Page 5 of Bewitched By the Siren
Which I’ll need, considering how stubborn she’s being.
My smile drops as I check the time. It’s just after eight p.m. in California, and Julius will be expecting an update from me tonight. I have to call him, and I’m dreading it. He’s not one to mince words, and I’m sure he’ll have plenty to say once I tell him how thoroughly I struck out with Hali tonight.
Sitting on the edge of the couch, I pull out my phone with a sigh and call my boss.
“Howser. Tell me you have good news,” he says by way of a greeting when he answers on the first ring.
“I saw her perform, sir, and she’s even more talented than we’d hoped.”
“Why haven’t you sent the video, yet?” he asks, his no-nonsense tone even gruffer than usual.
I stifle a groan and rub a palm down my face before saying, “I didn’t get one. The bar has a strict no-recording policy when she’s on stage. I’m guessing that’s why there’s no footage of Hali performing anywhere.”
“No-recording rule?” he asks, and I can tell I’ve surprised him.
And not in a good way.
“No-recording rule?” he repeats, his voice louder and angrier than I’ve ever heard. “Are you fucking serious?”
“I’m sorry Mr. Bray,” I say quickly. “The table I chose was right up front and there was no way to sneak a recording without being caught. I’ll get it next weekend, for sure.”
I don’t tell him that I didn’t even try. That as soon as Hali said “put those phones away,” I slid mine into my pocket without even trying to defy her. Like I had no choice in the matter.
I can’t explain it to myself, much less to Julius. Perhaps I was just star-struck by her beauty and stage presence. So stunned by her, I didn’t think. Whatever it was, I can’t let it happen again. If I do, Julius may fire me on the spot.
“You better get me that video, Howser. Friday night. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir,” I say automatically. “I won’t let you down again.”
“See that you don’t,” he says, and a beeping sound in my ear tells me he’s ended the call.
“Shit,” I breathe, dropping my hand to my lap and staring at the black screen.
I’ve got to find a way to record her secretly. Maybe I can wear a shirt with a front pocket and slide my phone into it with the lens pointing toward the stage? Or get a pair of those glasses with a built-in camera like some kind of spy? Or if neither of those would work, I could just get an audio recording. If Julius could hear her voice, he’d be salivating over her, sight unseen.
Just the thought of going against Hali’s wishes leaves my stomach clenching. It feels like a violation. A betrayal. But what choice do I have?
Shit.I can’t send him anything until I convince her to at least consider signing with us. Because if he hears her voice, and I can’t reel her in, he’ll probably fire me, anyway, and send someone else to close the deal. Hell, he might even come, himself.
I steel my spine. I have six days to try to bring her around before her next performance. To show her that I have her best interests at heart and that I really want to help her.
That signing with me, having me and the Bray Agency in her corner will make her life so much better. That I can give her the whole world.
I can do this. Ihaveto.
CHAPTER FOUR
Hali
“Mom? I’m home.”
I hear her call out a greeting from her bedroom as I set my tip box on the kitchen table. Kicking off my flip flops, I grab a water bottle from the fridge and head for her room.
“Hey, honey,” she says just before I lean over her bed to kiss her forehead.
One of her favorite trashy reality shows is playing on the television at a low volume. Her eyes return to the screen as I refill her cup with the water bottle before popping its lid back on.
“What’s Kirra up to tonight?” I ask, nodding at the T.V.
