by Emma Vikes
Theo sighed and then leaned against the railing that I was also leaning forward on. He looked at me and I stared back at the comforting green eyes I’d grown accustomed to stare at for the past five years. Ever since Amber’s incident in college and after she flew to Paris, Theo had become my rock. Through college, it had been Amber who was my support, but with her gone, I had no one but Theo who stood by me. I don’t know how I would’ve survived NYU if Theo hadn’t been there to support me.
“It’s either your pride or your company, Audrey,” Theo said brusquely, looking at me with green eyes shining with the truth, “and here, I thought you were willing to do just about anything to prove to Dick that you could run a company that was meant to be yours from the beginning.”
I closed my eyes and resisted the urge to throw the glass into the wide, open ocean. I’d never felt this kind of frustration, not even when I was a student and been bombarded with so many responsibilities, even with the responsibilities that Dad allowed me to handle with the company despite my young age to train me for the role that I was meant to fill when the time came. All my life, I was trained to become the chairman of Finch Records and now it was dangling right in front of me, within reach but not quite so.
“You don’t need to remind me, Theo,” I said quietly, sighing and then resting my head against his shoulder, “but be his assistant? Theo, I hate the guy. He’s right. I’d rather dig his grave than be in the same room as him.”
“Audrey,” there was a slight tone in Theo’s voice when he said my name, which made me look at him. His green eyes were downcast, “it’s been five years. If this is still about Amber, even she has moved on. Don’t you think it’s time for you to?”
“Are you telling me that maybe I should stop hating him?”
Theo pursed his lips. “I’m telling you that maybe it’s time for you to be a little more reasonable and cut him some slack. You need him, Audrey. You need his band to sign with your company so your company could be yours. Put your pride aside, just this once. Maybe you could do it even just for a month since that’s all he’s actually asking for, Aud.”
I clenched my fist around the neck of the glass. “I think it’s time for you to go home, T.”
Theo sighed. “It won’t kill you if you do, Audrey. It’ll even help you out.”
With that, Theo left me alone at the patio of my house, with a glass of half-filled champagne in my hand and the picturesque view of the descending sun as I thought about failing my parents. Losing the company would only devastate, especially after my father’s current condition and I couldn’t do that to them.
But I also wasn’t sure if I could hold up being Julian’s assistant for a month when I hated the man to the core.
My phone began to buzz in the pocket of the pants that I was wearing and I pulled it out to see that Amber was calling via FaceTime. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her name and I answered without hesitation. “Oof, what’s with the long face, buttercup?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as I sank to the ground, setting the glass of champagne beside me. “The world hasn’t been kind to me.”
I was pouting and Amber laughed at the sight of me and I knew how I must’ve looked like to her. In a very thin black shirt, hair loose over my shoulders and the wind messing it up, makeup smeared around my face because of the number of times I’d rubbed my palm against my face in frustration.
“How’s the mission ‘recruit Julian Hudson’ coming along?” Amber asked as I watched her lie down on her fluffy white bed. She was still in Paris, working her way into being a fashion designer. She always sent a sample of her best work for me to wear and I knew that she was on her way to make a name for herself.
I told Amber about what was going on with me yesterday, right after the meeting, sending her a message that there was an emergency. I ranted to her on FaceTime and she convinced me to give it a shot, so I called Theo and had him contact Bonnie. It was all unfair to me and I couldn’t comprehend why- of all bands that there were in this world- did Dick want me to recruit Julian Hudson and his band.
“A complete and utter fail,” I replied monotonously. Amber’s eyebrows furrowed and she gave me a look. I pursed my lips and sighed. “He wanted me to be his assistant for a month, Amber! I’m not going to do that! I don’t want to do that!”
Amber sighed and then her Persian cat crawled to her, nesting over her head as she reached to stroke her fur. “And let’s say you agree to what he wants, would he sign with you guys?”
I stood up, carried the glass to the kitchen and made my way to my room, thinking over what Julian had said earlier. He demanded to have an assistant, to have me as his assistant. He said that if I could pull it off within a month, he would sign with us. I dropped on my bed and laid on my stomach as Amber patiently waited for my response.
“I think so,” I said quietly, twirling my hair with my fingers as I waited for her response even when I already had an idea of what it was going to be. She would want me to go back to Julian and probably make me beg him to consider the offer I made, tell him that I was agreeing to his terms as long as we made a deal that he would agree with mine.
“He’s not the devil incarnate as you make him out to be, Audrey,” Amber said quietly and all I could do was stare at her through the screen. Despite all the heartache that Julian Hudson had brought her, she still had a soft spot for him and I couldn’t really understand why. For one thing, Julian never apologized to her- well, I might have something to do with that- yet Amber easily forgave him which was something even I couldn’t do.
“He broke your heart,” I replied stubbornly.
“You’re just mad at him because you want to be like him, too.”
I scowled at that idea. “Excuse me?”
Amber laughed and then I watched as her cat jumped out of bed as she switched position and laid on her stomach too, just like I had. “You wish you had the same tenacity as he did to pursue your heart’s desire. I’ve always told you, Aud, when I was dating him, he reminded me a lot of you.”
“We’re straying off-topic here, Amber,” I veered us back to the real issue because I didn’t want to discuss things I’d left in the past. But before Amber had me officially meet Julian, she always told me how much we were alike in so many ways that it was almost as if she was dating me, although a male version. She even claimed we had the same quirks but I refused to accept the fact that Julian Hudson and I were on the same wavelength because I couldn’t fathom the idea that someone as ruthless as he was had the similar tastes as I did.
Amber laughed and shook her head at me. “Aud, there isn’t really that much harm if you agree with what he wants to happen. With the animosity between the two of you, I doubt he’d ask you to do something inappropriate. Besides, Julian isn’t the kinky type, last time I checked.”
“Oh my god,” I grabbed a pillow behind me and buried my face in it, unable to comprehend my best friend who was most likely teasing me to get a reaction out of me. She was snorting with laughter on her side and I desperately wanted to chuck a pillow at her. I sighed as I let Amber sober up and she was looking at me again through the camera, her eyes shining with happy tears and I felt something tug at my heart. “I miss you.”
Amber smiled. “And I miss you too, Aud, and what I would do to cross oceans just to hit you in the head and drag you to Julian’s front yard and make you agree with what he wants.”
I groaned. “You’re ruining the moment here, Amber!”
“But you know I’m right,” she pointed out and I could hear someone speaking French in the background and Amber lit up. Her boyfriend appeared on screen, waving at me excitedly as Amber kissed his cheek and shooed him away. “I know it’s hard, Audrey, and you would rather do a million other things than this but we’re 24 and it happened five years ago. It’s your company or your pride, Audrey, and I know you know what matters more.”
“Amber…”
“I have to go but I know you’ll do the right thing
. I love you, babe,” she waved at me and then hang up and I threw my phone somewhere on my bed and sighed, rolling onto my back and staring at the white ceiling of my room. I could hear the waves crashing outside but more than that, Amber’s voice echoed in my mind.
It’s your company or your pride.
You know what matters more.
God damn it.
. Apparently, the rumors that were circulating were right, W&R did drop them but I had a feeling that there was more to it than just that. His bandmates wanted to sign with us which leaned into my favour yet they still looked at him for the go-signal, no matter how much he upset them, he still led their group.
.
No matter how much I didn’t want to do this, Theo and Amber were right. There was no other way. At least, there wasn’t one I could think of at the moment and I didn’t really have a lot of time to think since Dick only allotted me one month.
With a heavy heart, I stood up and changed into a much more comfortable outfit than the one I was wearing, tied my hair in a bun and then grabbed my wallet, keys and phone and then went back to my car and drove to Malibu, to Julian’s home. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to him and how I was going to convince him, given that I had slapped him earlier when I left which I knew must’ve pissed him off even more.
There was another car in their driveway when I parked and I recognized it as Bonnie’s since we came together earlier. I didn’t have her number but I could only pray that she would be the one to open the door when I rang the doorbell. I let out a shaky breath, gave myself a mental pep talk and then got out of my car and made my way to their front door to ring the doorbell.
Please let it be Bonnie.
“Audrey?”
Her voice made my shoulders sag in relief and I looked up to meet her eyes. “Oh thank god, you’re the one who opened it.”
Bonnie closed the door behind her and took a step outside. “What are you doing here? Julian won’t be happy to see you.”
I chewed on my bottom lip and tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I came here to see him and talk about what happened.”
Bonnie crossed her arms over her chest. “I may not be close to Julian but he’s really mad at you.”
I looked at Bonnie with pleading eyes. “I really need to talk to him. I didn’t think straight earlier. I need his help, Bonnie. Please.”
Her eyes softened and she turned around to open the door to let me in. “When he erupts, just say that the door was open and you let yourself in. They’re trying out a new song. They’re in the recording studio upstairs, third door on the left. I’ll be in Carlos’ room if you need me.”
I flashed her a grateful smile as I heeded her instructions and went upstairs. The door of the recording studio was open and I wanted to sneak inside and maybe hear what they were playing but the moment I came in, I ran smack-dab into someone.
“What the hell?” Julian’s voice was loud and angry. “What are you doing here?”
My eyes widened at the sight of him. He was in joggers and a muscle tee and his hair were in complete disarray but his blue and gray eyes were blazing with anger. “Hi.”
I sounded so timid that I hated myself for that. Whatever confidence I had earlier when I sauntered in his house was gone because I could feel the desperation slowly clawing at my heart and I knew that this wasn’t something I could fight against, despite how much I wanted to if only I had a better say in things. But Theo and Amber were right. It was time to set aside my pride and get through with it.
“What are you doing here?” Julian’s voice sounded deadly and I watched as the rest of the band members piled out of the room, leaving the both of us in.
I shrugged and lamely replied, “The front door was open and I let myself in.”
Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t give me that crap, Audrey.”
I huffed and hugged myself, refusing to look at him. “I came to talk about your terms.”
He let out a bark of laughter as he moved around the small studio and grabbed a hoodie to slip on himself. “You think I’m willing to discuss terms with you after you slapped me and walked out when you were the one who needed a favour from us
My heart sank at that and I could feel the desperation surging in my veins even more. I needed to have them sign with us. No matter what cost. “I let my emotions get the best of me but I have had time to think things over and I want to discuss it with you.”
Julian looked at me with amusement shining in his eyes. “You’re not even going to apologize for slapping me? Forget it. You can see yourself out the way you came in.”
“Oh my god, you’re impossible. It’s not like you didn’t deserve-,” Julian looked at me with eyebrows raised, tempting me to continue on with what I was going to say but I caught myself before I could worsen the situation and tip the favour against me even more. “Let’s just forget about what happened this morning and discuss business like professional, proper adults.”
He crossed his arms against his chest. “Oh no, Audrey. I’m not going to discuss anything with you until you fucking apologize for slapping me.”
Oh my god, I’d rather slap him another time and leave but that wasn’t an option any more. So against my better judgment and through gritted teeth and refusing to look at him, I said what he wanted to hear in a whisper, “I’m sorry.”
“What was that? I could barely hear you,” Julian’s voice was teasing as he said that, leaning in closer and I could feel his eyes on me. God, I could imagine his stupid smirk on his face.
I let out a huff of annoyance as I looked at him and looked directly into his blue and gray eyes. “I’m sorry for slapping your earlier, Julian.”
He had a satisfied smirk on his face now that the words left my mouth and he cocked his head to the side. “So, what do you want to discuss? You made it clear you weren’t going to agree on my terms because you didn’t want to.”
Oh, he clearly wasn’t wrong about that. If only I had enough time to think of another solution to the problem I was facing at the company, I would do so in a heartbeat and I was willing to suffer sleepless nights as long as I thought of something that didn’t involve Julian Hudson. But alas, that wasn’t the case here.
“I have my own terms first,” I stated, letting out a deep breath and mustering any ounce of calm confidence lurking within me, “that one month, I need you to sign the contract a week before the month of being your assistant is over and I swear on my future grave that I will finish my deal with you in the span of time you want me to. I just really need you to sign before the month is over.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed. “What’s going to reassure me that you’re not going to go against your word?”
“You can quit if I don’t see through my agreement which I won’t,” I replied with a shrug, “I may not like you, Julian, but I am woman who doesn’t go against her word and when I say that I’m going to do what you want me to, then I will. I just want to make sure that you will also agree with my own terms that I’m going to lay because you’re not the only one who has demands.”
“You make it seem like I’m the one who’s desperate for help when that’s you,” Julian snorted, shaking his head at me, “so do you want me to sign any papers?”
I had Theo make the documents before we got here earlier but I didn’t expect this turn of events. The documents that Theo had were for the company and this was something else entirely but I could still have Theo make me on. “I’ll have you sign it tomorrow.”
Julian was staring at me with disbelief clear in his eyes and he let out an amused laugh, shaking his head. “You’re actually desperate enough to do this.”
“Then I’m glad you know that only in desperation will I stand you.”
5
Julian
Of everything that transpired yesterday, the last thing I expected to happen before it ended, was for Audrey Finch to come back into my house and tell me her own terms as she agreed to mine with no more qualm
s. When she walked out after she slapped me, I assumed that her need for my help wasn’t that big for her to easily leave with her pride and dignity intact but she came back, looking as if she was pissed at the entire universe for having her come back to me and agree. It didn’t take a genius to notice that she would rather do a million other things but it seemed as if she didn’t have much choice but to accept my terms.
It made me wonder why.
“You’re awfully in a good mood,” José commented as he sat on the counter stool and I slid him a plate of French toast that was dripping with syrup and was covered with powdered sugar and berries. I woke up a little earlier than I usually did to make a list of things that I wanted Audrey to do for me for the day. “I’m pretty sure that whatever you’ve discussed with Miss Finch has left you in an incredible mood.”
I smirked as I slid my own plate on the counter and sat beside him. I hadn’t showered and decided to take a lazy day since I had Audrey to do things for me now. “You know that Pete always told me it would be best for me to hire a personal assistant?”
José was in the middle of eating a big bite so it took him a minute before responding. “Yes, because out of all of us, you’re always the only one who’s invited to do a bunch of interviews, podcasts and photoshoots and you keep on messing everything up by being late. If you didn’t have such a big fan base, I’m sure Hollywood would’ve booted you.”
He was right. Out of all of us, I had the most things to do. They get invited on a lot of YouTuber things since we were friends with a lot of them and they were all over LA so they had their own thing going on but I was usually the one invited on TV shows as a guest star, on auditions- although I keep failing on them since I never memorize my script-, interviews, and photoshoots. They didn’t mind since they would rather party and relax and create music than be me and do a bunch of things.
