The interview and photoshoot was going to be at the South Beach Hotel in Camps Bay. They arrived at the hotel twenty minutes early, the make-up and wardrobe team scurrying after them with suitcases and bags. Thomas wanted them at the shoot with emergency clothes, just in case. Nobody rested; everyone was always on call. That’s how tight Thomas ran his ship.

There were adoring fans in the lobby of the hotel who recognised Sparrow. She stopped to sign a few autographs and take some selfies with them.

And there, like a dream – or a plague, as Thomas would say – was Jazz. He was standing in the foyer with a bunch of red roses.

“Hey babe,” he leaned in for a kiss.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.

“I came to see you. Why, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just …”

“You’re busy, I know. I just thought I’d bring you these,” he handed her the roses. “And maybe take you out for lunch?”

“I’d love to, but I have an interview to get to. Didn’t I tell you?”

“Oh wow. No, you must’ve forgotten. But that’s OK, I’ll wait with you till you’re done.”

Jazz walked towards the lifts and called it down. Sparrow couldn’t move, she kept looking towards the lobby, where Thomas was talking on the phone, and then back at Jazz standing by the lift.

“Babe, you coming?”

The lift door was open and Sparrow walked towards it. She turned and looked at Thomas just as the doors closed shut.

“Are you nervous?” Jazz asked. “Don’t be nervous,” he took her hand in his and squeezed it.

Sparrow felt her heart quicken. The lift seemed to be moving too fast and she felt hot. Her stomach was turning; she felt sick.

Jazz’s phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket. He looked at the screen and cancelled the call. Then he put it back in his pocket.

“Who was that?” Sparrow asked.

“The band. It’s fine, I’ll call them later.”

His phone rang again. He took it out once more, looked at it, and cancelled the incoming call.

“It must be important. Go on, take it,” she urged.

He shook his head. “No, no. You’re important to me right now.” He switched off his phone as the elevator doors opened and they walked out hand in hand.

“Which way?” he asked, smiling broadly.

They walked into the room and Sparrow couldn’t help but wonder if Thomas was right. And what did Jazz mean when he said, ‘You’re important to me right now?’ Right now? And if she didn’t tell him about this interview, then how did he know where to find her?

Thomas showed up in the hotel room and started ordering people around.

“Jazz,” Thomas said, “Sparrow has an interview and photoshoot. So please, do what you do best and voetsek.”

“Thomas,” Sparrow turned red. “That’s not nice.”

“Oh, please spare me. He knows why he’s here. Leech. Rat.”

“That’s enough.” Sparrow pulled Thomas outside to have a word, but before she could say anything, Thomas shot first.

“Stop being so naïve, Sparrow. He’s using you. He wants to be seen in your arms so you can make him famous. We didn’t work our arses off just so you can throw it all away for him.”

“He’s not using me. He loves me,” she shot back angrily.

Thomas softened and took her hand. “Honey, he never loved you. If you knew anything about love you would know that.”

“And what do you know about love?”

“Plenty more than you. I know that if someone loves you, they don’t ditch you for fame and fortune the minute they think they’re somebody special. They don’t let you sing backup for four years even though they know you’ve got the best voice in the business. They don’t block you on social media only to suddenly pitch up after months of not even calling.”

Sparrow didn’t speak.

“I’m not saying be lonely forever. I’m saying not him,” Thomas threw his head towards the hotel room. “He’s a jerk.”

“But I love him.”

“Honey I know, but he’s never loved you.”

“How do you know?”

Thomas looked down and rubbed his eyes. This was enough.

“Finish your interview and then we’ll talk. And after that, if you still want to be with him, so be it. I love you too much to see you hurt.” He turned and started walking back to the room.

“No.” Sparrow grabbed his arm and spun him around. “If you have something to tell me, you’ll tell me now.”

“Sparrow …”

“No, Thomas. You said you’d never lie to me. So tell me now.”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

She nodded and squared her shoulders. “Even if it hurts me, tell me.”

***

Tell us: What do you think Thomas will tell Sparrow?