah snaps angrily. “If Colin and the boys hadn’t brought you in, none of this would be happening! My God,” She bites down on her knuckles. “Colin has worked so hard for this, and now he could lose it all,” She shakes her head. Hannah is upset, I get that, but I think she’s being a little dramatic.

I honestly don’t know what to do for the best right now. My nerves are all tingling, and not in a good way. I don’t want to sleep with that man, but I don’t want him to dump a heap of trouble on the band, either. We’re new to the industry and don’t have the connections Nate and his band have. If I give Nate what he wants, he could trap me. If he did that, I’d be at his beck and call until God knows when.

What if he forced me to be his girl?

What if you have the Snakes off him?

That’s… Not a good idea. If I called any member of Snakes Henchmen MC, they’d rush over here and kill Nate without question. Sure, Draven would cover it up and make it look like a nasty accident, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

God, what am I going to do?

“I’ll fix this,” I tell Hannah and Caren before walking away.

“What are you going to do?” Hannah stops me in my tracks. I turn to face Hannah as she gets out of her seat. “What on earth could you do to fix this, Ember?”

“I don’t know yet,” Hannah rolls her eyes while folding her arms around herself. “I just need to speak to someone. Whenever I’m lost or confused, this person sets me on the right track. I will fix this, Hannah. Colin, Marco, and the others won’t lose what they’ve built, I promise you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Hannah turns away from me, and I sigh.

“Whatever you’re thinking of doing, I strongly suggest you don’t,” I stare at Caren. “I’ve been doing this job a long time, and I’ve known many Nate Rigby’s. They always win in the end, Ember.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Caren raises her eyebrow. “I’m here to give you the truth, not baby you, Ember. Be careful with Nate, and remember what I previously told you.”

Every situation is a photo opportunity for any random on the street. Photographs can be manipulated, just as videos can. Never put yourself in a position that would have the public perceive you as anything other than the band we’re selling you as. What you do in your own time is your choice. Just remember that each decision you make has a consequence. I’ll be around to fix whatever messes I can and get you out of as much trouble as possible. However, never forget that not all things are fixable.

“Hey, superstar!” I laugh while closing my bedroom door. “It’s been a while. How’re you doing?”

“I’m doing good, Eagle. How are you?”

“You know me,” He laughs and leaves it there.

My brother never changes, and I wouldn’t want him to because Eagle is perfect the way he is. I’d love to chat with my brother for hours, but I need his help right now. If anyone can help me, it’s Eagle.

“The guys and I are taking part in a little quiz between the bands we’re touring with. We’re losing,” I laugh, hoping Eagle will buy my story. “So, what I’m calling for is your help, basically to cheat. Please?”

“Figures,” He laughs. “Okay, what is it you need help with?”

“Well, we’ve been given a situation. We have to figure a way to get out of it without killing anyone.”

“Go on,”

“Okay. Ms. S. is blackmailing Mr. X. If he doesn’t sleep with her, she’ll tell everyone, including his wife, that he sexuall.y assaulted her. Mr. X is scared because he knows that even if it’s not true, a scandal like that will ruin him.

“Mr. X also knows that if he gives in to the woman, it won’t end there. She’ll keep coming back for more because she would secretly record their encounter and now would have a way to control him. How do you stop Ms. S?”

“Hmm,” Eagle thinks about what I’ve said for a moment before answering. “Mr. X must play Ms. S at her own game.”

“How, exactly?” I nervously ask while biting the pad of my thumb.

Eagle chuckles. He knows that he’s smarter than me and always has been. Eagle is more intelligent than most people and never misses a trick.

“Mr. X should tell Ms. S that he’ll do what she wants. However, he should not go to a room of her choosing, in case that’s where she hides the camera. Also, Mr. X should make sure he can see Ms. S’s cell phone at all times. Cover or hide the phone without Ms. S noticing, if possible. All the while, Mr. X should have his phone recording everything that is said and done at this time. He should trick Ms. S into confessing all she had done to get Mr. X there and why. Most people like Ms. S are dumb and love to gloat.”

I swallow while trying not to miss anything my brother is telling me.

“Once Mr. X has the confession, which wouldn’t be as hard as one would imagine because people are stupid, he must tell Ms. S that the deal is off. Let her rant and scream, but he should not give in. He should tell her it was a mistake, and that he can’t do this to his wife.

“Once he’s at a safe distance from Ms. S, Mr. X should edit the recording, putting Ms. S in a bad light. Then, he should make a dozen copies on separate devices so that if Miss S does steal Mr. X’s cell phone after hearing the recording, Mr. X has backup.”

I absorb the information like a sponge and hope that I can retain it. I should be writing all of this down!

“Mr. X should then make sure that Ms. S knows that if she leaks any story about him, or if anything should happen to him or his wife, every person they work with and the police will receive copies. If this happens, life as Ms. S knows it will be over.”

I realize my mouth is hanging open too wide.

I slam it shut. “Wow,” Eagle laughs. “You just thought that up on the spot?”

“Yeah, I work with what I’ve got. Besides, it’s not hard when you’re me.”

“I think you may have won us the challenge!” This could work. I just have to plan it properly. “I love you, Mikey,”

“I love you, too, Member,” We both laugh loudly. It feels so good to laugh with my baby brother. “Now, go stick it to whoever is trying to fuc.k you over.”

“Eagle, I… I…” I swallow hard.

“I’m the smart one, remember? Nothing gets past me, Ember.” I nod my head even though Eagle can’t see me doing so. I should have known he’d work it out. “You might be out there making your mark on the world, but remember who you are, Ember. You are the daughter of Nova and Tank, big sister to Eagle. You’re a Snakes Henchmen girl, and you always will be. You’re smarter than you think you are. You’re my big sister, and I believe in you.”

“Thank you.” I smile.

I end the call after saying goodbye and tap my phone against my lips. What I’m about to do is stupid, I know that. However, I have to do something to stop Nate. I won’t live like this, always wondering when and if Nate will push his lies about me out there. Caren is right, and it won’t matter what I say because no one will believe a nobody like me.

But I am someone, I am Ember Marshall, and I am my mother’s daughter! No man is going to get the better of me!