Page 84 of Hard Rock Fling
I hadn't spent much time with Naomi. She seemed like a competent, no-nonsense kind of person, but always with a pleasant smile on her face. Unlike Janet, who always looked like she'd eaten something sour.
"How are you finding things?" she asked.
"Good. Things are great. I'm having a lot of fun working with the band." I winced inside. Maybe she would think I was being too flippant. Work wasn't supposed to be fun.
She gave me a wide smile. "Glad to hear it. I know the guys can be trying at times. Cameron, especially."
"I can handle him."
"So I've heard. I want you to know you've been doing good work. Kristine and August have nothing but praise for you."
My heart leaped. "Thank you. That means a lot."
"I actually wanted to speak with you about that." Naomi clasped her hands together on the table and leaned forward. "I know you were originally hired for a short term internship. I don't know what your plans are beyond that, but we've been talking. What do you think about staying on and continuing to work as an Image Consultant for Etude Entertainment?"
I let out a small choking sound. "Really? That would be awesome! I'd love to. Very much."
"Wonderful. I'll speak with our team and draft something up. An official job description, employment contract with salary and health benefits."
I knew I was officially old, because the phrasehealth benefitsmade me go all tingly inside.
"Do I need to do anything? Talk to Janet or something?"
"No, I'll take care of it all. You continue working on the current album. Are those new sketches?" Naomi leaned forward.
I explained to her with excited motions what my new plan was. She worried for a bit, but I managed to convince her this was the best move for the band.
Although, mostly I meant it was the best move for Ian.
August wandered in a few minutes later, taking a seat beside me. He was surprised to see Naomi, glancing at her with questioning eyes. She tilted her head towards me and nodded.
August gave me a brilliant smile, the first real expression I'd seen on his face besides thoughtful or intense. "Welcome aboard."
Ian and Damon came in a few seconds later, playfully shoving at each other. I quickly glanced at Ian's wrist, but didn't see any gauze peeking out from his wrist cuff.
He caught me staring and gave a shake of his head, letting me know he hadn't done anything. I hadn't thought he would, but it was better to make sure.
"Thanks for coming, everyone," I said briskly, trying to sound professional. I was an official employee now, not just an intern.
"What's this meeting about?" Ian asked, a slightly puzzled expression on his face. I hadn't told him about it until early that morning, just before I'd left for home to get changed after another night together. I hadn't told him what I'd planned.
"Sorry for the last minute notice, but I think this is important."
"So what's up?" Damon grunted impatiently.
"I had some trouble sourcing enough material for your shattered glass concept." I was only fibbing a little. I'd had some trouble, true, but in the end I'd managed to scrounge up enough. They didn't need to know that. "So we've decided to go back to my original idea."
"We?" Damon asked, sitting up in his chair with a frown. "Who's we?"
"August and I."
Ian and Damon both flicked their eyes to August. He gave nothing away. I pressed on.
"We're going to go with torn bloody clothes for Damon to represent passionate fighting, and silk and leather for Ian to represent passionate sex."
Ian tilted his head in surprise, glancing back and forth between me and his brother.
"No." Damon shook his head. "I told you before, we want the same concept."
