Kingsley looked uneasy. “That could blow back on us. What if it gets traced?”
“It won’t,” I said, my tone final. “If it does, I’ll handle it.” I turned to Elise. “Draft the memo. Make sure it’s ironclad. And Elise?”
She looked up at me, her dark eyes unreadable. “Yes, Mr. Edge?”
“Add a note to contact my lawyer. I want him prepped in case Bryce decides to get litigious.”
She nodded, jotting it down without a word. She was good at hiding her emotions, but I didn’t miss the tension in her shoulders or the slight clench of her jaw. She hated this part of the job. Hated the way I played dirty. But she’d never say it out loud. That was the difference between us. I wielded power, and she executed it.
The meeting wrapped with a flurry of assigned tasks and hasty exits, but Elise stayed behind, gathering her laptop and organizing the aftermath. I watched her from the corner of my eye, her movements precise and practiced.
“Do you have something to say?” I drawled finally, breaking the silence.
She hesitated, closing her laptop. “Actually, yes,” she said, her voice lower than usual. “I was wondering if I could take off for lunch a little earlier today. I have an appointment I need to get to. It's important.”
I raised an eyebrow. “An appointment?”
“Yes,” she said, her tone uncertain. “I know it’s last minute, but I won’t be gone long, I just need an extension on my lunch break and—”
“No,” I cut her off, not even looking at her as I scrolled through my most recent emails in front of me. “You can go if you get your work done on time. But there’s no way you’re taking a longer break today. Not with everything we’ve got on our plate.”
Her face fell but she didn’t argue. Instead, she nodded, biting her lip. “You’re right. Forget I even asked.”
I didn’t acknowledge the disappointment in her voice. “Good. We have enough on our hands without adding your personal plans into the mix. Focus.”
Elise nodded again and turned toward the door, though she hesitated for a split second as if debating whether to say something else. But she said nothing, and before I could acknowledge her presence any longer, she was gone.
I let out a sigh of frustration, rubbing my temples, fighting down the flicker of regret that I couldn’t afford to show.
It wasn’t personal. It was business. And that’s how it would always stay.
CHAPTER THREE
NATHAN
I DON’T BELIEVEin patterns where there aren’t any. Unfortunately, today was starting to prove me wrong.
First, when I tried to get to the office a little earlier than usual, I got stuck on the fucking elevator.
Then came the story about one of my artists being “poached” by Dauntless Records. Tom Rossi, CEO of Dauntless Records, fingerprints were all over it. What irritated me wasn’t the lie, it was the implication that anyone could take something from me. Rossi knew better. He’d thrown the first punch. It was up to me to choose how hard I hit back. Now, thirty minutes after my meeting with the A&R team, I see Dalton Foster waiting for me outside my office. The last time I saw him was at his eldest son’s little league game, but from the look on his face, I knew this wasn’t going to be a social call.
“Thanks for keeping me company, doll face.” Dalton winked at Elise, who stood idly by her desk, her face lighting up at Dalton’s attention.
“Are you kidding? I’ll never miss an opportunity to talk to one of Mr. Edge’s friends.” Elise put a hand to the side of her mouth, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m beginning to think you’re his only one.”
Dalton was in fact one of the few people whose presence I was able to tolerate for more than five minutes without getting annoyed or feeling like I was losing precious brain cells. Did that make him a friend?
I guess.
But if he continued to smile at my assistant like that, the title would quickly change.
Dalton glanced up at me. “You don’t talk about me? I’m hurt.” He placed a hand over his heart, mock pain lining his features.
“I guess I’m embarrassed,” I replied, coming to a stop beside Elise’s desk. “You want to come in and tell me why you dropped by unannounced, or would you like to continue gossiping with my assistant?”
“I would ask if he’s always like this, but I’m afraid I already know the answer,” Dalton said, glancing back at Elise. “How do you deal with it?”
“I ask myself that every day.” Elise replied cooly.
