Tassia stood from the table, but braced her hands on it to get into Clever’s face. “I am not a quitter. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, so you didn’t leave the show? Am I mistaken?” Hyde’s father put his hand to his chest.
“No, but I didn’t leave on a whim.” She gritted her teeth before she continued. “And I wrote every word of every song that I did for other artists. If you were to believe everything you read on gossip sites, then I guess I should believe that Hyde is into underaged girls. There was a report that he had a couple of them in his hotel room recently.”
“Lies!” Clever pointed to Tassia.
“Whoa. Hold on, everyone.” Truman stood and held his hands up. “Let’s all take a breath and settle down.”
“No, I’ll tell you what’s going to happen.” Clever stood. “You’re going to tell us that these two will split the money for this project evenly, and that’s not going to happen either.”
“It should if they both write the songs.” This time Norma stood.
“And that’s a big if.” Clever laughed. “I can see the writing on the wall here. Charisma wants the fame of Hyde without signing him because they can’t afford him.”
“Back up there.” Chantel stood. “You can speak for your client, but do not dare to speak for me, my husband, or our business. We came at you two with only one motive: to make great music. There’s nothing else on our agenda.” She looked at Tassia. “We asked Tassia to do it because she’s worked hard and she’s talented.”
“I can see. She has you two fooled. I don’t even know if she can sing anything else but one line.” Clever laughed.
Hyde wanted out of this project but not at the sake of this woman’s dignity. The sound and cruelty behind his father’s words twisted Hyde’s guts. Before Hyde decided to pull the choke chain on his manager and bring Tassia down easy, a voice stopped him.
Tassia sang the opening of The Judds’ “Love Can Build A Bridge” pitch perfect and without any accompaniment.
Hyde felt his bottom jaw go slack, not only because Tassia knew a country song, but because her voice sounded heaven sent.
At the end of the chorus, she glared at the group. “Sorry this was a grand waste of time for everyone.” She grabbed her purse and gave Hyde one last look before leaving the room.
“I’m sorry, too.” Clever put his hand on Hyde’s shoulder. “Now we can get started on your next album since the tour is over.”
Hyde’s mind flooded with ideas. Despite seeing Tassia up close and hearing her incredible voice that kept getting better with age, he couldn’t see himself doing this project. Actually, he could see himself. He envisioned his younger, fatter version standing alongside the always poised Tassia and feeling inferior…again. That didn’t mean he couldn’t use this situation to his advantage just like Christina had used their pairing to propel her career. This time, Hyde would be the one to use someone else. So if he wanted to make a move, he had to do it now.
Chapter 6
Tassia knew it. She knew it. Crawling back to Charisma and practically begging for the opportunity to do this project right after the lies had broken that she couldn’t write a song if someone had a gun to her head felt all wrong. Both Norma and Graham had convinced her that this would be a positive move in the right direction for her. She didn’t believe either of them, but wanted to give this pitch session a chance. Then she saw Hyde. She heard Hyde. He didn’t want to do this project, and seemed almost disgusted by the idea of working with her again. Fine. She would walk away. Too bad he looked way different than his show days.
Whoa. The man exuded power and raw sexuality. As a kid, he had captured her attention then. Now, he practically owned her. She couldn’t stop looking at him once she finally did.
He looked attractive in pictures. In the era of phone apps with filters, anyone could look amazing nowadays. To see him up close almost broke her down to being just like his fans, who all clamored for his attention. He hadn’t lost his appeal, but thank goodness he changed from a red baseball cap to a blue one.
Now his green eyes looked otherworldly, like he could see down to her soul and accepted every imperfect part of her like a dream man should. Then he spoke and she knew that would never happen from him. Hyde had judged her from their time together on the same TV show, and her work with Aaron. He made it obvious that unlike Christina, he did not want to work with her again.
She had to force herself to not look at his full lips, surrounded by a subtle light brown scruff. When he smiled, he showed off a great set of straight, white teeth that didn’t look like a dentist had manufactured them for show.
All of those amazing aspects hadn’t crumbled Tassia. In the back of her mind, she remembered his dismissive demeanor at her audition. She recalled how cold he had reacted toward her by not interacting with her at all. Then she touched him.
Tassia shook his hand at the meeting and the world stopped. The only thing that existed had to be her connection to his tough but smooth flesh. He held her hand like he never wanted to let her go. If only that kind of conviction existed in the men she had dated.
Tassia had prepared to fall on the sword to prove herself in the industry again. She could not only sing, but she could write a hell of a song. Then that jerk C. Love had the nerve to bring up that story, that outright lie, that she hadn’t written any of her songs.
“Tassia, wait.”
Tassia heard her manager’s voice, but that didn’t stop her. She continued heading to the front door to go home and sulk. She had already missed her trip to Fiji with India, who delighted in texting Tassia pictures of herself on the beach.
“Don’t go.” Graham coughed after he made his appeal, and then he wheezed.
So that she didn’t tax her team too much, she stopped at the front door and turned to the duo. Norma reached her first before Graham caught up to her.
“You shouldn’t have run away like that.” Norma shook her head.
Although the dark-skinned woman kind of reminded Tassia of her mother, she couldn’t classify as a substitute. Today Norma wore a red pantsuit with a colorful scarf hanging from her neck.
“Why not?” Tassia rested her fists on her hips. “It’s obvious that they didn’t want to work with me. Did you hear his manager? They believed those stories.”
“Yeah, but you shut them down with your voice.” Graham tried smiling while still gasping for air.
As much as Tassia didn’t want to, she sang the same song she had used during her audition, hoping it would spark some recollection in Hyde or his pigheaded manager. She couldn’t believe she remembered the words to the song she had sung to the group.
From Hyde’s expression, it looked like he hadn’t expected her to belt out that song. Or maybe she had managed to impress him with her voice. Or maybe he did finally remember her audition. At this point in her career, Tassia hadn’t expected to keep having to prove herself.
“I knew people would believe those stories.” Tassia shook her head.
“Chantel and Truman didn’t.” Norma put her hand on Tassia’s shoulder. “They were the first ones to post on social media that they’re standing by you.” The stately woman moved in closer to Tassia. “You think they would have put their necks out for you if they didn’t believe you?”
Tassia regarded her manager for a moment before crossing her arms over her chest and turning her back on her. “Hyde doesn’t want to do it, and even if he did, his dad won’t let him. Did you see the way he looked at me when C. Love called me a fraud?”
Graham moved in next to Tassia. “Did you see the way he looked at you when you called him a pedophile? It goes both ways.”
Tassia didn’t mean to get down in the mud with Clever Love. When she saw that news story on a gossip site about Hyde and some teenage girls, she didn’t believe it, just like she wanted people to not believe she coul
dn’t be creative. When Clever’s accusation came out, she had to fight back. She didn’t like fighting dirty, though.
“I’m already not feeling positive about all this.” Tassia shook her head.
“I don’t blame you.”
Tassia blinked when she heard a new voice, a deeper voice, a seductive one. She looked in the glass doors in front of her face to see if she could spy who spoke in the reflection. She caught the sight of a shadowy figure behind her. From the height and build, she knew it couldn’t be Clever. To eliminate the suspense, she turned.
Hyde kept his light brown hair short, almost military style. He looked different without his trademark backward baseball cap.
“I would feel pretty lousy, too, if I got accused of something I didn’t do.” Hyde took a deep breath before he continued. “I don’t prey on young girls.” He glared at her.
“And I know how to write songs and sing.” She met his stare with a harder one, at least she hoped she did. “I’m sorry for saying that about you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. You sure can sing.” Hyde took a step forward. “Look. I know we all got off on the wrong foot back there. Can we start over?” He smiled.
The look immediately undid her, so much so that she dropped her gaze to the floor to regain some control. Through his thin white T-shirt, she saw his small nipples poking against the fabric, the same ones she had fantasized about licking whenever she watched his video. When she got down to his jeans, she had to make herself not look for any noticeable impressions around the crotch area. She breathed a sigh of relief down at his feet, thankful he didn’t have on cowboy boots. Instead he wore work boots that looked old, worn-in and dirty. This top money-earning artist wore old boots to a meeting. She fought not to smile at that. It still didn’t take away from the fact that this man didn’t want to work with her again.
“What I heard you sing back there sounded incredible.” Hyde’s deep voice rumbled the floor.
Tassia felt the vibration through her thin sandals and the tide turning. Did Hyde Love now want to work with her?
“We should talk more about this collaboration. I already have ideas.” He rubbed his hands together.
So did Tassia. Too bad her thoughts had nothing to do with writing, singing, or recording.
Come on. Get out of your head. You just broke up with a guy. Not the time.
She peered up at him. “So, you’re interested in doing this duets album?”
Hyde glanced at her team before answering. “I am.”
Something in his answer sounded like he wanted to admit something else.
“I thought you didn’t want to go back to childish things.” She wouldn’t be letting him off the hook that easily.
“I see this as a great opportunity.” His wide smile looked convincing.
Too bad Tassia saw through his cheerful demeanor. She knew he hid something. “What does your father think?” She had seen these types of entertainers before. She’d written for them. Hell, she just left a tour with the poster child of a pampered star. Hyde Love wouldn’t be any different.
“My manager has a lot of thoughts just like I’m sure your team does.” Hyde nodded toward Norma and Graham. “Final decision is always mine. Hopefully, you treat your career the same way.” He cleared his throat. “May I talk to you privately?”
Tassia didn’t know why, but her heartbeat accelerated at his request. “Anything you say to me can be said in front of my manager and agent.”
Hyde glanced at Norma and Graham. “I’m sure business conversations can be.”
He let the implication hang in between them until Tassia made the first move away from her team to a more secluded area of the Charisma lobby. With her back to Norma and Graham, Tassia kept her arms crossed as she waited for Hyde to address her.
He sauntered in front of her and looked serious doing so. Tassia wouldn’t let that sway her.
“I don’t know what you’re going to say, but I will tell you this.” Tassia pointed to the two of them. “Neither one of us has signed anything. Nothing has gone out on social media about this. No one has to know about this meeting. Let’s just chalk it up as a good experiment and move on.”
Hyde stared at her for a moment with his head cocked to the side before he scratched the top of it.
“What?” Tassia shrugged.
“I don’t know you, but I sort of had you pegged as having a bigger backbone than what you’re showing me right now.” He brought his hand down to the side of his face and rubbed his barely-there beard.
She blinked hard. “Are you calling me a coward?”
“I wouldn’t use that word. Maybe unadventurous or complacent.” He snapped his fingers and wagged his index finger at her. “Scared. That’s the emotion I’m looking for, like when you wouldn’t do that scene with the zookeeper and the live snake on the show.”
Tassia felt her eyes go wide before she laughed. “Scared. Really? I see what you’re doing.”
This time he shrugged. “What am I doing?”
“You’re trying to trick me into doing this project. I’m not falling for it.”
“Good. Don’t do it because anyone coerced you into doing it or on a dare.” He moved in close to her.
At his proximity, Tassia caught his heady woodsy scent. Between his aroma and the heat she felt emanating from his body, she could barely keep standing.
“If you’re going to do this project, do it because it speaks to you, because you feel like with your words and actions, you can make a difference.” He lowered his voice. “I have a feeling that you might have something to prove.” He nodded. “I understand.”
Hyde started to back up, but Tassia had more questions. “What do you have to prove?”
He continued backing toward the conference room. “That’s something I would reveal to a recording partner. Have a good one.” He turned and ducked into the room.
Tassia didn’t move from her spot. Or maybe she couldn’t move. Hyde left a trail of bread crumbs for her to follow. Damn it if she didn’t want to join him.
“What did he say to you?” Norma approached Tassia first.
Tassia regarded her agent. “What’s the downside of me doing this project?”
Norma chuckled. “There is none. Advanced money they’re offering is good. Time schedule is tight, but I know you can handle it. And you’ll be recording with the hottest singer out there right now. What do you have to lose?”
Her identity, Tassia thought. Would she just be another back-up singer for a more popular star? Why did this country boy intrigue her so much?
“Are you thinking about doing it?” Graham put his hand on Tassia’s shoulder. “Are you ready to go back in the meeting room?”
Instead of verbally answering him, Tassia headed to the war room. She would let her team hash out the details while she figured out Hyde’s angle. For a singer who had the world at his fingertips, what did he have to prove to anyone?
As soon as she walked into the room, she noticed a wave of relief washing over Chantel’s face.
Truman smiled. “Tassia, you came back.”
Tassia took a seat. “The dig about my skills irked me.” She glared at Clever, who didn’t even acknowledge her until Hyde nudged his manager to do so. “But after some conversation, I think I’m ready to do this.”
“No, no, no.” Hyde shook his head.
What? Now did Hyde want to back out from this deal? Tassia braced her hands on the table, getting prepared to make her second and final exit.
“I want you to be sure about this. No guessing. Are you positive you want to do this duets album with me?” Hyde stared at her.
Tassia couldn’t break the connection. She nodded. “Yes. I think this could be good for my career.”
Hyde nodded. “Good. Before we go any further.” He turned to his manager. “I
sn’t there something you need to say?”
Clever worried his brows. “Me? What? Are we ready to talk about money?” He turned his attention to Truman and Chantel.
“We’re not talking money or contracts or anything else until you apologize to Tassia for questioning her abilities.”
Tassia blinked. In an industry where she, at times, felt powerless and sometimes even voiceless, to hear Hyde not only believe her but make people accountable for their bad actions made her stomach tingle. She had to bite the insides of her cheek to keep from smiling like a goofball. Someone at his level didn’t have to go to bat for her. Then again, Tassia had been around long enough to recognize posturing when she saw it.
“You’re kidding.” Clever kept a confused stare on his star.
Hyde shook his head. “She walked out of here because of something you said.”
“She’s used to walking. I told you so. And she insulted you, too, with her quip about—”
Hyde held up his hand. “Tassia has already apologized to me. That’s why I’m sitting in here with her right now.” He remained quiet but his glare to his manager said everything.
With a slow turn of his head, Clever finally looked at Tassia. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier about you not writing your own songs. You understand how the business is. You see stuff on the Internet. Some things are true, and some aren’t.” He shrugged. “I needed to know for sure that you’re the real deal.”
Crazy on You Page 8
