Page 12 of Soul Food

His impressive height.

And his sheer width and massive arms.

Looking at his picture made my bottom lip tremble. Somehow his back told me he gave zero fucks about everything. My gut told me to stay away from a man like that. Only Amit seemed to be my ultimate supporter. Apparently, he dealt with none of his contracts—neither his actors nor singers. He had no care what happened to them or what they did, leaving it to his people to deal with, but Jayne had very excitedly pointed out that it was all true except when it came to me.

Which shouldn’t have come as a surprise to her. Without a doubt, Ihad beenhis number one moneymaker. Of course he showed an interest in my well-being and wanted to make sure I stayed with Black Hearts. Even going as far as backing me the months that followed the LoFlo tour. Weeks later, I heard his voice during his first and only phone call to me.

I still remembered his contrasting voice—downright harsh and broken compared to my soothing, melodic one. His voice terrified me, like a teacher speaking sternly to a child. Instantly, I stiffened and straightened in my lounge chair. The sound sent a shiver down my spine.

Fear.

At the same time, fright gave way to a high level of curiosity that continued to eat at me.

“Why are you not at the studio?” he barked in a brittle voice the moment I’d answered the phone.

“Excuse me?” I breathed out.

“Are you that bothered by what they’re saying that you’re hiding out in your house?” he asked gruffly, like it was a pain to talk to me.

“Who is this?” I asked, the worry in my gut causing me to tug on my bottom lip.

“Get to the studio and sing like you desire.” Strange words. “I’m holding a press conference at noon where we will as nicely as one can tell them to fuck off. We aren’t bothered by the rumors. Hear me, Ruth? Fuck. Them. All. In fact, we’re so not worried, you’re going to plan yourself a new album, and we’ll announce it today.”

Dumbstruck, I mumbled. “Mr. Kingston?” Was I really talking to Amit Kingston? He calledme?

“Yeah, so get to the studio or stay there, wherever it is you need to be in order to write your new album, go!”

“Wait, Mr. Kingston. There’s no need for that.” He was silent on the other end. “The rumors don’t bother me, I couldn’t care less. Hell, they’re sort of true. I thought this would be a good time for a break. A chance to regroup and work on that new album you wanted me to write, but at my pace and without a press conference.”

I waited for his agreement, holding my breath impatiently. I hoped he went along with what I wanted.

“You’re. Not. Bothered. By. The. Rumors?” He practically butchered each word over pronouncing them as he exhaled deeply.

“I honestly don’t care. Freaked out more than anything,” I mumbled softly. He had no clue as to why I was so freaked out. Never would. Death was scary, but this was more than death. This was a demon. A soul reaper.

With a literal growl, he hung up on me, then a few minutes later, Jayne called and told me to take as much time as I needed. Just stay happy and do what I wanted. Company orders.

Now I wasn’t a part of the company. My contract ended three years ago, and I never needed to resign. By that point, I was already a millionaire with a huge reputation. I still collaborated with Black Hearts’s artists and spent a lot of time at their studio and even did things when they asked me to, but by all accounts, I was a free agent. My own boss.

“Amit Kingston,” Jayne did her whisper-hiss as I was so accustomed to, knocking me back to the present.

“Who’s the new band?” I asked on purpose, knowing it was driving her mad, and doing my best to downplay the excited and nervous little jitters at the prospect of catching a whiff of Amit in the flesh. The longer someone stayed away from people, most importantly me, the more curious I became. Why did the one that looked after me so well refuse to meet me?

“Ruth, don’t even.” She sighed, and I laughed lightly. “The meeting’s at noon tomorrow, so I figured we could get down there by eleven and horse around until he has no choice but to walk through the halls and alas, you see him for the first time.”

I snorted, pinching my nose in an effort to stop doing it. “How many times have we failed at this plan before?”

She huffed. “We won’t this time. I’ve got confirmation that hehasto be there this time. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. C’mon, Ruth, don’t you finally want to see that fine piece of man candy?”

“I’m curious,” I admitted, but she already knew this. “But unless he wants to meet me… I feel silly about the entire thing. Besides, if he’s as good looking as everyone claims, then why hide it?”

“Maybe he’s not full of vanity like so many of these hotshot actors. He doesn’t need to show off. He’s just all male…”

I knew she would go on and on if I didn’t stop her. “I guess I’m one of those conceited hotshots of the female variety?” I deadpanned.

“No, Ruth, don’t even compare yourself.”

I chuckled, taking another sip of my coffee. “It’s fine. I do like the attention.”

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