Page 32 of Take What You Want

Her reputation has been laid out for over a year now. I don’t think a couple more weeks before the song is done is going to hurt it any further.

But I obviously keep my mouth shut and don’t voice any of that to her. We need to work together for the next few months and I don’t want us to start on a bad foot.

“Do you want to record any of your vocals today? I can be done so you can use the studio space.”

“Can’t. I have a lunch to get to. But I wanted to stop by and see how things were going.”

I shove my hands in my pockets, leaning against the wall. “I think it’s going well. I’ll be interested to hear your part on it, but I think with the lyric change, we have something here.”

Kerra’s phone buzzes in her hand and she glances at it briefly. For someone who is so eager to jump back into music, she sure seems to be preoccupied with other things.

“Well,” I say, clearing my throat, “if you’re not going to today, then I’ll get back into it.” I hope my hint at dismissal isn’t too obvious.

She frowns. “No need to run off so quickly. I thought we could chat a bit.”

“About the song?”

“Do you only care about the damn song?”

“Uhh…I mean, that’s what we’re here for?” What else would I care about right now? It’s not like we’re friends. We’re co-workers, essentially. If she didn’t come here to work on the song, then I don’t really see what business she has here.

She steps forward and places her hand on my arm. I angle away and push off the wall, walking over to the sound panel.

“You’re going to have to get used to me touching you.” Kerra crosses her arms.

What? “Umm, why exactly is that?”

“Your management didn’t talk to you?”

“About what?”

“Our relationship.”

“Our what?” I choke.

Kerra sighs and then speaks slowly, as if I'm a child. “Our relationship. To promote this song. You and me dating.”

I blink at her once. Twice. I can’t possibly be hearing her right. But I recover quickly, remembering my dinner with Jane.

“My contract says I can’t get into any relationships. I’m sorry?—”

“Unless authorized by management and the label.”

“What?”

She cracks her neck, exasperated.With me. “You aren’t allowed to get into a relationship with someone unless they are approved by your management and the label. You’ve always been a bit of a playboy, haven’t you?” She smirkscondescendingly at me. “Well, this idea came from them, and I’ve agreed.”

“There’s no way this was Arun’s idea.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “So it was my idea. Whatever. They’re all on board with it. It’ll be great promo for the song. And it’ll be a good look for you to have a steady, consistent relationship for once in your life.”

“You don’t know anything about my life,” I shoot back.

“Does that really matter? It’ll be beneficial for you.”

“And for you.”

“What?”

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