Naomi looked thoughtful. "You went to the prestigious Academy of Orchestral and Performance Studies for college, is that right?"
"Yes, OPUS Academy. I double majored in Composition and Music Theory."
Noah grunted. "All the theory in the world means nothing when it comes to writing real music."
"Play nice," Naomi admonished.
He grunted and looked away.
Naomi continued. "Your professor did say you were one of the brightest students she'd ever taught. She was right to recommend you."
I tried not to duck my head, embarrassed. "She's exaggerating. There are many students much more talented than I am."
"How modest," Noah muttered under his breath.
"How accomplished," Naomi spoke over him. She made a sharp movement under the table. Noah flinched and scowled at her, rubbing his knee. She continued speaking without a pause. "I'm impressed with your qualifications."
All the praise made me flush. I looked down, wavy long hair falling over my face. "I recently graduated, so I'm not sure how qualified I am."
I could name a dozen classmates who had more talent than me, people who were naturally gifted. I often struggled with my schoolwork, and even though I loved learning new instruments, it sometimes felt like I took forever to become even mildly proficient. I wasn't all that special.
Naomi stared me down for a few moments, a considering look on her face, then nodded once.
"Jennifer, I'd like to offer you this job."
"Are you serious?" Noah said, voice flat.
Naomi ignored him. "Are you interested?"
She said it so matter of fact, I wasn't sure I'd heard right. Had I done it? Was I really going to be working with Etude Entertainment?
The words sank in. Maybe I was more qualified than I thought. Maybe Naomi saw something in me I didn't see in myself. I let out a small choked cough and hurried to reply.
"Yes! Of course I am."
"Wonderful."
Noah sank back into his seat. "Yeah. Great."
Despite his lack of enthusiasm, I couldn't suppress the glee that rose up in my chest. Then the rational part of me gave me a kick. I placed my clasped hands on the table and cleared my throat.
"Although, before I formally accept, I would like to know about the position. What exactly were the others hired to do? And why weren't they able to do it?"
"We need you to write a song," Naomi said.
"That's it?"
Noah scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Naomi threw him a vexed look, then turned to me.
"It's not quite so simple. We need you to write a song for Darkest Days."
I gaped. "Are you kidding me right now?"
"Not in the slightest."
"I'd get songwriting credits?"
"No. But you'd get royalties."
My mind nearly exploded trying to imagine the sum of money that entailed. Way more than I'd ever gotten at my crappy part time jobs.
"But the band always composes their own songs," I protested, still unbelieving. "They never use outside songwriters. They have one hundred percent artistic control."
"You're right. August composes the basis of their songs and Noah writes the lyrics, then the guys all work together to flesh it out. But this time, each member of Darkest Days is creating a song solely on their own for their newest album, from composing the music to writing the lyrics. Therein lies the problem."
"Problem?"
"Noah is a lyricist."
I quickly glanced at the lead singer of Darkest Days. That was why he'd been so frustrated at the piano. I immediately felt bad for him. I understood that feeling all too well.
"You can't write songs? Just lyrics?"
The withering glare I received in return nearly made me shrink back, all sympathy fading.
"I can write songs," he said through gritted teeth.
"Then why haven't you?" Naomi arched an eyebrow. "You've had months."
Noah looked away with a disgruntled expression.
"I don't care if you've got writer's block or performance anxiety or what, but you need to compose something," she stressed.
"Why can't one of the other band members help?" I asked.
He visibly blanched. "I can do it on my own."
"Clearly you can't," Naomi countered. "So if you won't ask the other members for help, we'll come up with another solution." She turned to me. "That's why we needed you to sign a nondisclosure agreement."
So I'd get fortune, but not fame. That was fine by me.
"If you don't want anyone to know, how are we going to explain me hanging around?"
"The same way we explained it with all the others. We'll say you're a consultant brought on to help with producing the album. No one will think it's odd to see you and Noah working together."
"So I'm supposed to work with the lead singer of Darkest Days to write a rock song and pass it off as being composed by him?"
"Exactly. Are you in?" Naomi asked.
I wondered what had happened to all the others they had hired that hadn't worked out. I caught a glimpse of Noah shifting in his seat out of the corner of my eye. He looked irritated beyond belief.
And that was why. Working with this man was clearly not going to be easy.
Especially not when I thought I caught a hint of heat in his eyes when he glanced at me. I couldn't be imagining the quick looks he was throwing my way. Looks that made my heart pump faster, looks that made my head swim.
We'd only just met and he'd already made comments on my hard nipples and soaked pussy.
If I didn't manage to get a grip, this was going to end up being difficult in more ways than one.
Then again, a professional career in music was never going to be easy. I had to take what I could get. And apparently what I could get was a job working with the lead singer of Darkest Days.
I nodded fervently to Naomi.
"Definitely. Yes. I'm very interested in the position. Thank you so much for this opportunity."
"You really think you can work with me?" Noah bit out. "You couldn't even string two words together the first time we met." His eyes fell to my chest again, leaving it unspoken how my body had responded to his.
I fought back a flush and pleaded with my body to cool down. "Well, I have lots to say now. We need to talk about what kind of song you want to write. What kind of sound you're going for."
"I don't need help. And I don't need help from some fangirl."
Pursing my lips, I resisted the urge to snap at him. "Stop with the fangirl stuff."
"Stay out of my way. I can do this myself."
"I've been hired to do a job. I'm going to do it to the best of my abilities."
"I don't need your help," he repeated.
"You've got it anyway."
Noah scowled.
Naomi smiled. "Looks like we've got the right person for the job."
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About the Author
Athena Wright is a USA Today Bestselling author of New Adult Romance. She has a fondness for rock stars and the fangirls they fall in love with. Athena loves to write characters who are not always what they seem.
Find Athena online:
@athenawrights
authorathenawright
www.athenawright.com
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Hard Rock Sin: A Rock Star Romance Page 22