Page 11 of Doesn't Count

“Thank you so much!” I jump up, taking his hand in mine for a firm shake.

“I’m giving you this chance. I look forward to the rebrand.”

“I won’t let you down.” I nod.

“I’ll email you your assignment.” He calls after me as I head for the door.

I smile before leaving, excitement rattling me at my core. I run over to Jake, unable to hide my smile.

“You got in?!” He asks, but my face gives it away immediately.

“Yep!” I squeal.

He hugs me quickly, then pulls away. “I knew you would. You’re Ashton Freaking Crawford!”

“Congrats!” The sound of Justina’s voice is like a needle to a balloon. “Looks like we both made it. No shock there.”

Of course she made it on the project, it was never a question if she would.

“You too.” I tell her, deciding not to be too bitter about it.

“Who did he assign to you?” She asks curiously.

“No one yet.”

“Really? He assigned me Taylor Swift.” Her smile is victorious.

The second she says the name, my heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. I knew getting THE top artist of the year was a long shot, but Justina getting her? That just hurts.

Before I can even respond, my email pings, diverting my attention.

Are you kidding me?!

Night’s Deadly Deeds? I understand not getting assigned to Taylor Swift, but not being assigned to anyone on the top ten?! This is a joke!

I jump from my desk, my body humming with anger, and head straight back into Blane’s office.

“Excuse me.” I interrupt.

He doesn’t even glance my way, just waves at me to speak.

“You emailed me my assignment and it’s a band no one has ever even heard of. I was thinking more along the lines of Billie Eilish.” I tell him knowing Taylor Swift is already off the table.

“Night’s Deadly Deeds has been increasing in popularity at such a fast pace making this a perfect piece to cover. I want you to find out what makes them so great and how they’re climbing the ranks in the short time they’ve been a band.” He brings his glare up to meet mine daring me to argue.

I close my eyes, take a deep breath. I have to remind myself that he’s taking achance on me.

“There’s still plenty of potential for success with this band. You’re going to be uncovering things no one knows. The whole world already knows Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. I want you to take risks, but I don’t want you to flush your morals down the drain and that’s exactly what you would have to do with an artist that the world already knows inside and out.” He explains.

He’s not wrong. Is it harder to find things no one knows about top artists? Yes. It’s also a challenge I was willing to take on. I want to take this as a compliment, but Blane is giving me an easy assignment calling it potential for success when I really know it’s his hesitancy to believe I’ll actually take risks.

Whatever.

“You’re right.” I concede.

“Safe travels.” He smiles, concluding our conversation.

That did not go my way at all and now I leave this Monday to follow a band no one has ever heard of.