The Debt 2 Read Free

treat her, what kinds of questions would she be asked?
    But when she came out of the room, the most notable thing that occurred was that nobody paid her any attention at all.
    It was as if she didn’t even exist, was in fact totally invisible.
    Jake was lounging on the big leather chair, while a large man with a crew cut stood and talked in a booming voice.   Another man sat on the couch, typing away on an iPad as Jake and the crew cut guy spoke to one another.
    “Look,” the guy with the crew cut was saying, “if Courtney Taylor is coming on tour with us, we can’t just give into her every demand.   The girl is a diva.”
    Jake glanced at Raven and then looked back at the man standing in the center of the suite.   “We were already going to have Courtney opening for us in the Northeast,” Jake told him.   “Her single is starting to hit, and I think we should lock her in for the rest of the dates now, before she gets too big.”
      “She wants too much.”
    Jake shrugged.   “The label will pay.”
    “No, they won’t.   I already asked.”
    “Then I’ll pay out of pocket,” Jake said, his jaw tightening.
    “Jake—“
    “I said, I’ll pay if it comes to that.   I want this to be the biggest, hottest tour.   We’re going to pull out all the stops for this tour, Kurt.   So just get it done.”
    Kurt and Jake stared at one another for a long, tense moment.   Finally, Kurt broke away, sighing.   “Whatever the man wants, the man gets.”
    “Now you’re talking,” Jake said.
    “Come on Bruce,” Kurt said, gesturing to the man typing on the iPad.   “We’ve got a lot to get done before the show tonight.”
    Bruce blinked as if waking up from a dream.   He stood up, and then saw Raven.   “Oh, hey, I’m Bruce Donner,” he said, holding out his hand and walking towards her.   “I’m Jake’s road manager.”
    “Hi, I’m Raven Hartley,” Raven said, shaking his hand and smiling.  
      “You coming to the big show tonight, Raven?”
    “I—I think so…” she looked to Jake, who just nodded.
    “Good,” Bruce said.  
    Kurt had already left the room, not bothering to even acknowledge her presence.  
    A moment later, both men had left and the door slammed behind them.
    Jake was off his chair now, and on his phone.   “Hey, Courtney, it’s Jake.”   He paused, walking a few steps, turning his back to Raven.   He listened and laughed, a loud, almost forced sound in his voice.   “Totally, totally.   Listen, everything’s fine.   I just talked to my manager and he’s going to handle everything you asked for.   I wanted to let you know personally that we’re going to take care of you, okay?   If anyone gives you problems, just call me… .yeah , yeah.”   He laughed again.   “I’ll see you tonight.   Bye.”
    Raven was standing awkwardly, arms folded, wondering what she was supposed to be doing.   Jake didn’t seem to even want her around.   Just a little while ago he’d been bringing her breakfast in bed and designer clothing, and now he was acting as if she didn’t exist.
    Jake hung up the phone and Raven waited for him to talk to her.  
    But then he was looking at his phone again, texting.  
    “What should I do now?” she said to him.
    “Huh?” he asked, not even looking up from his phone.
    “I said, what happens now?   What do you want me to do?”
    Jake finally looked up at her, his expression vague.   “ Do whatever you want, Raven.   I’m not your babysitter.”
    She felt a twinge of embarrassment at his rebuke, but then it turned to annoyance.   “You realize I don’t have a clue what you expect from me.   I’m here in your hotel room, wearing clothes you picked out for me, standing around and being ignored like a piece of furniture while you and your friends discuss big and important things.”
    Jake smiled, but it was a frozen smile without much warmth.   “Don’t be so dramatic,” he said.   “It’s hectic right now, it’s