John’s face fell a fraction, buthis big, fake, professionally-whitened smile was back in place a moment later.
Fox didn’t haveprofessionally-whitened teeth, and his canines were a little too long so theykind of looked like fangs. I liked that about him. He was the realest person I’deverseenin LA.
Probably because he hadn’t been herelong.
“I’m actually glad you’rehere,” John continued as though Fox hadn’t just offered him the most scathinginsult I could imagine without starting a fight. “Since this concerns you, too.We’ve been made aware of a recent intellectual property breach.”
The notebook.
My stomach clenched all overagain.
“Which we believe happenedon your watch,” John continued, looking at Fox with the barest hint of glee inhis eyes, like he was getting his own back.
Even without being able tosee him, I couldfeelthat he was getting to Fox. He’d stiffenedbehind me, too subtle for anyone who wasn’t practically touching him to notice.
“I don’t think it did,” Isaid, gathering all the courage I had. “I think… umm, I think I lost thenotebook. Before Fox turned up.”
John’s attention turned to me,one eyebrow raised. “You understand that you’re under a contractual obligationto protect things like this, don’t you? Your contract stipulates that any workyou produce is the property of Harmony Records. Wecouldtear it up rightnow if you’readmitting to negligence. There’s a lot of money at stake here.”
No.
No no no.
They couldn’t tear up mycontract. Not now.
What would I do then? Gohome with my tail between my legs and go back to my job waiting tables andscribbling down lyrics on my five-minute breaks? Look my parents in the eyesand tell them I’dfailed?That I wasn’t good enough?
That everything they’d done for mewas a waste.
I couldn’t handle that. Icouldn’t lose this now.
What could I say to changetheir minds?
“Are you planning on it?”Fox asked before I could think of a response. “Because if you are, I’dappreciate you getting on with it. I could get home before nightfall if I leftnow.”
My stomach sank.
Fox wanted to leave? He waswilling tothrow me under the busto leave?
I’d miscalculated. Hewasmad that I’d kissed him,and he’d just been waiting for an excuse to get out of this job withoutquitting. He’d been nice to me because… because…
The world was spinning.
I couldn’t pass out. Notagain. Not in front of Fox and Dwayneandthis assholefrom legal. I’ddie of embarrassment the moment I came to.
John faltered. “Uh, well—”
“No?” Fox challenged,stepping between me and John.
Protecting me.
Oh.
This was his way of dealingwith the threat. Confronting it head on.
IwishedI was even afraction as confident as he was. I couldn’t imagine talking like thisto anyone.
“I’m not clear on how themusic industry works, but I am clear on this—you’re one of a hundredinterchangeable suit-wearing law school graduates not quite clever enough to bea real lawyer, and people wear t-shirts with Quinn’s face on them. If I had toguess, I’d be pretty comfortable putting money on him being much,muchmore importantthan you are. Hard to replace, talent. Not so hard to replace yourhundred-dollar haircut and badly-cut jacket.”
