Page 180 of Off Limits Mogul

I check the time as I answer the call. “Hello.”God, my voice is groggy.

“You’re everywhere. I mean, everywhere.” Michaela’s voice comes blaring through the phone.

I pull the device away from my ear before bringing it close again.

“Mikki, it’s only seven o’clock in the morning west coasttime and you’re shouting. My brain is still asleep. You need to take it down by several notches.”

“Sorry for being so excited. I just can’t help it. I am so happy for you, Keira. You deserve it. You have no clue you’re totally famous right now? Are you going to start singing again? Will you go the indie route? Or do you prefer a small label?” Her tone is still too chipper, and she’s talking way too fast. Combined with the litany of questions, my mind is spinning.

“Oh, you’re talking about the pre-promotional shots for SCORE Yours and the video clip from the radio interview.”

“Yes, and yes. I’m also talking about the kiss to end all kisses.”

I frown into the phone.

“What are you talking about?”

“Can we do a video call?”

“I just woke up. I’m sure I could scare small children.”

“Newsflash. We used to be roommates in Nepal. I’ve seen you at your worst.”

“Thanks, friend.”

She laughs. “Come on. We need a face-to-face for this. I want details.”

I agree.

A second later, her grinning face pops on the screen.

“Oh my God, you and Rhys… so hot. So freaking hot. I can only hope to find a guy who kisses me like that one day. Sigh.” She bats her eyes at me.

“Wait. There are clips of us kissing on the internet?”

I’m awake now.

“Everyone’s talking about it,” she says.

“No one warned me the photographer was going to leak them.”

“I’m sure it’s all part of the promotional machine. Hollywooddoes it all the time. The same goes for a lot of tech companies,” she says. “You give people a taste to whet their appetite.”

“I don’t see how that’s related to the headphones.”

“SCORE Yoursisa tech company,” Mikki says. “I’m sure pre-orders spiked today. The press is fanning the frenzy.”

“Seriously?”

She nods. “You should see the headlines. My favorites are, ‘BILLIONAIRE RHYS HARTFORD CLAIMS SONGBIRD KEIRA WEATHERLY’ And‘IF THE NEW SCORE YOURS HEADPHONES GUARANTEE THAT KIND OF KISS, I’LL ORDER A DOZEN’”

“That last one is hilarious,” I say.

“Keira, people are going nuts. I’ve pre-ordered a pair.”

“Michaela, you didn’t have to do that. I could’ve asked Rhys.”

She lifts her chin up. “I won’t hear of it.”