Page 69 of Deeper

I’d gotten paid a stack for my amateur attempt at being a model. I almost thanked him for paying my rent—and then the wording and idea lessened my smile and my mood.

Zander was too busy on cloud nine to notice. “You looked amazing.” He soon snuck me a lascivious glance. “But then we both know that, don’t we?”

I loved how attracted to me Zander was and vice versa. I could never not feel sexy or desirable with him around, looking at me, studying me, adoring me.

Taking a moment, I stood on my toes and kissed him as my fingers got lost in the hair at the nape of his neck. He closed his eyes and brought his arms around me, keeping me safe in this bubble of us.Zander. Everything was new and extraordinary with him. The way he fucked, and there was no touching the way he made love. Kissing him made my soul melt into a puddle of want and need. Zander was romance, poetry, and eroticism, wrapped in an incredibly good-looking package. He was too good to be true, because even his flaws weren’t that major.

This was quite the level-up I never saw coming.

“Well, how’d we do?” Paul was waiting out in the lobby, pacing back and forth. He’d been on his cell, but he didn’t hesitate to end the call before crossing over to us as we stepped out of the studio.

“She did good,” Zander said, flashing me a proud smile. “You should be thanking her, by the way.”

Paul was confused, his brows furrowing and his forehead adopting a crease. “For what? She got paid, didn’t she?”

Zander frowned. “Because she stepped up and did such an amazing job and killed it in there.”

Paul didn’t see it this way as he took me in. “It’s the least you could do; the guy’s writing sappy love songs for you.”

“Sappy?” Zander repeated, backhanding his chest. “I thought you liked it.”

“It’s good. Your female fans will eat it up. I like your dirtier records; that’s more my vibe.” Paul gave me a helpless shrug. “My type of sex is more impersonal. Leave a twenty on the nightstand after a night of just destroying—”

Zander scowled. “Don’t be a pig.”

Paul blew him a kiss. “Oink, oink, baby.” Returning to me, he went on. “Point is, you got my boy whipped. He’s defending you on radio shows—which is fine. I support it a hundred percent. But what this team is about, and needs, is loyalty.”

“Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean he’s entitled to me stripping off my clothes and posing naked for his single cover,” I spoke up. “So, him asking was him coming correct, and him thanking me, is him being grateful, Paul.”

Paul’s face scrunched up as his lips made an O shape. “Feisty, isn’t she?” He nudged Zander on the sly. “Careful, this one bites.”

“Watch your words,” Zander warned. “I already had to get on Nazanin abouthermouth.”

Paul took a sip of his blue drink I suddenly realized was in his hand, going and looking at me with new eyes. “So, you met, Naz, huh? And you still have your pretty face? Must’ve been an off day for the ol’ lioness, eh?”

His unfiltered approach to Zander had me curious who exactly was in charge.

“Actually, it was the other way around. Bi doesn’t take any shit,” Zander said with a proud look on his face.

Paul hummed and swished around the remainder of his drink. “Interesting.”

“You do know you work for him, right?” I came out and asked.

Paul only smirked. “Yes, just like I know I’m the best. Don’t let his little golden boy routine fool you; I’m one of the last few people willin’ to work with him.” He snuck Zander a glance that had him bowing his head. “Tell her about your old management team? Your assistant?”

Zander didn’t look at me and Paul took it as his cue to go on. “Zan here is a complicated artist to manage and deal with. He isn’t blackballed, but a lot of people talk and they knew he was too hot to touch.” He gestured to himself. “Me, I’m an asshole and proud, I can dish and I can take. Zan tries to get mouthy with me and I’ll pop his ass.”

Zander clicked his tongue and Paul laughed it off.

“I’m the last one on Zander’s side, so trust me, Bianka, I’m not the enemy,” Paul concluded. To show support, he reached out and patted my arm. “But I am grateful for you. As we all know, Zan’s been in a bit of a rut for a minute, but you, you pretty little muse, have him inspired again. Your idea about Zaturday was a smash hit.” He gathered his phone and made a few clicks before bringing up Zander’s YouTube account with his latest upload of his cover of Prince’s “Insatiable” we’d shot and filmed Friday night. “It’s only been, what, two days? It already has almost two million views and people are talking about the notes my boy can hit. Zander deserves to be much further in his career, so we just gotta keep pushing for the best.”

I decided Paul was harmless, probably one of those people who didn’t sugarcoat shit and just said what was on their mind. I could keep up, and as long as he learned his place with me, we’d be fine. One thing, though, he seemed good for Zander, not an exact yes-man, and not an employee who overstepped their boundaries either.

But then, I wondered what was the story behind Zander and his old management team.

“I’m going to head home. I got a few phone calls to make if we’re going to put together this music video,” Paul said. “And be prepared for a radio press run Friday to promote this song, because the world needs to see that pretty mug of yours if you want this world tour to go through. I think Teddy just released something and he’s on the circuit, too, so expect the typical bullshit So What questions.”

“Oh wow, the music video. What’s your plan for that?” I wanted to know.

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