Page 57 of Gluttony

Besides, I’m better than the con and I don’t want anything to do with Orion’s Abyss. There’s no way I’d be able to stealfrom him after getting to know him, I’m not a fucking monster. I’m working and loving what I do, especially with this new responsibility Orion asked me to take on. In fact, I decided to go big or go home and organized the fuck out of this research.

On my desk, there are ten piles. Each of them has a little index card explaining the category. The pile that holds the most recordable compact discs—or CD-R as Orion calls them—is where the artist forgot to put the band or singer’s contact information. Who forgets to put the most important information on their submissions? Those I don’t even bother trying to pop into the player, they’re an automatic refusal.

A few of the submissions are completely off brand for us. H2O deals mostly with rock or pop rock if it’s good enough for us to market with that vibe, which means the half dozen country music submissions go into pile number four…not for us.

The one I feel most guilty about is pile ten. Looking at the index card with “They Just Suck” written in bold black lettering, I place down the latest demo, fighting back a shiver of disgust with the number of times the chords were off key and sounding like Lady Gaga dragging her nails across the proverbial black board. I mean, shouldn’t music be your dream only if you can actually…I don’t know…play music?

In the “Yes” pile, there are two demos. One is a female singer who belts out some crazy Adele pitches but with a pop, folk, and sometimes metal music vibe to the whole thing. It’s not exactly on brand with H2O but I feel like it’s worth bringing it to Orion’s attention, just in case he feels the same way as I do.

When I pop in the next artist, I check to make sure the information is there…Slumlordis the band, hard rock with a touch of dark cabaret is the genre they’ve noted. There are four singles recorded, the first title being,Feck Around and Find Out. Curious, since I don’t think I’ve ever heard the style before, I popin my ear pods, lean back in my office chair, and close my eyes for the full experience.

The opening is guitar and drums, no holds barred, and that’s all it takes for me to be wrapped up in the rhythm. Until the vocals come on it just sounds like hard rock, but when the electric violin joins in, the entire thing takes on a whole new dimension. It’s fast then it’s slow and the emotions from the singer are hitting me right in the feels.

Fuck, I think I’ve got something.

To be sure, I continue on to track number two and giggle at the title…Down the Rabbit Hole. How fucking fitting.

Again, I’m invested in the beat and the lyrics and most of all, the lead’s voice and chorus. It’s like the song is for only me. I’m no expert in this business, not by a long shot, but I’m an avid music lover and this is going to destroy hearts and put them back together again.

Just to be safe, I listen to the other two tracks before I jump up and run to Orion’s office.

“I think I found something! Oops, sorry.” I skid to a halt, apologizing to Drew for barging in, but my excitement is too big to contain.

Orion is on the phone, his index finger out in the common sign for “hold on.”

With my leg shaking and my foot tapping on the marble floor, the same floor I kneeled and crawled on just three days ago before getting a healthy fucking from a near psychopath, I pretend to be patient. No one’s buying my act but it doesn’t matter.

If I’m right, I’ll have discovered a band and that makes me giddy as all fuck.

“Okay, we’ll be in touch.” Orion hangs up his land line and just stares at me with a half smile on his face. It’s goofy and I like it.

“I think I found something.” This time when I speak, I try for more professional by leveling my tone and raising my chin with confidence and determination.

“Do you, now?” When he stands, my brain short-circuits for a second. The light blue button-down shirt hugs him in all the right places and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows just maximizes his hotness factor by a hundred fold.

“Yes.” But even that won’t stop my excitement. “It’s rock but also a little artsy and the beat is summery and light but the lyrics are deep and meaningful.” I take in a deep breath and square my shoulders.

“I’ll be the judge of all that shit you just said. Have you been Googling buzz words?” He’s not laughing but I see his muscles ticking at the curve of his jaw and the mirth dancing in his eyes. He’s fighting the urge, and as much as I appreciate him not making fun of me, I’m pretty sure I’m about to blow his fucking mind.

“Just…keep an open mind. It’s not what you usu—-”

“I’m gonna stop you right there, sweetheart. We don’t do outside our genre, that’s not how this works. I told you this.” The fun glint in his eyes is morphing into his professional CEO wall.

“Yes.” I take a deep breath and reach out, placing my hand on his forearm and squeezing the tiniest bit. “But…” When our eyes meet, my stomach does that thing I’ve read about in romance novels. Basically, it’s the same thing as hurdling to your imminent death on a roller coaster.

“Bowie. Producing outside our normal genre is not only a marketing nightmare because we can’t work with the same people and venues, but it’s also business suicide because we’d be ignoring our usual listeners and buyers.”

“I know and it makes total sense, but can you just listen before you turn me down?” I won’t deny using my lashes and my touch on his heated skin to convince him.

“Fine. But you owe me one.” Oh, that glint that gets my panties wet is back and this time, I step closer into him.

“I will gladly pay up, Sir.” When he takes a sharp breath in, I know I’ve got him where I want him. And it has nothing to do with the band and everything to do with feeling him inside me.

Does that make me a bad person? In one way or another, I’ve been intimate with each of the brothers—by blood or otherwise—and for a reason I cannot fathom, I don’t feel guilty about it.

“Careful what you agree to, Bowie. I have…particular tastes so you may want to think twice about it.” This time, he steps closer to me and the heat from his chest is fucking intoxicating. Knowing a man like Orion is attracted to someone like me gives me a sense of power I’ve never felt before.

“Apparently, I do, too, so maybe you should tread carefully to avoid getting in over your head.” In a move too quick for my lust-filled mind to comprehend, Orion kicks the door to his office shut and has me pressed against his wall in mere seconds.

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