“And you haven’t improved much. Look, I’m done arguing. You’re out. It’s time to move on.” Rob got up and moved into the back room and shut the sliding door.
“You’ll regret this.” She went to the back to gather her things.
I looked at Sadie and let out a long breath. I was glad that Rob had spoken up, but he had cut her deep and said a lot of things about her talent that I wouldn’t have. But it was time to move on.
As Mona walked through with her bag, I felt I had to say something. I got up and walked to the door behind her. “Take care, Mona. I sincerely wish you the best.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Fuck you, Kya.” As she threw open the door and stormed out, she nearly ran over a man who still had his hand up to knock. “Out of my way.”
“I beg your pardon, miss.” He stepped aside and watched her as she rounded the corner. “Did I come at a bad time?”
“That depends. What do you want?”
“I’m Whit White. I manage young talent like your band and would like to talk to you about representation.” The man was dressed in a suit and had a bright smile, but I’d always been taught not to trust anyone based on looks alone. But I knew in my gut that this was the man Blitz had mentioned. Had to be.
I stepped back and waved him over. “Please, come on in.”
“Thank you. I thought I better make a move on you guys before someone else did. I guess my first question would be, have you been approached by anyone else?”
We hadn’t, but I didn’t think we should tell him that. “Maybe a few.”
“A few?” He gave a smile that told me he was onto me. “Well, then, it looks like I came just in time.”
Rob came out to join us, and once we got Whit settled at the booth and offered him some coffee, we got down to business. “What is it that you can offer us?”
“Here’s a contract I’d like to offer along with some of the people I’ve worked with in the industry. It’s standard terms, but feel free to look it over. With your talent taking off, it's going to be important to have someone handling your schedule and making sure you get paid.”
Sadie nudged me. “Hell, I’d be happy to have a proper dressing room.”
We gave a collective chuckle, and Whit joined in. “That’s the easy stuff. You’ve got the talent, and I think performing is all you really should be worried about. Let someone else haggle with venues, coordinate your schedules, book your shows and interviews. You should really have a meet and greet after the shows too. You’ve built quite a fan base. Now, let’s use it to take this into the stratosphere.”
“Can we have a minute?”
“Take all the time you need.” He got to his feet and walked to the door. “I’m leaving town today, though.” He disappeared out the door, leaving us there to decide.
Sadie pointed to the door where the man had stood a moment before. “I don’t think we should let this guy get away. Blitz is the one who told me there was someone scouting us, so if there was some red flag, he’d have said so.”
“I’m good with it,” said Liam. “He’s got some impressive connections, and the numbers are spot on to what I hear the standard is. I don’t think we should be too petty. Let’s take what we can get, and after the five years, renegotiate if we need to.”
Rob leaned in, keeping his deep voice low. “Five years is a long time. I say we ask for three, cut it down a little. If we take off, and we don’t like this guy, we’re stuck for a long time.”
I had looked over the contract and hadn’t found anything about keeping our creative freedom. “I say we rock the boat a little for creative freedom. It’s the only thing Blitz really warned me was a must. I don’t want some stranger coming in and telling us what kind of image to have or what to include in our songs. Besides, that’s supposed to protect us down the road. It might not be a bad idea to have a lawyer look this over.”
Sadie nodded. “I’m with Kya. Let’s see what he says.”
We called Whit back in, and he joined us, taking his previous seat at the booth. “Did you come to an agreement?”
“We’re a little concerned about the length of the terms, and I’d like to keep creative freedom as the band’s founder.”
“Of course. I will say, the terms are standard and, in my opinion, creative freedom is a given. It’s not like I can tell you what to do when it comes to your music. I can spell it out if you want, but reworking the contracts will take time. I’ve got a couple of other prospects, too, and I’d hate to sign them before you. I mean, it only pushes you farther down my list of priorities.”
We all exchanged looks. Sadie’s eyes were pleading with me, Liam and Rob nodding in agreement. “Should we have a lawyer look over this?”
Whit let out a casual laugh. “Look, I get why you would think that, but I’m representing you, so naturally I’d have your best interest at heart. And if you want to spend money and time on a lawyer, I’ll just leave my card, and you can get back to me. But if I sign someone else, I’m going to be busy making their dreams come true by then.”
I felt so much pressure with the others looking at me. I didn’t want to disappoint them, and Whit seemed so sincere.
Sadie leaned over and squeezed my hand. “This is our big shot, Kya.” She nodded, her eyes widened, and she bounced in her seat, and even Rob and Liam were smiling like they wanted me to give the word.
I smoothed the contract out on the table and then looked across the table at Whit. “Fine, let’s do this.” I held out my hand, and Whit reached into his coat to get me a pen.
Chapter 7
Leo
Five years later
Mondays had never been my favorite day of the week, but walking into my office to see Tabatha Holt bent over made up for it.
She looked up from the pile of sugar packets she’d spilled and gave me a warm welcome. “Good morning, Mr. Pace. How was your weekend?”
She’d always called me Mr. Pace, even in the bedroom, which had been as much of a turn-on as anything else about her, and she was a beautiful girl. She picked up the last of the packets and stood, smoothing out her skirt and fluffing her hair.
“It was good. Too short as usual.” I glanced up to see a stray sugar packet had wedged itself in the pleat of her blouse and walked over to save her from future embarrassment. “You missed one.” I pulled the packet off her shirt and gave her a wink. “Better put that one in my coffee. It’s extra sweet.”
She giggled and turned to fix me a cup as I walked into my office and placed my briefcase on my desk. She walked in with my steaming cup of brew, placed it on my desk, and ripped the packet open. Once she poured it in, eye fucking me the whole time, she stirred it with a red swizzle straw.
“Just the way you ordered.” She licked the stick, her tongue stroking it before her mouth closed on it, exactly the way she’d tasted my cock, and then with a wink, she walked away.
“You sure make my mornings brighter, Tabby.” As she closed the door, I mumbled to myself, “And my dick harder.” I knew I shouldn’t encourage her so much, but the game between us was the only thing that kept me sane around the office.
My father hadn’t ever made working for him pleasant, and with him being such a hard-ass all the time, putting me and my best friend Jon against one another constantly, it only made working for him worse. Lucky for me, I had proven myself to be a vital asset to the firm, and my undefeated title was still strong thanks to my latest win.
I heard a knock and wondered if Tabby was going to come in and offer more of her services, but then Jon opened the door and walked in, killing my boner.
“There’s the golden child. I heard about the case Friday. Congratulations, man. I don’t see how you do it, but you’re on fire. I hope you celebrated over the weekend. I didn’t hear from you.”
“I might have had a little fun. Or two.” A brief image of the two women I’d spent my nights with came to mind and got my blood flowing again.
“Oh, yeah? What were fun’s names? N
ew fun or old fun?”
“Names are unimportant. You know I’ll never actually hook up with anyone for more than a night or two.”
“Right. But you do realize that one day, you’re going to have to settle down. You can’t keep juggling your job and all the women.”
“That’s just the thing, man. I don’t waste time juggling. I tell them right up front what I want. If they don’t want to play my game, they don’t have to. Maybe if you’d quit trying to put your energy into finding Mrs. Right, you’d stop losing cases. Get your head in the game.”
Jon chuckled. He hadn’t been on a date in months, but every time he found someone, he wondered if he should marry them. “Just because your father gives me all the losing cases, doesn’t mean I’m not focused. And we’re not getting any younger. I thought I’d be married by now.”
“You and Mindy practically were. Which reminds me, did you ever get your balls back from her purse?” He’d dated Mindy for almost four years before they finally broke up, but because of a home they’d bought together, they’d remained friendly. I hated the way she walked all over him, and I’d offered to represent him in suing her to force her to sell so they could pay it off and he could recoup his money. Instead, being the gentleman, he’d given it to her.
“Very funny.” He gripped his sac and held up his middle finger, and that’s the precise moment my father walked in.
“Jesus, what the hell is going on in here?” My father clenched a file in one fist and waved the other hand out like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Jon’s checking for a hernia. He said the cases you’re giving him are too much to carry.”
Jon pulled his lips in tight to try not to smile. “Actually, I came down to congratulate your son on another victory, but I was just leaving.”
Now it was my turn to hold up a middle finger. It was just like him to rush off when my father showed up, and even though he’d tried to get the old man to acknowledge that I’d done such a great thing for his firm, he knew as well as I did that it would never happen.
My father huffed, looking at us both with a scowl. “Stop making those obscene gestures. You’re professionals. Act like it.”
Jon hurried out and left me alone with him. “So, Dad, what’s up. You rarely come down the hall to my end of the building.” I offered him a seat, but he shook his head. The old man liked to posture over people. It made him feel like a big shot.
“I’ve signed you on another case. It’s high-profile, and a lot of money is on the table.”
I eased back in my chair and put my hands up over my head. “Naturally, you want the best on the case?” I gave him a wink and figured he’d know I was kidding. Any normal father would. Hell, a normal father might have kidded back or acknowledged I’d never lost a case and maybe been proud of that.
Instead, he shook his head and looked at me like I couldn’t disappoint him more. “That ego is what’s going to knock you on your ass one day. Now focus, would you?”
“What’s the case about?” I never knew what type of case he’d throw my way, and I was waiting for the one that might come in and blow my streak.
“You’ll be representing Whit White. He’s a manager in the music industry, and he’s being sued by one of his bands.”
“Is it a strong case? What’s he being sued for? Breach of contract? Sexual harassment? Misuse of power?”
“They claim he was stealing their money. He seems to think the contract is ironclad.” My father walked over and placed the folder on my desk.
“Who’s the band?”
“Some hard rock garbage, Bloody Sunday or some shit. I can’t remember. It’s in the file.”
“Sabbath Sundae?” The blood rushed from my head, and I felt like melting into the floor.
He snapped his fingers. “That’s it. Sounds like it will be pretty cut and dry.”
I got to my feet. “Dad, I can’t take this case.”
“Why the hell not?” He stepped closer. “Is there some kind of conflict?”
“You remember our neighbors the Campbells back at the old house? Kya is the lead singer and founder of that band. They used to practice right next door to us.”
“And you haven’t been friends with her since she grew tits, so what’s the problem?”
“It’s a conflict.” I didn’t need to tell the old man I’d slept with her twice and that I’d been pretty shitty about how I’d treated her the last time I saw her.
While I’d meant the whole friendship thing, I actually never thought I’d see her again, but this was going to put me seeing quite a lot of her, and she’d never forgive me for representing some asshole who was out to get her money more than likely.
“You’ll take this case. I’m not losing this money because you knew some kid back fifteen years ago. Be ready to meet your client tomorrow.” He turned and walked to the door, and I plopped down in my chair, knowing, case aside, I might have just taken on a situation I couldn’t win with Kya or my father.
Chapter 8
Kya
I had just cracked the first of three eggs into the skillet when Addison walked in with her hair a mess and still wearing her kitty cat pajamas. “I don’t want eggs today.”
“Too bad. I’m not a short-order cook, and you better hurry up and get ready for school or I’m going to take away your TV privileges.” At four years old, she was too strong-willed like me. Add that paired with her father’s smarts, and she was a tiny force to be reckoned with when she wanted to be.
“I want to stay home.” She lifted her chin, her little round face staring up at me with eyes from the other side of her gene pool. She was a tiny duplicate of me, yet her eyes had always been like her father’s.
“You can’t stay home. You’re almost done with this year, and then you’ll have all summer to sleep in.” I couldn’t believe she was complaining. She never had before. “You usually like school. What’s this all about?” I hoped this wasn’t a new phase that would bleed into her teenage years. Surely, it wouldn’t start this early?
“I want to go to Aunt Sadie’s house.” She smiled and batted her thick lashes. “I haven’t seen her all week.”
“If you get yourself ready, we’ll go over after school. I promise.” She hesitated, but I didn’t back down. “Go. I have a lot of stuff to do today.” I didn’t want to tell her I’d be spending time with Sadie.
“Okay, but can I bring her some of the cookies we made last night?” I realized that was the real issue. She’d asked about sharing the night before.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll bring her a baggie of these and then let you make a special batch the next time we go over for dinner.”
“Okay.” Addison seemed satisfied and ran to her room to finish getting ready.
I breathed a sigh of relief and finished cooking the eggs. I had too much on my mind with the recent blowup with our manager, and this time, it was the final straw. I thought back to the day we’d signed him and wished I could take it all back. Not only had we shit-canned Mona Star that day, but we’d signed our souls away to Whit White who had talked a smooth con.
I had later found out that not only had he pissed a lot of people off in the industry, but he wasn’t the man Blitz had wanted us to meet. We’d only assumed he was. And to make matters worse, Mona had hung around outside to wait on him to come out of the bus, and she’d propositioned him. They’d been together ever since, and he’d taken every opportunity he could to skim from us. I didn’t know what was worse, knowing he was taking more than his fair share or that he was spending it on Mona.
Addison and I ate our breakfast together, and then I drove her to school. She’d started her education a little early because of my tour, and she’d had enough tutoring on the road that at four years old, she knew how to read at a third-grade level. I tried to keep her life as normal as possible, but there were times it was a challenge.
With my parents still not talking to me, especially now that I was not only a heathen rock and
roll singer but because I was an unwed mother, Sadie and the rest of my rock tribe was my family.
Sadie and Stones had gotten together and were still in a complicated relationship, and since Blitz was in the picture because of that said relationship, he had taken on the role of grandpa to Addison when he was around. Rob and Liam had been like uncles even though Liam was expecting his own little one.
We were a very motley crew indeed, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I pulled around the circle drive and stopped at the drop-off point. “Here you go, little one. I’m sure you’ll have a good day.” She turned and gave me a hug and then stopped to hold out her finger.
I held out my own finger, locking it with hers. “The two of us,” I said with a wink.
“The two of us,” she repeated with a giggle.
It was our special way of saying I love you, and though we’d said those three magic words many times, too, this had been our thing.
Her teacher walked over and took her hand, and after giving me a warm good morning, she shut the door and led Addison inside.
I drove away and went to the diner for my meeting with Sadie, hoping traffic wouldn’t be terrible. The last thing I needed was to be late again. She was already on me about the last time.
I found a parking spot outside the diner and then went inside to find her looking at her phone. “Not too bad. You’re only a minute late this time.”
“Like you have anything else to do, and I was only three minutes late the last time.” I knew she was just having fun with me, and she reached over to give me a nudge.
“I know. I was getting a little worried, though. I went ahead and ordered your usual. Didn’t want it to get too cold. How’s Addie?”
“She misses you. God forbid we go a few days without you.” I sometimes thought she loved her aunt Sadie more than me.
“You should have brought her along. She’s too young for school anyway, and what’s she going to miss? She’s already reading.”
My One and Only: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Second Chance Romance Page 6
