Disrespectful Diva (DJ Series Book 2)

by Helen J. Barnes

  “Let me guess. You’re here to hand me my P45? Listen, DisDiva, I don’t need you to preach to me. I’ve heard all I fucking need to hear for today. So if you’ll just back the hell off I’m outta here,” he snarls and I’m taken aback by his temper.

  “Hold up a minute, Dom. I don’t need my face ripping off. I’ve had to sit through the same bullshit you have, okay? I just think if you storm out of here now you make yourself look the guilty party.”

  Dominic shakes his head and almost laughs. “Like you give a fuck. I bet you and Shazza are going to be loving life once I’m gone. I knew you were just waiting for an opportunity to get rid of me. I bet this has really made your day, hasn’t it? I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t you who put the coke in the studio, just to set me up.”

  I choke on my words, staring at him open mouthed. “Are you fucking accusing me of being behind all this?” I stammer, my finger jabbing at his chest and my temper flaring. “How fucking low do you think I would go? I may be a bitch, Dominic, but this is below me. And Shazza, too. We might have been pissed when you joined the team, but we’re not stupid enough to get the business into this much shit just to try and get rid of you. If you really think I’m that vindictive why did you even bother trying to get to know me?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I thought beneath the diva act there was a real person! But if you are behind this then you’re one twisted bitch who obviously has no conscience at all.”

  “I had nothing to do with this you stupid bastard. I came to tell you that I was willing to fight your corner. I don’t believe that was your coke and I was going to tell Pops as much right before you stormed out. I think it was Jason’s stash and that is what I told the police.”

  Dominic’s mouth falls open and I see the anger in his eyes melt into an apology as I stand before him, glaring at him. He tries to step towards me and I put my hands up. “Tara, listen.., I’m sorry.”

  “Fuck you, Dominic. You asked us to give you the benefit of the doubt, now I am and this is the thanks I get?” I snarl before quickly leaving the reception area before I do something that will land me in the cop shop. What a prick! I’m seething when I enter the ladies room and I do something that I know Pops would probably slap me for. I pull my cigarettes from my pocket and close the toilet lid down so I can sit on the back cistern and smoke out of the window. Pops enjoys a cig as much as the next person but is strict about us doing it outside.

  I know it’s illegal to smoke on work premises but my mood justifies breaking a few rules to calm me down. I can’t believe Dominic would even suggest I could do something like this. Right now all I can think of is Dom’s spiteful words. I hate the fact they hurt so much. I’ve been called some awful things and it’s barely even registered in my mind. People’s opinion of me doesn’t really bother me unless they are judging my work, but as for me as a person they can think what the hell they like. I’m usually too thick skinned for insults to sting, but coming from him, they do.

  I blow out the plume of smoke towards the small privacy window I’ve unlocked and cracked open. I can hear more shouting out in reception but I can’t make out what’s being said. I do however know that Pops is out there now, too. When I’m about half way down my smoke all goes quiet and I rest my head against the cold metal window frame. I hate that my mood as gone from feeling happily organised and even a little excited about the new ideas we have planned for the birthday bash, to feeling insulted and angry. I thought Dom and I had turned over a new leaf and I actually thought he liked me more than just as a fellow Xtreem member. His lingering glances and ‘sweetheart’ endearments give away the fact that whether he likes it or not, he fancies me as much as I fancy him. We’re just happy to ignore that fact for the sake of a descent working relationship.

  The ladies room door opens I don’t even bother to turn away from the window. “I’m sorry, Val, I know he’s your son, but sometimes, I swear, I could physically damage that sexy, arrogant bastard.”

  “I think you could try, but I doubt your midget arse would be successful, sweetheart.” Dom’s voice is calm and quiet and I don’t give him the privilege of seeing the surprise on my face. He seems to have his temper under control though, he sounds playful even. The mental image of my little frame trying to physically attack his huge six foot built body is quite a comical thought. I take a deep drag of my cigarette before I turn to face him.

  “Come to accuse me of murder now?” I quirk my eyebrow and Dom sighs before moving into the tiny cubicle with me, swiping the cig from my hand and taking a pull on it.

  “I’m sorry, okay, midget?”

  I swipe my smoke back and push the packet against his chest, I’m not sharing today.

  “Not good enough, Goliath.”

  “Tara, please. I can’t do anything other than apologise. When my temper flares like that I don’t think before I speak. I haven’t been here long and you made it pretty apparent I wasn’t welcome so I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

  “You couldn’t have been more wrong. If you’d have let me speak I would have explained why I think this is something to do with Jay. And just for the record, if I’d have wanted you out so badly I wouldn’t have gone to this extreme, involving the police and dragging the record label down with you.”

  “I know that. I just wasn’t thinking straight. I know everyone here suspects me and I’ve been working so hard to impress you and Pops just for it all to blow up in my face.” He looks genuinely hurt and I feel a stab of guilt for doubting him. “What made you think of Jay anyway? I knew he was high last night but I didn’t suspect he was dealing.”

  I sigh and take a puff of my cig before answering him. “He walks out of most sessions, getting picked up in the car park. That alone is weird. Why pay hundreds to be here if you’re not going to be here? Then last night I found him scrounging around on the car park, says he lost his lighter. He must have realised he dropped a bag somewhere. Then when I was being interviewed I realised he lit his own cigarette in the car park when we left.”

  “Yeah he did. The little bastard. He better hope the police find him before I do.”

  “He is meant to be playing at the birthday bash but he can bollocks now. I just feel bad Lauren is losing out because of him.”

  “No. Let him turn up, don’t cancel on them. I’ll deal with him at the club.” His eyes portray his anger and I see him planning his revenge already.

  “I don’t want you getting into any trouble though, Dom. Let the police deal with it.”

  “I will. Once I’ve had my say.” He looks determined so I don’t reply. “I just knew today was going to be shit when I checked my Facebook messages.”

  “What do you mean? What happened on Facebook?”

  “Just got word from Jimbo that the big A vs B event they were planning is going ahead. Serious Soundz vs Epic Records. Courtesy of Dave talking Jimmy Rayner into it. Dayton and Dave assured me if there was gonna be such an event Xtreem would be their first and only choice.”

  I blink in surprise. Epic are going to work with our rivals? Okay, so all three labels are rivals, we compete for the next big thing, we compete in the same charts for the top spots. The DJ’s are all entered for the same EDM awards. But if there is a mutual respect between labels; it’s Pops and Jimmy Rayner. Epic are always our preference if we have to ask a favour because Jimmy has a work ethic Pops likes. Jim may be young but he’s got an old school style that Pops recognises.

  “You’re sure Jimbo isn’t just doing this to pull your chain? It’s definitely happening? Because I think Serious Soundz is just looking for a reaction here, making waves to cause some bad blood between us and the Epic DJ’s before the birthday bash,” I tell him and I see he is doubting himself.

  “According to Jimbo it’s had the green light. Jimmy Rayner spoke to Paul Martins at Serious Soundz already and he’s going to talk to Mark Hardy about Sphinx being the setting. I need to speak to DJ D. Or better still, Dayton.”

  “Not in your mood. You
need to slow your role and cool down. Business decisions made in a strop are never thought out thoroughly. Listen, Shaz is over in the Serious Soundz studios now. Let’s wait and see if she heard anything on the grapevine first?” I suggest and I can see Dom doesn’t really want to. He blows out another puff of smoke and I toss my cigarette butt down the toilet before flushing and sitting on the lid with my feet against the wall.

  “I just can’t believe they would shit on me like that. Shit on all of us. Especially Dave doing the dirty on you, the guy loves you,” Dom grumbles and I quirk an eyebrow that screams ‘Really?’ at him. “Come on, Tara, we all know DJ D wants in Dis-Diva’s knickers, the whole clubbing world sees you both skirting around it.”

  I actually giggle at the look of jealousy on his face. He doesn’t look impressed that I’m laughing either. “Banter, that’s all it is. Dave has hundreds of women going crazy for him, none of them are me. We know not to take each other seriously. It’s pure banter.” I shake my head and watch Dom take one last pull on his smoke before flicking the rest out of the window.

  “Is that what this is between us, Tara? Banter?” He doesn’t look at me when he says this but my head snaps up to attention.

  “What?” I ask with a pathetic attempt at a laugh. The tiny cubicle just shrank to miniscule size and now his form seems to totally overpower me. I stand to my poxy five feet four inches and make to leave the suffocating cubicle, but Dom side steps me and blocks my exit. I swallow hard before looking up into his blazing viridescent eyes, it seems all this guy wants today is answers and I don’t think I’m ready to answer this corker of a question.

  “Dom..,” I chuckle, trying to move past him but he places his hand against the wall, stooping slightly to force me to meet his gaze. He’s serious, he isn’t going to laugh this off. I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly, stepping back as he stalks forward. His incredibly close proximity gets my heart racing and the atmosphere is laden with the sexual pull that has my heart racing and his pupils dilating.

  “Are we a joke Dis-Diva? Do you think you can toy with me, too?” His voice is hushed and I watch him breathing heavily as he plants his hands either side of my head, trapping me against the wall. He tips his head, moving his mouth just inches from mine.

  Holy fuck, just kiss me already!!

  “I’m too grown up for playing, Dominic,” I whisper and my attention drops from his shining eyes to that decadent mouth.

  He closes his eyes momentarily, as though he is having an internal battle with himself and I desperately want to reach up and touch him. I want to run my fingertips over that designer stubble, through his shiny dark locks of hair. I want to taste that mouth. When his eyes do open again he has a look of heat in his emerald orbs.

  “Me too, Tara.”

  And with that he takes my breath with a scorching kiss. Not a gentle, tender kiss, but a fierce devouring of my mouth that’s laden with fervour and burning desire so hot it sets our mouths alight.

  I run my hands into the hair on the back of his head and grip him tight, holding him to me as our tongues clash in a battle for satisfaction, trying to sate the need that has been building between us for weeks. His hands move to cup my face and he presses his body against mine, closing what little space there was between us. I feel my sex tighten, my nipples harden and strain against the lace of my bra. I feel his steel hard erection press against me and he pulls back slightly to meet me with hungry eyes.

  “You feel that?” He grinds out, pressing his obvious desire against me. “I wanna slide that inside of you and feel your tight little pussy coming and pulsating on my cock. Hard.” He bites out the last word and it’s like he is talking directly to my sex because it tightens in delicious delight just at the mental image he is painting. I practically sag against him as my legs weaken at the thought and he presses himself against me, holding me up.

  His mouth moves from my lips to cut a hot trail of kisses down my jaw to the pulse point in my throat. I’m panting and gasping as my knickers soak. I pull his hair and guide his mouth lower to my collarbone as his hands move to my shirt and he pops the top few buttons, giving him access to my heaving breasts.

  Fuck, this feels better than any set I’ve ever played!

  I push my chest to him, needing to feel him suck, tease and bite. His fingers move up to roll my nipple between his fingertips.

  “Tara, you feel fucking amazing,” he pants between nips and tweaks of my nipple through the thin lace. “I knew you would feel this good. I just knew it.”

  I groan and roll my head against the wall, gripping his solid shoulders and savouring the feel of his mouth working my nipples.

  “In the ladies room? Really? Very classy, Tara.”

  My eyes spring open in shock and Dominic straightens, but doesn’t move away from me, if anything he leans across me to save my modesty. We’re both panting chest to chest when we look over to see Shaz stood with her hands on her hips and a curl to her lip. The disgust apparent on her face.

  “Shit, Shazza, I’m sorry.” I start trying to button up my shirt but my fingers are refusing to stop shaking and I’m fiddling with my top. Embarrassment blazes through me.

  “Sorry for what exactly? Giving me a preview of the nasty you two have been getting up to, which is sickening by the way. Or for keeping secrets from who is supposed to be your best friend?” Shaz snarls and I’m about to answer when she bites again. “You know what, it’s none of my business. I don’t give a fuck what you do.” She storms out of the room, slamming the door on her way out.

  The room drops into a deathly silence and I think I’m in shock, not just because of Shaz’s outburst but because I actually started to get down and dirty with Dominic in a fucking nasty toilet cubicle. What the hell was I thinking?

  How good it felt and that I wanted more?!

  Dom pulls me from my chain of thought when he starts to chuckle. “What is she, your lesbian lover or something?” He laughs and I push him away, checking my shirt is buttoned up properly before I square him with a look that tells him I’m not in the slightest bit amused.

  “She is my sister, Dom,” I tell him like I have a nasty taste in my mouth before I leave him stood in the ladies’ on his own and I go to try and find Shaz.

  C hapter 7

  “Shazza! Shaz, wait up!” I race across the reception and see her slamming the door behind her as she heads out of the building. I can catch her.

  “Tara!” I freeze and turn to see Pops behind reception with Val. “Leave her, let her go.”

  I shake my head and turn to go after her, hating that I’ve upset her. I need to explain to her that I never meant to hurt her. “I can’t, Pops.” I pull open the outer door.

  “You know her as well as I do, Tara. You know she needs a little space. Let her go,” Pops calls and I stall. I squeeze my eyes closed and rest my forehead against the door, I know he’s right. It doesn’t stop it hurting though and I let the door close.

  When I turn to face the reception desk Dom is stood with Pops and Val, he doesn’t look in the slightest bit sorry. He actually looks rather proud of himself as he swipes his thumb across his bottom lip. He really couldn’t give a damn that he’s upset Shaz or that what we did is messing up my relationship with my best friend. I feel my own self-loathing and guilt explode outwards and I curl my lip, my temper suddenly exploding. “You’re a selfish, narcissistic egotist! You know that, don’t ya? I really could rip off your cobbler’s awls.” I seethe, my jaw clenched.

  “My what?!” He seems unnerved and steps back towards the desk.

  “Your balls.” Pops quietly informs him and the shock registers in his eyes.

  “Hold up now, sweetheart, you were just as culpable as me in there.” He points towards the ladies’ but I don’t take my narrowed eyes off of him.

  “You really need to get the fuck out of my face, sweetheart, or you’ll see just what this midget is capable of.” I warn, stalking towards him and he puts his hands up in a surrender.


  “Tara, please, calm down. This isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be, stop being such a drama queen.” Dom shakes his head.

  “I think you’re forgetting one vital thing, Dominic?” I grind out through gritted teeth.

  “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

  “To be a drama queen I’d actually need to be a lady. I’m hardly feminine enough to be classed as a lady.”

  Dom lowers his voice and his face closer to mine. “After what I just tasted of you, sweetheart, I know for a damn fact you’re all woman.”

  Without even thinking I slap him. Hard. Right across the face. The sound rings out around reception and before I know it I’m gripped by the shoulders and forcible turned towards Pops’ office. The shock on Dom’s face wins him no sympathy from me.

  “You’re the epitome of sleaze, Dominic Clayton. You’re a total bastard,” I screech as Pops drags me away and Dom watches me with his palm flat to his cheek. I recognise the shock on his face and in his eyes I see disappointment. How could I have been so stupid to actually think there was a caring side to him? Shaz had his number right from the start, he’s nothing but trouble. I think about Shazza and the look of hurt on her face and I feel my emotions getting the better of me. My eyes well up and I turn away from Dominic and let Pops guide me away, no fighting or pulling. I walk away willingly. I need my space now, too, just like Shazza needs her space from me.

  After a long chat with Pops, in which I ripped my heart out, slammed it on his desk and we dissected it together, I drove home with a heavy heart but eager to clear the air with Shaz. When I park I see the house in darkness. I hope she’s at least at home, even if she is broody in the dark. When I drop my keys on the hallway table I flick on the light and the place holds that cold emptiness only an unoccupied house can possess. That same feeling I’d get at Uncle Stan’s when I’d come home and he was out at the pub. Regardless of the fact I still check the downstairs and her bedroom. She is definitely out and I don’t think she’s been back all afternoon. I sigh and am about to flick her bedroom light off when I see some papers on her bedside table with the Serious Soundz logo on.