Page 87 of Hold Still

“Thank you. Please let me know as soon as it’s been processed. I need that security.” Disconnecting the call, I sag against the seat and turn into the Project’s office.

How can this happen? He killed my father and only had to serve five years in prison? Frustrated tears course down my cheeks, which I dash away. Smacking the steering wheel, I scream, “fuck you,” over and over again.

When my anger runs its course, I check the clock on my dashboard. At least I planned to arrive early, so I have time to collect myself before presenting my finished project to the powers that be. All I need to do is set up my laptop and press play.

Matt has to be mentally put far away again. No way will I let him destroy this shred of hope I have for turning around my future, and my mother’s. I worked too damn hard to arrive at this moment for him to continue ruining my life. A restraining order will be filed against him, and he’ll never be able to hurt me or my family again.

Focus on the Project. I need the money. I have to be advanced to the national competition.

Gulping air, I picture a bald eagle and thrust my shoulders back. Fearless. That’s who I am. Who I need to be.

I walk into the Project’s offices and am greeted by Felicia, who looks me up and down. “Why are you so pale? You’re going to do great,” she whispers.

If only she knew. Tamping down the emotions threatening to push their way out, I force a smile and go with the lie she provided. “Just a case of the nerves.”

She wraps her arm around me and gives me a one-armed hug. “Don’t worry, McKenna.”

At her words, I freeze the smile on my face and walk into the conference room on wooden legs. Felicia makes idle chatter with me as I set up my computer.

“Caught that photo of you with Ozzy Martinez in the magazine,” she notes, fanning her face.

“Yeah, well, don’t believe everything you read,” I say as I hook up the computer to the projector.

“Photos don’t lie. He had his shirt off and—whew!—those abs.” She leans in. “Not to mention the nipple rings.”

My tongue tingles at the remembrance of swirling around his nipples. And then his piercing lower….

I’m jetted out of my thoughts when Felicia continues, “Please, please, please give me a little bone. Something.”

“I don’t kiss and tell. He might, though.” I offer her a wink.

“I knew it! I’m jelly.” She taps my shoulder and leaves me to set up.

Finished preparing for my presentation, I steal a bottle of water. More to have something for my hands to hold than to drink. My mind is a blur, and it’s definitely far from where it should be, which is here, at this conference table, about to make or break my future.

Members of the board and other workers at the Project soon file into the conference room. The president of the Artist Adventure Avenue Project, Peggy Laswell, takes a seat at the head of the table. Next to her is Greta VonStein, the PR woman for the Project. My eyes skip over her, knowing what she did to Rose and Cole at the beginning of their relationship.Bitch. I have to appease her, though, as she has the power to make or break my presentation.

Once everyone’s seated, the president wastes no time in asking me to turn on the video. Felicia dims the lights. Taking a deep breath, I press “play.”

An hour later, the lights come back up. This represents a year of my life’s work. I met with and got approval from all of the artists, but none have affected me as much as Ozzy. None unleashed my creativity like he did. I placed his segment at the end.

Everyone in the room claps once the video has ended, taking my last breath with them. Once things quiet, Peggy says, “McKenna, yours was an amazing piece of work. I need to watch it a few more times so I can offer you some suggested changes, but I want to let you know I’m thrilled with what you put together for us.”

“Thank you so much.” My mind swirls with whatever changes she may want me to make.

“Don’t forget the Big Reveal is next week, on the fourteenth.” I nod. “Speaking of which, when you submit the final, make sure to include your invoice.”

“Will do.” The money will relieve some of my problems. I might need to set aside a little bit to handle any legal issues from Matt’s release, though.

The meeting breaks while I dismantle my computer hook-up. “Great job,” Felicia gushes.

“Glad you liked it.”

“It was so fresh. A different take on all of the songs that we know so well. And a few new ones, too.” She elbows me in the ribs.

Knowing she’s fishing for more information about Ozzy, I place my laptop into its case. “Ozzy’s been working on the new songs featured in here. Some of the other artists also wrote special songs for the piece.”

“I’ll make sure to get the suggested changes to you by tonight. We’re going to need the finished product, plus a highlight reel, by the day before the event.”

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