“Yeah, and as you well know, he just signed with my label, making me his boss.”
Asher’s deep laugh sounded in my ear. “On paper, maybe. But this isn’t some intern like Kiana was. This is a grown-assed man who I would say wields equal power to you, if not a little more. He could walk away from Kingcaid Music tomorrow, and he’d have a dozen offers on the table by lunchtime. It’s not the same thing at all. And if I could square it with Kiana, I’m sure you could square it with Joz. It’s all about intentions. If your intentions are good, then it’s not a problem. But if your intentions are to use a relationship as leverage to coerce the other person into doing something they don’t want to do, that’s a whole different ballgame.”
I thought about what he said for a few seconds. “You’re a smart guy, Asher. I knew you were the one to call.”
“Look, I say follow your heart. You’re single, and I’d like to think he is too, or you wouldn’t be giving him the time of day. You’re both adults. You’re both powerful, successful people in your own right. If you’re looking for roadblocks where there aren’t any, then maybe there are other issues stopping you from following through.”
I frowned. “Such as?”
He hesitated, and I was about to prompt him when he spoke. “Don’t get mad, but I know you, Aspen. You’re so determined to prove your worth, that you can not only compete, but that you’re better than your competitors, you’ve forgotten how to have fun. You’re young. Live a little. You don’t have anything to prove. You’re a badass. You’re smart, resourceful, an amazing ChiefExec, and you’re a pretty amazing fucking person. Joz would be lucky to have you.”
The truth of his statement pummeled me squarely in the chest.
I was so tired of putting on this persona of cool-headed businesswoman who could stand toe-to-toe with the best in this industry that I’d forgotten how to be me. Not the strait-laced CEO of Kingcaid Music, but Aspen Kingcaid, a young woman who used to know how to let her hair down.
Maybe it was time to untie the scrunchie and do just that.
“Love you, Asher.”
“Love you, too. Call me anytime you want relationship advice. I’ve clearly missed my calling.”
Laughing, I hung up the phone. In one conversation, the self-imposed restrictions I’d placed on myself lifted off my shoulders. There was nothing wrong with having a sexy-as-fuck guy give me multiple orgasms, even if he was technically an employee of my company. Asher was right. There was no power imbalance between Joz and me.
Suddenly, tomorrow evening couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter 13
Aspen
Not again…
If Presley changedhis name to Casper, he could not look any whiter. Added to his pale complexion was a sheen of sweat coating his entire face and curling the hair at his nape. Plus, his hands were shaking.
“I can’t do this. Not with that many people. What if I freeze? What if I forget the words?” He glanced around the cramped dressing room provided by the management of The Crimson Vaultas though seeking an exit—a way of avoiding what was to come. It reminded me of when I took my finals in college. That dread in the pit of your stomach in recognition of the rollercoaster ride you couldn’t get off, no matter how much you wanted to.
Growing pains were the pits.
I was ready with my pep talk when Joz moved in front of me. He clasped Presley by the shoulders and looked him square in the eye.
“Hey, buddy, listen to me. Let’s get this out of the way right now. You’re gonna screw up. Maybe not tonight, but it’ll happen at some point. We all do. It’s part of the job.”
Presley’s startled gaze flickered to me before returning to Joz. “Wait. That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
Joz grinned and gave him a friendly shake. “Yeah. Because the trick isn’t expecting perfection. It’s learning how to keep playing when your guitar’s out of tune, your mic cuts out, and your heart’s trying to claw its way out of your throat.”
“That sounds… fucking awful.”
“First time it happens, yeah, it sucks. Then it’s electric. You don’t need to be perfect out there, you just need to bereal.The audience will feel that more than anything. Be yourself, kid. You’ve got an incredible voice, a voice the world deserves to hear. Now, deep breath, and get ready for the mindfuck of your life.”
“But… what if I mess up the first line?”
“Then you laugh and say, ‘let’s try that again.’ Trust me, you’ll win the hearts of every single person in the place if you do that. People don’t fall in love with flawless. They fall in love withhonest.So, get out there, be honest, and wow those fuckers.”
I listened to the entire exchange in awe. I had my platitudes ready. This wouldn’t have been the first time I’d had to calm down a performer before going on stage. But the way Joz did it with such blinding sincerity had me completely up in my feels.
He’d make a great dad.
I blinked. Hold up. I had no business thinking of Joz in that way. He was a rock star. None of them made great dads. Or husbands. Or boyfriends for that matter. They were married to their music and their fanbase. There wasn’t room for anything else in their lives.
