Page 34 of Just My Type of wrong guy

“Well, let’s get back to it…” His voice brings my mind back to the table. “As I’ve said many times,which is not my usual thing, you’re a treasure, Alex,” he emphasizes, and the friendlyimage in front of me doesn’t resemble the executioner who’s humiliated highly skilled singers on reality shows for years.

“Thank you so much, Victor,” I reply, tucking a curl behind my ear, and smiling without humor.

“Don’t thank me, just keep enchanting the crowd with your voice, and we’ll be even,” he asks with a wink, adjusting his button-down shirt with a slight tug at the collar. — “But we need to be honest, I can’t take you on as the opening act for Vicious Bonds in the U.S. We have several rising stars at the label who fought tooth and nail for that spot.”

He laughs at the thought, as if it’s the most incredible thing in the world, and I nod, ready to thank him for the opportunity and leave this crazy guy here.

“So, we have two options now.”

“Two?” I instinctively tilt my head, confused. “I was pretty sure dismissal was the only one…”

“Letting you go would be easy, but not smart. You’re good, and ‘Maybe’ is Vicious Bonds’ biggest hit since ‘Made to Never Break,’ even if half of it is in Portuguese. That tells me the audience is attached to you.” He scratches the tip of his nose, as if this irritates him more than it pleases him.

“My proposal is to bring you into the band’s backing vocals and keep the duet for the concerts.” Victor leans back in his chair, taking a dramatic pause, not waiting for me to say anything. “I know you had other plans, we checked with your manager, but I think you know what’s best for your career in the long run, right?”

I clench my jaw to stop myself from closing my eyes at his words. Of course, I know what’s best for my long-term career and for my short-term wallet. Staying with Vicious Bonds will bring me more money, visibility, fans… But it will stop me from investing in my own career, in my country.

And that was the only thing I wanted right now.

“That’s quite a proposal, Victor,” I respond, smoothing my legs over the flexible fabric. “How much time do I have to think about it?”

“Think?” The man blinks his green eyes twice, as if the idea of me needing time to think never crossed his mind and unlocks his phone. “Three minutes.” He sighs, crossing his hands over the table and looking at me disapprovingly. “I need your decision at this meeting. It’s not that hard, Alex. What will bring stability?”

It’s a trick question and he knows.

Still, it’s like I’m in the middle of a duel between the hope of my own path and the seduction of the spotlight that belongs to others.

“Look, we’ve got two minutes, okay? Since this is just a routine meeting, because the best option is obvious, I only set aside ten minutes for us in my schedule.”

Of which he spent three on his phone.

But I blink for about five seconds, nodding, ready to give him the answer he’s been waiting for.

Who would believe that investing time in a flopped career could be better than working with the biggest band in the world?

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my heart, which is beating so fast I can almost hear it.

“Victor, as you said, there’s nothing to think about. I’ll talk to Thalia and figure out some contract issues with the shows we already had scheduled, but…”

“You’ll have almost a month off between the end of the European tour and the start of the U.S. tour. Maybe we can fit everything in.”

Of course, I’ll fit the release of two songs and a mini-tour into four weeks, sure.

“Definitely, Thalia will know exactly what to do,” I force a smile, even though I want to cry, and stand up.

“You’re doing the right thing, girl. In a few years, you’ll thank me.” He stands up, extending his hand. “Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to reach your dreams.”

“Sometimes you do.” I nod and swallow hard, turning around.

But I don’t understand why I’m so shaken by this situation. Even before he finishes his proposal, I had already accepted because, at the end of the day, the last thing I need is to close another door in this industry.

I leave the building, telling A.J. I had an unexpected thing come up and need to head straight to the show; there’s no way I’m talking about this with anyone right now.

Chapter Thirteen - A.J.

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry

You don't know how lovely you are

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