Eliana was different from her old, judgmental teachers, in just about every way. She was tall, dark-skinned, glamorous, and she didn’t make Darcy feel like she was an idiot even when she was lecturing.
Apparently, one of her specialties at the public relations firm We, The Romantics had been connected to once they’d signed their deal with Copper Canyon Records was to work with people experiencing a speedy rise to fame. From the start, Darcy had seen why.
She was constantly on top of… well, everything. She’d seen Eliana more frequently in the last six months than literally anyone else other than Blythe and Emerson, rivaled only with Zayd, their manager.
“Please tell me that we are on the same page here, Darcy,” Eliana finished, aiming a serious, expectant stare at her.
“We aren’t… not… on the same page,” she hedged.
Though Eliana was clearly frustrated with her response given the narrowing of her eyes, the reality was that Darcy was being honest with her because she respected Eliana and didn’t want to lie to her.
She reached up, rubbing her fingers over her temples, feeling her frustration – not at Eliana, but at Juliet – pulse through her. At this point, going an entire daywithoutthis feeling would be completely foreign to her.
“I’m sorry. I am. But sheneverstops! It’s been over a month since the NAMAs, since she started this. And I’m just supposed to completely ignore it? Ignore every time she insults me?”
“Yes,” Eliana stated firmly, hitting her hand on the table between them. “That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. Because – as you said –sheisn’t. And that’s exactly what we want at this point. If she’s going to keep taking shots at you, let her. It’s a much better look for you to rise above.”
Darcy winced; she’dneverbeen very good at that.
Eliana looked down at her tablet.
“Let’s see here. When Juliet says something like,I can’t help but find it amusing when Darcy speaks as though she has multiple successful albums under her belt already. Maybe she could come and talk to me once she’s been doing this for more than five minutes. How many people are capable of a single hit album but then end up going to work at the bowling alley back home?” Eliana recited, looking up at her, expectantly. “What do you think would have been a good response to that, when prompted?”
Darcy’s stomach sank.
Eliana continued without needing an answer from her. “Let’s go to the tape and look at what you said, hmm?I think that spending the last ten years working hardnotin the music industry has only given me more to write about. I’m not shocked that Juliet doesn’t realize that; when someone has never had to worry about anything of substance, it must be difficult to try to create anything that has impact and range.”
Hearing her own comments echoed back to her, Darcy slumped back in her chair.
“I’m thinkingperhapsyou didn’t have to sink to her level and respond?” Eliana questioned, but it wasn’treallya question.
“You’re… probably correct,” she acknowledged, grudgingly.
But she’d been so burned up about it. How dareJuliet Jacobs– someone who had a silver fucking spoon in her mouth long before finding musical success – impugn her work ethic? Even though Darcy had only found success earlier this year, she’dbeen making music for a long time. She just hadn’t been lucky enough to find her break earlier in life.
“The first part of this comment.” Eliana tapped her index finger against her screen. “I will accept it, if youhadto respond.” She darted her eyes up to Darcy, locking her in. “However, youdidn’thave to take the next step, where you directly bring up Juliet.”
Only, Darcy hadknownJuliet would be listening. She’d known Juliet would be waiting for what she’d say next, with this same heated anticipation Darcy felt about her.
“Heard,” she acknowledged, grudgingly. Because shedidget what Eliana was saying, conceptually.
Eliana looked back down at her tablet, clearing her throat. “Truthfully, I can’t wait for Darcy’s next album, because I really can’t wait to see what someone with herincredibleliterary expertise and education background comes up with.”
Darcy felt the little muscle in her bottom eyelid twitch as Eliana repeated one of Juliet’s other comments about her, one that had been made on herWake Up, New Yorkinterview.
It wasn’t like Darcy had made some sort of elaborate show of hiding that she didn’t technically finish high school. Darcywasn’ta liar, even if it meant people might judge her.
But… it wasn’t like that was something that was justknownabout her, either. As far as she knew, it wasn’t like there were enclaves of people dissecting her decision to get a GED. No, for Juliet to have made that comment, Darcy felt like she was taking this – thisthingbetween them to the next level.
Because Juliet obviously had started looking more into her life. She wanted to make things more personal. For all Darcy knew, the next thing Juliet was going to bring up would be Darcy’s mother and her abandonment.
And lord help Eliana if/whenthatday came, because Darcy wasn’t sure even a literal muzzle could keep her mouth shut.
Eliana cleared her throat. “Now, what would be a good response to this latest piece I read? Because, personally, I’m thinking you ignore it – and Juliet – entirely.”
“I just don’t understandwhyshe started it in the first place,” she tossed her hands in the air, frustrated exasperation cutting through her.
“Zayd and I can work on nailing down her team to have a conversation,” Eliana swiftly said, clearly anticipating where this conversation would go. “It’s been a little difficult to get a direct meeting immediately because of Juliet’s tour.” Eliana waved that away, “I understand that you’re used to fighting your own battles, Darcy. But this is literally my job; let me manage this.”