He cleared his throat and frowned at her. “I know what’s best, Vivienne.”
“And it’s my future. So I want to hear them all.”
He glanced at his tablet. “Well, most involve touring as an opening act. The main acts aren’t huge … yet, but I can make some calls and–”
“No touring, Owen. I want to be in one place so I can hole up in a recording studio during the day and work on new music. I want the time and money to record.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers. We’re lucky that these offers are coming in, but there is no guarantee they’ll be around forever,” he said, his tone full of impatience.
He might have a point. Not that he wasn’t a jerk at times, but she needed to hear him out. “Let’s sit down and you can tell me what you’ve got so far.”
For the next thirty minutes, he went through a list of opportunities that included opening for B-list bands, and if she wasn’t so set on staying around the northeast, both for recording and especially for her mother, who was hurting from her brother’s actions, she might have jumped at the opportunity. But she’d rather play local clubs for the year than take off on her mother at such a difficult time for both of them.
Her father, Victor Clark Senior, had passed away from a heart attack years ago, and that was both a blessing and a curse, because he’d been a big contributor to the bully and abuser her brother, Vic, had become, and Vivi carried her own share of guilt because she’d been his baby girl, his princess. Her brother had been his punching bag. But she preferred not to dwell on either of them now.
She refocused on her agent. “I’ll think about all these, I promise. In the meantime, if something more local comes up, call me immediately.” She really wanted a well-paying gig that would help her afford in-studio recording sessions.
She refused to take help from her mother, who ran a small legal practice but specialized in pro-bono work, so she didn’t make much on her own.
Owen frowned and tapped on his watch. “Ticktock. These offers aren’t going to be open forever. I’ll email you a summary of each.”
She merely smiled at him. He ought to know she couldn’t make a spur-of-the-moment decision. He rose and headed for the foyer. She ushered him out and closed the door behind him, leaning back against it with a sigh.
“He’s such a killjoy,” Ellie muttered.
“Yes. But he’s my killjoy. The only one who’d take me on when no one else would. Now, for the love of God, can we please go get some coffee?”
* * *
The next day, Vivi and Ellie went to the gym, where Vivi did her daily run on the treadmill. Headphones on, she was lost in the beat of the music, when an alert from Owen came up on her phone. Since she’d done her requisite miles, she slowed down and came to a stop, checking her screen as soon as she’d caught her breath.
Call me now.
She pulled up his contact name and placed the call. He answered immediately. “Where’ve you been? Never mind. I need you in my office as soon as possible. I have a man sitting here with an offer that’s going to blow your mind. It’s everything you wanted.”
She glanced down at her gym outfit, knew she was a sweaty mess, and groaned. “But–”
“No buts. I’m keeping him busy talking. Get down here,” he barked.
“Owen! I’m in the gym. I need to go home and change!”
“No time. Hurry.” He disconnected the call.
“Jesus. High-strung much?” she asked the empty air.
“What’s wrong?” Ellie had climbed off her treadmill and was wiping down her face.
Vivi grabbed her own towel and began to wipe down, too. “Owen summoned me. He said he’s got someone in his office I need to meet. Now. On the one hand, I can’t go dressed like this. On the other hand, if I go home to shower and change, it’s going to take me at least an hour.”
She lived in a tiny apartment in Jersey City. Her gym wasn’t close to her apartment. She chose both for their cheap cost and sucked up the hassle. But Owen’s office was close to the gym, and she could be there within ten minutes once she got on the subway.
“Well, you’ve got deodorant in your bag and a little makeup. You’re in leggings and a cropped top. If he’s going to insist, it is what it is.” Ellie walked alongside her as they headed for the locker room.
“I can’t shower here and put these clothes back on. Gag. So you’re right. A little powder and freshening up and it’s as good as it’s going to get.” She pushed open the door and they walked into the women’s locker area.
“Want me to join you?” Ellie asked.
Vivi nodded. “A second set of ears is always good. I might miss something.”
They pulled themselves together as best they could. Thanks to the items the gym set out on the counters, Vivi used dry shampoo in her hair and piled it up into a messy bun and spritzed vanilla body spray on her when she finished washing, touched up her makeup, and called it a day.
A little while later, she and Ellie walked into Owen’s office. Anya, his secretary, greeted them with a smile. “Hello, ladies. He’s expecting you. Go on in.”
Vivi knocked once and opened the door, letting them inside.
Her agent remained seated but another man rose from his chair, and Vivi couldn’t take her eyes off him. Tall, broad shouldered, with sexy scruff covering his face and incredibly blue eyes, he was, in a word, gorgeous. His hair was a dark brown, the front dipping lower on his forehead. And that full mouth was made for sin.
“Vivienne, did you hear me? This is Landon Bennett,” Owen said.
She’d been caught staring, and a knowing grin lifted the other man’s sensual lips. Because his eyes had raked over her spandex-clad body and said body had reacted in a very obvious way, she didn’t feel bad. It would have been even more awkward if she wrapped her arms around herself and covered her now perky nipples, so she somehow kept them at her sides.
“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zane,” he said.
“Hello, Mr. Bennett.” Her voice sounded huskier than normal.
“Call me Landon.” He stepped forward, extending his hand.
“I’m Vivi.” She clasped her hand in his larger one, and a jolt of awareness licked through her veins.
Was it her imagination or did he hold on a second or two longer than was necessary? For sure when he released her, she felt the loss.
Ellie nudged her in the side and Vivi coughed. This man seriously had her off-kilter. “This is Ellie Roberts, my personal assistant.”
“Nice to meet you, Ellie.”
Even his voice was smooth and perfect, Vivi thought, and when he smiled at Ellie, as ridiculous as it sounded, Vivi was jealous he’d turned that megawatt grin on someone else.
“I’m sorry to have dragged you away from your workout.” His gaze once again slid over her body, this time in a much more blatant appraisal.
Owen cleared his throat. “Now that the formalities are finished, we can move on to business,” Owen suggested in his not-so-subtle way.
“Ladies?” Landon gestured toward the two open chairs, and they settled into their seats. Only then did he follow.
The man had more manners than her agent, she thought.