My thoughts drifted to the beginning of my career as I leaned back in the chair and swiped through my notifications. Eleven months had passed since the fantasy romance I narrated went viral. Before the indie author reached out to me,I’d gained mild traction with my paid platform and a few audiobooks, but I wasn’t successful in narration by any means. My few thousand followers reflected that.
The author found me through social media and loved my voice. She couldn’t pay me up front, so we agreed to royalty share. When the fantasy novel and audio released at the same time, they were an instant hit. I knew the performance was the best I’d done, but I wasn’t prepared for the insanity that ensued. In a week, agents were busting down my door just like they were for the author. Countless publishers and other indie authors were flooding my inbox with requests for projects, and my subscriptions shot through the roof from fans. I had no idea how to handle it all, but I was fortunate Craig found me. He helped shape me into one of the most popular male voice actors on the market.
I scrolled through the new messages on socials that came in over the few hours I’d been playing and read every one. Some were harmless—just women saying how much they loved my latest audiobook or post. The last book I did dropped a week ago, and it was doing massively well. It was an exciting story since the male character was in the mafia and did some crazy and questionable shit.
Other messages I got weren’t so innocent. I received dozens of messages every day and most of them were feral women lusting after me. Turning women into a mess with just my voice always got my dick hard. The power I had without them knowing what I looked like was fuel for countless sessions with my hand.
I rarely interacted with my fans and followers, especially not hooking up with them, but I fantasized about that power more often than not. I couldn’t explain why it got me off, but it did. Stepping into a story through narration was the reason I loved my job, but I also relished the attention that came withit. Most likely because it was the first time in my life I wasn’t standing in someone else’s shadow. Someone who couldn’t stand the sight of me.
After clearing the new messages, I switched over to the paid platform where I posted the more ‘not safe for work’ content. I had gained a hundred new subscribers throughout the week—more than usual. Satisfaction flooded my brain, despite knowing I wouldn’t notice the extra money from them. Narration more than padded my bank account, but I still did the erotic content on the side because I enjoyed it.
It was almost nine, so I left the desk and padded through my room to the adjoining bathroom, the tile chilling my bare feet. My apartment didn’t reflect my income anymore, but the AC was top notch. The living room and kitchen were one large room in the middle with the bedrooms on either side, one of which was the studio. I was too busy to look for a new place since I was constantly working, but I didn’t need much anyway since it was just me. At some point soon, I needed to take some time off and maybe come to terms with a nicer place.
Shrugging out of my T-shirt, I ran a hand through my hair. It was long on top and short on the sides, since I preferred the messy look that running my hands through it gave. Once in the shower, my thoughts strayed back to a particular message I saw that was a reply to a particularly steamy post from last week.
You could read the back of a cereal box to me, and I’d still come just from your voice.
I groaned, lathering my body and trailing my hand south to the hardness between my thighs. The message was from a throwaway account of some person who probably wouldn’t follow me on their actual profile. They hid behind an anonymous one because they didn’t want their significant others or family knowing they followed a spicy narrator. I thoughtpeople should own what they like, but then again, I was the one hiding behind a pseudonym.
After the shower I wondered how I’d gotten to this point. I was pretty much a recluse, working out of my spare bedroom and only leaving the house when necessary. I even had my groceries delivered. Most twenty-five-year-old guys were still in their social phase, always going out with friends or their new wives. But, me? I was at home jerking off to a stranger’s message on the internet because I couldn’t handle the rejection from an actual person.
Dragging a hand over my face as I walked back to the studio, I sighed at my seemingly pathetic life. Everything was exactly how I wanted it to be, but at the same time, I wondered what it would be like to have people around. The guys I played video games with were in different cities, the only interactions we had being in game and the occasional texts.
Happy would be an overstatement, but I was perfectly content with the way things were. I’d lucked into a pretty cool career, and did whatever the fuck I wanted. Maybe I would have a partner someday, or maybe the occasional hook-up when my hand didn’t cut it being the only in person face to face interactions I had. Maybe no one could ever love me since they hadn’t before. Regardless, I was just a sloth without a care in the world.
I pushed all thoughts from my mind as I stepped through the cloth curtain, practicing the meditation techniques I used to get in the right headspace for my characters. Booting up the equipment, I stepped from reality into the fictional world the author had created, bringing their characters to life.
The next morning I woke in a daze. I’d stayed up until five when my voice was shot. The blaring phone alarm pierced my temples, and I hated that I couldn't sleep longer. It was late morning, so precious quiet hours I could be working wereticking away. I made a list of everything I had to do that day, one of which was paying bills.
Since I was thinking about finances, I pulled up my bank app next and stared at the massive number glaring on my phone screen. I never really thought about investing my money until Craig mentioned it would be a good idea a few weeks ago. He usually didn’t pry, but he chose to offer a rare bit of advice in the moment. His words were hard to hear, but deep down, I knew my popularity might not last forever.
Reluctantly leaving the warm bed, I pulled on a pair of sweats over my tight-fitting boxer briefs. Not bothering with a shirt, I walked into the kitchen and decided it was time to be an adult and figure this shit out. I didn’t know how long I would be able to ride the high and eventually, the money might slow down with the demand.
I pressed the button on the coffee maker and did a quick google search for what I was looking for. Tapping the phone number for the first company I saw, I pressed the green call icon. After what seemed like much longer than a usual line would ring, a woman finally answered. “Hello, Lovelace Financial, how may I assist you?”
Chapter Three
Raven
“Raven Lovelace speaking,”I said into the phone, already exhausted even though it was only eleven a.m. The morning had taken the wind out of my sails, and I still had a long day and night ahead.
What a great way to spend a Friday. The day of the week didn’t matter though since I worked all the time, even weekends. After the last few hours, I wanted to crawl into bed with an audiobook and not think about anything except the main characters banging each other into oblivion. The problems continued to pile up, and they showed no signs of stopping. By the time I finished the call, I had another added to a list that was already a mile long.
Pushing back from my desk, I hurried to the coffee machine in the kitchenette. The business suite was small, yet modern and sophisticated. It had three offices and an open space for other workstations should I need them, and it was looking more and more like I would. I tapped my fingers on the countertop and stared into space while the machine whirred, making the fuel I desperately needed to survive the day.
The earthy aroma filled the room, making my mouth water for the blend with a hint of sweetness I kept stocked. I made it halfway back to my office before I was intercepted.
“Hey, Raven, can I have your ear for a minute?” Mia, the junior financial advisor I hired six months ago, called from her office.
Groaning internally, I backed up a step and paused in her doorway. “What’s up?”
Her eyes went wide as she took in my disheveled appearance. “Damn, Boss, you look like you didn’t sleep at all last night. You did sleep last night, right?” A whisper of worry flashed across her face.
Of course she would mention how awful I looked the moment she saw me. Mia and I had a great relationship, and she was more like a friend than an employee. She and Joanne both were. They were candid and let their personalities show, creating a fun environment while maintaining efficiency.
“I got some, but the holes some of our clients have dug themselves into are wearing on me this morning.”
Mia nodded in understanding. “I’m sure they’ve been giving you hell. I’m right there with you.” She sighed. “Joanne has been on the phone nonstop with consults all day, and I think my head is going to spin off my shoulders if I have to do another intake. This stack of files are all new.” She gestured to a pile of manilla folders that was at least ten inches thick.
