Page 40 of Black Mark's Heart

Chapter Seven

"Okay, what's going on?" Ewan asked as we finished recording for the day.

The rest of the band made a hasty exit, leaving Ewan to deal with my mood. "Nothing, I'm fine."

"And I'm the queen of England," Ewan replied sarcastically, blocking the doorway. "We've been back recording for a week. Today, all your music is filled with angst and annoyance. While that's working great on the tracks we've laid down, it won't be good for the stuff we are recording tomorrow."

I sighed and dropped back into the lounge chair in the booth. "Zander met someone."

Ewan didn't look surprised. "When?"

"A month ago."

Ewan's eyebrows went up. "Shit, I expected you two to hook up, it's why I backed off," he admitted. I frowned at him. "You moved in with the guy, Mora. We all expected it considering he is helping raise Jacob."

"We were only ever friends," I grumbled.

Ewan's shoulders dropped and he sat beside me. "Okay, so Zander met someone. Are you jealous?"

"No. Yes," I cringed. "He's moving out, and I don't want that. I love having him there. He's great with Jacob, walks around naked, and gives me the most amazing back massages..."

"Got the gist, feeling sufficiently inadequate. I can clearly assume the problem is that you are basically married without the sex," Ewan cut me off with a grin. The smile vanished, pure worry shining through. "It had to happen eventually, Mora."

"I know, but, I'm going to miss him. I've gotten used to living with him and having Warren and Sophie there all the time," I admitted. "It's going to be lonely without him."

Ewan's brows lifted high, and you could see his caution with the next question. "Are you scared to be alone?"

I shook my head. "No, I've lived alone before, but I was so focused on work then, I was barely there."

"So, it's the potential of not having a sexy guy, who's good with his hands, walking around your house naked to perv on anymore that's the problem? Cause if it is, I can totally take over from him," Ewan smirked. "I'll even rub you down."

I smiled and elbowed him. "No, and no!" Ewan and his girlfriend broke up a few weeks back.

Ewan put his arm around my shoulders. "Maybe living by yourself with Jacob will be good for you?"

"Maybe," I sighed. "Still makes me feel alone."

Ewan squeezed me. "I know what will make you feel better." I could hear the smile in his voice. "We could have sex, right here and now."

I elbowed him. "You just want to get laid since your ex didn't believe in sex before marriage."

Ewan turned my face to his. "Never. I care about you, Mora, and I hate to see you hurting."

I frowned at him uncertainly and then saw that twinkle in his eye. "You shit! Do not go using that rock star sleaze on me. I'm your muse, not your..."

Ewan put his hand over my mouth. "You can't hate me for trying, Mora." Ewan stood up. "I came with Andrew, so I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow. Try and cheer up a little bit before then." He opened the door. "My offer still stands to make an honest woman out of you," he winked and left me to it.

I took a deep breath, stood up, and picked up my cello. When I reached the hall, instead of turning right for the exit, I turned left for the rehearsal room. Jacob was upstairs with Jeremy in his office. I'd been leaving my cello in his office all week to save myself from trying to carry both home.

As I approached the rehearsal room, an angry voice came down the stairs in front of me, causing me to pause and look up at the descending people.

"...not acceptable. Jeremy trusts you to coordinate with my people and keep us informed if your talent can't meet their commitments. Sending my coordination manager an email at eight o'clock this morning to tell us that your singer can no longer perform at tonight’s event is bullshit," Darius fumed.

"No, you coming over here personally to tell my boss that I'm incompetent and I'm to be taken off dealing with your company is bullshit, Mr. Rafal," Theresa, the middle-aged agent, scowled back at him. "I deal with creative talent who are unreliable and flighty at best. Yelling at me that a performer refuses to honor her contracts is not going to solve the problem. Coming here personally to try and get me fired definitely won't."

"I don't trust you to solve the problem, Theresa. This is the third time in a matter of months this has happened. Three strikes and you're..."

I turned the handle for the rehearsal room, wanting to get out of the hall as they reached halfway down the stairs. Theresa's head turned to look at who was witnessing her humiliation. Her sudden loss of attention drew Darius's eyes my way too, and that's when his words failed him. Theresa recovered first as I stepped into the room.

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