Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
It took them another hour to get through all the auditions. By the time they were finished, Rafe had a good idea who’d be performing for Prince the next day. It’d be a good presentation.
But not great.
The Sassy Boyz would have made them unbeatable.
Fucking Hopkins.
He had to show up out of nowhere when Rafe was on the verge of getting out from under his debt once and for all. He’d worked so hard, saved everything he earned for the past three years, and now all he needed was one last big push. He could wait. He could keep biding his time, squirreling away whatever he could spare, but he was so sick of the manipulation. He was so tired of always looking over his shoulders, waiting for the metaphorical blade to put an end to his fight. Prince was his best chance at finding an end quickly and permanently.
After exploring so many other opportunities and having them all disappear inexplicably, he couldn’t afford to lose sight of his goals this time. He definitely couldn’t afford even a single moment of forgetting who he was up against.
And having Hop at Switch? It’d be tempting fate with a flashing arrow above his head and a sign that read Kick Me. He’d been right to fire them.
He had.
There was no other option.
Back in the office, Rafe stared at his reflection in the mirrored ceiling. He looked like shit.
The weight of everything pressed down on him. It felt like a massive elephant sat on his chest. The emotional burdens were worse than the financial. Those he was used to. He’d been living the high-pressure life of wealth and privilege since he was fourteen. With Roland’s guidance, he’d earned his first million before he’d graduated college. Too young to know just how treacherous that gilded world could be, he’d lost it all before the year was out. All he had to show for that first hard lesson was his apartment.
After that, he’d been smarter, but he’d still made bad investments and lost small fortunes until he’d finally poured everything he had into Switch.
He should be grateful for all that Lockwood had done for him since his father passed away. And he was. But a greater part of Rafe wished he’d never met the man.
Without him you’d never have gone to college, Rafe Lucas Marson.
His father’s voice echoed in Rafe’s mind, a ghostly reminder to stop complaining—even silently.
But Rafe didn’t agree. He would’ve found a way. Even with the sudden responsibility of having to take care of his family, of being the sole earner for his mother and three siblings, he could have done it. He had the determination and the skills to be somebody. He might have made it on his own.
But he’d taken the gift without considering who he was tying himself to or how deeply he’d become entrenched. By the time he realized, it’d been too late to back out. At that point he’d been obligated to do Lockwood’s bidding without question.
His first and most important duty had been controlling Lockwood’s reckless firstborn and keeping him out of the headlines. So Hopkins being at his club, dancing at his club like that? No. It couldn’t happen. After Rafe had lied to keep Hopkins and his mother in comfort, they needed to stay as far away from each other as possible. Otherwise, both of their lives could be ruined.
Rafe closed his eyes, but visions of pastel hair and heels twirled in his memory. Jesus, the guy could move though. He’d never seen anyone so graceful in heels.
A knock on his office door brought him back to himself and he straightened as Mark entered.
“Don’t bite my head off,” his friend said.
“Depends, what’s up?”
Mark placed a list in front of him. “Those are my recommendations.”
Top of the list: The Sassy Boyz.
Rafe sighed.
Chapter Six
“I’m confused, Mr. Marson.” Parker Prince tilted his blond head. His posture was relaxed, with one ankle on his knee and arms spread wide along the back of the couch.
They were in Rafe’s office after the presentation. They’d watched a dozen performances and sat through a long description of exactly what Switch and company would provide for the big event. Rafe had spent many long days working on the details, calling in favors, and setting up headlining acts. He’d spent many sleepless nights brainstorming the branding and organizing the marketing until it was just right. Hell, the budget had taken three full days. Throwing a party as big as the Prince launch meant dealing with major expenses and they were not always refundable.
To say he was not operating at full capacity would be an understatement. He needed to close this deal, spend some time at the condo with Dalia, and get some fucking rest.
“About what?” He took a sip of water and wished it was coffee or something with kick.