Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
It's tempting. It really is.
But I have a better idea. "What if we talk to the artist?" I ask. "And let him decide if he'd rather work with me or you?"
Frederick's brow furrows in frustration. "How would he work with you? You're half a team."
Right. He's already replaced me. The woman he was fucking is his new girlfriend and his new songwriting partner too.
I'm a lyricist. I need a musician. There is someone available. Someone who knows my style well. We even worked together well, a long time ago. "I have a new partner."
Incredulity streaks his expression. "Who?"
The couple in matching t-shirts shifts, so they're no longer staring at the scarlet L on my forehead. They see the change in power. They see the fight in my eyes.
"A friend," I say, though it's not the right word. We're closer to rivals. Enemies even.
"And you two are…" For the first time in our entire conversation, regret fills Frederick's eyes. He tries to force a pleasant expression, but he doesn't manage to hide his jealousy. "You're together?"
Right. We're a couple. The artist wanted a couple—because who believes in love as much as someone who's currently in love?—and he's getting a couple. "We are."
"Really? When did you start seeing him?" He doesn't add your social media is empty and no one mentioned a new boyfriend.
It's all true. There are no signs I'm with someone.
But he only knows that if he's looking for signs, if he's still reading my Instagram posts, and asking his friends for updates on my love life.
I don't stop and think about the logic behind my actions. I don't pause on this is a bad idea. I need to win. I need the deal. I need to make Frederick jealous. "A few months ago, but we've known each other a long time. So it's going fast."
"You don't know any available musicians. Except for—" Frederick's dark eyes fill with epiphany. Then surprise. "Damon Webb?"
"Yep." I smile my best I'm madly in love smile.
"You hate him."
"We have a passionate relationship."
Frederick's expression stays incredulous. He sits there, turning over the information, nodding as he finds understanding. "Huh. Damon Webb. I guess it makes sense. You never could stop talking about him."
As if my hate of Damon is the same as him fucking someone else.
He continues, "So it's you and Damon against me and Tinsel. The artist decides. Winner take all." He holds out his hand, sure he'll go home with an album of songwriting credits worth six-figures.
He's sure he has the skills and the charm to beat me.
I don't know about charm, but I do know one thing, I'm the better lyricist.
I shake.
Now, I just need to convince my nemesis to help me.
The second I shut my car door, I see it—the image that's plagued me for six months straight.
Frederick and Tinsel pressed together on the blue leather couch he brought from his dad's place. Her red hair cascading down her back. His hands around her narrow waist.
The words on his lips. I'm sorry, Cassie. I love her.
I was smart enough to leave, right that minute, but I wasn't willing to give up my contracts. I wasn't willing to pay for his indiscretions.
A great stance in theory. Feminism. Girl power. Stubbornness. All of the above.
I kept waiting for him to do the right thing, but he never did. He won't. There's no sense in waiting for him to change his mind this time.
I need to actually do it, to actually convince Damon to work with me.
Only when I pull out my cell and I scroll to Damon's number, I struggle to breathe. He's still there, with the same label, Damon aka the devil, with the same picture from Daphne's twenty-first birthday party. He's in jeans and a t-shirt, his tattooed arm around his sister, a wide smile on his face. Because he loves her as much as I do. More even.
What can I say to convince him? He's a selfish person. I need to appeal to that.
There's money in this deal. Opportunity.
Is that enough to overpower our mutual animosity?
I don't know. I need my best friend's help. She knows how to persuade her brother.
I text Daphne.
Cassie: Do you know if Damon is looking for work?
Daphne: What sort of work?
Cassie: Songwriting credits.
Daphne: Probably. Isn't that how the gig goes? You're always looking for work.
It is, yeah. There's always a new project on the horizon.
Daphne: Wait a second. Are you thinking about working with him? Did you finally drop that dead weight?
She doesn't know a lot about the music industry, but she knows enough to not continue to work with her ex.
Cassie: I did.
He dropped me, sure, but close enough.
Daphne: OMG finally! Let's celebrate tonight. We can watch The Matrix and eat chocolate until we're sick.
That sounds amazing, but I have to do this first.
Cassie: Soon. I need to find a partner for a deal ASAP.