music they’re proud of. Music that they fucking love.”
“That sounds about right,” Taylor agreed. “Ash would probably be the first one to tell you he wants to be super famous. I’ve heard him basically say that. But everything he does says he wants to be respected. He wants to be known as a killer singer and songwriter, not just known.”
“So let’s make that known. Without being assholes about it.”
She laughed softly. “Is there a way to do that?”
“You and me, we’re gonna make sure Trey gets that message. That his role in this is hands off. He signed this band, he helped bring me in, and now he trusts us to do what we do.”
“You and me?”
“Yup.”
“You keep saying ‘we.’ And I’m not sure why.”
“Because you’re my assistant now, right? And, you know, my protégé.”
“Uh, protégé?” Her eyes sparked. Clearly she didn’t hate the idea, even if it confused the hell out of her.
“I don’t make a move without you,” I told her. “You’re a part of the Little Black Hole team now. And I expect you to make sure if I’m about to make a giant mistake, you’ll point it out to me.”
“Okay… I’m not sure I’m qualified for that—”
“Sure you are. You love music. And I trust your judgment.”
“Cary, you’re making me sweat.”
“Good,” I said. “That means you care.”
Taylor studied me like she was looking for signs that I was joking. But I didn’t laugh.
“And that’s why you’re gonna call Liam right now,” I told her, “and get him to come pick us up, and we’re going down to Brick House Records in person to have this meeting face-to-face.”
Taylor stared at me, obviously stunned. But she didn’t question it. Because for whatever fucking reason, this woman believed in me.
“Okay,” she said.
“This is the only face-to-face meeting Trey is getting with me, so we need to make it count. And I’d like to make it fast.”
“Of course.” She grabbed her phone. “I’ll get Liam.”
“Good.” I got up.
“Should I change?”
I stopped in my tracks and looked down at her. Her jeans were dark gray, tight, with rips in the knees, and cut off above the ankle. Her asymmetrical, black T-shirt bared one shoulder and her turquoise bra strap. Her pink hair was up in a tidy top knot and her makeup was done.
“Why would you ever change?”
“Uh…”
“I’ll meet you at the front door in ten minutes.”
Liam couldn’t get a parking spot close enough to the door at BHR Tower, where the offices of Brick House Records were located, so he dropped us right at the door and Taylor and I walked in together, just the two of us.
You know, like two totally normal people.
It was a sleek office tower in the financial district with a small, cold lobby, and we didn’t see anyone except one man in business attire who came off an elevator and brushed past us.
We got into an elevator and Taylor pressed the button. As the elevator started to rise, she checked her phone. Meanwhile, my stomach sank into a low, tight knot. I forced myself to consciously keep breathing. Four in. Hold four. Four out. I crammed my fingers into my pockets so I didn’t start tapping them on anything in sight, and made myself visualize a non-disastrous outcome to this, where no one died in a fiery elevator shaft.
Like kissing Taylor’s neck while my cock slid inside her…
We could see each other in the mirrored walls of the elevator as we stood side-by-side. She hadn’t changed, but she’d put on a soft-pink velvet blazer before we left the house. I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, as usual. I still had on my sunglasses and a flat cap, but maybe she knew I was looking at her.
“I talked to Trey’s assistant,” she told me. “Made it clear there’s to be no welcome wagon or lineup of people wanting to meet you. She’s assured me the coast is clear.”
“You really didn’t need to put on a blazer.”
“I couldn’t help it. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be,” I said, as my own body vibrated with the weird unreality of this feeling. Was I seriously in an elevator in an office tower, walking into a business meeting?
I hadn’t done anything like this in years.
I wondered how many steps it was from my front door to Trey’s office.
Not many.
You can do this.
The elevator stopped on the ninth floor and a couple of women got on, chatting quietly. They didn’t really look at us. Taylor and I stood silently at the back of