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“Right.” I push up from the chair and retreat to the door. “It’s Apple, isn’t it? You’d sign her no matter what she stipulates in her contract?”
They remain silent.
“You should know, she’s getting an attorney involved,” I tell them in some weird last-ditch effort to get them to see her true colors. “She won’t make this easy for the record label.”
“Understood,” Tim says.
Without a backward glance, I march out of the office and search forhim. He’s the only person who shares the same passion for this business, the only one who will dowhateverit takes to succeed. Even if that means crushing someone else in the process, crushing them like the cockroach they are.
It doesn’t matter that TL Records won’t sign me without the Songwriter Split Clause. It doesn’t make a difference to me that my talent is part of the reason I can’t land a solo contract. All I heard in that short impromptu meeting was that Apple’s dreams are coming true while mine aren’t. Apple is getting everything meant for me.
I spot the man I’m looking for near the bank of elevators, leaning against the wall as if waiting for me.
“So, how’d that work out for you?” he asks smugly when I reach him.
I grab him by the arm and pull him toward the corner so no one overhears us.
“What’s the next step in taking her down?”
“That’s perfect.I know Apple will appreciate this, Carmella.”
Cece’s words penetrate through my brain fog, and I slow my steps to listen.
“No, no, nothing like that,” Cece continues. “I think she just wants to make sure this whole contract thing is legit and that she’s not being taken advantage of.”
My already frayed nerves start to unravel. Why does Apple need an attorney? How is she being taken advantage of?
Why the hell am I hearing about this by eavesdropping on Cece’s phone call and not from Apple or Mark?
“Girl, you’re gonna love her,” Cece gushes, clearly having moved past her reason for calling her best friend. “Oh, and Malice’s brother, Mark…”
Not caring about the rest of her conversation, I turn around and head back to my room. I wanted to get in a workout to burn off some of my restless energy, but it looks like that’s gonna have to wait.
After my door closes behind me, I pull out my cell and call Apple. It rings several times, and when I hear her voice, I open my mouth to speak but am instantly shut down.
“You’ve reached Apple. I can’t come to the phone—”
I disconnect that call and scroll through my contacts for Mark’s number. It’s odd to be actively seeking him out, but it doesn’t come with the former sense of dread it used to and for that, I’m grateful.
Mark answers on the fourth ring.
“What the fuck is going on?” I demand by way of greeting.
There’s a brief pause before he responds. “Well, I just finished my lunch, and I’m about to head to the hotel pool. There was this really hot chi—”
“Cut the shit, Mark,” I snap. “I don’t give a damn about what you’re doing.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he gripes. “If you don’t care, why’d you ask?”
“I meant what’s going on with Apple?”
“She’s at the studio,” he says. “Why?”
“Why does she need an attorney?”
“Don’t know. But I’m guessing she got that contract she’s been busting her ass for and wants to cover her ass. It’s what I’ve been trying to get her to do for years.”
I heave a sigh. “Yeah, fine. But why’s she calling Cece and not me?”
