"So... who are you with?" The burly security guard steps forward, barring your way.
"I'm with the band," you say, your voice loaded with suggestiveness, and it doesn't go unnoticed.
He raises an eyebrow, taking in your too-tight dress and cherry red...
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Van was right to be impressed with the hotel suite the band had been booked into. It was the penthouse and pretty luxurious even by my standards and I nodded with approval as I walked around, taking everything in. There was a large living area with comfy looking sofas and a well stocked bar, and six bedrooms leading off from it. The far wall was made up of huge floor to ceiling glass sliding doors that opened out on to an open air terrace complete with decking and multiple seating areas and a massive hot tub.
"Ahh man this is class!" Van marvels. "When Dan said it was posh I didn't realise it was gonna be this nice. Look Larry... there's even a fucking jacuzzi! I'll be getting in that later."
Then he looks right at me purposefully. "What d'ya reckon eh Bella? Fancy taking a dip later?"
I'm surprised he's still speaking to me after my antics from earlier, but I find that I'm actually pleasantly surprised. No matter how much fun I take from winding him up I realise that I don't want him to stop pursuing me. I like it.
A smile fights to emerge but I bite it back down, instead giving Van a look which shows just enough aloofness to brush him off without completely disregarding him. "Well, I don't have my bikini do I?"
Van's eyebrows shoot up in a mischievous gesture. "I don't see that as being a problem."
I roll my eyes theatrically, shaking my head and turning away so Van can't see the smirk that's forming, just in time to catch Johnny's eye. He gives me a small, slightly awkward grin and looks away.
Shit... why does Van have to flirt so blatantly with me in front of the others? He's about as subtle as a punch in the face.
I cross over to Johnny and flash him a winning smile, and he perks up instantly. "So... shall we get some drinks on the go? Get the party started eh?" He grabs a couple of glasses as he speaks.
I look around, taking in the assembled people in the room and I sigh. Van and Larry are bickering loudly about whether Van should get dibs on the master bedroom after all, and Benji is sitting on the sofa looking sullen whilst staring at his blank phone screen. Bob and Lucy have disappeared outside.
"Is this... it?" I say to Johnny. "It doesn't seem like much of a party."
"Dan says there'll be more people showing up pretty soon. Since it's the record label who've put us up in this fancy hotel there'll be a load of industry people turning up no doubt."
I detect a hint of disfavour in his voice which surprises me. Who wouldn't want to be courted and looked after by people who serve to further your already promising career?
"You don't sound very enthusiastic about that," I comment, reaching for a bottle of vodka which I slide over to him.
He shrugs, twisting the cap off the bottle. "It's just some of the types that move in those circles that I'm really not that keen on. I'm not into all that schmoozing, none of us are. We just wanna play gigs, we're not really bothered about selling records."
