by Rayne, Piper
“Because I didn’t think you’d want to stay there for four days without me and it’d be nice for you to see your old friends.” Griffin shuffles through paperwork in his lap and pulls out his phone.
“I could’ve stayed with Denver or someone.”
I side-glance at Griffin, who appears as shocked as me that Maverick would rather be in Lake Starlight than in LA.
“Well, it’s only for today.” Griffin turns his attention back to his papers, and Maverick buries his head back in his phone.
A half hour later, we pull up to a gated house and Griffin presses the button for security, tells them who’s here, and the iron gates open. Uncomfortableness sets in when I realize I’m going to be around these uber-rich people.
As the car pulls around the circular drive, Griffin’s hand lands on my thigh. “We’ll be right back.”
I let out a quick sigh of relief. Okay then, I don’t have to worry about meeting anyone and feeling inadequate.
“Bye, Maverick,” I say.
He smiles and climbs out without even saying goodbye. I watch through the tinted window as Griffin rings the doorbell. A woman opens the door, but based on the uniform she’s wearing, she’s a housekeeper or staff member. They step inside, and the door shuts.
Pulling out my phone, I text Sedona.
Me: This is like another world.
Three dots appear right away.
Sedona: You lived in LA. For two years.
Me: Griffin’s LA is VERY different than my LA.
Sedona: :P Welcome to the big time sis.
My stomach coils with tension. Is it nerves about what this could mean for my career or is this about Griffin?
Me: Griffin’s acting weird.
Sedona: Well he did run away from that place.
God, I’m so selfish for not even considering what it’s taking for him to come here and help me.
Sedona: And before you ask, the answer is yes. You need to talk to him about it.
Me: I hate you.
Sedona: You hate that I always know what you’re thinking.
Me: True enough.
The door opens and I hammer out another text to Sedona.
Me: Gotta go. I’ll text later.
Sedona: Love you.
Griffin slides into the back seat and I lean into him, finally comfortable enough to show affection now that Maverick is gone. He smiles at me and kisses my temple.
“Hey,” I say, taking his phone out of his hands and putting it on the other side of me.
“Hey,” he mimics, and his eyes focus on the phone at my side.
Directing his chin with my finger, I drag his attention to me. “Are you okay being here?”
He presses a light kiss to my forehead. “Yes. I’m just trying to make sure you get what you deserve. It’s not as easy as you think to get you the best deal.”
“That’s not your job. Should I get an agent or a manager or something?”
“Eventually yeah, but I can get you this far. My assumption is Van and Trey will come in the highest. They love you and trust me. But we have to show them there’s competition.”
I sit up straighter since he doesn’t seem interested in making out in the back seat. “But they’re your friends. I’m cool with signing with them. I just want to get out there.”
He smirks and shakes his head, tapping his finger on my nose as if I’m some naive little kid. “They might be my friends, but if you don’t make demands now and show them you have options, they’ll walk all over you. We’re going to get you a deal that’ll give you everything you’ve dreamed of. There’s more than money to think about. You have to consider subsidiary rights, writing credit, who owns the tracks once they’re recorded, who gets final say on what makes it onto the album and gets released by radio.”
I sit rigidly in my seat, feeling overwhelmed.
Griffin reaches over me, picking up his phone. “I’m sorry though. I’ve grown to hate this city, and it’s put me in a sour mood.”
I put my hand on his thigh. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
“You’re welcome,” he says while looking at his phone.
Though I’m more grateful than I could ever express, I don’t like this Griffin at all.
* * *
When we reach the first record company, Griffin walks in ahead of me, his posture straight, chin up, almost as if he’s preparing for battle. It’s strange to see him almost put on a mask before we walk through the door. He refrains from holding my hand or showing any affection—which I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
The receptionist greets him with a huge smile. We’re not in the waiting area for longer than a few minutes before a guy comes out, giving Griffin a boisterous hello.
He puts his hand out in front of me. “Ben Jennings.”
“Phoenix Bailey,” I say and shake his hand.
“Let’s go have a chat.” He motions toward the hallway he came down.
Griffin lets me walk in front of him, and when we arrive at the conference room, I’m surprised to find two more men waiting in sharp suits, coffees with their order scribbled on the side beside them.
“Phoenix, this is Ashton Cash and Teddy Newton.”
I shake the two men’s hands, but they only grant me their attention for a moment before smiling at the man behind me.
“Griffin,” Ashton says. “Glad to see you around again.”
“Last I heard, you were fighting mountain lions,” Teddy chimes in.
Griffin laughs and shakes their hands.
“But I guess there’s some talent up there in Alaska.” Ben pulls out a chair for me and I sit. “We’re impressed, Phoenix.”
Griffin sits next to me, and Ben joins Ashton and Teddy on the other side, creating an imaginary dividing line down the middle of the table.
“Thanks,” I say.
“This should be easy, and we’ll make it quick,” Ben says. “We know you have meetings with Aces High and Conner Label, so we’re going to give you our figure upfront.” He slides a contract across the table toward Griffin.
I’m feeling as if I’m some little girl who can’t negotiate for herself. Then again, I would’ve just gone with Van and Trey. They were nice when they were in Lake Starlight.
Griffin sits back in his chair and glances through the paperwork, then pushes the paper away from him. “I know you’re kidding. She’s worth a lot more than that. That’s an original song, and if you release it as a single, you’ll make a killing.”
The three men exchange glances.
“She’s a newbie. We might think she has something special, but we don’t know for sure. The consumers make that decision.” Ashton leans back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. “Though I will say her body will help sell the image. She’s a hottie, which ups her earning potential.”
Somehow, I manage to keep my mouth from dropping open. Listening to someone describe me as if I’m an asset and not an actual person is upsetting and feels icky. It’s not as if I didn’t know that appearance matters in this industry, but I didn’t think they’d be so blatant about it.
Griffin’s hand slips from the table onto my bouncing knee and squeezes. “We want a clause in there that says the single releases first. If it’s successful, then she gets a bonus when the album is released.”
Ben sits up straighter. “Which we were wondering about, Grif. Would you be the one to produce her album?”
“Yes,” I answer, seeming to throw off the men that I can actually speak for myself.
“No.” Griffin squeezes my knee again and removes his hand. “But I’ll find her the right person.”
Ashton leans back in his chair with a smug smile. “So you’re really out of the game? We thought maybe this was a comeback move.”
So did I. I mean, we hadn’t discussed it or anything, but I’d assumed he’d want to produce my album if I were to make one.
“No. Phoenix is…” He looks at me for a
second, but with that mask on, I can’t tell what he’s thinking. “She’s someone special and has an incredible voice. I wanted to work with her and get her where she needs to be, but my life is in Alaska with my son now.”
Reality hits me like a swift fist to the chest. I spring up out of my chair, it slides out behind me, and everyone’s attention shifts to me. “Excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.”
Ashton stands. “It’s down the hall on your right.” He directs me with his finger.
I barely follow where he’s pointing. Pushing the conference room door open, I steadily walk until I see the women’s restroom sign. Once inside, I bend over to catch my breath.
“Are you okay?” A woman rushes to my side and runs her hand up and down my back before leading me to the bench in the fancy sitting area outside of the stalls.
I glance up and freeze, staring at a woman I’ve admired the majority of my life.
“Do you need a wet cloth?” Cammie Sanchez stands in front of me in a cute mini skirt and oversized sweatshirt.
I really am on another planet.
Thirty
Griffin
I’m still in heavy negotiation with Ashton, since he’s the bulldog of the group, when I realize Phoenix has been gone for a while.
“Why are you keeping yourself out of the game? You have a hidden talent under your wing,” Ben says.
Teddy is quiet. He always lets his brothers—and by brothers, I mean frat brothers—talk for him.
“I made my decision when I left. Finding Phoenix doesn’t change that.”
“And you’re sleeping with her?” Ashton asks with a cocky smirk, almost challenging me as if he wants to steal her from me in that way too.
I give a curt nod. “I am.”
“But it’s not serious enough to shake up your life, huh? Still a bachelor.”
Ashton’s one to talk. He can’t keep his dick in his pants. He’s the only record label owner who’s regularly in the tabloids with different actresses, singers, and YouTube stars.
“My arrangement with Phoenix isn’t part of the contract,” I say through gritted teeth. “You’ll have to come up with something better if you want to sign Phoenix.”
It’s chancy—because they’re offering her a helluva deal financially and if it was anyone else, I’d probably advise them to take it—but Phoenix deserves the best. If I’m going to leave her, then I want her to be in the best position she can be and have control over her career.
Ashton laughs. “You forget how easy it was to steal one budding artist from you. I’m sure we can take another.”
A hot burst of anger shoots through my veins. Maybe Phoenix was right. Maybe I should’ve gone with Van and Trey right away. This company, and Ashton especially, are willing to play dirty. They did with Cammie and no doubt they will with Phoenix.
I slide my chair out from the table. “This was a bad idea.”
Ashton stands and the other two follow suit. “Afraid we’ll take another girl from your bed?”
I shake my head. He has no idea what he’s talking about, and though I’d love to knock that smug look off his face, I’d love it more to stay out of the tabloids. “Thanks for your time.”
I turn to exit the conference room, but my feet feel as if they’re in cement when I see Phoenix walking in with Cammie Sanchez right behind her. My past collides with my present and all I can think about is what Cammie could have told her?
“Griffin,” Cammie says, her gaze sliding down my body as if she owns me. “It’s been too long.” She throws herself into my body, leaving me no option other than to hug her.
“Yeah.” My eyes land on Phoenix, and I notice she’s biting that lower lip of hers and wearing a fake smile.
“I thought you were out of the business, but then Phoenix just told me that you discovered her—in Alaska, of all places.” Cammie and her passive-aggressive tone can fuck right off. This is exactly why I got out of the city. “We just swapped Griffin Thorne stories in the restroom. They’re oddly similar.”
“Not at all similar.” I try to lock eyes with Phoenix, but she’s too busy staring at Cammie to notice.
“When you found me, I was a nobody,” Cammie purrs.
“Phoenix has never been a nobody,” I say with conviction.
Finally Phoenix looks at me.
“Oh, protective of your new little star, huh?” Cammie locks arms with Phoenix.
Phoenix looks at me with one question after another in her eyes. There’s so much I should’ve warned Phoenix about before we landed on California soil. How was I so foolish to think none of this bullshit would surface when I brought her here?
“I’m protective of my girlfriend.” I hold my hand out for Phoenix. A wave of relief hits me when she accepts it and comes to stand at my side.
“Oh, you’re willing to label it with her. It must be serious.” Cammie crosses her arms and cocks out a hip.
“You and I both know there was nothing between us.” I squeeze Phoenix’s hand, willing her to believe me.
Cammie laughs, uncrosses her arms, and looks Phoenix up and down. “Funny. I always thought you were an ass man, but…” She tilts her head as if she’s judging Phoenix. “I guess not.”
She probably thought she shared something real with Cammie in the restroom, but she’s a woman with two faces. The sweetness of a sleeping cat with the bite of a tiger.
“I’m not doing this,” I say.
I push open the door of the conference room. Stopping to let Phoenix go first, I release her hand, an apology on my lips, but Cammie pipes up before any more words leave my mouth.
“I hope he isn’t leading you on like he did to me—taking what he wants before tossing you aside.”
She’s gotta be kidding me.
“Come on.” I tug on Phoenix’s hand.
Finally I’m successful in getting Phoenix out of the office.
Once we’re in the elevators, she releases my hand and crosses her arms. “Time for you to start talking.”
“Let’s go get lunch… and talk.”
* * *
We sit down at a restaurant around the corner from the Aces High Record Label. They’re supposed to be our last meeting, but after the shit show that just went down, I’m thinking it’d be best for Phoenix to work with guys I trust.
After she orders a salad and I order a sandwich, Phoenix leans back in her chair. “So? Talk.”
I nod, knowing I can’t put off this discussion any longer. “Like most people in LA, I had a therapist for a while, and she told me the situation with Cammie is called transference. Sometimes when you work closely with someone, you start to see things that aren’t there. Cammie thought I was hitting on her. She shared deep things about her life with me as we grew closer.”
“Like I did?”
I hear it in her tone. She’s doubting what we have, wondering if she’s doing the same thing. I can’t say it’s not something I’m scared of—that her feelings for me aren’t genuine and could just be because I’m the one helping to get her where she wants to be.
“Truthfully, yeah.”
A loud clatter sounds from a waiter dropping a dish and she jumps in her seat.
I reach across the table for her hand. “I never had a relationship with Cammie. I’m not sure what she told you, but we never even kissed. I never slept with her. She imagined something was there, and when I turned her down, she got angry. She signed with those guys and got another producer.”
She releases a big breath and her shoulders relax a bit. “She said you used her to further your career.”
I shrug. “Sounds like how she’d spin it.”
“So you never had a relationship with her?”
I shake my head and squeeze her hand. “No.”
“Okay.”
“You’re different, Phoenix. You know that, right?”
She nods, taking her hand out of mine and picking up her water goblet. She doesn’t believe me though. Her tough front back at the office wa
s just Phoenix being Phoenix and erecting her wall so she can’t be hurt. I want her to have the self-confidence to make it in this town.
“Why aren’t you going to work on the album with me?” She places her water glass down and locks eyes with me.
“Because—”
“You’re worried about transference?”
I shake my head. “You do know that I won’t be moving back to LA, right?”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. “I wondered about that.”
Sliding my chair closer to her, I put a hand on her cheek. This is something we should’ve talked about before coming here. “There’s a reason I got out of LA. And I can’t uproot Maverick again. He likes Lake Starlight.”
“But I can be in Lake Starlight. We can work on the album up there. Maybe build a recording studio. I could fly back and forth.”
I smile at her naivety. It’ll never work. She’ll be gone more than she’s there and I want more than that from my partner—for me and my son. And I care too much about her not to see her achieve her lifelong dream. “You want stardom. You want the spotlight. You want the celebrity and the fame. All that comes with a price. Eventually you’ll have concert tours and press and album launches. You should go out there and claim what’s yours. I want that for you. I truly do.”
“Then why are you doing all this? The meetings with the labels, helping me with a single. I thought you missed music and wanted to get back into it?”
A sad sort of chuckle leaves my lips. “I enjoyed it. I did. I loved every second of working with you. It is something I love, and if I could stay in my bubble in Lake Starlight and help artists from afar, I would, but I don’t think that’ll work.”
She stares at me for a second. “After I sign… you’re done? Is that it?”
“Do you really think a long-distance relationship would work?”
Her face drops and she tears her gaze away from me. “You knew this whole time that you were going to break up with me?”