“I am.” I peered down at the notebook pages. “One and a half songs so far.” I was about to tell him that I needed to keep writing because more lyrics were coming, but a buzzing noise sounded in the room.
“Is that …” I trailed off, turning away from Gabe, realizing that it was my phone. I scurried around the edge of the bed and found my clutch on the floor. I pulled out my phone to find my father’s name on the screen.
My heart sank, and my eyes darted over to the bed to look at Gabe. His jaw was rigid, and that sharp gaze was now on the buzzing phone in my hand.
“This is my father,” I explained, seeing his name on the screen. “This could be an emergency.
“Hello?” I answered.
“What the hell is going on over there in New York with you?”
Stunned, I pulled the phone from my ear. “Nate? How did you get my father’s phone?” I demanded.
“Don’t worry about all of that,” he said. “I heard you’re writing again. We need to talk about that album and your new contract.”
I cleared my throat. “Right now isn’t a good time.”
“It’s never a good time,” he insisted. “But in case you forgot, we have business to discuss. You’re still signed on as my client and with my record label.”
I tightened my hold around the phone, hating the hold this asshole had over me. I glanced over at Gabriel, who remained on the bed, watching me. His face looked even less patient now.
I held up a finger, signaling that I’d just be a minute before I turned and exited the bedroom. After closing the door behind me, I headed for the chair that sat by the window.
I curled up inside of the chair, tugging the T-shirt that Gabe had put on me while I slept, over my knees.
“What is so important that it couldn’t wait until a decent hour?” I hissed into the phone.
“Testy,” Nate taunted. “What? That new man of yours not hitting it right?” He chuckled.
“Good-bye, Na—"
Gabriel snatched the phone out of my hand.
“Nate, right?” Gabe growled into the phone. “Cool. Listen here, pussy. You and my woman might have some business to discuss, but I recommend you take that up with her during business hours. Don’t ever call her fucking phone again at this time of night.”
Gabe clicked the button to end the call and tossed my phone onto the couch. He glared at me.
“That’s the last time you get your ass up from my bed again to talk to another man,” he ordered before turning and heading back to the bedroom.
“Excuse the hell out of me?” I asked, following him into the room. “You don’t have the right to hang up my phone like that.”
“And you don’t have the fucking right to hush me to have a goddamn conversation with your ex.” His voice boomed, bouncing off the walls of the room.
“It wasn’t like that,” I insisted. “As much as I hate it, he’s still a part of my life. Of my business.”
“So end that shit with him.”
“I’ve tried!” I breathed rapidly as my emotions got more and more worked up. “I’ve talked to my lawyer for hours trying to figure out a way to get out of this damn contract with Nate. To end it completely. Unfortunately, nothing has worked. He refuses to let go unless I produce the last album I’m obligated to.
“He’s so fucking manipulative,” I seethed. Nate had made more than one threat to end my career if I tried to pull out of our contract.
“There are ways we can fix that.”
Gabriel’s voice was colder than I’d ever heard it before. It made me shiver.
I came so close to asking him what he meant by that, but fear stopped me. I didn’t want to think about what he might be capable of.
“I am fixing it.” I jutted my hand toward the notebook I’d left sitting on the bed. “I’m writing again.” I breathed a little easier after I said those words. “That means another album is on its way.”
