Chapter One
NATE
While sitting back in my chair, I grow more and more annoyed that everyone is over half an hour late.
They could have at least messaged or something.
Actually, it’s weird for them all to be delayed.
As I sit with my cell, voices carry down the hall, and I blow out a puff of frustrated air, which flutters my hair, knowing everyone is finally making their way to the boardroom for our scheduled meeting.
“It’s about damn time,” I murmur to myself under my breath.
Danger and Lunar walk through the door with giant grins on their faces. They’re always smiling, but these smiles are unusually cheerful. I furrow my brows as I stiffen my spine and take in the happy chatter continuing behind them.
“We’re so happy you could make it on an earlier flight,” Tillie’s voice echoes in from the hall.
She walks in with Ryan and Oliver, all looking back like someone is with them. I shake my head slightly, wondering who they’re talking about.
“Oh… so am I. Taking a night flight would have done horrendous things to my complexion,” a husky, sensual female voice declares, which immediately stirs something deep inside me. The voice is like smooth honey, and it awakens every molecule of my being.
I’m instantly more awake as Matt walks through the door smiling widely, and behind him, flounces a slender, olive-skinned goddess. Her chestnut, long, wavy hair flows lustrously down over her shoulders, framing her oval face perfectly. Her supple lips call out to me as she stands in the doorway with herhip angled to the right. My eyes widen as I imagine a vibrant white aura glowing around her like the angel she portrays. She is pure magnificence, and my cock hardens under the table from staring at her tiny frame.
I know her instantly.
I’ve seen all her movies.
It’s Zaria Shafir.
The thirty-six-year-old actress who has a starring role in our music video.
The actress who is around ten years older than me, but in person, she doesn’t look a day over twenty-three.
“Oh shit… Nate, how long have you been waiting?” Oliver asks, breaking my gaze reluctantly away from Zaria. She walks in, completely ignoring me. She smiles at Matt as he ushers her to a seat at the table.
I exhale, then swallow hard, trying to gain some composure. “Like half an hour. I’ve been here since the time the meeting was supposed to start.”
“Oh, sorry! Got the call that Zaria was flying in early, so I called Danger and told him to meet me at the airport. He told Ryan, who was with Matt at the time, and I guess we just kinda forgot to call you. Sorry, Nate,” Oliver says.
Lunar winces and frowns.
I huff and shake my head slightly.
See what I mean?
“Yeah, well, we’re all here now so—”
“What? No bitchy comment?” Danger quips.
I’m so over this shit.
I can’t help but feel completely deflated. “I really can’t be bothered,” I say under my breath while sitting back in my chair, glancing over at Zaria, who’s smiling at Matt.
Figures.
“So Zaria is here to discuss how things are going to work with the production of the music video. Obviously, in the clip, she’s going to be Danger’s love interest, considering he’s the lead singer. I know this is going to be weird, Lunar, but I assure you theywillbe acting,” Oliver says.
Lunar nods with a smile as Zaria looks at her cell, like she isn’t even paying attention.
