Troublemaker (Songbird #6)

by Melissa Pearl

  I squeezed the bridge of my nose and shut my eyes, anger coursing through me.

  “I just wanted you to get ahead of this before Mr. Torrence finds out. I know how much he wants to keep Caris on board, but there’s no way he’ll want his record company looking bad. You’ll be the first person he blames if this goes south.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. Thank you. Um…” I ran a hand through my hair. “Okay, can you set up a meeting for me with that new legal assistant, Justin, and get Lenny from accounts to join us. I’ll see if we can’t smooth this over without too much hassle.”

  “On it. I’ll set it up for this afternoon.”

  I checked my watch. “Cool. I should be back by three at the latest.”

  “Great. Can I do anything else for you?”

  A nervous breath caught in my throat. My insides were rumbling with the new crisis, but if anything was going to make me feel better, it would be looking forward to a date with my dream girl.

  The air rushed out of my lungs and I said, probably way too loudly, “Yeah, let me take you out.”

  “Excuse me?” Her voice pitched high with surprise.

  I curbed my excited jitters and spoke more calmly. “I want to take you out, for a drink or dinner or something.”

  Her pause was long and painful. I could picture her top teeth brushing over her full lower lip as she tried to think of the correct response. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

  “Yes.”

  “But…” She sighed. “Marcus, please don’t do this to me again.”

  My head jerked back with a frown. “Do this to you?”

  “You know, hound me like a pathetic little puppy.”

  “I’m asking you out for a drink, Kel. I’m not wagging my tail or taking a dump on your front lawn.”

  A sweet laugh escaped her before she could catch it. I smiled, but the triumph didn’t last long. She cleared her throat, her tone edged with a cool iciness. “Look, I’m flattered and everything, but no. Okay? No. We said things wouldn’t get awkward at work, please don’t change that.”

  I banged my head lightly against the concert wall of the arena. Pressing my forehead into the cool roughness, I stared down at my black shoes. “I guess I want to stop pretending not to like you so much. I’m not the guy I was in high school, I promise, but I still care about you and I want to take you out on a date.”

  Her reply was a soft sigh followed by a dagger to the stomach. “I had to cold-shoulder you in high school to make my point. Please don’t make me do that at work. Just accept the fact that I’ll never see you as anything more than my boss, okay? Let’s not ruin a good thing.”

  She hung up before I could say more. I scratched my neck then adjusted my collar, trying not to feel like a fool as I headed back into Chaos’s dress rehearsal. The music had started up again, but they were just goofing around while the sound guys perfected something. Jimmy was singing into the mic, making Nessa laugh as he sang, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet.

  The song, of course, made me think of Kelly. So many songs did.

  I’d subtly tried to send some to her in my daily song email, but because it was to the whole office, I couldn’t really make my message abundantly clear. Plus, over half the receivers were women, and I didn’t want any of them to read into them…but I wouldn’t mind if Kelly did.

  Music had a profound effect on people. It’d won Nessa over in the end. She couldn’t live without it, and she’d put everything on the line to ensure she could keep it as a central part of her life. Kelly had always loved music in high school. I could picture her on that club dance floor the night of senior prom. She’d never looked so happy.

  It was time to up the ante. Yeah, she didn’t want to go out with me, but only because she was afraid to really give me a chance. I needed to prove to her that I could see through her shiny veneer, and I wasn’t afraid to dive beneath it.

  Chapter Ten

  Kelly

  Marcus sauntered into the office just before his meeting. I’d set it up for three so he’d be rushing through the door and straight into the crisis room. He asked me to sit in and take notes, which I didn’t mind doing. With two other people in the room, it was impossible for him to say anything else to me about the fact I rejected his invitation.

  The meeting took nearly two hours. The first thirty minutes was a private bitch-session about the haughty artist (I didn’t take minutes on that part), and the next ninety were spent problem-solving the dilemma. Justin had looked over her contract and said she was in definite breach, but Mr. Torrence would no doubt overlook the misdemeanor to keep the artist on board. Marcus hated the injustice of it, but in the end had to acquiesce and allow Caris to get away with her frivolity. Lenny helped him skimp from another untouched budget to cover the cost.

  Marcus’s indignant anger was kind of attractive, and I had to bite my lips together and avert my gaze a couple of times when he was really ranting.

  He huffed and thumped the table before sitting back in his chair. “Just make sure this shop doesn’t allow any artist to bill Torrence again without prior authorization. I’m not about taking money from justified budgets to pay for this princess.”

  “I’ll-I’ll organize that for you.” Justin punched a note into his laptop. The guy had started up around the same time as me. He’d come fresh out of college and still hadn’t lost his twitchy edge. From what I’d picked up through office whispers, he worked around the clock, always one of the last to leave. He was still finishing his law degree part-time while working here. It was a big ask and one I’d run the opposite direction from, but I guess if you’re Mr. Torrence’s son-in-law, you’re out to make a good impression.

  He looked up at me, and I shot him a reassuring smile. His grin was skittish, but he nodded. “All right, I-I better get going. Call me if you n-need anything else.”

  “Will do. Thanks, Justin.” Marcus gave him a wave before slapping his hand on the table. He looked drained and in good need of a relaxing night out. A small part of me wanted to give him that, but I couldn’t. He wasn’t my type, and I didn’t want to encourage him.

  Besides, I had plans with Scarlett and Isla. I wasn’t about to cancel those for a guy I’d never end up with.

  *****

  I rubbed my forehead and winced. One too many shots with the girls had left me with a splitting headache. My morning aerobics class at the gym had helped take the edge off a little, but I was ready for a strong coffee. I sipped my water bottle as I rode the elevator up to work.

  Clipping onto my floor, I greeted Marcia with a sheepish grin and she chuckled. “You were just going for the dancing, right?”

  I poked my tongue out at her then followed it up with a playful wink.

  She’d ended up becoming a good friend over the last couple of months and we chatted about most things. I kept my warped family life to myself, but we talked about her girls and husband, plus my best friends.

  “Coffee?” I placed my bag behind the desk and started heading for the lunchroom.

  “Yes, please,” she called after me.

  My hips swayed as I briskly walked to the machine and poured two cups. It smelled like a nice, strong batch. Just what I needed. In the past, I would have stopped for a proper café-made coffee, but I hadn’t had time that morning and the office stuff was actually growing on me. I sipped from my mug and let out a contented sigh before heading back to the main desk.

  “So, a good night then?” Marcia took the cup from me. “Thanks.”

  I slipped into my chair with a giggle. “Scarlett’s boyfriend is a DJ at this club in town and he was mixing last night, so we got free drinks. Bad idea.” I pulled a face.

  Marcia laughed. “At least you got home safely.”

  “Yeah, thank God for Uber, right?” My eyes bulged. “And thank God I don’t live with my parents anymore.”

  Marcia winced, her nose wrinkling. “Oh man. No offense, but I hope my girls don’t turn out like you. I’d be a worried wreck waiting
for them to get home at night.”

  I lightly slapped her shoulder. “Everyone needs to have a little fun. A few drinks never hurt anybody.”

  “I know, I know.” She waved her hand through the air. “It’s just my babies are going to grow up and turn into these stunning girls like you…” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just hate the idea of leechy men trying to make a pass at them.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t go clubbing to find guys. I go there to dance.”

  “I was never into the clubbing thing. Those places petrify me.” She shook her head. “Give me a Cherry Coke and a football game any day. A house full of passionate people watching the game and hanging out together. Snuggling on the couch with my man while my girls play Barbies on the floor. I love it.”

  Her cute expression made me grin. We came from two different worlds, but she was the most likable person. The entertainment I’d grown up with had been elegant dinners in classy restaurants or sitting on the side of a runway watching skinny girls strut my father’s latest designs. I would never have been allowed to play on the floor. DeMarcos didn’t sit on the floor. My nursery hadn’t been filled with pink, plastic toys. I don’t remember what it had been filled with. All I remember is spending my holidays and weekends following my parents around while they dragged me from one function to the next and forced me to smile when the cameras started clicking.

  Clubbing for me had been a chance to let loose. I could get lost in a gyrating crowd that didn’t give a shit who my parents were. A little alcohol running through my veins while the music throbbed through me—that was the kind of rush I was interested in.

  I switched on my computer and sipped my coffee while it loaded. I started with my email, wondering what Marcus’s song would be. I glanced over my shoulder and tried to glimpse Marcia’s screen. She had her headphones on and was grinning.

  I quickly plugged mine in as my inbox opened and a series of blue dots appeared for each unread message. I could see a few double exclamation marks but went for the top one from Marcus.

  Into my ears popped a guitar riff I recognized immediately—“Just the Girl” by Click Five. My eyes bulged when the words began and my insides slowly disintegrated.

  I closed my eyes, heat and anger bubbling inside me. There was nothing random about his song selection. He was making a point—a very clear one. I yanked the plugs from my ears and threw them down, but the music was still coming through them. I scrambled for the space bar and quickly paused the song.

  Why was he doing this to me?

  “You okay?” Marcia glanced at me.

  “Yeah, I just…” I shook my head and swallowed down my disgusted sigh.

  Marcia looked at my screen then smiled. “Do you not like his song this morning?”

  “No, it’s fine.” I shook my head. “It’s…it’s fine.”

  Marcia’s brown eyes turned a warm nutmeg as her dimples popped into place. “You pushed him in the pool in high school, didn’t you?”

  My mouth fell open, humiliation rising up my face like a heat wave. “He told you that?”

  “No.” Marcia giggled. “But you just did.”

  I covered my face with my hands. “Shit. Do you think anyone else will figure it out?”

  “I’m the only one who knows you went to school together, and I only know that because I happened to have read both your résumés.” She grinned. “He’s never talked to me about you before. I…I don’t know your history.”

  With a short tut, I crossed my arms and looked at my screen. “You don’t want to know our history.”

  “Did you guys date or something?”

  “No!” I spun my chair to face her. “Why do you think I pushed him in the pool? The guy was relentless. He tried everything to get me to notice him.”

  “Which you obviously did.”

  “Yeah, but not in a positive way. I thought he was a complete dick.” I rubbed my temples, remembering that day—the surprised look on his face while his arms flailed and he splashed into the water. It’d been kind of mean. Everyone around us had laughed, including the guy who’d given him stitches. I’d never admit this to anyone, but I’d had two reasons for pushing Marcus into the pool, and saving him from a broken nose had been one of them.

  “He was so embarrassing,” I muttered the truth I was willing to admit. “Every time he approached me, people around us would stop and stare. I could hear the whispered snickers as I yet again had to come up with another reason to brush him off.” I sighed. “And now he’s starting up again and I just…I like this job.”

  “So, go tell him.” She pointed in the direction of his office.

  “I’ve tried. Seriously, this guy can’t take no for an answer.”

  Marcia pursed her lips. She was a Marcus fan. I didn’t want to offend her, but she had to see that the guy wasn’t faultless. “He must really like you.”

  “I don’t know why.” I rolled my eyes. I did, actually. It was because I was pretty and, to him, probably perfect. But he didn’t even know me. I’d never given him a chance to see beneath the layers and I didn’t want to.

  Marcus and I were not a match. I had to make him understand that, or working for him would be a freaking nightmare.

  Shooting out of my seat, I tugged my skirt straight and headed for his office.

  “What are you doing?” Marcia called after me.

  I spun on my heel to face her. “I’ve tried to be nice about this, but he obviously doesn’t get it. It’s time to put my angry face on and scare him off.”

  Marcia chuckled while I straightened my shoulders and marched toward his frosted glass door.

  I knocked once and threw the door open, storming to his desk with what I hoped was a fiery scowl.

  He countered my wrath with an easy smile. “Morning, Kelly. How’s it going?”

  “Don’t.” I pointed at him. “I know what you’re doing and it won’t work. If anything, that song is offensive, and I can’t believe you would send it out to everybody like that.”

  “You’re the only one who’s ruffled by it, though, right?” He winked.

  I crossed my arms. “Stop being a cocky little shit.”

  “No one knows. It’s a private joke.”

  “Well, it’s not funny! I don’t want people figuring out our history.”

  “So, don’t tell them.” He shrugged. “It’s just a song.”

  “You picked it on purpose. You’re trying to rile me.”

  He leaned back in his chair, gazing at me with a soft sparkle in his eyes. Threading his fingers together, he rested them on his stomach, and I felt a tug of something sweet and tempting, which only pissed me off more.

  I wasn’t attracted to this guy!

  “If you think this will make me change my mind about going out with you, you’re wrong. All you’ve managed to do is irritate the hell out of me.”

  He made a clicking sound out the side of his mouth. “It’s more entertaining than your polite rejection.”

  I jerked back from his cool response. I never would have gotten that from him in high school. No, five years ago, he would have mumbled an apology then shuffled his shame-faced ass away from me.

  My scowl deepened, causing my forehead to wrinkle. I smoothed a hand over the offending lines before placing it on my hip. “I don’t want to go out with you. Why can’t you get that?”

  “And why can’t you give me a chance?” He leaned forward, his tone sounding sharper than I’d ever heard it before. He wasn’t afraid of me anymore.

  I swallowed. “I don’t like you like that.”

  “That’s because you’ve never let yourself see me in any other light. You think you know me, but you don’t. All you see is a guy who doesn’t fit into your perfect world.” He stood, straightening his jacket. “Maybe I don’t, or maybe you fit into mine.”

  For some weird reason, my mind flashed to the movie Titanic of all things. I pictured Jack sitting at a fine table with Rose and wooing everybody before taking the girl of h
is dreams downstairs to have a blast with the third-class passengers.

  I blinked, trying to shake the images from my brain.

  “I don’t—of course, I wouldn’t—” I didn’t know how to finish the sentence without coming across like a first-class snob…and he knew it. I could tell by the playful smirk on his lips.

  I narrowed my eyes and adjusted my bracelet before lifting my chin. “I’m asking you to respect my answer.”

  “And I’m asking you to be brave.”

  I waited for a suitable reply, but nothing came, so I spun on my heel and headed for the door. There was no way I would let him get to me. I was above his try-hard attempts. I just had to remain a cool, professional broken record. He’d get the message eventually, and if he didn’t, I’d…I’d quit!

  Chapter Eleven

  Marcus

  Well, that had gone down like a cast-iron balloon. I tried to pretend her venom hadn’t bothered me, but it’d taken every ounce of courage not to dip my head and apologize. I’d actually stood up to her. I’d never done that before. It had felt freaking fantastic, but it still hadn’t gotten me what I wanted.

  Her reaction was kind of sexy, though. The way her skin flushed pink as she snapped at me. Damn, she was hot. I grinned as I remembered her flustered face just before she pushed me in the pool at Tony McAvoy’s graduation party. It had been my last chance to ask her out before the summer—one final act of courage before I never saw her again. She looked at me like I’d lost my mind then shoved my chest. I’d splashed into the pool fully clothed and figured it was the last time I’d ever talk to Kelly DeMarco.

  I stayed in my office for the next hour or so, fielding calls and emails. I had to check in with Chaos around midday. Pre-performance jitters were hitting them big-time, and I didn’t want anyone to lose it before Friday night. I was taking them out to lunch then paying for them to blow off some steam at Laser Strike.

  Hell, I might even join them.

  Running a hand through my hair, I grabbed my empty coffee mug and headed for the lunchroom. Unlike Bryce, I didn’t expect the cleaners to clear ten mugs off my desk at the end of the day. I also didn’t expect any of the female office staff to make me a coffee.