Bach

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My cock and my spirit both leaped when she signed the contract.

Nothing had even happened yet, and I still felt like Amina had just handed me the front page of every magazine in town. And not because I'd been caught passed out naked in some girl's backyard pool.

I fingered the edge of the contract. It was still warm from her touch. I sucked up every little hint of her existence knowing I was obsessing helplessly over her.

"Bach," Violet called after me. She shut the doors behind her, leaving Amina alone inside the conference room. "We need to talk before you run off to your next meeting."

Did the paperwork smell like Amina? I inhaled, my nostrils flaring—it definitely did. Slapping the contract into Farrah's hands as I passed her desk, I said, "File that. Then inform every media outlet you can that Beats and Blast has just signed the hottest new singer of the year, and she'll be debuting exclusively tonight at the All That Glitters Gala."

"What?" Violet gasped.

My secretary took the contract, blinking over and over. "Um. Okay."

I kept going, a spring in my step. Violet hesitated, like she wanted to tell Farrah not to do what I'd said, but she chased after me instead. "Bach! This is insanity! She isn't anywhere near ready for this!"

"I know. Set up an appointment with Silverwell's design firm. Get Amina in there today, she'll need to look good for her debut.”

"I am seriously going to shove my phone up your ass." Violet was cracking; she didn't usually get so crude, but I was pushing her. I didn't even feel bad about it, though, I was too damn excited.

She signed.

She's mine.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” I asked, checking my watch. “I’ve got to call Mark Anderson to confirm Amina’s addition to the roster tonight.”

Violet walked beside me, two strides for each of mine. “You’re not going to reconsider?”

“No.”

“This is just as career-suicide as the SoCal Artist award, Bach!”

“It’s one song. She’ll be fine.”

“How can you know that?”

Pulling up next to the elevator, I gave her a coy smile. “I just do. You have ten seconds to tell me whatever you were going to, hurry up.”

Her perfectly tidy eyebrows lowered over her vibrant green eyes. “She told me what you said to her, about how she’s a product.”

I kept my expression neutral. Inside, a wave of guilt assaulted me. “And?”

“You can’t be that harsh with her. She’s strong, but...”

“I’m her boss,” I said coldly, tapping the button for the seventh floor. “It’s my job to be realistic with her.”

The doors started to shut; Violet jammed her foot in, stopping them. “I’m not asking you to be her friend. Just for you to soften up some. Otherwise, there’s no way she’ll be able to work with you long-term.”

“You think so little of her?”

“Excuse me?”

Hiding my hands in my pockets, I slouched. “You said it yourself. She’s strong. I don’t think my honesty is going to scare her off. Amina knows what she wants.” I leveled a stare on her curious face. “I get the feeling she always has.”

My VP worked her jaw, reconsidering what she wanted to say. Finally, she crossed her arms and groaned. “I’ll get her to Silverwell’s so she’s ready in time.”

“I’d expect nothing less from my favorite Vice President.”

Her red lips crinkled tight. “I hate you sometimes.”

"Please," I laughed, tapping the elevator button again. "We both know you love me. Besides," I said as the doors began to shut, "This was all your idea in the first place. I'm just doing what you always wanted me to do—following through."

I saw her stunned expression, then I was alone.