Page 62 of Chasin’s Surrender

Melissa and Leslie both had been trying to get me to sell my music for years. Something I was firm about not doing. Those songs were mine, they were a part of me, and I couldn’t ever picture someone else singing something that was from my soul.

But now?

Now I wanted no part of this business.

But I wasn’t stupid, so I wouldn’t be making any decisions I couldn’t take back while I was pissed as hell. Except for one—I would be making one.

“Let’s get this done, so we can get home and I can take off this stupid outfit,” I suggested.

“If it’s any consolation, you look hot.” Bobby laughed.

“Come on, goof.”

My gaze swept the room and landed on Chasin. He hadn’t left my side so I didn’t figure he would’ve gone far even though we were safely inside Gemini Group. He gave me a big, bright smile right before he winked.

It sucked he was going to see this side of me. It wasn’t going to be pretty, likely ugly, but he didn’t look like he was disappointed I could turn into such a bitch. He almost looked proud of me.

I pushed my shoulders back, lifted my chin, and calmly started to make my way to the conference room where I knew Len was waiting for me.

When we entered, Len, Nixon, Holden, and Weston all stood. Jameson and Jonny were waiting out front. There was no reason for them to come in when this was only going to take a moment.

“Vivi, great to see you,” Len greeted. And for the first time in all the years I’d known him, his eyes raked down my body.

Weird.

“Len. Wish I could say the same.”

He flinched before he smoothed his features. “Listen, I’m sorry. I knew you wouldn’t be happy. You know Melissa; when she’s on a mission, there’s no stopping her.”

“And what exactly is the mission?” I inquired.

“Can we sit?” he asked.

I took a second to glance around the room. Nixon was resting his forearms against the back of the leather chair he’d been sitting in, looking relaxed. Weston had moved and now leaned his shoulder against the wall, and Holden was standing and looking unhappy with his arms crossed over his chest. I didn’t bother to look behind me to take in Chasin, I knew his stance would resemble Holden’s.

“Actually, this won’t take long so there’s no need to get comfortable. Why are you here?”

Len shifted and scanned the room, probably feeling the unhappy vibe rolling around, not only coming off the men but from me. He wisely laid it out quickly.

“Melissa has some concerns that, due to your personal life—”

“Personal life?”

“Your…um…troubles. That the new album will be delayed.”

“How kind of my manager to be concerned,” I spat.

“Come on, Vivi, you know that’s not what I meant. We’re all worried about you, darlin’, but you know this business, you gotta give your fans what they want. Your last tour was epic, you gotta give ‘em more.”

Translation: your last tour made a lot of people a lot of money, including my boss, and she wants more because she’s a greedy, uncaring bitch.

“I’m well aware of what my fans want. And what they want is good music. They’ll also wait because they trust I’ll give them what they want when I’m ready to give it.”

“Are you sure about that?” he snapped, then carefully blanked his face.

“Very. So what did Melissa hope to accomplish by sending you?”

“She would like you to consider writing with Bent again.”