Page 11 of After Effect

“I’d wager I know him better than you do.” Smug.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t think it was necessary. It seemed a safe assumption that this was the man Mr. Corbin called to get me this job in the first place.

Christian Baek leaned forward on his desk. “Yet, I wasn’t aware he had a son.”

“Now you know.” It was an obstinate response, but so was his prying. I didn’t know their relationship or how much history he had with my adoptive father, but I wasn’t about to out myself as not being blood related. The case had never been closed, and even six years later, it could have been dangerous to speak on it openly.

“So I have to ask…” Baek tapped a finger on his desk. My eyes followed each thud of his index on the mahogany. “With the Corbin name and fortune at your disposal, what are you doing working for me?”

I shook my head. “I don’t need my family’s money to make it in this industry.”

“But you had no problem using your family’s name to get in?” His deadpan voice only made me want to punch him. I don’t even know how Mark Corbin has this connection to ALIVE. It was hardly my fault that he leveraged it. But I didn’t need it to do the job. No matter what history they had, that statement was completely out of line.

I leaned back in my chair and cocked back my head to place myself in a position of confidence. “I’m not one to involve myself in my father’s deals. If you don’t think I deserve to be here, then send me home. I’ll tell him it didn’t work out. I’m not here to be your burden.” I paused for an extended second, trying to decipher that unreadable expression on his face. “I’m not here to ride his coat tails, so if that’s how you see me, I’ll call him right now.”

For the first time, I swear I saw panic in his eyes. Though it was so short lived, I could have been mistaken.

“Then prove it.” Just like that, Baek retook control of the conversation. “How about we make a deal? If you believe so strongly in this Lillian Ainsworth-Cisneros that you would like me to invest my company’s money, then I expect a guarantee.”

“Meaning?” I already don’t like how this sounds.

“Meaning, if you aren’t successful, then you’re going to owe me my investment. With interest.”

I bit my lower lip and slowly dragged it across the bottom of my teeth. Was I really that confident? I didn’t even know Lilly. If this all went wrong, I’d basically be signing away my life. “How much time will I have?”

“Time is money, Corbin. So that all depends on how deeply you want me to own you.”

I watched his eyes as they fell to the bob of my Adam’s apple as I swallowed my nerves and shot him a confident smile. “No one makes it in the music industry without selling their soul, do they?”

Baek’s lips curled upwards. He extended a hand. His fingers were icy cold as they wrapped around my palm in a firm shake. I could practically feel my soul leaving my body, and entering the ink of this contract.

“Is that all?” I forced composure.

“That’s all.” His voice was deadpan as he reopened his laptop. I stood and headed for the door.

“Oh, actually, one more thing.” Baek stopped me in my tracks again. “I won’t accept your father’s money for this when it goes south. This is our deal, and our deal only.”

“Of course, sir.” I nodded, keeping my back to him so he wouldn’t see how incredibly pale my face had fallen. I walked from the room and let the door fall closed behind me.

Fuck!

I’m going to be in debt to Christian Baek for the rest of my life. I promised Mark I would make it big in only three years, but at this rate, I’ll still have a balance by then. If he had taught me anything since taking me in, it’s that you never give another person power over you, and here I was, signing my life away for some hot Puerto Rican.

I shook my head at my own thoughts. It almost sounded like I had a crush on her when I put it like that. A chuckle escaped my throat just thinking about it.

How perfect! What better time to make life-changing decisions than when my hormones are messing with my brain. No one has ever made a bad decision because of skewed hormones.

I shook my head. Mark didn’t need to know how much money I spent before I started making any. He just needed to see the end result. I had plenty of time.

I tried not to think too much on it as I returned to my desk, but the whole exchange wouldn’t stop nagging at me. Even if all of this was some kind of nepotistic favor, I knew would silence any doubts with my skill. I wasn’t going to go down as the privileged intern who rode his daddy’s coat tails.

I pulled up Lilly Ainsworth-Cisneros’s audition again and clamped on my headphones.

He’ll see. Everyone will.

###

“Cisneros con Gandules, this is Josie. How can I make your day muy delicioso?” A gentle, feminine voice answered my call. My expression flattened. A restaurant? Did I dial wrong?She did say Cisneros… Maybe it’s a family thing? I guess there’s only one way to find out.

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