Page 25 of For The Record

My mother looks thoughtful and scheming, which is never a good sign. “That’s not too young.”

Ricardo chimes in, gesturing between him and Mama. “Your mother and I have ten years between us.”

Raina frowns. “That’s different. Her family is famous… And isn’t she Ryder Black’s ex-girlfriend?”

“I’m not exactly best buddies with the guy, so I don’t really see the conflict of interest here,” I say drily. “And like I said. It was just a date, not a marriage proposal.”

My mother fans herself with a cloth napkin. I roll my eyes at her dramatics. Is this the twenty-first century, or one of the regency romances that Raina loves to watch so much? I only know that she enjoys them because she made me sit through every Pride and Prejudice ever made. There’s only so much Mr. Darcy a man can stand before he has to question his own masculinity. Mine is intact. Mostly.

“Okay, okay, the boy doesn’t want to talk about it. Let’s move on,” Ricardo says, rescuing me from any more uncomfortable conversations. Instead, he fixes a stern look on my sister. “Raina, what’s this I hear about you failing your math test?”

She sighs. “I didn’t technicallyfailtrigonometry…”

#

On Monday morning, I wake up bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to face the day.

Or, I would be, if facing the day didn’t make me want to go back to bed. After pouring myself a cup of coffee (my usual cold brew), drinking it slowly while reading the LA Times, and doing some yoga, I finally check my email.

Which was a mistake, because I have about half a dozen with the same subject line: RYDER BLACK SONG LEAKED. Shutting down my email app, I power off the phone, slide it in my pocket, and get ready for work. Halfway through shaving, I nick my jaw: a second sign that I should have stayed in bed this morning.

Still, some things still call to me more than the comfort of my sheets. Things like the profits that Volume has to put out. The deals we have to make. The artists we have to sign. The bottom line we have to meet.

And the endless line of cars in front of me on Sunset.

All the motivation in the world, however, doesn’t make Los Angeles traffic any more bearable. I’m two seconds away from honking my horn or shouting at another driver when the radio switches from playing soft rock to summarizing the local news.In other stories, new artist Ryder Black of America’s Got Talent fame has just released his first single since winning the show… but it’s not in the traditional way, Instead, fans discovered the song on Sunday night when it was leaked onto YouTube. We have reached out to Volume Records, Ryder’s label, for comment and will get back to you with more.

Pushing on the radio dial with slightly too much force, I plug in the aux cord with one foot on the brake and no hands on the wheel instead, playing whatever playlist Spotify comes up with first. Easy listening jazz comes on, making me frown. I may be old, but I’m not old enough to enjoy the anodyne elevator music that plays in cafes, hotel lobbies, and when you’re on hold with the bank.

The car edges forward, moving another few inches, and I have time to think. Maybe too much time to think. Who could have leaked the song?

Who was present in the room? Did someone hack into the recordings database? My mind flashes back. I was so preoccupied with Skye that I didn’t think to be preoccupied with the actual business of A&R.

A rookie mistake, but one I made willingly, one I made far too easily. She’s just a girl. Isn’t that what I said to my family? Yet I can’t lie and say that sheisonly a girl.

Alina was just a girl. Skye… Skye feels like something else. Someone else, entirely, in this town of stick-figure bottle blondes and people hiding behind Botox and makeup. Someone who could be more real than I think I’ll ever have the courage to be.

It couldn’t be her. It wouldn’t be. I’m telling myself that or it’s true, but either way, I’ll find out. Yet she has all the motive to do it. For all I know, she got herself the job here to sabotage Ryder’s album. A knot forms in my stomach at the thought.

It feels wrong. But I can’t base a million-dollar record deal on feelings.

I just don’t know what I’ll do if it was her.

#

@ENews: BREAKING: @TheRyderBlack’s song, Missing You, has just been leaked! No comment yet from Volume Records

@RyderBlackSource: Do NOT, and I repeat, do NOT listen to the leaked song. It’ll probably be on his album anyway

@RyderBlackFanOfficial: @RyderBlackSource Thank you! I don’t know why there are so many so-called fans listening to it when it’s a violation of his intellectual property

Chapter 13: Skye Holland

When I get into the office early Monday morning, everyone is abuzz with a panicked ambience that reminds me of a zoo after all the cages have been opened.

I almost bump into Mark Leong, his dark hair flopping over his wire-framed glasses as he brushes it out of his eyes irritatedly. He scowls. “Watch where you’re going.”

So much for a truce.

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