Less corporate. Less controlled.
More alive.
Music drifted faintly through the hallways as I stepped off the elevator, the sound of bass and movement echoing from behind closed studio doors.
I followed the familiar path toward the largest rehearsal space and stopped short when I saw him.
Nathan stood just inside the studio with his hands in his pockets, looking exactly every bit as the man in charge.
Besides him, was a pretty teenage girl with a slim figure, porcelain complexion, and long black hair with streaks of red. I recognized her as Nia Knight, one of the latest singers signed to Edge Records.
I looked at Nathan. “You wanted to see me?”
Nathan’s gaze settled on me, steady and unreadable as always. “Elise, this is Nia. Nia, this is my assistant, Elise.
“Hi.” Nia smiled as she waved.
“Nice to meet you. I love your new song.” The smile I gave in return was just as genuine.
“Oh my gosh, thank you.” Red tinted her cheeks at my compliment.
“I asked for Elise,” Nathan started, stealing both our attention. “Because she’s also Rhodium’s choreographer.”
“Seriously?” Nia looked at me wide eyed.
“Guilty.” I sheepishly replied.
“I always look forward to her live performances because I know she’s going to kill it on stage.”
It was my turn to blush now. “Thank you. I can’t take all the credit though. Rhodium is naturally talented as well, so that helps a lot.”
“Wait,” Nia’s eyes bounced between Nathan and me. “Assistant and choreographer? How do you balance both?”
“Lots of coffee,” I joked. “No, honestly it helps that I work somewhere with a dance studio in the same building,” I giggled. “Are you looking for a new choreographer?”
“She’s shooting the music video for her latest single and there’s going to be two different dance sequences.” Nathan explains.
“Like I said, I love your work with Rhodium and I would love it if you could help me with some moves for my music video.” Nia looked at me hopeful. “But only if you’re interested.”
I glanced down at the floor for a second, my brain already running through my calendar, Nathan’s calendar, the interviews I had stacked back-to-back tomorrow, the ones I’d already moved twice this week.
“I have a full schedule,” I said, more to myself than to her at first. “I can’t just disappear for rehearsals. Mr.Edge has—”
“We’ll make it work.”
I looked at Nathan who hadn’t moved from where he was standing near the door, but his voice cut through everything else in the room like it always did.
“Mr.Edge?” I started, half a protest, half surprised.
“This is a good opportunity for you,” he insisted, meeting my eyes. “You should take it.”
It wasn’t pushy.
It wasn’t even forceful.
He was giving me the opportunity to choose.
I searched his face for a second, trying to figure out if he actually meant it.
