Chapter 47
Restlessly sitting back in one of the leather seats of the Jovi Jet, Jon couldn’t settle down. His back hurt, he was tired and yet he couldn’t get her out of his mind. It had been two weeks since he’d seen her and it was driving him insane. Two weeks. That was nothing on a tour. Hell, he’d gone months without seeing Dot and never had this need that was very nearly a living thing eating at him. He had a pile of work he could bury himself into on the short flight from DC to NYC, but it was impossible to concentrate. Getting up he walked to the back to lay on the bed. Maybe if he stretched out his back would stop bothering him. Opening the door he silently cursed. Tico was asleep on the bed and he wasn’t about to tell him to move. Turning around he paced back to the front of the plane to ask Vicki if she had any fresh chocolate chip cookies on board.
Richie watched, smirking to himself at Jon’s impatience. Wondering if he’d go see Amber before heading to his City apartment for the night. The rest of them were headed for the Waldorf, where they’d stay until the three nights at CAA were done. Jon preferred the solitude of his apartment. He couldn’t blame him, he had a wardrobe full of his clothes there and everything was exactly the way he liked things. Not a single sign that a rock star lived there, everything done in whites, very contemporary and clean. Seeing his friend biting into a cookie with a second in his hand along with a glass of milk, he had to comment. “What’s got you all tied in knots?”
“Amber,” he puffed out in a breath before slumping into a chair. “I can’t get her out of my head. I need to see her. Need it. When the fuck did she get under my skin like this?” Nibbling on the cookie before drinking down half the milk. “I can’t concentrate on shit. I know she works in the City. I know she works for a movie production company, that she’s got a private office and an assistant now. She’s pitching some idea to the board next week. I know she’s doing great on her job, she loves it and is excited about the prospect of getting this idea in the pipe with hopes it’ll turn into something. Hell, I know so much more about her now than I did before the tour got going, but I don’t have a clue what the name of the company is. I know she told me. I know it’s my fault I don’t know, probably was doing something else and only listened with a half an ear. Yet, I really want to see her, surprise her even at the office, but since I don’t exactly know where that is, I can’t do it.” Chomping down hard on the cookie, much harder than it required, in frustration.
“Hmm, ever thought about asking Cassidy?”
One eyebrow rose in reply, “that would require knowing her phone number. A number I don’t happen to have.” Suddenly that irritated him.
Smirking again, Richie lifted his cell phone. “I do. Remember that little surprise we cooked up at the Philly concert? I still have her number on speed dial.”
Jon’s eyes widened. “You do? So call her!” Checking the time, it was nearly three. By the time they hit the ground and got out of the plane and in the limos that would take them to their respective destinations it would be after five. No surprising her at the office today. He’d just have to hope that he could find time tomorrow before sound check to see her. That was discouraging, but he was on tour and that came before personal life, every time.
Sitting at her desk, scribbling notes on a legal pad as she talked on the phone, Amber was watching the time. She had a lunch date with Cassidy at one and it was quarter to now. Cassidy was usually earlier than this. Frowning at the information she was receiving, she went back to concentrating on the task at hand. Finally thanking the man and hanging up. Returning to her computer and typing in the gist of the conversation for future reference before zipping off an email to her boss and several others regarding the overrides that their current project was costing. Content with it, she saved what she was doing and flipped over to the Backstage website to see what was happening in Jovi Land. When Jon didn’t call last night, at first she was upset, but then remembered he was traveling and sometimes he got so busy with interviews and the details of the tour that he’d lose track of time. CAA. That meant the band was in town. It also explained not hearing from him. He’d said that when he got back here he’d have to spend time in his office in between the shows, check on the Soul getting ready for the next season and would be slammed with interviews and other responsibilities. She typed a reply to the thread that she started after the conversation in the break room and logged out, grinning evilly to herself. Having a second user name online was turning out to be great fun, especially since even her friends didn’t know about it.
“Hello. Lightning Strikes Productions, may I help you?” Penny cheerily answered the phone. Hearing who they wanted, she pressed the appropriate extension and transferred the call. Repeating the action as the calls continued to come in. Hearing the elevator doors slide open and voices approaching the glass doors that led into their offices, she readied herself to smile at whoever was entering and send them on their way or to sit in the plush chairs while they waited to be escorted into one of the conference rooms. All she cared about was 4:30 getting here so she and her friends could quickly change, bolt out of here and get to CAA before the show tonight. She couldn’t wait and didn’t want to be bothered by any of the annoyingly arrogant people that came through those doors.
Holding the door for Cassidy, Jon smiled tightly at her retort to Richie’s comment. The two of them were irritating him with their teasing about his inability to remember details about Amber’s home or job. Reminding him too of the little incident with the 7’s in his phone number. Teasing him when he’d had little sleep because of problems with the vendors, payroll issues that he shouldn’t have to deal with and the same problems that always seemed to occur when he walked back into BJM’s New York office. Why they never happened when he was out of town and got efficiently handled as he knew they could, he’d never know. Instead, he spent more than half the evening on the phone arguing against the bullshit that was dropped in his lap. “Whatever, you two.” Rolling his eyes as he automatically set a warm smile on his lips that didn’t reach his sunglass covered eyes as he saw the receptionist look up coolly as they approached her desk.
“Hey, Penny. Is Amber in?” Cassidy casually asked, as if she was oblivious to Richie standing close to her. When he called the night before she was stunned, then laughed when he explained that Jon might head a multi-million dollar corporation, but the name of his girlfriend’s employer had escaped him. They’d had dinner together and chatted like old friends afterwards. It seemed that was what he wanted from her and although she dreamed of him, wanted to be laid by him, being friends was good enough if it meant she’d get to see him on occasion.
Penny’s eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. Standing right in front of her in all their glory were Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, looking even more amazing this close than they did from the second row. Dressed casually, Richie with his shirt actually buttoned against the cold weather outside and Jon in a black turtleneck and heavy coat, she wasn’t even certain she could articulate one freaking word. Nodding slowly at Cassidy instead, swallowing hard against the lump there. Blinking at the sound of the phones ringing, she stared down at them, unable to even focus enough to answer a single call.
“You might want to answer those,” Jon offered casually. Finally amused by something even if it was an obvious fan’s deer-in-the-headlights stare giving him a chuckle.
Richie watched, smirking to himself at Jon’s impatience. Wondering if he’d go see Amber before heading to his City apartment for the night. The rest of them were headed for the Waldorf, where they’d stay until the three nights at CAA were done. Jon preferred the solitude of his apartment. He couldn’t blame him, he had a wardrobe full of his clothes there and everything was exactly the way he liked things. Not a single sign that a rock star lived there, everything done in whites, very contemporary and clean. Seeing his friend biting into a cookie with a second in his hand along with a glass of milk, he had to comment. “What’s got you all tied in knots?”
“Amber,” he puffed out in a breath before slumping into a chair. “I can’t get her out of my head. I need to see her. Need it. When the fuck did she get under my skin like this?” Nibbling on the cookie before drinking down half the milk. “I can’t concentrate on shit. I know she works in the City. I know she works for a movie production company, that she’s got a private office and an assistant now. She’s pitching some idea to the board next week. I know she’s doing great on her job, she loves it and is excited about the prospect of getting this idea in the pipe with hopes it’ll turn into something. Hell, I know so much more about her now than I did before the tour got going, but I don’t have a clue what the name of the company is. I know she told me. I know it’s my fault I don’t know, probably was doing something else and only listened with a half an ear. Yet, I really want to see her, surprise her even at the office, but since I don’t exactly know where that is, I can’t do it.” Chomping down hard on the cookie, much harder than it required, in frustration.
“Hmm, ever thought about asking Cassidy?”
One eyebrow rose in reply, “that would require knowing her phone number. A number I don’t happen to have.” Suddenly that irritated him.
Smirking again, Richie lifted his cell phone. “I do. Remember that little surprise we cooked up at the Philly concert? I still have her number on speed dial.”
Jon’s eyes widened. “You do? So call her!” Checking the time, it was nearly three. By the time they hit the ground and got out of the plane and in the limos that would take them to their respective destinations it would be after five. No surprising her at the office today. He’d just have to hope that he could find time tomorrow before sound check to see her. That was discouraging, but he was on tour and that came before personal life, every time.
Sitting at her desk, scribbling notes on a legal pad as she talked on the phone, Amber was watching the time. She had a lunch date with Cassidy at one and it was quarter to now. Cassidy was usually earlier than this. Frowning at the information she was receiving, she went back to concentrating on the task at hand. Finally thanking the man and hanging up. Returning to her computer and typing in the gist of the conversation for future reference before zipping off an email to her boss and several others regarding the overrides that their current project was costing. Content with it, she saved what she was doing and flipped over to the Backstage website to see what was happening in Jovi Land. When Jon didn’t call last night, at first she was upset, but then remembered he was traveling and sometimes he got so busy with interviews and the details of the tour that he’d lose track of time. CAA. That meant the band was in town. It also explained not hearing from him. He’d said that when he got back here he’d have to spend time in his office in between the shows, check on the Soul getting ready for the next season and would be slammed with interviews and other responsibilities. She typed a reply to the thread that she started after the conversation in the break room and logged out, grinning evilly to herself. Having a second user name online was turning out to be great fun, especially since even her friends didn’t know about it.
“Hello. Lightning Strikes Productions, may I help you?” Penny cheerily answered the phone. Hearing who they wanted, she pressed the appropriate extension and transferred the call. Repeating the action as the calls continued to come in. Hearing the elevator doors slide open and voices approaching the glass doors that led into their offices, she readied herself to smile at whoever was entering and send them on their way or to sit in the plush chairs while they waited to be escorted into one of the conference rooms. All she cared about was 4:30 getting here so she and her friends could quickly change, bolt out of here and get to CAA before the show tonight. She couldn’t wait and didn’t want to be bothered by any of the annoyingly arrogant people that came through those doors.
Holding the door for Cassidy, Jon smiled tightly at her retort to Richie’s comment. The two of them were irritating him with their teasing about his inability to remember details about Amber’s home or job. Reminding him too of the little incident with the 7’s in his phone number. Teasing him when he’d had little sleep because of problems with the vendors, payroll issues that he shouldn’t have to deal with and the same problems that always seemed to occur when he walked back into BJM’s New York office. Why they never happened when he was out of town and got efficiently handled as he knew they could, he’d never know. Instead, he spent more than half the evening on the phone arguing against the bullshit that was dropped in his lap. “Whatever, you two.” Rolling his eyes as he automatically set a warm smile on his lips that didn’t reach his sunglass covered eyes as he saw the receptionist look up coolly as they approached her desk.
“Hey, Penny. Is Amber in?” Cassidy casually asked, as if she was oblivious to Richie standing close to her. When he called the night before she was stunned, then laughed when he explained that Jon might head a multi-million dollar corporation, but the name of his girlfriend’s employer had escaped him. They’d had dinner together and chatted like old friends afterwards. It seemed that was what he wanted from her and although she dreamed of him, wanted to be laid by him, being friends was good enough if it meant she’d get to see him on occasion.
Penny’s eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. Standing right in front of her in all their glory were Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, looking even more amazing this close than they did from the second row. Dressed casually, Richie with his shirt actually buttoned against the cold weather outside and Jon in a black turtleneck and heavy coat, she wasn’t even certain she could articulate one freaking word. Nodding slowly at Cassidy instead, swallowing hard against the lump there. Blinking at the sound of the phones ringing, she stared down at them, unable to even focus enough to answer a single call.
“You might want to answer those,” Jon offered casually. Finally amused by something even if it was an obvious fan’s deer-in-the-headlights stare giving him a chuckle.
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2 comments:
Ooooh a little lunchtime tryst! Love it Diane. Shame on Jon for not knowing the name of the Company Amber works for, but bless Richie for having Cassidy's number still.
Can't wait for the next chapter!
Oh Jon, what would you do without your best friend? LOL
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