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I need to bring it. Now.
I look around at my audience. Eye contact. Shoulders back. Head straight. Slight I mean business, fun business smile. "This is cozy, so I'll try to make it fast. Mal tells me you guys have a policy of democracy. You vote on everything."
Ethan nods. "Mal still tends to get his way."
"Well, I don't want this video to be Mal's way." I press my palms into my thighs so I won't play with my dress. "I want it to be my way."
Ethan laughs.
Joel too.
Even Kit lets out a chuckle. He pushes a mass of dark hair from his eyes. "No surprise why Mal likes you."
"Well, I think it was more that I told him the concept Danielle was shooting was garbage." I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Nerves are rising up in my stomach. I need to defuse the tension. "He didn't realize it was all a ruse to get my face in that video. I'm really an actress."
"Always fun to tell a bossy person to fuck off." Joel winks at Mal.
Mal flips him off.
He laughs and looks to Kit. "You have any thoughts, Rhythmic One?"
"We suddenly making videos that feature the bassist?" Kit half shrugs.
He's nearly as stoic as Mal is. And nearly as hot.
No one can top Mal, but he comes damn close.
Ahem. This is a work meeting. I need to file these dirty thoughts in my spank bank. "I have three concepts outlined. I have a favorite—one I think best fits your album and especially Tangled. It's not quite like other songs. It has a playfulness that keeps it from being melancholy. But now I'm showing my hand."
They're all focused on me, listening intently. These guys really do take their careers seriously, even if they like to cause mayhem most of the time.
I can do this. I pretend as if I'm pitching an idea in class, as if this video isn't career defining. "Why don't I go through them one by one? Then you can vote or decide however you want."
Everyone nods.
I take a deep breath, and I launch into an explanation of the first concept—the angry breakup in an apartment. It's easy to shoot and it leaves a lot of room for us to play. We can make it silly or serious or even heartbreaking.
Everyone nods along, but they're without that fire in their eyes. It's not clicking with them.
They don't hate it.
But they don't love it either.
I'm in way over my head here. How am I going to convince millionaire rock stars of anything, much less my creative vision?
My breath gets shaky. My voice wavers. I pinch myself again. This isn't a dream. Or a nightmare. It's happening and I'm going to nail it.
Period.
"What do you think?" I exhale slowly. The guys look around at each other, trying to gauge everyone else's reactions. "Why don't I finish? That will make it easier to compare."
Ethan smiles a sweet, boyish smile. "I like it. But it's not… it's not perfect."
"Nothing is perfect, Strong," Joel says.
"Vi's perfect." Ethan smiles a dreamy smile.
"She's with you, so that's some seriously impaired judgment." Joel mock kicks Ethan. "Other than that, she's great. She's no Bella, but…"
