Perfectly Wrong (Elena & Sam Musical)

Chapter seven

I. Was. Wrecked.

Saying I wasn’t feeling great was an understatement. When my alarm blared that Wednesday, my head felt like it was about to explode, every muscle in my body ached, and shivers ran down my spine each time I tried to move. These damned meetings were taking a toll on me, making it feel like I’d been hit by a truck every single day. It had been a week and a half of juggling the Japanese band’s endless demands and the SM Project, trying to do everything at once. I wasn’t eating properly, barely sleeping, and I hadn’t gone out with my team for a drink in ages. My social life was non-existent because the time left to finish that goddamn project was running out.

And yeah, I know what you’re thinking—they shouldn’t have been my problem. I hadn’t agreed to handle their band’s marketing, for crying out loud! But Jeremy was determined to keep the clients happy at any cost. I either took it on, or I’d be thrown under the bus.

Today, we had a meeting with Sam and his team, and I had to be there. Even though things were tense between us personally, his career was more than just another project for me. It was my priority. I’d promised myself that I would help make him a household name—and I intended to do just that, no matter what. Regardless of where we stood, Sam had a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t let him down by giving anything less than my best.

But the moment I tried to get out of bed, I barely made it to the bathroom before I was throwing up everything from the night before. And that wasn’t much to begin with.

I ended up sitting on the cold bathroom floor, tears streaming down my face. I wasn’t even sure why I was crying so much, but it felt impossible to stop. Growing up was a bitch, and I just wanted to be ten years old again and at home with my parents. Then I realized that when I was ten, Sam was still a baby, and that made it all feel even worse. I sobbed uncontrollably for what felt like forever before I finally mustered up the energy to drag myself back to bed. I called the office, told them I was sick, and then pulled the covers up over my head. I just wanted to disappear for a while and come back to life when I felt human again.

“His agent didn’t seem too bothered, but Mr. Martin wasn’t pleased you missed the meeting,” Matt was updating me over the phone about what had gone down that day. It was almost 7 p.m., and I was still in bed, feeling like I was on death’s doorstep. “But overall, it went smoothly, and they’re on board with our ideas.”

“Great,” I tried to reply, but my voice was barely a whisper. I was hoping to wake up feeling better, not worse. “But Matt, we still need to nail down that centrepiece—the rose. It has to be something so unique that when people see a photo, they instantly think of Sam’s concert or his album. It needs to be iconic.”

“I get it. I’ve already talked to the design team about the flowers and the giant rose, but I’m not sure yet. I mean, how can we decide when we don’t even know the final direction of the music? Sure, roses are versatile, but what if the sound goes darker? Are we going to use a black rose? That would be a bit much.”

“Way too much.” That’s when I sensed him. I looked over at my bedroom door, and there he was, standing there in shock. “Matt, I’ve got to go. Thanks for everything today. You’re amazing, and I’m so grateful to have you on my team.”

“No problem, Lena! Let me know if you need anything. Take care, okay?”

“Thanks. Bye!” I hung up.

“Jesus,” Sam whispered.

“Hey.” I gave him a small smile, my heart pounding in my chest. God, he looked so… mature and different. “How did you get in here?”

“I knocked, but you didn’t answer. I tried calling, but you didn’t pick up. So, I tried the door, and surprise—it was unlocked.”

“Oh.” That was a wake-up call. I’d been so exhausted last night that I hadn’t even locked the door. Not my smartest move.

“Yeah, ‘oh.’ What’s going on with you?” Sam sat beside me, placing the back of his hand on my forehead. His touch was cool. “I think you’ve got a fever.”

“I woke up like this. I’m sorry I missed the meeting. I tried, but I barely made it out of the bathroom.” I attempted to sit up, but Sam gently pushed me back down. “Thanks for coming anyway. I wanted to say goodbye before I died.”

He laughed softly. “You’re not dying, Elena. Stop saying that every time you feel terrible. You probably just have the flu. You’ll feel better after a shower and some food. I’m here to take care of you, as always.”

Sam kissed my forehead and disappeared into my bathroom. I heard him rummaging through the cabinets and drawers. When he came back, he looked determined.

“Come on, time to get up and get some water on you.” He pulled the covers off me, ignoring my groans of protest. Without a word, he lifted me in his arms and carried me to the bathroom.

“I love how you smell.” I nuzzled his neck, inhaling deeply. He smiled.

“Promise me you’ll ignore everything I say today. I’m not even close to being myself.”

“No promises, remember?” he said, his voice teasing but gentle. “The only thing I can promise is that I’m staying until you’re better, and don’t even think about kicking me out.”

He set me down and started undressing me. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I saw the worry etched on his face. I reached up and touched his cheek, and he kissed my hand. Our eyes met, and he gave me a small grin.

“Shower with me?” I asked softly.

“Obviously. You can hardly stand, let alone shower by yourself. And I’m not letting you fall.”

I must have drifted in and out during the shower. I had vague memories of Sam washing my hair and body, then wrapping me in a towel. The next thing I knew, I was back in bed, clean pajamas on, tucked in up to my chin.

“Thank you,” I whispered, holding his hand to keep him close. “Looks like you’re officially my hero. Always taking care of me.”

“I’ll always take care of you, Lena.” Sam brushed his fingers gently across my face. “Even when you shut me out for months, I’ll still be here, waiting for when you need me.”

It was a little unsettling to hear, but also incredibly comforting. In that moment, I couldn’t remember why we’d gone so long without speaking. All I knew was that I’d missed Sam Martin. I missed his laugh when I’d say something silly or the way his brow would furrow when he was concerned. I’d been trying to start fresh, build a new life away from the last nine years, but when Sam looked at me like I mattered, I realized just how much I’d been missing. With those thoughts swirling around, I fell asleep, feeling light and safe for the first time in a long while.

One day, Elena asked if I loved her. I could’ve sworn I saw a flicker of hope in her eyes, even though she’d never admit it. But I knew that if I’d said anything close to “I love you,” she would’ve walked away. And I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.

Love. What I felt for her went beyond that word. Love was strong, but Elena was everything. She was the feeling I didn’t know I was missing. Her laugh was my favourite song. I could give up singing forever, but I couldn’t imagine spending another day without her. I still couldn’t believe I’d spent my birthday away from her. I hadn’t gone far—just to my parents’ place—but I’d been too proud to call. It cost me a talk with my dad, and his advice threw me. I’d expected him to tell me to forget her, but instead, he said if Elena was what I wanted, I had to fight for her.

I knew the risks and the judgment, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was her. She was my everything. She knew how to calm my anxiety and keep me grounded. Her quick comebacks could drive me crazy, but they also opened my eyes to things I’d never thought about. It was like being slapped and kissed at the same time. I didn’t need anyone else’s approval as long as I had Elena beside me.

When she told me she’d jumped out of a second-story window to escape her ex, my heart clenched. All I wanted was to hunt that guy down and make him pay for hurting her. Even though I hadn’t known her then, the thought of someone that close to her made my blood boil. I wanted to hurt him, to make him suffer for every mark he left on her perfect body.

A soft sound escaped her lips, and I immediately moved closer. Seeing her like this—so fragile and worn out—killed me. I’d trade places with her in a heartbeat. I just wanted her to open those big, beautiful eyes and give me a smile.

“Lena?” I whispered. “How are you feeling?”

No response. She was deep in sleep, just like she’d been for hours. I wanted her to eat, but I couldn’t bring myself to wake her. Something was off, and I didn’t know what it was. I’d seen bad flus before—my sister almost ended up in the hospital once and slept an entire day fighting it. I hoped that was all this was. But it felt like more than just being sick. She looked drained, with dark circles under her eyes and weight loss that made her cheeks look hollow. Her hips weren’t as curvy as before. Something was stressing her out, and it was taking a toll.

This is all your fault, you left her alone, exposed to the world, my anxiety tried to whisper, but I pushed it down. Elena needed me, and I couldn’t fall apart now. I grabbed my backpack, took out my notebook and a pen, and settled beside her on the bed, leaning against the headboard with my legs stretched out in front of me. I started writing, not even realizing when I drifted off.

My chest felt tight, and it was hard to breathe. I opened my eyes, confused, and realized Elena was practically draped over me. Her head rested on my neck, her hair tangled across my face, and one of her legs was wedged between mine. My arm was pinned under her, making it almost impossible to get up without waking her. Well, impossible, really.

I touched her forehead and exhaled in relief. Her fever had finally broken. Now, I just had to convince my stubborn girl to eat something and talk about whatever was weighing on her. Talking would help her clear her head and focus on getting better. And I needed to know she was okay before flying to Jamaica to wrap up recording the last few songs for the album.

She murmured my name, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I whispered when her eyes met mine. “Feeling better?”

She frowned, looking around as if trying to remember where she was. To my disappointment, she pulled away, shifting to her side of the bed and leaving my arms empty.

“Yeah, I guess,” she replied hesitantly. “My head still hurts, and my throat’s sore, but I’m feeling better. I can’t remember much from yesterday, though. I remember talking to Matt on the phone, then you showed up… The rest is kind of a blur.”

I found my notebook and pen tucked under the blankets. I’d been writing when she fell asleep on top of them. Setting them aside on the bedside table, I turned to face her, propping myself up on my elbow. She was staring blankly at the ceiling, looking distant. I touched her cheek, and she closed her eyes.

“When I got here, you were talking to Matt about the meeting,” I said softly. “Then I made you take a shower to bring your fever down, and when you got back to bed, you crashed. You’ve been out for twelve hours straight.”

“Wow,” she murmured. “I didn’t even know I could sleep that long.”

“Who would’ve thought? Elena Vaughan, the most morning person ever, sleeping for twelve hours straight. I think you might be getting old,” I teased, and she stuck her tongue out at me before smiling—a real, genuine smile that sent warmth rushing through my chest. “Can I kiss you?”

She looked at me in disbelief and laughed. “You shouldn’t ask a woman if you can kiss her, Martin.” She gave me a mock serious look. “And besides, I’m still sick. I could pass it on to you, and that wouldn’t be good.”

“Right now, I don’t care about that,” I said, holding her wrists gently when she tried to move away. I just needed to know we were okay, at least somewhat. “I just want you.”

Her eyes softened for a moment, and I took the chance. As our lips met, Elena let out a small, contented sound that was the sweetest thing I’d heard in months. No hit song could ever compare to that.

I kissed her slowly, savouring the moment. Our tongues moved together, our breathing deepened, and I didn’t want it to end. If I died right then, I’d be the happiest guy in the world. It was pure bliss, just solidifying how she was everything to me.

I let go of her wrists, and her hands immediately tangled in my hair, sending shivers down my spine. Before I knew it, she was on top of me, biting my lower lip, her breasts brushing against my chest.

“Hold up, hottie,” I said, gently pushing her back by the shoulders, making her sit on my stomach.

“What?” she whined, her eyes dark with desire, lips red and swollen. I grinned, loving the sight of her like this. “Come on, Martin. It’s been forever.”

“I know,” I chuckled. God, I knew. I’d been counting the days, dreaming of this moment. “But I’m here to take care of you, not to take advantage. We’ll have plenty of time for this. But first, I need you to eat something and talk to me. I can tell something’s bothering you, and I want to help.”

“Does the order matter?” she grumbled, crossing her arms. “I mean, you’re gonna have your way with me eventually. Why can’t we start there?”

I laughed out loud. She was wild, and I loved her for it. “Yeah, it matters to me!” I sat up, keeping my arms around her. Our noses touched, and I saw a hint of a smile on her lips. I pulled her closer, her legs settling around me. “And for someone who didn’t want to kiss me a minute ago, you’ve changed your mind pretty fast.”

“Did I mention I hate you today?” she asked, then kissed me quickly.

“No, you don’t hate me,” I teased back. “I’m your favourite teenage celebrity, and you can’t live without me.”

“Ugh, I think I might puke.” She climbed off my lap, and I panicked.

“Are you feeling sick?” I asked, moving closer. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No, Martin,” she snapped. “You’re so sweet, I think I’m going to puke a rainbow.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re the worst person ever!” I cried out, mock offended. “Here I am, worried about you, and you’re making fun of me. I should go back to California and never speak to you again.”

She laughed, throwing her head back. “Go ahead, Martin. And if you’re not going to have your way with me, go get us some breakfast. I’m starting to get hungry.” She blew me a kiss and headed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her and leaving me standing there, smiling like the fool I was.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t prepared for this. When Elena told me she was hungry, I thought I’d just raid her kitchen and whip something up. But staring blankly at her empty fridge, I realized I had no clue what to do.

She’s always been so particular about her groceries, so it was shocking to see nothing there. I knew she liked to hit up Whole Foods on Wednesdays, something about fresh produce, but with her feeling like crap, it made sense she hadn’t gone. Her fridge must have been empty for days.

I headed back to the bedroom and heard the shower running. I didn’t want to bother her, so I grabbed my wallet, sunglasses, a cap, and my backpack and set off for her favourite market. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt the chill. Winter was creeping in, and Toronto was starting to feel cold and grey again.

Whole Foods wasn’t far, but halfway there, I realized just how many bags I’d be hauling back. I should’ve driven instead of leaving my car parked on her street. The cashier gave me a suspicious look, like she knew who I was but was trying not to show it. I flashed her an honest smile and thanked her for not making a scene.

Walking back with six plastic bags in each hand—yeah, I forgot the reusable ones, sue me—was brutal. My fingers were frozen, and I hadn’t even zipped up my jacket. The wind was ruthless, blasting through me and turning my hair into a mess. But I was on a mission, and nothing was stopping me.

“For fuck’s sake, why do we live in such a freezing city?” I grumbled as I dropped the bags on the kitchen counter. “Seriously, why not Vancouver? At least their winters are a little more humane.”

Elena was sitting on a stool by the island, holding a mug in her hands. “You know you could’ve just made scrambled eggs and coffee, right? You didn’t have to go to Whole Foods.”

I stood in front of her and took a sip of her coffee. “Do you really think eggs and coffee would satisfy this six-foot-two body?” I teased. She laughed, and I felt a surge of warmth. “Besides, you’ve lost weight, and I’m worried you’re not eating properly. So, spill what’s been going on while I cook you the best breakfast you’ve ever had.”

I started unloading the bags, setting out ingredients for pancakes, eggs, grilled ham, and toast. I was determined to make a proper meal. I heard her sigh and knew she was debating whether or not to open up. I gave her time, and eventually, she spoke.

“Remember that guy from Japan—the one who barged into my room?”

I clenched my jaw. “Yeah, our room. What about him?”

“He showed up in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, demanding that I handle his band’s marketing. He threatened Jeremy, saying he’d terminate the contract if I wasn’t leading the team immediately.”

“What?” I whipped around to look at her. “But you’re working on my project... And, Lena, don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen what you’re doing with my album and the tour. It’s incredible, but I know it’s taking up all of your time and your team’s. How can you handle two projects at once? You’re amazing, but that’s insane.”

“Tell me about it.” She looked exhausted. “I told Jer I didn’t have time for another project. Your campaign runs until the end of 2019. We have to plan every step, adjusting for feedback from critics and fans. After that, I’m already committed to another major project. I’m already stretched thin, trying to balance both. But when Rento brought up the fine we’d have to pay, Jeremy caved and gave me two weeks to deliver the initial plan.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I fumed.

I was just about to start cooking when she joined me at the stove. I kissed the top of her head, and she gave me a faint smile.

“The past few days have been hell. I couldn’t push your project aside, but I still had to draft a plan for the Japanese band. I’ve been working non-stop, barely sleeping.” Her voice cracked. “I think my body just gave out yesterday.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad it did. At least it forced you to slow down.”

I was furious. That asshole Rento had crossed a line, pushing Elena like this. And Jeremy? I was pissed at him too, for making her work herself to the bone. And me? I was mad at myself for not being there when she needed me. I’d been in California, but I could’ve at least called more often, been a better support.

“I could snap back at you right now, but I know you’re right. I’m relieved it happened too. At least now I’ll look a bit better when I present the marketing plan tomorrow.”

I leaned against the counter, watching her closely. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you,” I murmured. “Maybe I couldn’t have done much, but at least I’d have known what was going on. I could’ve cooked for you or made sure you ate.”

Elena set down the last pancake and turned off the stove. When she looked at me, there was something different in her eyes, something I couldn’t quite read.

“We weren’t speaking,” she reminded me with a shrug.

“Why?” I asked quietly.

“Because you’re stubborn and can’t accept our limits. You act like it’s no big deal for us to be seen together, like people wouldn’t notice.”

“You overthink it. Our personal lives are just that—personal.” I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. She hugged me back, resting her head on my chest.

“I’m trying to protect both of us, Sam. We’ve worked too hard to risk it all. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to lose everything we’ve built.” She tilted her head up, her eyes locking with mine. “Please try to understand. If you can’t keep this quiet, the only way we can move forward is apart. I’ve already blurred the lines by making your project personal. I’m pushing myself and my team harder than ever. Don’t ask for more than I can give right now. It’s all I’ve got.”

I glanced up, silently begging for some kind of sign. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“You’ve given me love, then taken it back / Let me taste you and hold you / then out of nowhere, just pain, you turned your back.” I sang, feeling her whole body shake with laughter.

“Stop using your songs to mess with me,” she teased. When I looked down, Elena had that smile—the one I loved the most. It lit up her whole face, lifting her cheeks and making her eyes crinkle at the corners.

“I love that you know all my lyrics.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s called research, Martin.”

“Sure, let’s go with that.” I kissed her forehead. I wanted to say I loved her, that I was completely obsessed with her, but I knew it wouldn’t go well.

“Let’s finish breakfast. You still owe me a round of wild sex, and I’m not letting you off the hook!” She pulled away and went back to the stove, effortlessly brushing off any talk about us, like she always did.

But right then, I didn’t care. If keeping things secret was the only way I could have her, I was fine with it. Someone once said that a little bit is better than nothing at all, and I couldn’t agree more.