AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dad, you can’t do this,” I implore again.
Stepping closer, his dark eyes lock on mine. “Austin, this business is cutthroat. You’re the hot new act one day, and a washed-up has-been the next. If you don’t capitalize on every opportunity you get, then you’re not only stupid but a hack. I haven’t asked, nor do I really care what kind of relationship you had with her.”
“This has nothing to do with that.”
“Of course it does, but this is business. All emotion has to be removed.”
Staring down at the mixing board, I take a deep breath. For once in all of the callus and emotionally void advice he’s given me over the years, I’m trying to do that. Even if I hate that he’s trying to do this to Jade, there is an underlying layer that I can’t shake, and it has nothing to do with my feelings for her.
“This is wrong. It doesn’t matter what way you slice it. This has nothing to do with feelings.” My eyes finally lift, meeting his. “This isn’t your music. You tricked an artist into thinking they were using the studio, and you stole this music, Dad. You stole it.”
“I own it. You can’t steal what you already own.”
I can’t believe it. There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, I can do to change his mind. Turning back to the mixing board, I can’t even stomach to look at him anymore, much less be in this room. But I stay where I’m at, wishing I could think of something that would change his mind.
He steps closer, slapping my shoulder. “I’ll give you a minute to compose yourself. I offered to take Landry to lunch anyway. I do hope you’ll be a part of this process. I think it’ll be a great learning experience for you.”
“I’m pretty sure I learned everything I need to know from you in this conversation. I’ll never do business like you.”
“You’re young. Once you see how the world works, you’ll change.”
Slapping my shoulder again, he leaves me in the studio. My eyes jump everywhere, from the mixing board to the empty recording studio, and then scan the room. I can’t believe this is happening. Jade already hates me, and after this happens, I shudder to think how she’ll feel—believing that not only did I scam her out of the rights to her music, but that this was the plan all along.
I can’t let this happen.
Heading out of the studio, I hurry to the small office my father has set up for me that I never use. I grab a portable hard drive, make my way back to the studio, and plug the hard drive into a computer linked to the mixing board. Searching through the files, I find any and everything that Jade worked on. I scour different files and folders, looking for everything associated with her name. Everything was digitally recorded, so I know there aren’t any hard copies in the building. After everything is downloaded to the hard drive, I unplug it and make sure nothing of hers is left anywhere on Rich Records’ file system.
Turning the hard drive over in my fingers, I stare at it. If I do this, I know it’s the end. I don’t know what my dad will do, but I know it won’t be good. He’ll be beyond angry. He’ll cut me off for good. He may even sue me.
Taking a deep breath, I nod to myself. I don’t care what happens. I have to do this.
Cementing my resolve, I wait in the studio for them to return. The nerves finally start to calm down, only to jump to new heights when Landry walks through the door first.
“Austin,” my dad says, smiling again. “I’m glad you came to your senses and are sticking around. I really believe—”
“No,” I cut him off.
“What?”
“No, I’m not helping. What you’re doing is wrong and pathetic. I won’t be a part of it.”
A scowl crosses his face. “You stuck around to tell me that? You shouldn’t have wasted your time.”
Taking another deep breath, I tap the hard drive that rests in my pocket. “You’re right. But I thought I’d tell you face-to-face. I quit.”
My dad’s brows furrow. “Excuse me?”
“I won’t have any part of what you’re doing. She signed that contract without even reading it.”
“Austin, listen to me—”
“No, you listen to me, Dad. The way you do business is pathetic. The way you treat people is even worse. I quit. And good luck using her music to try and enhance your bankroll because I deleted it all.”
“You what?” he screams, then turns to the computer, frantically searching for her files. “What did you do?”
“I told you, it’s gone.”
“You little shit. Do you know how much money we could’ve made from that? You just cost us hundreds of thousands. Possibly millions.”
