Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“I do like you, Delilah. You have true talent in this industry. I got talent and connections as well. We’d make a great team,” Ethan pointed out. “What are you working on now?”
I looked away from him, my heart sinking at the thought of the band again.
“I wrote a song with an up and coming country band,” I replied.
Ethan chuckled lightly.
“That’s cute, but I have a proposal for you that’s even better,” he said.
My curiosity took hold of me as I looked back over at him.
“What?” I asked.
Ethan glanced at the expensive bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon in his hand.
“I’d like to tell you over a glass of wine,” he said.
Bastard. I stepped back to allow him into my apartment, and I hoped that this wasn’t a mistake. Once I shut the door and grabbed two wine glasses, we sat on the couch, and he poured us each a glass.
“Spill,” I told him, wanting him to get to the point.
Ethan clicked his tongue at me.
“Relax, Delilah. Can’t I say it’s nice having you back in New York?” he asked.
I glanced away from him, staring into my glass of overly expensive alcohol. Was he the only one who missed me here? When I returned to New York, I got an excited text from Mark, but that was it. I didn’t exactly have that many friends, but I had tons of acquaintances in the industry.
“It’s weird being back,” I replied.
Ethan smirked.
“I can’t believe you were stranded in some crappy town for weeks. Talk about torture,” he scoffed.
Anger flared through me as I glared at him.
“It’s a good town with nice people,” I snapped at him. Once the red haze faded away, I blinked in surprise. I couldn’t remember a time when I had ever defended Chalice Falls, but it meant something deep to me now. The men I loved were there. The one who kept breaking my heart was there too.
“Easy, tiger,” Ethan said before sipping on his wine. He then cleared his throat and angled his body toward me more. “I’m starting my own studio here in the city.”
I shot him a surprised look. He never mentioned anything to me about having his own studio. He mostly went to whatever nice studio the artist he was working with was recording at.
“It’ll be up and running in about two months, but I’m already getting calls from big names who want to set up recording sessions. At this rate, I’ll be booked up for the next year,” Ethan told me.
His cocky tone nearly made me roll my eyes, but I behaved and merely nodded.
“I guess that’s not surprising. You know a lot of people,” I stated. Did he come here just to boast, or did he actually have something to tell me?
Ethan stretched his arm out across the back of the couch, leaning closer to me.
“That I do, but I heard a rumor that your label wants you to do an album next. Since I like you so much, I’d be happy to fit you in as one of my first clients. You can record for free, but I want a producer credit,” Ethan told me.
The thought of working with Ethan on an album made me unsure of how to feel. On the one hand, he was annoying and cocky. I couldn’t imagine spending hours in a studio with him. However, on the other hand, he was a great producer who could bring a lot of attention to my album. It could be my most popular release yet.
“That’s it? You just want to work on the album?” I asked him.
Ethan nodded.
“I know a rising star when I see one,” he said, letting his eyes sweep over me. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind seeing your pretty little self in my studio all the time.”
I wanted to grimace, but his offer was a huge one. It would most likely do better than a collaboration album with the band. That thought made my stomach churn, making me internally cringe. I didn’t want to think of things like that.
Money didn’t matter in the long run. Fame always fizzled out. But Ethan was offering me the album deal of a lifetime, one I had been dying to get since I was signed. Sure, he was a pest at times, but maybe it was worth the sacrifice.
But if I accepted, that really meant that I couldn’t go back to Chalice Falls to the guys. I couldn’t pursue a relationship with any of them because I’d be busy with the album. After the album was released, I would have to do promotion and then a tour. That would be my life.
I loved the thought of living that life, but I hated the thought of not being with the band. I hated that I couldn’t think about Ryder, the first guy I ever fell for, without thinking about the pain that he caused me. Did I really want to give him and the other guys another chance at hurting me?