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The men in front of me eat this shit up. They’re looking at the phone and then me as if they can hear wedding bells, and I roll my eyes. They’re too much.
“The computer networks for those working on the tour probably need to be updated, and the security on our servers need an overhaul,” Jordan says, warming up.
“Okay, okay,”Tyler chuckles.“Yes, send me the contract, and I’ll look it over. I’ve been talking about releasing my sublet because of how much time I spend with Layla, but was worried about the days I’m in Georgetown.”
“You’d be with the tour during your contract, and of course able to work on whatever else you need to do. You’re completely remote, correct?” Mr. Allen asks.
“Yes, I am,”Tyler says, though he sounds preoccupied.“Lay, are you ready to basically move in together? We talked about it…”
“You’re kidding, right?” I tease. “I am trying to stay still so I don’t embarrass myself in front of the bosses, but yes I am absolutely ready for this! You?”
“Yeah,”he says, and I can hear his smile through the phone. It’s the slow, ‘cat that ate the canary’, shit-eating grin that makes my thighs clench every damn time.
“Okay,” I breathe. I blush as I shiver. Damn, I can’t wait to see him.
“I can push the meeting to Friday,” Mr. Allen says, clearing his throat. Blinking, I nod, trying to get a hold of myself. I can not be turned on during this meeting. I’ll take care of myself on a video call with Tyler and my trusty vibrator. You gotta do what you have to do when you’re long distance.
“Yep, and I’ll text you your plane details,” Jordan says, hiding his smile. “Are you good to fly in tomorrow? I would say tonight, but it’s short notice. Thursday shouldn’t cut it too close and there’s no chance of snow this early in the year.”
It’s August, so I would hope the fuck not. I love the sun, which is why I love living in South Carolina when I’m not on the road. The cold and I are not friends.
“Great,”Tyler says.“So you just casually decided this was a solution to your problems?”
“Yep,” the men in front of me say with Cheshire grins.
They’re up to something. “I don’t trust whatever is happening over there,” I mutter. They’re some of the most powerful men in the music industry, but then I’ll see the little boys in them. I don’t think guys ever really grow up.
“You don’t have to trust it,” Jordan says. “This is the best outcome for things. I’m calling it serendipity.”
Shaking my head, I decide to just go with it. Either way, I get to see Tyler tomorrow for better or worse. Hopefully, the band I’m going to see this week doesn’t completely suck.
I don’t think I, or my career can take it.
Two
TYLER
I’m a little surprised by the turn my life just took, but I can’t say I’m not excited. Layla is the love of my life. She’s so passionate about her work, makes me feel like I’m the center of her world when she looks at me, and we make sense together.
My gorgeous flower in a sea of numbers and computer facts. I love it, don’t get me wrong. Coding speaks to me in a way few things do, and fixing things fuels my soul.
The execs promised to send me a contract, so as I maneuver to my email, I see it’s already there. The old men work fast. Not only that, it sounds as if they’re genuinely interested in keeping Layla safe.
She’s had a shit run of bandmates since she’s been on tour, outside of her family that is. Lennon and her husbands are amazing, and you can see the magic they create when they play together.
Unfortunately, when they took a step back from touring, Layla started traveling and performing with Mav and Atlas. Theunfortunate part is that they played with my girl’s emotions, without any intention of following through.
I may punch them if I ever see them again for forcing the world to accept that the pieces of shit have to exist with the rest of us. And lastly, the previous group of idiots that walked off Layla’s tour: the drug addicts and the sexual predator.
Shuddering, I force my thoughts away from what could have happened the last time Zeke climbed onto Layla’s bus without permission when I was there. He deserved every bruise and punch while my little flower wrapped the blanket around her body like a toga and then kicked him in the balls. The bastard was still holding onto his tiny, injured…pridewhen I threw him off the bus.
Taking a cleansing breath, I open the email offer in my inbox, adjusting my glasses. I’ve been working for the past year to contract companies looking for cyber security as well as the typical IT services. They pay well, on time, and tend to let me do my own thing as long as I can continue to make their networks impenetrable.
This can’t be right.
There are way too many zeros in this contract for my work. Picking up the phone, I call Layla’s uncle, who is the contact at the end of the email. I have already scoured the contract, which asks me to oversee all of the networks for each tour remotely. In theory, it’s something I can do, but it’s still too much damn money.
“Hi, Mr. Miles,” I say politely as I sit back, brows furrowed. “I’m looking over the salary proposed for the work contracted, and it just seems like an astronomical amount for what you’re asking for. Is this a mistake or a joke?”
