speak for me. Can we create more media interest? Does the increase in media interest help or hurt me with a label? Is a label interested in my songs?
Delores once again takes off her glasses and looks me over. “I haven’t heard anything from your old label. But …”
She’s the master of drawing out the tension, knowing I’m dying to hear what comes after the but.
She reaches over and picks up a sheet of paper, glancing at it before setting it back down. “I’ve reached out to a few other labels. If Bad Wolf Records is too fat and lazy to make a move, we can find someone else who’ll be happy to pick you up.”
I swallow down the ball of anxiety, hope, and disappointment lodged in my throat and give her my best media approved smile. “That’s great. Have you heard back from anyone?”
She nods. “I have. The A and R director at Good Fortune responded first, saying they’d keep you in mind. And a junior exec from Spellbound asked me to set up a meeting with you.”
That makes me sit up straighter. A label wants to meet with me? “Have you scheduled it yet?”
She holds up a forestalling hand. “Let’s not be too hasty. Is this really someone you want to work with? First, this is a new person on their team. They’re looking to build their stable so they’re bound to be desperate. That could be good or bad for you, depending on what they’re able to offer. Plus, it’s a smaller label. They might not have the contacts and distribution that you’re really hoping for.”
Deflating, I slump in my seat. “Right. Good point.” This is why she’s my agent after all. It’s her job to look out for these things. Plus, the better contract she negotiates for me, the more money she makes. And I think she’s probably looking for a big score from me. Otherwise, why would she sink all this time and effort into me?
“Still,” she muses, “it wouldn’t hurt to meet with them. We might be able to nudge some of the other guys along if they think you’re in danger of getting snapped up.” A calculating smile pulls at her pristine maroon lips. “Especially with an upstart feminist label like Spellbound being the one courting you. They wouldn’t want it to look like the darling of their hot girl band jumped ship to go with someone more forward thinking. Especially since they were started by Joanna Gale.”
My eyes grow big and round at the mention of Joanna Gale. She’s a legend who’s been around and successful for ages. I hadn’t even realized she’d started her own label. And her people are looking at me? “Right. No harm in at least taking the meeting. Seeing what they can offer.”
Delores gives me a nod and a satisfied smile. “In the meantime, the more you can get yourself in the public eye, the better. We need to see you looking happy and healthy and in love. The concert was a good start, but the attention has already moved on to someone else. Go somewhere. Do something. Your honeymoon is over. It’s time to get back to work.”
Ha. Like I haven’t been working like crazy for the last month.
But I nod. “Sure thing.”
She buzzes her assistant to bring in the next person, and I gather my bag and let myself out, a little bit dazed by the meeting. And even though I haven’t exactly been lazing around doing nothing like Delores implied, the last week has been one long sex-fest celebration. And if we’re going to capitalize on the success of our concert, Delores is right that it’s time to get back to the other kind of work—seeing and being seen.
With a big smile on my face, I slip on my sunglasses and head out into the sunshine.
Colt and I have an empire to build and labels to attract. It’s time to get to work.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Colt
When Alexis returns, she’s all smiles with a bounce in her step and an extra sway to her hips that’s so sexy, all the good news I had to tell her flies out of my brain.
She tosses her bag to the side after closing the door behind her, and I stand from my spot on the couch. Her eyes drag over my bare chest in that way I’ve come to love, and I hold out my arms.
She steps into them, sliding her arms around my back and tipping her face up