That said, if everything went to plan, she wouldn’t be working for Will much longer. If there was something wrong, surely it was better if his family knew so that they could help.
Leah nodded slowly. ‘There have been a few times I’ve thought he’s not quite himself.’
Rosie raised an eyebrow.
‘Do you mean on or off the stage?’ said Connie, curiously.
‘He’s still impressive on stage. His usual, amazing self,’ said Leah. ‘But…’
‘But?’
‘I’m not sure I should be talking about this,’ muttered Leah, suddenly uncomfortable.
‘Spill,’ said Rosie.
Connie nodded. ‘Too late now!’
‘Okay, fine,’ she let out a long sigh, wondering where to start. ‘Now that the tour’s over, Will hasn’t got anything in the diary. I’ve got venues, festivals, and event coordinators calling and emailing me every five minutes wanting to book him. I could fill the diary for the next three years in the space of just a few hours if he’d let me.’
‘And he’s not agreeing to anything?’ said Connie, looking worried.
‘He doesn’t even want to know about the enquiries,’ said Leah, frowning as her headache banged a warning drum at the base of her skull. ‘I mean, I’m keeping a list, and I’m being as vague as possible to keep as many of the opportunities open for him for as long as I can, but?—’
‘What’s his agent got to say about all this?’ said Rosie.
Leah paused. She knew shedefinitelyshouldn’t say anything about that… but it was too late to stop now.
‘Will fired her a couple of weeks before the end of the tour.’
‘Why?!’ gasped Connie.
‘I’m… actually not sure,’ said Leah. ‘I know she was pushing him for more—more bookings, more money—and he just… put a stop to it. If I’m honest, I’ve got a feeling there was more to it than that, though.’
‘An affair, maybe?’ said Rosie.
The idea made Leah feel physically sick, even though she knew there wasn’t even the remotest chance it could be true.
‘Nah. They barely ever saw each other. Everything was done by phone and email, and most of it was through me. Apart from when he sacked her. He did that himself and only told me about it afterwards.’
‘Blimey!’ said Rosie. ‘Well, no wonder he’s been a bit off his game.’
Leah nodded. Sure, she’d agree that something as monumental as parting company with his agent might be enough to cause the weird shift in his behaviour… but that had started months before he’d sacked her.
‘Well, we’ll just have to get to the bottom of it while he’s here,’ said Rosie.
‘Absolutely!’ said Connie with a decisive nod. ‘Can’t have our superstar wandering around the globe in a daze, even when he’s got you to look after him.’
Leah did her best to smile, even as a fresh wave of guilt crashed over her. She wouldn’t be there for him, would she? As much as Leah loved William Pepper, it was time to focus on her own happiness for a change.
Well, maybehappinesswas the wrong word… but she’d settle for focusing on her own sanity to start with!
‘Erm… Will’s definitely not going to turn up and find me here, is he?!’ she said, glancing between the girls.
‘Nope,’ said Connie, hauling herself out of the chair. ‘Matt’s already gone down to the hotel to meet him, and Ewan should be arriving back any moment, and he’s going straight down to join them. I reckon we’ve got a good couple of hours while the three of them gorge themselves on Hattie’s cooking.’
‘I’ve heard good things!’ said Leah, letting out a sigh of relief.
‘You heard right,’ said Rosie. ‘And don’t worry, we’ll treat you too before you disappear off around the world again. But tonight, you’re going to have to put up with pasta, pesto, salad from the allotments and a bunch of random stuff from the fridge.’
