Page 3 of Before the Encore

If you could even call them musicians. They made the kind of music that made plants die.

Scarlett returned with the drinks, and Bailey asked everyone to take a seat.

Bonnie’s gaze bore into Madison, who now winked at the assistant. Scarlett giggled. Bonnie frowned. Scarlett, I thought better of you.

Madison finally sat, legs spread like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Heat pulsed through Bonnie’s veins, and she tried to calm herself. Getting worked up was only going to give her a migraine—but why wouldn’t Madison look at her?

If anyone had a reason to be upset, it was Bonnie. She was the winner of the Brits Artist of the Year two years in a row and had three Grammys for her contributions to music. What had Madison Moore ever achieved?

Not much, except a couple of supporting tours and a string of tabloids from scorned ex-lovers.

Bonnie wasn’t even listening to what Bailey and Roberto were saying. Their stupid voices swirled in the air around her, barely penetrating her eardrums. She sipped at her ginger and honey tea, hoping it would soothe the frustrations pounding through her body. She shouldn’t let this bother her so much.

The future of your career is only riding on it. No big deal.

“Like we discussed previously, Roberto,” Bailey said. “I think it’s in everyone’s best interests to feature on one song from each album. The crossover of two genres, with two sets of fans, is gonna cause some traction. The more attention we get, the better.”

Frank and Kamaria nodded. But Madison chewed at her bottom lip, mind working behind her eyes, assessing.

“I couldn’t agree more, Bailey.” Roberto scratched at his long sideburns before flashing a grin. “I think this—”

“What if the fans don’t like it?” Madison sipped from her coffee, letting her question hang in the air. “It might rub people the wrong way, people who have been loyal to us since the beginning. I don’t know how they’ll feel about us teaming up with Princess Bubblegum.”

Princess Bubblegum?!

Frank shot daggers at Madison, the whites of his eyes showing.

Roberto stammered for a moment, his gaze flicking over the group. “It’s understandable to have reser—”

“Excuse me?” Bonnie gripped her cup tightly between her fingers.

“Come on.” Madison rolled her eyes, before finally, at last, they landed on Bonnie—gunmetal-blue, almost grey, and locking her in a challenge. “You must know your reputation.”

“My reputation?”

The nerve.

But Madison didn’t back down, her cool gaze holding Bonnie’s steady. “Yeah. You’re all rainbows and sparkles, like a My Little Pony. That’s not exactly our style.”

“I’d rather be that than some vampiric reject regurgitated from the underworld.”

“Careful. I might bite you.” The edges of Madison’s eyes crinkled, and she let out a soft exhale of laughter.

That only irritated her more.

Along with the way Madison’s stare held hers, unwavering, full of far too much confidence for one person to bear. Then her mouth ticked up at the corner. “You have lipstick on your teeth.”

A shot of heat fired up her spine, and she rolled her tongue across her teeth. How long had she been sat like that? Why didn’t anyone say anything?

Bailey’s stupid laugh permeated the silence. “See? This is going to be great!”

Frank and Roberto shared an uneasy glance. Kamaria finished the last of her chocolate milk, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Bailey,” Bonnie growled. “A word?”

The two of them stepped outside the office into the building’s hallway. Quiet, unassuming music played through the speakers. Chatter from the receptionist faded into a background hum.