Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He deserves better, and I will make sure he gets it.
“What… are you… I…” Knox breathes out a low sigh before settling on, “This is the exact reason I demand all employees sign a nonfraternization contract. Just because they knock it out of the park beneath the sheets doesn’t mean they’ll do the same out of them.” When I don’t flinch at his insinuation Laken and I have slept together, he breathes heavily out of his nose. “Apollo will never go for it. He signed off on this weeks ago.”
“That’s okay. I don’t need his approval or his studio.” I hand him the details of a contact Noah shared this morning. “The studio hasn’t been used for a couple of years, but it has everything we need to lay down some tracks.” My voice isn’t as confident during my next few sentences. “My contract states that creative control remains with the artist. That means the artist determines the songs, music compositions, and dance routines.” I flatten my palm against my chest to amplify my point.
This is my choice.
“Your album releases next week.” He stares at me like he doesn’t know me. “Next. Fucking. Week. We don’t have time to record more songs.”
“We will if we make sacrifices.” I show him the itinerary he forwarded to the team this morning. “Most of my interviews are either first thing in the morning or late at night. There are several hours to record in the middle of the day.” I seem to be getting him over the fence, so I give him one final tug. “Preorder sales for my album skyrocketed overnight. It could go platinum opening week if we give them an album they deserve.”
He shakes his head before running his hand through his hair. “This is insane, Nicole. You’re going to make me fucking bald. But…” His last word isn’t expected, and it is as shocking as his next two. “You’re right. The chances of your album flopping are less likely if we mix things up like you did on the rooftop.” The scrub of his jaw has him missing my swallow. When he said “rooftop,” my mind went straight to my heated night with Laken, not us singing in the rain. “But I wish you’d stop dropping shit on me like this. I don’t handle change well.” He laughs before dragging his hand under his nose, making me wonder if his backflip is because my proof can’t be denied or because he’s under the influence. Either way, he sounds playful while saying, “Even when it’ll make me a ton of money, I have to be dragged to the plate by the scruff of my shirt.”
I didn’t anticipate our conversation taking this route, but I’m incredibly grateful it did.
“So you’re willing to give it a shot?”
By “it,” I mean Laken.
Knox takes a moment to deliberate before jerking up his chin.
To show my gratitude, I wrap him up in a hug that would make River proud. “Thank you so much for believing in me and my vision. I won’t let you down. I promise.”
“I hate that you say that like I haven’t had your back all along. Neither of us would be here if I didn’t believe in you, Nik.” He holds on tight, extending our hug long enough for the paparazzi to timestamp its occurrence into the record books. “But can I ask a favor?” He waits for me to inch back and bounce my eyes between his before letting me know things aren’t as bad as I imagine. “Can I run a background search on Laken before offering him the position?”
“Knox—”
“Not just for your safety but River’s as well. I want to make sure he’s not left heartbroken again.”
I hate myself for even contemplating planting the seed of doubt he’s trying to insert in my head, but since I’m confident his PI won’t find anything that will change my mind on how I feel about Laken, I give him the go-ahead.
“But keep it basic,” I plead, not wanting Laken’s privacy violated more than it already is. “Except when ensuring he knows we’re not in a relationship.” I drift my eyes to Laken standing outside the limousine as he pushes back the men and women who could ruin us before we truly start if they share the photographs they recently snapped of Knox and me with the world. “I like him.”
So much so I don’t want him to ever experience the guilt he felt this morning when he thought he’d betrayed his friend.
When Laken opens the limousine door, Knox makes it seem as if our conversation during the commute was nowhere near as serious as it was. “Like like? Or like like?”
I roll my eyes at the immaturity in his voice before accepting Laken’s hand to assist me out of the stretched town car. Then I match its childishness when the briefest connection of our hands sends shockwaves darting down my spine. “I like like him.”