I was so sore the next day that I could barely lift my arms, but the physical exhaustion seemed to have broken an emotional barrier of sorts between Adam and I, and we managed to film one of the most beautiful scenes in the whole movie.

Felix Blake was so over the moon that he promised he would direct one of my music videos. I did cash in on that, later on, and A Dream of Winter is a masterpiece by Mr. Blake himself.

Peter came by a couple of days later, unexpectedly and unannounced, straight from a red-eye flight, along with Bear who was to replace Jools, who was scheduled to go on his monthly leave. He should have been getting ready to go back to school by then, so my spidey senses were tingling immediately.

- Adam, this is Peter Collins. He’s studying Business at St. Andrews University but, more importantly, he was the man who pushed me onwards and got me to where I am today. So, he is a manager on hold for the time being, while he undergoes very specialised training.

Peter blushed and lowered his eyes, as he reached out his hand and shook Adam’s

- Peter, this is Adam Fairchild, the star of the movie.

- But not a very bright one, I think. You don’t happen to take desperate cases as clients, do you? – Adam nodded at Peter.

- For now, I’m a one client man – he smirked – I loved you in No place to hide, by the way. Hands down, the king of slasher films.

- Oh! A connoisseur – Adam smiled brightly – I believe we will have a lot to talk about, sir.

The three of us headed down to the Japanese restaurant, as I had given everyone else the night off. We ordered sushi and had a very nice talk. Peter and Adam looked like they had known each other for years and were long time friends, who had happened to just bump into one another unexpectedly and were just getting everything up to date. It really felt like we had that sort of get-together every week and it was nice and familiar.

By the end of dinner, Peter excused himself and got up.

- So… boyfriend? - Adam asked, as he played around with his chopsticks.

- Childhood friend. - I thought of the constant presence of Peter throughout all my life – More like an older brother, if I have to be honest. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today, that is the truth. - I raised my eyebrow – Why?

- Just curious – he set his chopsticks down – I’m a naturally curious person.

Peter came back from the restroom and Adam was the one leaving the table. It was like they were afraid of leaving me to my own devices. Who knew how dangerous a little girl could be on her own?

- I’m very happy to see you, I really am – I started – But I know you’re not here because you felt the urge to be less than 10 feet away from a crocodile or an alligator, or whatever those are.

Peter bit his lip, trying not to smile – Cunning, as always, my Lady. - He reached into the pocket of his jeans and took out a clipping from a small-time tabloid that he handed to me. It had a news spread that uncovered the whole truth about me. Reading through it, I think more than 50% of it was utter rubbish. It had the explosive scoop about the Duchy of Somerset, about my vast family fortune and how rotten to the core my family had been, throughout the generations.

- How can these people lie through their teeth like this?… And where in Hell did they find out about this?

- Hmm… - Peter scratched his chin, pretending to be deep in thought – if only you had a disgruntled employee who was saying you ripped her off…

- Marla… - I growled. - Do you think she could have done this?

- I’m not saying it was her – he took the clipping from me and put it back – But it was my first hunch, yeah. I’ve talked to Mason, as soon as I was made aware of this and they took legal action. What was not sold, was pulled back but there is still a possibility that this might blow up in your face.

- I did nothing wrong… Most of those are lies and you know it.

- I know that – he reassured me. If there was anyone in the world to really know all about my family, those would be the Collins’ – But shit like this can ruin a career. So, my advice would be for you to take pre-emptive action.

I knitted my eyebrows and asked him to elaborate.

- Get a reporter who has you in high regard, who’s given you favourable reviews, I would advise on Alan Winnick, and offer him an exclusive scoop. It may work.

- And expose my family background?…

- What’s there to lose? It’s not a secret, anyway, is it? - he shrugged.

- Why was I not told about this? It would take only a quick phone call. - one of my pet peeves was always to be left in the dark and knowing, last minute, about things that needed immediate action.

- This just came out yesterday and I got on the first plane over, after talking to Mason. I was lucky enough to make it to Bear’s flight – Peter ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up – My advice as your past and future manager, would be to just take the bull by its horns and tell the truth. I mean, it’s the least your fans deserve, right?

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It was. And this was the moment that truth dawned on me, that I had no right to hide things from my fans and that is why I have always tried to be as transparent as possible. There are, of course, boundaries I will not cross, such as exposing my siblings or my love life. For me, those are the limes of private life and that frontier should never be crossed. Everything else, becomes fair game, seeing as I have stood in the public eye for so many years.

- This is so stupid… - I sighed and felt really deflated. I had not yet grown accustomed to the thought that papers could write bad things about me.

- I know. And I really see no point in making a scandal out of all of this. You can’t help the family you were born into. But, you know how this works and, as long as it sells papers…

I buried my face in my hands, trying to figure out how I should play the whole situation.

- So… what about handsome movie star? - I could hear the mockery in Peter’s voice.

- What about him? - I said, still not looking at him. I thought I had Winnick’s number at home. I needed to call Collins, back at the Hall.

- Are you and pretty boy…? - he winked at me, in the cheesiest way possible. Such an adorable dork.

- My word, you boys are nosy.

- It’s just that you seem… I don’t know… lighter, maybe? I haven’t seen you smile like that in a while. I just liked it.

That night, I could not sleep and I called home in the early hours of the morning and asked Collins for the number I needed. I took a deep breath and called Winnick, who answered the phone with a very groggy voice. Someone was not an early bird, definitely, but that did not matter. What mattered was that Alan had made the jump, from his Rock Revolution fanzine to one of the best music magazines in the UK.

- Alan, I’m sorry for calling this early. It’s Eleanora. I hope you remember me from my debut, at The Underground.

I knew he remembered me. So much so, that he had reviewed Eris as well, and given an amazing perspective on it.

- Eleanora? - his voice perked up – Of course I remember you. I’ve had Eris playing on repeat forever. And my signed copy of The Hanging Gardens is on my office wall right now.

That was enough to fill my depleted ego. Sometimes one needs to hear nice things like that, especially when it comes from a place of honesty.

I told him about the situation I had in hands and made my proposition of giving him, and his magazine, the exclusive rights to my interview about it.

- So I thought of you and I hope you don’t mind that.

- Mind it? - he laughed – A scoop by our brightest rising star? It feels like it’s my birthday and Christmas on the same day. When would you like to talk?

- Whenever you’re free. - I said – But I don’t think we can delay this much further.

- Tell me all about it – he said, as I heard the rustling of papers in the background – If you have time, we’ll talk for as long as it takes.

I did not lie, nor did I hide anything. Honestly, I was just 15 and there was not very much going on in terms of private life. I told him about my upbringing, about my legacy, I answered all his questions and I had no shame in telling him about my motivations, not that I thought that would bring me any kind of sympathy, and he said so as well.

We talked for two or three hours and he guaranteed me he would write a good piece on it and would go straight to his editor and get it to print as soon as possible, as a way to be a step ahead of everyone else.

- And thank you – he said, as we were tying the last loose ends – for trusting me.

- You were the first one to write a piece about me. Why not give you the chance of writing another groundbreaking article – I laughed and said my goodbyes. Sleep was starting to catch up to me and I went to bed, as I had a free day and could afford to do so. It could just end up exploding in my face, as Peter had said. Especially now, that Eris was already selling like fish and chips, as well as schnitzel, as Bishop had put it.

Selling like schnitzel… I closed my eyes thinking about that. I should do something special, the next time I went to Germany.

I was violently woken up a couple of hours later to the infernal ring of the phone. I cursed the gods who never let me sleep properly, along with Alexander Graham Bell for giving them a helping hand, and reached out, clumsily picking it up.

- Hello…? - I managed to drawl, still struggling to open my eyes

- What’s your plans for next week – Marla did not even bother saying hi. I really needed to work out what to do with her – Are you still shooting?

- Hmmm… - what day was it even? - I think I might be heading home in the next few days.

- Well, you should reconsider that. I just got a call from that late night show, the one with Jimmy Gordon, and they’re looking for someone to fill up a last minute spot.

- Jimmy Gordon? - I sat up. That was a big one. Everybody knew Jimmy’s name – In Los Angeles?

- Yep. They’re just looking for a song. Nothing big, but worth it, in my opinion. - Marla said, carelessly – I have some contacts down there and I can get you a small-ish show in a bar as well.

- Yes, of course I can do that – breaking into the American market was the big deal everyone was trying to achieve. And the exposure alone that a show like Jimmy Gordon’s could grant, could make an artist – Send the boys over to LA. Pat as well, please.

- Sure. Of course you don’t have to fuss over the show, it’s just lip-sync.

That would not do – You know I don’t do playback – as long as I had my voice, I would sing. If that ever failed me, well, it would be time to retire.

Marla laughed, mocking my innocence – You didn’t think you would play live on a show like that, did you?

- Well, I’d rather skip it, then – I almost felt like my integrity was under attack. She knew perfectly well where I stood on lip-syncing and yet, was pushing it.

- You’re shitting me, right? - her voice was serious, almost with an edge to it – You’d pass a golden opportunity like this one because you won’t lip-sync? Everyone else does it, why should you be any different?

I bit my lip. It was, indeed, too good of an opportunity to let slide. My mind started a game of mental gymnastics, figuring out my options. Skipping it meant that I had to keep pounding blindly to still just make a tiny cut on the American beast. Following their rules meant, that I was willing to sacrifice my values, to sell myself out. But…

- I’m presenting a new song – I said hastily – Brand new, unrecorded.

There was a hesitation from the other side of the line – You’re writing new material?

- I’m always writing, Marla. It’s my thing. - I just had to dig through piles of the stuff and find something suitable. I had it all, edgy, tame, classic me, experimental me… - Let me know after you’ve talked to them.

- What about the boys? Do they know this new song?

- They’re fast learners. - I smiled. They had always been and would not let me down – If the people from the show say no, then it’s a no-go for me, as well.

- Would you really be stupid enough to toss this out the window? Over nothing?

- It’s not nothing to me.

- … I’ll call you later – and she hung up the phone, leaving me with just the sound that came from the unused line.

- Well, have a nice day as well… - I mumbled, as I put the phone back and fell straight back to the pillow, thinking how many more stupid decisions I could still make, that included jeopardising a golden chance, just like the one I had just been handed on a platter.