Page 12 of Not Your Golden Boy

Albion huffed a humorless laugh. “You’re not qualified. I still don’t know who you are to him.”

“I’m the friend he needs right now,” Harry said, gripping the back of Albion’s chair. It was a thousand times truer than he could have imagined when he first sat down with Nikky in Javier and Desmond’s office. “That’s all you need to know.”

Albion looked like he had some sort of retort, but before he could do more than open his mouth, Nikky’s voice sounded through the PA system. “Should I just start playing? Are you ready?”

Albion gave Harry one last seething look, then moved to sit at the mixing board. He donned a pair of headphones, then spoke into a microphone, saying, “Sure, Nikky. Go right ahead.”

Harry had heard Nikky’s music before. Anyone who had watched Cooked was familiar with what the brilliant young man could do. He’d written the soundtrack for the show, and his character, a musician, had played a few songs in one or two episodes.

That didn’t in any way prepare Harry for the innovative and haunting sounds that swelled up like magic from the strings of the old guitar. It wasn’t the popular, palatable sort of music Harry was expecting either, and when Nikky began to sing with a stronger, grittier tone to his voice than anything he’d performed for Cooked, Harry felt chills.

How could anyone think that Nikky should be singing cutesy pop songs? The dark, rich tune that filled the entire recording studio was about being lost and displaced. The intricate melody reflected the soul of someone who had been through a lot but understood the pain. Harry instantly pictured Nikky dressed all in black as he sang the song on the stage of some intimate, indie venue, eyes emphasized with black eyeliner, lips full and red and begging to be kissed.

Talent like Nikky’s should have spurred fiery jealousy in Harry’s gut, but as amazing as Nikky was, his vulnerability made Harry want to scoop him up into his arms and hold him forever.

The man needed protecting at all costs.

Along with that thought came another, sinking one. There was no way Harry could allow Nikky to torpedo his career entirely. He was too good, had too much promise, to be relegated to the dusty shelf of people who’d had their fifteen minutes of fame before the world moved on.

Nikky couldn’t end up in the same bin as him.

“He’s never going to make it with drivel like that,” Albion grumbled, seemingly to himself, though Harry knew better than to think the comment was offhand. He also knew better than to think Albion actually believed the song was rubbish.

“He has more talent than anyone in this room, this building, and probably this city,” Harry said plainly, not even trying to dig into Albion with the comment.

Albion didn’t react. He just stared at Nikky through the glass as the song progressed, brow knit in thought. It would have been a positive sign that Nikky had won the man over with his brilliance, but Harry knew better. Nothing budged Dean Albion from a plan he’d already committed to. Nothing.

Nikky finished the song with a last, magnificent chorus, then loosened his grip on the guitar and stared hopefully through the glass at Harry first, then Albion, smiling. The young man was in his element. Anyone with eyes and a heart could see with that song he was exactly where he was meant to be, doing the thing he’d been born for.

Albion had eyes, but he was heartless. “That was great,” he said with zero enthusiasm. “Thanks for sharing that. I’d love it if we could give Charlie’s song a try now.”

Nikky wilted with disappointment. The way the light went out of his eyes made Harry want to strangle Albion. He didn’t go that far, but he did edge his way over to the desk and push Albion aside so he could speak into the microphone. “That was amazing, Nikky,” he said, giving the young man his warmest smile. “Absolutely stunning. You’re a once in a lifetime talent.”

The joy rushed back into Nikky’s expression and his entire body in an instant. He smiled broadly, blushed, and said, “Thanks.” Their eyes met, and Harry smiled back, doing everything he could to give Nikky the confidence he needed.

Albion nudged Harry aside and said, “Let’s try the other song.”

Nikky glanced at Harry. Harry took a step back and nodded. Nikky shifted to look at Albion and nodded as well.

Damn. Nikky brought out a side in Harry that he thought he’d given up after his brief BDSM phase years ago. Unconscious of it or not, Nikky screamed sub in need of a strong dom.

Harry smirked as ideas popped in his head. Well, if he had to get his dom on and take one for the team….

He spent the next hour standing against the back wall of the booth, arms crossed, overseeing everything between Nikky and Albion as they tried out different songs and made a few decisions about which would be recorded for the album. It was clear as day what Albion wanted to do with Nikky, and the more wildly inappropriate songs Albion had him try out, the more determined Harry was to stop the creep from pushing Nikky to the point where he would abandon his talent in favor of peace.

“This was great,” Albion said once Nikky was finally let out of the recording booth, like a man who was certain he was going to win the big match. “I think we’ve got a ton of stuff to work with. Let’s go grab some lunch and talk about the composition of this album.”

Harry stepped forward from where he was still leaning against the wall and cleared his throat.

That was all it took for Nikky to glance at him, then back at Albion and say, “Excuse me, but Harry already told you we have plans to go to lunch.”

In no way did Albion like that. “We have a contract,” he reminded Nikky.

“Yeah, and that contract includes time for Nikky to go to lunch with whoever he wants,” Harry said. He could practically see the collar Albion was trying to clamp around Nikky’s neck.

Albion looked like he wanted to argue. Surprisingly, he didn’t. “You two go out and have fun, then,” he said, caving in far too easily. Clearly, he had some sort of plan to get what he wanted whether Nikky was there or not. “I’ll see you back here at—” he checked his watch, “—two o’clock.”

Nikky smiled politely and nodded. “I’ll be here.”