Amina

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“I'm staying here?” There was no way to hide the awe in my voice.

The house—if that was even a fair word—had been hidden behind the giant gates covered in ivy. There was a crisp, green front yard with skinny lemon and orange trees breaking up the flatness. A few pieces of fruit littered the ground, the air tingling my nose with the scent of citrus.

As we drove along the path, I realized the building stretched out on both sides like a pair of wings. It could have housed thirty people, it was way too much for just me. Suspicious, I eyeballed Violet. Her mouth was set in a tiny smile. Her giant sunglasses made it look even tinier.

Parking the car, she lifted the glasses enough to wink at me. “Wait till you see inside. You won't know what to think.”

Honestly, I didn't need more to think about. Ever since Bach had stormed out of the recording studio, I'd been in a funk trying to decipher it. What had I done wrong? Violet had assured me—when I'd asked her bluntly if I'd messed up—that everything was fine.

I wasn't dumb. Everything was not fine.

Was it the song I chose?

"Here," she said, lifting my suitcase from the trunk and setting it on the smooth stone under us. "I'll get this, you go on ahead."

"No, no. I can carry my own luggage!"

"I'm sure you can. That's what makes it a favor and not an obligation." Grinning, she walked off with it towards the wide French doors.

"Thank you," I said honestly. Despite her instructions to go ahead, I kept pace with her, opening the door so she could walk inside. I'd been hopeful that they'd put me up in a Holiday Inn. I'd heard they sometimes had free tea and mints in their rooms.

But this...

This was insane.

A large, circular couch was placed in the middle of the foyer, but there was so much room on both sides that I could have stretched my arms out and not touched the thing while walking by.

Arches triple my height were cut into the pale walls like this was part of the Colosseum. The upper level that I could see had similar arches along the railing, and as I trailed behind Violet, I kept expecting to see someone—anyone—walking past them.

"Are you alright?" she asked me.

Blinking at her, I smiled sheepishly. "This is a huge estate," I explained. "Aren't there other people living here?"

"In a sense." She didn't elaborate, she just kept pulling my suitcase further inside. I itched to press her, but I was too dazed. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought I'd enter a mansion.

I feel like a princess. Korine was never going to shut up when she found out.

The walls had tons of art, changing the vibe to that of a museum. There were open doors along the walls; I spotted green grass, trees, a long pool and what looked like a guest house. Who needed that when you probably had fifteen bedrooms in the main building? Maybe it's a pool room? A giant, way too fancy place for foam-noodles and chemicals?

"Up here," Violet said, dragging my suitcase along a curving staircase. We trotted down the soft rug lining the hall above the foyer. From here, I could see that there was a giant music note created by silver tiles on the floor below.

Many doors were closed along the hall. Violet pushed one open, dropping my luggage just inside. "This is yours," she said, breathing heavily.

Stunned, I wandered into the bedroom. The open balcony let sunlight and bird song inside. A silvery bedspread covered a huge mattress, and I was pretty sure I could see a bathroom that might as well have been a spa.

"Wow." It was all I could say.

Checking her phone, the VP sighed. "It's already this late? I have so much paperwork to get ready. Amina, you should get settled and relax. I'll check in on you later."

"Oh, should I... do anything?"

"I just said to relax." Grinning, she backed into the hall. "Chill until dinner. I'll order something. The work begins tomorrow, enjoy the last bit of daylight you have as a normal person."

Smiling uncertainly, I sat on the bed. "You're going to transform me?"

Violet's eyes danced away. "Not me. The job will transform you." Hesitating, she cast me one more of her bright smiles. "Okay! Yeah! I'll talk to you soon, you have my number, call if you have any questions!"

She was gone before I could remind her I’d lost my phone at the airport.

Stretching, I dropped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. It had been a very long day for me. My eyelids itched, drooping as I listened to the sounds outside. Transformed, I mused. Can becoming a musician really change who I am?

Violet made it sound both glamorous and terrifying. What a combo. Reminds me a lot about...

Bach Devine.

Shivering, I rolled onto my side. I could see him in my head, that masterful poise and brutally hot stare. I'd known he would be handsome, but videos and photos didn't capture his energy.

I thought he'd be exactly like my cocky ex-boyfriends. Instead, he was like no one I'd ever met before. I was a little wary... and plenty intrigued.

I didn't know I'd fallen asleep until the early sun started burning my eyelids.

Groaning, I sat up and shielded my face. Did I really sleep all night? What time is it? I scrubbed my palm over the blanket, then under the pillows, before remembering I'd lost my phone.

Rubbing my eyes, I swung my legs over the side of the giant bed. I ached, but worse, I felt dirty from sleeping in my clothes. I'd done it many times before, but when my surroundings consisted of pure white satin and crystal, well...

My suitcase was sitting in a corner. Digging into it, I grabbed out a clean outfit. The bathroom attached to my room was bigger than Caffeline. Setting my clothes on the giant sink counter, I fiddled with the shower.

Why didn't Violet wake me up for dinner? Imagining her seeing me passed out and drooling was too much. I stuck my face in the hot water and let it wash away my stiff muscles and sour mood.

Drying myself off, I slipped my hair up in a loose bun, then draped on clean jeans and a pale-yellow tank-top. Looking more awake, I eased my way quietly down the stairs. I mean, I tried to be quiet; my heels landed hard, a bad habit of mine, announcing me wherever I went.

Sunlight leaked in from all directions, creating a peaceful atmosphere. I was about to call out for Violet, but the notable scent of coffee reached me. Of course. Breakfast time. What a fantastic idea.

Strolling across the cool floor in my bare feet, I didn't wander long. The kitchen was unsurprisingly huge and easy to find. There was a large marble island covered in pastries and a platter of eggs and bacon. On one side sat a silver carafe of the coffee I'd smelled, next to that, a clear one of orange juice.

But as much as my stomach growled hungrily at the sight of food... that wasn't what I was staring at.

He was naked but for a pair of tightly-fitted red boxer-briefs. They left nothing to the imagination—and believe me, I'd done a bit of imagining. Ink designs swept over his bare torso; giant wings and various cursive letters.

Never had I seen a real live person with such perfectly defined muscles. Every assumption I'd made about magazine's photoshopping models turned into doubt. Real people like that did exist.

“What are you doing here?” I gasped.

Bach turned towards me, one eyebrow lifting just as slowly as the edge of his smile. “Excuse me? This is my house.”

His house. Of course.

"You mean... you and I..."

“That's right,” he said. “We’re going to be roommates.”