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Montana glanced behind her before turning back to me. "We can either go to my office or the conference room. The office will be more private."
Harrison raked his hand through his uncharacteristically disheveled hair before dropping his eyes to the floor. I knew we'd gotten past the issues the Lexi drama had caused in our personal relationship, but I really didn't like his body language right now.
"Let's go to your office." I followed as she turned and walked back through the rows of cubicles until we got to her corner office. Sinking down into one of the chairs in front of her desk, Harrison took the other while she closed the door and the blinds.
I raised my eyebrows. "Damn. Is it that bad?"
She sighed, but instead of sitting behind her desk, she started to pace back and forth, her spiked heels clicking with every step against the tile floor. "It's bad. Lexi has done a really great job of fucking up your reputation, True. Keeping quiet with the truth for this long has the label on edge. I got a call this morning, and they're considering holding the release of your album indefinitely."
Anger shot through my veins, and I sprung out of my seat. "Are you fucking kidding me? They can't do that! They know all the bullshit that comes out of Lexi's mouth isn't true."
Harrison sighed. "The truth doesn't matter when it comes to selling records, mate. What matters is how people perceive you and whether they're willing to spend their hard-earned money buying what you're selling."
I walked outside of the office, slamming the door open. I needed a minute, but dozens of eyes turned to stare at me, so I ducked back inside. The whole reason I'd ever even considered the Lexi plan was because Harrison said it would help album sales. Here I was with a horrible reputation and the possibility that the album I'd poured all my blood, sweat, and tears into for the past six months was on the verge of being tossed aside like it was nothing. Well, fuck that.
"What can I do?" I flopped back down into the chair, my head falling into my hands. Maybe it was worth it to just let it all go and wait for the band to come back from hiatus. Go back to normal, to what was safe and familiar.
Montana pulled out her chair and lowered herself down into it, grabbing a stack of paperwork and shifting through it. "The good news is that despite your reputation, your first single has performed rock solid. It's still near the top of the charts, and that's an encouraging sign of how well the album will do if it's released." She set the papers down and folded her hands in front of her, leveling me with her penetrating green gaze.
"Look, the label doesn't care about reputation, not really. All they care about is whether or not you're going to make money for them. I can sell them these numbers, and I think it'll be okay. I can't promise that they'll still go ahead with the release in two weeks, but I can promise I'll do everything I can to push them in that direction."
I leaned back in the chair, glancing over at Harrison before looking back at her. "Okay. When will we know?"
"I have a meeting with the execs this afternoon. Harrison and I were talking, and we think we've got a plan. It'll be a great way to kick off your album release and announce your relationship to the public if all goes well at the meeting." She nodded her head at Harrison, and he cleared his throat.
"Right. We have a show at a small venue, maybe two hundred or three hundred people max. You'd perform five songs off the album. It'd be just your biggest fans and supporters and a few select trusted members of the media."
I nodded. "I like that idea. I like the idea of rewarding the people who've stuck by me, and the media that hasn't been a complete pain in my ass get rewarded, too. Alright, set it up. If the label gives the okay for the release, we'll do it. I want Amara there with me, too, to make the announcement. I think it'll be more powerful."
Montana smiled for the first time since I'd gotten to her office. "If the baby hasn't come yet, she'll be ridiculously pregnant. Maybe you should check with her first about including her in this plan of yours."
I laughed. "We've already talked about it, and she's good with it, pregnant or not."
The redhead pushed herself away from her desk. "Okay then, well, I've got to get to my meeting. I'll text you this afternoon when I know more. Harrison will figure out a venue and start narrowing down invites. If you have anyone specific you'd like to be there, let him know." She nodded at Harrison, who pulled his phone out and tapped the screen, making notes before looking over at me.
Rubbing the back of my neck, I met his gaze. "I know this isn't your fault. Like I told you before, you couldn't have predicted Lexi would go off the deep end. When I said I was done letting this situation interfere with our friendship, I meant it. I still mean it." Fuck, why was it so uncomfortable talking about emotional shit with your guy friends? That shit came so easy when I was talking to my wife.
A bright smile lit up Harrison's face, and he visibly relaxed. "Thanks, mate. You'll never know how sorry I am for all of this."
"I know, but don't be. It is what it is. We can't go back and change the past, and I need my best people with me moving forward. That includes you."
I swear he almost looked a little choked up as he picked his phone back up and buried his face in it. I looked back over at Montana, who was watching our exchange. "Is there anything else?"
She shook her head. "That's it. Just keep your phone on you. I'll text you as soon as I'm done with the meeting."
I laughed. "I've been glued to my phone for the past couple of weeks. We're so close to baby time that I can't risk not having it on me even for a few minutes."
She bounced a little in her chair. "Oh, my god, I know. I can't wait to see that precious little pumpkin." I chuckled. My daughter was destined to have a P name from the very beginning it seemed.
"Amara's been a champ through everything. I know she's miserable and uncomfortable, but she doesn't complain. Still, I'd rather little P make her entrance sooner rather than later." My heart swelled at the thought I'd be meeting my daughter in a matter of days or weeks instead of months. I couldn't wait.
"Yeah, forget you. Amara's the fucking rock star." Montana laughed. "I'll keep you posted, but I expect a call the minute that baby is on her way."
I stood, pulling out my keys. "You got it. Thanks." I turned toward Harrison, who was still sitting and lost in his phone. "Bye, Harry."
His head shot up, and he scowled at me, but I just had to laugh. I loved how easy it was to get to him. "Don't fucking call me Harry, mate. I'm not the duke of fucking Sussex."
"Really? Could have fooled me. I swear, the resemblance is uncanny." In reality, he looked nothing like the guy, but I had to mess with him a little bit. "Right, Montana?"
