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“Ok, now that everyone is here, I’ll start,” Aiden begins. “Let me start with saying that I’m a huge Loveless fan. Have been since the beginning when you were uploading covers online for free. Well, one day, I was talking randomly like I do sometimes, and I mentioned to Miguel that I thought you had been stifled in the industry.”
“To which I asked him to elaborate.” Miguel taps on the desk.
“Yes, he did. And I explained how versatile your music was, and how it could be. I told him that your label was making you stay in one lane for their sake since they probably had no clue how to promote across genres.”
I snort, then cover my mouth. “Sorry. That’s absolutely true.”
Miguel grins. “We found that out once we began asking around. It didn’t take much digging to realize the company was bleeding money and wasting amazing talent like yours because they didn’t want to change.”
“Am I telling him, or are you?” Aiden grumbles.
With a kiss to his temple, Miguel apologizes, “I’m sorry, boy. You go ahead.”
“As I was saying before I was interrupted,” Aiden teases, “I mentioned this originally in passing. Miguel decided it would be a fun surprise for me if he could buy out the company to give artists like Loveless a chance to make the music they want.”
“That’s amazing. It’s been a shock, for sure.”
Aiden nods. “Understandable. That’s why we wanted to bring you in to chat before the press conference. We would like to talk about the next album. Not to set a deadline, but just to get an idea of what style you’ve been writing in. And maybe see if you have anything you’ve shelved in the past that might be useful now that you’ve got no limits.”
I sink back into Austen’s hold, my heart racing at the potential ahead. There is no limit to the possibilities of my craft anymore. I don’t have to fit into a box or avoid my muse when it goes off course.
Taking a breath, I tell them the truth. “I have written dozens of songs that have never seen the light of day. Music that the record label absolutely refused to even hear. A blend of folk and jazz on some of it. I have a classical song that’s perfect for a ballad, maybe even a collab. All of it could top charts with the proper help.”
“That’s great!” Aiden claps. “We can absolutely use this to our advantage.”
“Tell them about the new stuff. They need to know.” Austen’s voice cuts through the dull hum of excitement in the room.
Aiden perks up as Miguel studies me closely. “Don’t leave us guessing, Corrin. We’re invested in you and this music. I didn’t spend $5 million because I wanted you to keep things as they were before.”
Hearing the amount come from his lips is no easier than when I read it in the paper. Knowing I’m the main reason he invested — or at least a major part — puts even more pressure on me, just in a different way.
“I can’t explain what this new stuff is. I can play it for you though.” I pull out my phone, then open my recording app to pull up the couple of songs I’ve only shared with Austen so far.
Tennyson leans closer, his face lighting up. “I haven’t heard these yet. Are they any good?”
Austen grins knowingly. “They’re the best he’s ever written.”
The heaviness of his words hits me instantly. To have someone in my life believing in me is nothing new. Tenn has been my best friend for ages and told me how talented I am. So have all the people surrounding me in the industry. Granted, a lot of them wanted me in a ‘who’s who’ kind of way.
This is different though. Austen’s compliment is rooted in deeper feelings. I love that he’s always got my back.
I love him.
Oh.
Oh, my.
Now is not the time to have this realization. Not when I’m already emotionally falling apart with all this news.
Sensing something is off, Austen wraps his arm around me tighter and helps me pick a song to play. He clicks the button for "Weekend Wake Up," a song I wrote shortly after the charity event we attended. It’s a song about pining after someone who is close but somewhat untouchable. The lyrics speak about wanting to wake up with them every day and not just the occasional weekend.
My voice filters through the phone speaker, all the longing and desire obvious to anyone listening. I’ve never felt so vulnerable playing my music for others.
When that one ends, Austen chooses another. This one is a more upbeat track I’ve called, "Keeping it Together." It’s based on the someone having to hide their feelings because they’re afraid of how others will react — much like how I’d kept my crush on Austen a secret from Tennyson.
I tug the phone away as the music fades away. Two songs are plenty to give them a taste. Plus, I really don’t want to face anyone if they hear all the others. Austen may not have picked up on the fact that they’re all about him, but surely the others will.
Aiden’s hand is over his mouth, eyes filled with tears. Miguel doesn’t show the same level of emotion, though I can tell he’s touched by the music too.
