Her words touch something deep inside, resonating with and appealing to that desperately lonely inner child who has never felt like she really belonged to someone or somewhere. We’re both quiet while the elevator opens on the next business, Hope allowing the message to sink in before she steps out.
* * *
Holden
My eyes are glued to her ass as she sashays out of my office, Hope following behind wide-eyed and fanning herself. I snort a little, wondering how long it will take for my bestie to get back in here and launch a barrage of questions at me. She’s a much warmer person than Jacinta, not that that’s hard to accomplish, but I’ve never seen her so bubbly around a new friend as she was around Harlow. I’ve always thought that Hope was an excellent judge of character, so this is just one more piece of evidence stacking up to say that I was a royal asshole.
The door slams shut behind them, and I push up off the floor, adjusting my cock now that there’s no witnesses to me reacting like an overwhelmed teenager. There was something about the heat in her eyes as I got down in front of her and lowered my head that almost had me coming in my pants. Only once before have I had this reaction, and when that went bad, I promised myself I would never voluntarily be vulnerable again. It’s amazing what promises you’ll break for the right reward. I think I… trust Harlow, which is either a huge leap for me or a huge lapse in judgment. I’m thinking it’s the former, and there’s a tiny bit of me that might be healing from this silly little game that started between us today. If I can do this, if I can be vulnerable and have it all be okay, then maybe I can start to heal those old wounds. Something tells me that Harlow would never abuse the control I’m willing to give her.
Straightening out my clothes, I return to my desk and look over the various contracts I have to review and all the other boring day to day crap that comes with running this business. I miss scouting new talent, and I miss the rush of going out and having a good time. For so long now, I’ve been stuck behind a desk or attending boring ass meetings, behaving myself and never overindulging in any way that would put the company’s reputation at the slightest risk. I miss the music, I miss performing, and I miss therushof it all.
Sighing, the noise loud in my otherwise soundproof room, I pull up my emails and notice one from Paul, the head of the A&R department.
Hey, man, found this band in that new goth club that’s just opened up. Attached is a sample of them live. I really think they've got something. I’ve set up a meeting with them and their manager the night of their next show. Let me know what you think.
Pressing play on the link, the music comes through my surround sound system installed for exactly this reason. I lean back in my chair, letting the sounds flow through me. A male and a female voice harmonize perfectly, bringing goosebumps to my skin. This sound needs to be heard by everyone on this planet. My pulse races, and I start to feel more alive than I have in ages, not counting that moment of giving myself over to Harlow.
Once the song finishes, I sit up in my chair and shoot an email back to Paul.
Neighpalm Records needs them. I want in on that meeting. Let me know the details.
A rush of adrenaline flows through my body. This is what I need, an outlet for all the built up tension in my body and my growing feelings for Harlow. And maybe while I'm at it, Neighpalm Records may also be finding the next big thing. The moment my reply is sent, I’m already messaging Hope, needing my bestie to know that I’m feeling alive once more.
Chapter Fifteen
Harlow
Over the next forty-five minutes, I see the Ink offices, the Production offices, and, with somewhat of a relief, I don’t see either Oliver or Declan. I’m already so confused that I don’t need to see them to add to it. Thankfully, it’s almost time for me to meet Nana on the Couture floor, but we still have Jaxon’s domain standing in the way. My brain knows he treated me badly, but my heart speeds up when my traitorous body remembers our dance. Stupid organ, who needs it anyway?
There’s no one at the reception desk when we walk past it, thank god. “Come on, Jaxon’s office is this way,” Hope points out, directing me down a nicely decorated hallway. “We’ll go and see if he’s around. He’s just secured another property; it’s beachside in Hawaii, and it was a rundown dump, but he’s in the middle of gutting it and renovating. It’s a fun process, and we get to see all the decorating samples.” Hope’s voice rises with her excitement, and I smile even though I can’t bring myself to feel that same thrill over wallpaper and paint samples as she does.
The office door is open when we get to it, and there sounds like quite a heated conversation going on inside. We exchange a glance and pause just outside to listen in, the two of us both making faces that say we don’t want to get in the middle of this shit. Thank goodness there’s carpeting in this hallway and they haven't heard us approaching.
“No, Raquel, I don't want to do this anymore.” Jaxon sounds weary, like he’s sick of saying the same thing over and over again, and I feel a pang of sympathy for him before I quickly shut that shit down. “We’re done, and it’s exhausting how you keep trying to change my mind. I’m not interested; I’ve moved on.”
“But, Jaxon, why?” The voice is whiny but breathy at the same time, and I’m impressed someone can achieve that level of annoying while still managing to simultaneously sound sexy.
I shrug in Hope’s direction, that sort of “what do we do now?” gesture, but she just rolls her eyes and continues to eavesdrop.Okay, so we’re all up in this right now.
“Is it because of your bitch sister? Poor little orphan girl, so easily deceived then thrown away. Clinging on to her brother like he’s her only hope.” The sheer venom in her voice almost makes me gasp, and I can only imagine how those words are striking him. He has been an all-around asshole, but if I’ve been able to understand anything about him by this point, it’s how much he loves his sister. If this girl is truly trying to be a fixture in his life, she’s barking up the wrong damn tree.
With a sigh, I resign myself to getting involved. No matter what we have between us, no one deserves to be spoken to like that, especially because it’s his right to decide who he does and doesn’t want to be involved with. Already hoping I don’t regret this, I push Hope out the way and march into his office, adopting that cold look that Jacinta has perfected and worn around me basically every time I’ve seen her.
“Jaxon, are you ready for lunch?” I ask him, totally ignoring the curvy woman who’s sitting on his lap. Both of them jump as I approach the desk, not having heard me enter. Standing in front of his desk, I stare down at them, feeling powerful. “Get rid of the help so we can go.” I’m striking a low blow, I know, but it’s really only a return volley after all.
“Who the fuck are you?” The words practically fall out of the woman's mouth as she scrambles off of his lap. “And I’m not ‘the help.’ I’m Jaxon’s girlfriend.” Her face is red and eyes blazing in annoyance as she stands there, her fists clenched by her side.
“Yes, honey, I’m sure you are. That’s what all hisfriends,”—I say bitingly, lifting my fingers in emphasis—“call themselves. You seem to have a lot of them, Jaxon.” I raise one eyebrow at him, and he narrows his eyes in return, but no matter how he feels about my interference, it seems to have worked for the better, mostly. The girl screeches her disgust and hurls herself at me, slapping me across the face.
Shit, that escalated quickly.
“Yes, security, could you make your way up to the Hotel and Resorts floor? We need to have someone escorted from the building.” While I rub at my stinging cheek, Hope’s already handling this shit show in an official capacity. It’s been a while since I've been slapped across the face, not having happened since I grew bigger than my mother, but I can still take a punch and stay standing.
“Yes, get out and stay out.” Raquel, if I remember her name correctly, sneers at me, but Hope steps up to my side, shaking her head.
“Oh no, honey, you assaulted one of the members of the Summers family. You just lost your job. Pack up your shit and get out.” The girl instantly pales as each of Hope’s icy words strike into her, her eyes widening with panic as her easy ticket to a spoiled life disappears right before her eyes.
“No, no, you can’t do that!” she appeals to Jaxon, her eyes pleading, but he’s got that cold imperious thing down perfectly. In fact, it’s the same look I saw the day I arrived, and I start to feel a little sorry for the girl, though the heat in my cheek makes that quickly disappear.
