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“I can assure you thatMusic Horde Recordsdoesn’t joke about money in any amount,” Mr. Miles says ruefully. “Not only are you taking over the social media for Layla, you’re alsomaking sure our systems can’t be hacked, and our computers actually work. There are some people who work with us who hate computers. Do you work alone?”
“I do, so day to day management may be difficult if it’s something I need to be present for to fix,” I admit. “This money would allow me to expand, find good people in Los Angeles who would be able to take care of the in-person customer care for you. This is just insanely generous, Sir.”
“It is. Layla is incredibly special to the label, and since her father isn’t well, we take responsibility for making sure she’s safe and happy. Giving you a way to expand your company while being with her is important to us,”Mr. Miles explains.
I know Layla’s dad had a break with reality five years ago, but she doesn’t talk about him often. My little flower also won’t let me go with her when she visits him once a year, so I’m just grateful she’ll let me hold her after.
One day she’ll learn she doesn’t have to be so damn strong all of the time.
“Layla is special to me too,” I say, realizing I’ve been quiet for too long. Mr. Miles doesn’t mention it. I have the feeling he’s used to sitting in silence and waiting people out. He’s damn good at it. “I think I’m in shock after this offer.”
I have no problems being bluntly honest, and Layla’s uncle chuckles.“You come very well recommended. We may have poked into your past employers before we suggested this to Lay,”he reveals.
Yep, wiley bastard. I never want to play poker with this man.
“Okay then,” I whisper. I want to be with Layla every moment possible, and as I look around this apartment, I know this isn’t where my heart is. It’s in Los Angeles with my girl. I won’t miss this place, and it came furnished. I can fit all of my belongings in two duffle bags. “I just need to sign this contract then and pack up, and I’ll be in Vermont tomorrow.”
“Did you see the other email come through? It’s from my personal email instead of the label’s,”Mr. Miles says.
Leaning forward, I scroll through, finding it in spam. According to this, I’m flying out at two in the afternoon in business class without a connection. Nice.
“I see it now, thank you. It looks like I’ll have plenty of time to be ready. I’ll let the company I sublet from know that I’m giving up the apartment. I’m all paid up through the end of the month.” I shrug. I’m not worried about the three weeks I won’t be living here.
“Absolutely not,”Mr. Miles says. “We’ll be reimbursing you for that forfeit because of the lack of time given to you to make other arrangements.”
“Oh, well…”
Mr. Miles won’t hear of it, and I shake my head because the man is a force of nature.
“We’re excited to have you on the team. Do you have an idea of who you’d like to join you that would be able to live in Los Angeles or lives here now?”Mr. Miles asks.
“I’m excited too,” I say respectfully, because I am, despite the lack of time to wrap my brain around it. “I actually have some friends from college that are located out there that are amazing at tech. They have their own business as well, but this would fit well into it.”
“Name of the business?”Mr. Miles asks. I can hear him tapping at the keyboard, and I have a feeling he has a penchant for getting information in illegal ways. I use my skills for good, but I’m sure he has his reasons for it.
“Liam Cybersecurity Experts,” I tell him. “They are more than capable of doing IT work as well, and that’s where they started before finding they enjoyed this a bit more. They’re three brothers, and named the business after the eldest.”
“A bit egotistical,”Mr. Miles snorts, making me smile.
“You’d think, but there used to be four of them. Liam died in combat, working behind enemy lines. He was going to join them in creating the company when he got out, but it just didn’t happen,” I explain. “So, this is their memorial to him.”
“I stand corrected,”he says softly.“I’ll do a little research on them, but give them a call and see if they’re interested. We’ll send out a contract to them if everything works out.”
“You’re like magic,” I mutter before I can bite the words back. I’m just in awe of this man.
Chuckling, Mr. Miles says,“I actually get that a lot. Take care of our girl for us. She’s had a hell of a last few years.”
“You got it,” I say before signing off.
Now, to convince people I haven’t spoken to in way too long to go into business with me. That’s just perfect.
Dialing a number I know from memory still, I listen as the line rings and rings. Hanging up, I call back once again because I’m a persistent asshole. I can barely remember why we stopped talking, because it was a stupid fight that happened seven years ago.
We got drunk together, when they were in town over the holidays because their parents still live in Georgetown. One thing led to another, and I called them out for letting their grief continue to haunt them. They’re not the same men as before, and while I understand it because Liam was my best friend too, he’s been gone for almost ten years by now.
They forgot how to live.
“Hey, asshole,”Ronan barks when he finally picks up the phone.“You finally over our tiff then?”
