Page 8 of A Billionaire Rebel

“She’s a classic,” Hawk protested. “And she deserves to be treated like a queen.”

I laughed along with the rest. I’d chosen them for their talent, yes, but I’d known they were the correct choices when we’d all sat down together for the first time and we just clicked. When we were like this, I knew that my greatest contribution to Holden, more than my replaceable talent or the writing I did, had been bringing the five of us together.

“Have any of you talked to Cathy since you’ve been home?” I asked. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s miserable.” Kalini laughed. “Two weeks until her due date and she already made four people cry. Diana called to ask me if we could take her with us until the baby’s born.”

Bair let out a low whistle. “Damn. I thought she was scary when she wasn’t pregnant.”

“Hey, that scary got us five percent more than any other artist who ever signed with our label,” I reminded them.

Hiring Cathy Hendrix as our manager had been the second-smartest thing I’d done. I only hoped she’d want to continue after the baby was born. Her wife planned on staying home to raise little Zack, but things could change. Whatever her decision, we’d support her the same way she’d always supported us. Whole-heartedly.

“All right, Damon,” Kalini said. “What’ve you got for us?”

Not nearly as much as I’d hoped.

Five

Jae

“Havea good day and enjoy your new horn.” I smiled at the father and daughter as I handed over the receipt.

“I’m sure she will,” he said, giving the little girl a fond look as she hugged the French horn case to her chest. She’d informed me it was the only thing she’d wanted for her seventh birthday.

The bell over the door rang as they left, the girl’s bright chatter carrying her the entire way. They’d been the only customers, so when the door closed behind them, it was far too quiet again. Starla liked to play a different style of music each day, and today was classical. Beautiful, but I’d always thought that hot and sunny days were better suited to rock or country.

I closed the register drawer and glanced at the clock. Five minutes until the end of my shift.

“You can leave early.” Starla came up to stand next to me. “You know I never mind as long as we’re not busy and someone else is here.”

I raised an eyebrow as I leaned against the counter. “You trying to get rid of me? Hot date?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Jae. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

I grinned as I shrugged. “It could happen.”

“And rainbows could fly out of my ass.” Starla hopped up on the stool behind the cash register. “You know the only dates I ever have run on batteries.”

“Are there any other kinds?” I asked with a laugh.

“None worth having.”

We wouldn’t have talked like this if we’d had customers in the store, or if any of the other employees had been here, but Starla and I were friends as much as we were employer-employee. Aside from Jamie, she was my closest friend. I didn’t mind that, though. I’d rather have two great friends than dozens of mediocre ones.

“You picking up Kevin when you leave here?”

“Jamie’s working a late shift,” I said. “She had an interview this afternoon.”

“I hope she gets it.” Starla pulled up the time clock on the computer. “She knows I’d find a position for her if she wanted to work here, right?”

“She does.” I typed in my code and hit ‘clock out.’ “I think she really wants to get a job on her own. Show our parents that she’s going to amount to something.” I shook my head. “I wish she’d see that she doesn’t have to judge herself on our parents’ standards.”

“Hon, if we easily could shake off the influences of our parents, the world would be an entirely different place.”

“Good point.” I reached under the counter and retrieved my purse. “I’ll see you Wednesday.”

“Have a good night.”

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