Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“Sweetie pie,” Bastian calls out, dragging me from my thoughts. “The wifey called and Gigi is throwing up. Apparently my new white rug is wearing the proof.” He groans. “Leslie can’t do puke, which means I must go save the day.”
I walk over to him and give him a hug. “I’ll keep working on this track. I think it could be the single.”
“And keep working on yours too,” he encourages, his green eyes glimmering softly. “You’re not only a talented voice, you’ve got a brain for writing lyrics too. ‘Take Care of Me’ could be a hit, Sofina.”
Blushing at his praise, I wave him off. “Oh, stop.”
“I’ll do nothing of the sort,” he playfully huffs. “Now, toodaloo. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Once he’s gone, I close up the sound room and lock the door before heading upstairs to the executive offices. Ren’s office is nearly empty all the time, but I like when I get to chat with him. He’s super talented and has great ideas. But my favorite guy to talk to is the head man in charge. Our talks always lead to naughty things, but I’m not complaining.
I make my way down the hallway to his closed door. He’s talking to one of his clients from the sound of it and both men are arguing heatedly. Eve, his prissy secretary, is on the phone with someone, so I loiter awkwardly. I’d leave except Ronan specifically asked me to come see him after my session with Bastian.
“I know, Starla,” Eve placates. “And he did take care of you, but that’s over now and you can’t call every time you see something you want. Your time together has ended.”
I stiffen and pay attention to her conversation. “He already has a new girl. You knew this is what he was like when you chose to be with him.”
Starla replies, but I don’t know what she’s saying.
“She’s talented, yes.” A pause. “Well, I think it may be serious. It’d do you some good to move on. That was the agreement. Aren’t you enjoying the new car?”
The new car.
I get a gross, icky feeling. It’s not like he wasn’t upfront about being a daddy, but hearing about the others he took care of makes my stomach roil.
“I’ll tell him you called, but he won’t return your phone call no matter how much you try to provoke him. Have you tried online dating? That’s how I met Gary. Maybe you can find a sugar daddy to buy you nice things.”
I’ve met her husband, Gary. Tall, nerdy guy who loves her and their thirteen-month-old son Carson. I’m happy for her finding Gary, but totally skeeved out that Starla is calling her pining for Ronan.
He’s mine.
At least I thought.
Right now, it feels like maybe he’s mine only for right now.
Until when?
“Okay, Starla, I need to go. I have appointments to keep. Turns out one of Ren’s new finds used to be a stripper. It’s going to be a PR nightmare, so we have her coming in for a meeting with Ronan.” A chuckle. “Of course she has tits, she was a stripper.” Another pause. “Okay. It was nice to hear from you, but I think it’s best if you distance yourself from this place now and focus on your degree. Bye now.”
She hangs up the phone and, as if sensing me, turns. Her eyes widen. “Sofina, darling, I didn’t see you standing there. Something I can help you with?”
Yeah, I need a freaking cracker and a ginger ale because I think I’m going to be sick.
“Here to see Mr. Hayes,” I mumble.
She purses her lips together. “He’s meeting with one of his bands. They should be done any—”
“What the fuck ever, Hayes,” a man bellows, stumbling slightly as he charges out of Ronan’s office. “All you ever care about is the bottom line. I fucking hate you and this label.”
Ronan storms after him, his face red with fury. “Xavi, this label pays your goddamn bills, you ungrateful piece of shit. How about you sober the fuck up and we’ll talk about renegotiating your contract. Until then, stay the hell away from here.”
Xavi flips him off and kicks over a plant on the way out. When Ronan’s furious glare meets mine, he visibly softens.
“Hey, sweetheart. Come here.”
I shakily make my way over to him. Once I’m in his warm, strong arms and inhaling his familiar, masculine scent, I can’t help but want to forget the yucky stuff I overheard Eve and Starla saying. Almost.
“What’s wrong?” he demands, already knowing me all too well.
“Nothing,” I croak.
“Not nothing,” he grumbles. “You’re shaking. Are you sick?” Then, to Eve, he barks out, “Cancel my afternoon appointment. Have Brennan meet with her. I’ll look over the proposal before we offer her anything.”
As soon as Eve busies herself calling Brennan, Ronan tugs me into his office and closes the door behind him.