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Jeff rolled back from the table slightly. “You’re overreacting.”

“No, she’s not,” Kendra said. “The way you’re behaving is unprofessional. You just told a client we want to his face that you won’t sign him—and why?”

“I don’t like him,” Jeff snarled, looking at me. “I don’t like the way he talks to you. I don’t like the way…”

“The way?” I echoed. “The waywhat, Jeff?”

My tempter was boiling over and yes, I was making a scene.

And it felt really fucking good.

“I don’t like how he looks at you!” he growled.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Was I gaslighting him? Yes. Did I feel bad about it? Nope. “You just humiliated all of us in front of a new client. You didn’t do your research. You didn’t do your job.”

“And it’s not the first time,” Scott quipped.

Jeff’s cheeks turned even more red. He looked at me and then around the table. “I founded this fucking company.”

“You co-founded it,” Tommy said. “With me and Pepper. And Pepper is the CEO. Not you. Not me. This is her record label.”

“But I still own it,” Jeff said. “The only reason it’s here is because of my money.”

“The money you invested almost two decades ago,” Tommy said. “And Pepper not only outranks you now, but she also makes more than you.”

Jeff threw up his hands. “All of you are ganging up on me. I’m the reason this label even exists.”

“And I’m the one who madeForty under 40last year,” I said. “I’m the one who picks out our artists. My vision is what made this company. Tommy works his ass off, just like everyone else at this table. Everyone except foryou. So I’m going to bring in our client, and you’re going to sit there and do your goddamn job, or you’re going to leave. Do you understand me?”

Jeff’s lip curled into a snarl. “Or what? What would you do?”

“Jeff,” Lee interjected. “You’re not gaining any friends right now by behaving like an asshole.”

“We need to get this moving,” Ellen said. “Everyone has other meetings to attend before the end of the day. And thatyoung man”—she glanced at me as she said that—“is out there waiting.”

“Jeff, get up and welcome him back inside,” I commanded, sitting back down in my chair.

He shot me a dirty look, but did as I asked. He rolled his shoulders before opening the door. “Hey, Salt. Sorry about that. Come on in.”

Salt entered the room and returned to his seat.

I sent up a silent prayer that we could hold it together this time.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s get into it.”

THIRTY-TWO

PEPPER

The momentI sat down in my chair after the meeting, my phone chimed on my desk. My entire world felt like it was falling apart as I picked it up.

Fuck.

We’re going to play a little game. You’re going to take your panties off for the rest of the day while I’m in these meetings.

“What?” I rasped.

My head was spinning. He wanted to do this here? And now? After that disaster of a meeting?

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