His Rockstar

1. | Alex

As much as I've tried to avoid my father, he always manages to find a way to drag me back. Which is why I look like the devil is hot on my tail, running into my father's law firm.

"Slow down, Miss Hayes!" A voice yells, my father's assistant staring after me.

I spin around. "Can't!"

She opens her mouth to say something, but I'm already tumbling to the ground, taking someone with me. I cough, the wind knocked out of me. I roll off of them and grab my bag, which has spilt.

"Shit." I hurry to pick them up. I can't lose these; Rhys will kill me.

I stuff my papers in my bag as a hand is held out to me, "Here." I take the hand I'm offered, standing up. I dust myself off. "You seemed to be in quite a rush."

"I'm sorry." I take my bag from him. "For running—" I stop. Stop talking. Stop breathing. Stop thinking. Because standing in front of me is the man I've spent the last five years trying desperately to forget. And I've done a damn good job so far.

"Lindsey. So glad you could join us." My father's voice cuts through me, snapping me back to reality.

I clear my throat, turning to him with a thin smile. "Hi, Dad."

He doesn't greet me. Doesn't say 'hi'. "Now that you're here, we can talk."

"Why am I here?" I refuse to look at the man whose gaze is burning holes into my head. I won't give him anymore of him than he's already gotten.

"Come." He nods his head and walks away. I now realize that behind him is a woman in fancy attire. Assistant, maybe?

I push my bag up onto my shoulder with a sigh and follow after my dad, never sparing a glance at the man behind me. I can't bring myself to look at him.

"Have a seat, Lindsey." My dad says upon arriving to the meeting room. The doors are made of glass with windows lining each side of the door. I heave a sigh, sitting down and setting my bag on the floor.

"What am I doing here, Dad?" He told me something was wrong with my mother, that it's urgent. Obviously that isn't true considering the man I hate is sitting in this meeting.

"Alex, here, has gotten himself into a predicament." Per usual. "And in order to protect him from the public, me and Alex's agent—"

So it's his agent. Must be nice. Guess it comes from being a famous rockstar.

"—boyfriend and girlfriend." I snap back.

"What?" I stare wide-eyed.

"You and Alex will be boyfriend and girlfriend to the public eye to keep up this reputation while we handle this dispute." My father explains simply, as if it's normal.

I sit up straight. "What does any of this have to do with me?"

"You two have history." He hisses the word. "You two are the best to pretend to be dating. You two already know about each other."

"I know nothing about him!" I snap.

"You will do this, Lindsey." He demands, glaring at me. "That is final."

"I—" Alex speaks up.

"Stay out of this." Me and my father both demand, making him slump in his seat.

I turn back to my dad, glaring. "I won't do this. Not with him. And you asking me for such is rich. Especially from you."

"Lindsey, enough." He commands. I clamp my mouth shut, my nostrils flaring. "You and Alex will keep up a public appearance until this case is settled. Then you two may do as you will. That is final."

"I—"

"End of discussion." He glowers at me, and I clench my jaw to keep silent. I should know by now that arguing with my father gets you nowhere. He will always win.

I reach down and snatch my bag up off the floor. "Nice talk, Dad." I sneer before storming out the door, making sure to slam it shut.

I don't even make it downstairs before someone is calling my name. "Lindsey!" I ignore him, shaking my head. "Lindsey, wait!" I make it to the small platform before there's a grip on my arm, pulling me to a stop. "Lindsey."

I rip my arm from him. "What do you want, Alex?"

"I'm sorry." Is the first thing out of his mouth. "I never wanted to get you roped into my mess."

"Well, you did." I smile sarcastically.

"Lindsey, I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you saying that isn't changing anything." I sigh, rubbing my hand through my hair. "I have work I need to do. See you later, Alex." Then I'm walking down the rest of the stairs, despite people staring and gossiping, to the door.