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  “Before we continue, let me explain Luke’s management preferences, so that there are no misunderstandings.” Tommy again brought the glass to his lips.

  Leona raised an eyebrow and peeked over at Abe. She pulled her shoulders back and puffed her chest, ready for whatever Tommy was about to share, when a man zoomed up to them. His swift movement startled her.

  “Luke,” Tommy called and they all rose to greet him.

  Luke was well over six feet, olive-skinned, and muscular with short dark brown hair. He was now the tallest man in their party. He wore a short-sleeved green tee shirt that partially exposed a random pattern of thick, black, curving, inviting lines on his forearm that merged together into an intricate tribal tattoo. His dark blue jeans fitted snug against his strong thighs and he sported a pair of trendy black sneakers with white soles.

  “Hey, Tommy, sorry I’m late.” He put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder and leaned close to his ear. “I’ve been trying to put my set together, but I’ve gotten three calls so far telling me sound check is in an hour. Shouldn’t they be calling you instead of me? Anyway, I need flash drives to back up my music. I’m starving, too, so let’s get something to eat after this.”

  The relaxed and friendly exchange between the two men made her smile. They interacted like genuine friends. Her first impression was that she liked Luke. He was easygoing with his agent, even though this was an important night for him.

  “All right, man. I’ll get it all straightened out.” Tommy turned to Leona and Abe. “Luke, I’d like you to meet Leona Sable and Abraham Wallace from Wallace Entertainment.”

  Luke shook Abe’s hand. “Pleasure to work with you, Mr. Wallace.”

  The rooftop breeze carried Luke’s fragrance. A combination of musk, sandalwood, and patchouli hung in the air.

  “Mmm.” Leona’s entire body melted into relaxation as if she had just snuggled under a warm duvet in the middle of winter. Whoa. Her potent response to Luke and his scent was unexpected.

  Luke did a double take when he saw her. His green-gray eyes evaluated her and lingered a moment on her lips. “Leona Sable.” He stretched his hand out. “I apologize. We don’t have much time because of my performance tonight.”

  The Internet didn’t prepare me well for this yummy-smelling hottie. Not at all.

  Though a blush warmed her cheeks, she grasped his hand firmly, and shook it with a businesslike nod. “Hello, Luke. It’s nice to meet you. Please call me Leo.”

  “Leo? Your name sounds familiar.”

  Shouldn’t the person’s name you requested a meeting with sound familiar? You’re cute, but maybe not so smart. “I’m—”

  “That’s because Leo does stellar work.” Abe stretched his hand out to Luke. “Her reputation precedes her.”

  Luke turned back to Leona and twisted the soul patch of hair beneath his lower lip. “Who did you last manage, Leo?”

  Leona couldn’t help but notice Tommy’s disposition change from confident to anxious. Since she’d assumed they already knew what went down last year, she hadn’t thought about how to answer that question, and opted for honesty.

  “I’ve had success with a few clients. I haven’t managed in a year, but my last clients were Ramsey Fox and Paul Reese.”

  Luke’s eyes narrowed and recognition spread across his features. His hand shot out and clutched Tommy’s lapel. “I trusted you to handle my management and you set me up with Paul Reese’s manager? Are you trying to fuck up the progress we’ve made?”

  Instinct surged through Leona and she backed up. What the hell just happened?

  Has Luke come in contact with Paul’s lies?

  Tommy placed a hand on Luke’s chest to stop his exit. “We need to secure your management so you can focus on the music. I’ll take care of everything else, but we need Wallace Entertainment.” Tommy set his glass down and took a superhero stance, pushing back his jacket and placing his fists on his hips.

  Luke squared his shoulders. “All right. He stays, but she goes.”

  “Excuse me? Didn’t you request this meeting?” I was running for this jerk?

  Luke faced her, his eyes changing from warm attentive green to angry gray. “I no longer work with female managers. Tommy knows this.” Luke dragged his attention to Tommy.

  Leona felt her inner Queen Bey stir and the lyrics to “Run the World” almost had her doing choreography. “What did you say?”

  “Luke, you seemed more open to the idea before. I’m asking you to reconsider,” Tommy reasoned.

  “That was before I realized she’s Reese’s ex. I don’t need that drama and negative shit around me. I have my share.”

  Paul Reese strikes again.

  Leona attempted to salvage her dignity. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but—”

  “I’ve heard enough.” Luke glared at her as if she caused all his problems. Beyond offended, she was confused.

  “What does my being Paul’s ex-girlfriend have to do with anything?” Leona braced herself for Luke to recant Paul’s gossip. But instead Luke honed in on her personal relationship. It wasn’t entirely strange but perplexing.

  Tommy stood squarely between them.

  “Okay, everyone, just calm down.” Tommy’s even tone interrupted before she could get an answer.

  Leona eyeballed Luke although she spoke to Tommy. “I suspect these are the preferences you were talking about? Fine with me.” She pivoted to walk away. Her explanations about Paul ran out long ago. She was done trying to convince people of her worth.

  “Hang on, I need Leo here.” Abe stopped her by the shoulders and turned her around.

  “Luke, think of all you want to accomplish this year. Leo can make this happen.” Tommy’s voice was low and hard with encrypted meaning.

  “Leo?” Abe’s stressed expression urged her to stay.

  What did you get me into, old man?

  Luke paced and rubbed his head as if to soothe his anger.

  “Think about your success. The rest is bullshit, man,” Tommy emphasized to Luke.

  Luke crossed his arms and once again brought one hand up to brush his thumb against the hair below his lower lip. “Okay, Tommy. I’ll consider it, but first I want to see what she’s got. She fails and she’s out.”

  “What?” Leona squawked.

  “The show tonight isn’t sold out yet,” Luke informed. “If Miss Sable promises me a sellout show and a five percent increase in VIP tickets, then I’ll consider it.”

  “Luke, the show is in three hours. That’s impossible,” Tommy countered.

  “I know.” Luke gloated at her potential failure. “If she’s the best in the business, I want her to prove it.”

  Leona craned her neck at Abe. “What the fuck?” she mouthed.

  “Gentlemen. Give us a minute.” Abe moved Leona to a private area by the bar.

  “This isn’t happening. I thought maybe I could orchestrate a comeback with an artist like Luke. Believe me. It crossed my mind, but he is a misogynistic jerk.”

  “I need you to do this, Leo.”

  “Why? Tell me fast because I’m out of here unless there’s a really good reason for me to torture myself with this nightmare situation.” The air was in cool contrast to Leona’s boiling anger.

  “Damn it. This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.” Abe rubbed his face. “The company is in the red.”

  Leona’s fears about Wallace Entertainment were true. “But we’ve been in trouble before and have made it out okay.”

  “We’re barely able to keep up with the monthly expenses and payroll. If I don’t find a way to fix this fast, we’re going under.”

  Though in an open space, Leona felt the oppression of everything around her closing in. “How long?”

  “Six months, maybe longer with layoffs,” Abe delivered.

  “Nice one, Abe.” Le
ona returned a wry smile in disbelief until she saw his solemn expression. “You’re serious?”

  Abe’s chest deflated. “Yes.” He was a proud man. This couldn’t have been easy for him, but his timing was shitty.

  “You’re dropping this on me now? Why didn’t you just tell me the whole story earlier?”

  “I promise to tell you everything, darlin’, but right now we can’t let Luke walk away. Do this for me.”

  Leona wanted to pull her hair out but it was inaccessible in the tight bun. With Abe’s news, her temples pulsated and heat warmed her ears. She had so many questions, but most of all she was pissed that she’d been backed into a corner. She pinched a tranquilizer point on her ear and her stomach churned with guilt and nervous energy. The last year had been tumultuous with the Paul scandal and she wondered how much of the company’s troubles had resulted from what happened.

  “Leo?” Abe called.

  Though she struggled between bolting and getting Abe his contract, Leona knew in her heart that she would do whatever was necessary to get Luke to sign with Wallace Entertainment and help save the company. She was good at this. Even if Luke believed the rumors, she owed it to herself to prove him wrong.

  Sonofabitch! “Fine.” She stormed back to Luke and Tommy with Abe trailing behind her. “I’ll do it.”

  “What?” Luke’s raised eyebrows and contemptuous tone hit her ego where it hurt.

  She finished her drink, wishing she’d ordered the whiskey after all. “I’ll do it. And I’ll guarantee you’ll get the residency at Aurora.”

  Luke inhaled. “Guarantee? How?”

  “Because Tommy is going to promise the owners a sold-out show and a five percent increase in VIP tickets. He’s also going to guarantee a ten percent increase in revenue, as well as increased media coverage.”

  “I can’t promise that.” Tommy gave a nervous chuckle.

  “Leo can,” Abe announced.

  Her heart raced and she tried to slow the rapid angry movement of her chest. This is how I’m coming back? “I’ll make it happen. Just have the contracts ready.”

  Tommy folded his arms. “How are you going to do that? That’s my reputation on the line.”

  Leona watched the pair of them, doubt written all over their faces. “Mine, too.”

  “You want us to believe you can pull this off by eleven tonight?” Luke’s wicked snicker infuriated her.

  “You wanted me to prove what I can do. I’m showing you.” Leona had to stop her neck from snapping with attitude.

  “You’re a promoter and an agent now?” Sarcasm decorated Luke’s words.

  She didn’t want to get into a back-and-forth with him but she couldn’t resist letting him know he wasn’t dealing with an amateur. “If you must know, I started my career in marketing, specializing in promotions and public relations. Like Tommy, I’m a licensed talent agent in the state of California where I practiced for a few years. My legal background is sound. I don’t like negotiating contracts, but I could successfully do that tonight for you, as well. No offense, Tommy. So—” Leona slicked her hair up into her bun even though not a hair was out of place. “Are we agreed?”

  Luke showered her with doubt. “Agreed.”

  Leona opened her cell and started dialing. “We’ll see you at Aurora tonight. The contract will be locked in before Luke leaves the stage.”

  “You’re making big promises, Leo,” Tommy warned.

  “Ones I intend to keep. By the way, there’s an electronics store two blocks from here. You can get flash drives there.” Leona pulled out a box of animal crackers and tossed it to Luke. “I heard these were your favorite. Hopefully, it’ll take the edge off. Let’s go, Abe. We’ve got work to do.”

  As she rounded the corner to the elevator, she glanced back to see Luke’s stunned face as he stared at the box of animal crackers.

  * * *

  Animal crackers. Luke had to admit Leona Sable did her homework. He tore into the box and popped a few in his mouth, watching as she disappeared into the elevator.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Tommy reprimanded.

  “Did you know she was Reese’s ex?”

  Tommy adjusted his glasses. “I did, but she’s not Paul.”

  Luke popped a few more animal crackers into his mouth. The familiar aroma and taste calmed him. “Birds of a feather flock together.”

  “Apparently, she didn’t want to flock his way or they’d still be together. You could give her some credit.”

  “Oh, I gave her a lot of credit or I would have walked out.” Luke frowned at his friend. “If she’s going to manage me, she’ll have to do a hell of a lot better than Poison Ivy.”

  Ivy Nichols, his former personal manager, hadn’t been mentioned in conversation for some time. The mess she’d made of his career was the gift that kept on giving, and how he’d come to need someone like Leona in the first place. The money Ivy stole from him was just a bonus.

  Tommy tilted his head. “You’re actually going to compare Leona Sable to Ivy Nichols? The manager that dropped you like a sack of hot potatoes?”

  That comparison, and Leona’s association with that weasel Paul Reese, had caused Luke to lose his temper. He’d worked hard to keep his emotions in check over the last six months, but things weren’t going well. For a thirty-six-year-old DJ who hammered away at his goals, he was fairly popular, but he still hadn’t achieved the level of success he wanted.

  This has to be my year.

  “I’ve asked almost everyone we know for recommendations. They all say she’s the real deal.”

  “But had I known she was Reese’s ex I would have asked for a different recommendation.”

  “Reese fucked up your album, but you fixed it and now you’re ready to tour.”

  “He fucked more than my album.” Luke crossed his arms and stroked his chin with the back of his hand. One meeting with Leona Sable and all his demons stood in line to kick him in the balls.

  “You have to let that shit go, man.” Tommy patted him on the shoulder.

  He wasn’t ready to let it go. Album sales were down even though his fan base grew daily, and he wasn’t sure if he delivered the quality music his fans had come to love him for. At a time when he should be reaping the benefits of all his hard work, he felt like he was starting from the bottom.

  “Do you think she’ll deliver?” Luke stretched the tightness around his neck.

  “Not in three hours, but she’ll bust her ass trying. Did you see that look in her eyes?” Tommy gave a low whistle.

  “Determined and beautiful all at the same time. She wants to prove me wrong so bad. Good luck with that.”

  Leona knew how to leave a great first impression. The animal crackers were a nice touch, but images of her full lips and her ass in white leather lingered.

  “Will you still let her manage you if she doesn’t pull it off?”

  Luke was silent.

  “Ivy nearly destroyed everything you worked for. We need a miracle worker. Leo can clean this up.” Tommy reached for the box of crackers.

  Luke evaded the man’s attempt to dip into the box. “Stop reminding me.”

  He would have preferred a man or a less attractive female manager, because when he met Leona, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The last thing he wanted to do was sample Paul Reese’s leftovers, but from her creamy brown skin to her luscious breasts, he could see temptation becoming a problem.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Tommy growled.

  “What?” Luke tilted his head back and sprinkled the crumbled remnants of the box into his mouth.

  “Hey, man, I spent the last six months bringing you back from some pretty dark places and less than gentlemanly behavior. Need I mention your temper? Stay on the wagon.”

  Luke chuckled. “Let’s go.” He pondered his friend’s words. Leona
was a temptation to be reckoned with and as far as the proverbial wagon was concerned, he could see himself hopping off.

  Chapter Three

  “Leo, I—”

  “Not now, Abe. I want to hear everything. Trust me, I do, but we have bigger problems. I have to make good on these promises I just made and I don’t know how the hell I’m going to do that right now.”

  “Darlin’—”

  “Let me think.” She didn’t want to hiss at him because Abe wasn’t only having a bad day, but a bad year. Nonetheless, she had to do some major problem solving and she couldn’t do that with him chattering in her ear.

  While she shared a cab with Abe to their Midtown Manhattan office, the ideas started to flow. She created an online event for Luke’s performance and invited everyone she knew, including tastemakers and other influencers who she had great relationships with in the past. She spread the word on all her social media accounts and promised autographs and photos with Luke to the first fifty people and VIP guests who bought a ticket through her invitation. Then she hit her contacts list. Starting with A, Leona called or texted her industry connections one after the other with fingers of fury.

  She hadn’t contacted these people in over a year and with Paul’s lies floating through the airwaves, she wasn’t sure they would be responsive.

  “Leona is creatively stifling and her marketing is one-dimensional. Wallace Entertainment is robbing their artists of millions,” Paul had spewed in an interview that not only played on all the network entertainment shows, but in print media, as well as online outlets. None of his claims had compared to what he’d done.

  Leona sighed and scrolled on her phone. Next on her list was Ramelda Manikas, entertainment guru and celebrity publicist.

  “Hi, Ramelda? It’s Leo.”

  “Leo? Leona Sable? I thought you left New York. You’ve been off the grid for...”

  “...A year. I know. I took a little time off.” Leona tried to sound cheerful.

  “You know, darling, time off kills careers.” Ramelda’s Greek accent and entitled tone emanated through the receiver. “It’s been rumored that you have, well...lost your touch.” Ramelda had been Leona’s go-to person for attracting media attention to her events. Ramelda’s deep and international network consisted of legendary artists, entertainment powerhouses, tastemakers, and “celebutants.”