A tired smile graces Evan’s beautiful lips, and he nods. “I know. And I’ll listen to him. He’s done so much for me over the years and given me good counsel. He’s always been there for me, and I owe him a lot.”
“But you don’t owe him your career, Evan,” I point out. As his attorney, I feel someone needs to tell him that truth. “That is yours alone, and you have to make the choice that feels best to you.”
Tilting his head, Evan asks softly, “Seriously, Emma… what do you think I should do?”
I hedge again, stammering, “Well… I’m not sure I really understand all the—”
“Emma,” Evan says somewhat harshly. “Tell me your opinion. Tell me the truth of it. There’s so much lying in this industry, I just need someone to give me the fucking truth.”
My heart actually clenches in sorrow for this man, who is probably pelted from multiple angles by everyone wanting a piece of him. I’m sure while Tyler is his friend, he’s also looking at the size of his slice of the pie as well. As Evan’s attorney, I happen to know Tyler doesn’t get a royalty on the indie stuff. He makes his money via a salary for managing things. Granted, it’s a very hefty salary, but it just doesn’t compare to fifteen percent of a multi-million dollar offer.
Taking a deep breath, I give Evan a very carefully couched opinion. “You have an amazing fan base, you have the money and the production means to make another fantastic recording, and you’d retain all those things that are important to you by staying indie. The money will be there, of course, but most importantly, it will be one-hundred percent you. If those things are as important to you as you’ve indicated, you have to give that strong consideration.”
It’s not an exact opinion, but it’s about all I feel comfortable giving him because this decision needs to be his alone so he can live with it. I’m not telling him to take it, because I can’t do that. But I’m telling him to focus on his most important needs.
Something shimmers in Evan’s eyes and his face relaxes slightly in relief. “Thank you for being truthful with me.”
I smile at him briefly before bending down to pick up my briefcase. “Okay, now that my work here is done, I’m going to go work on some Interrogatories to send to the other side in the copyright case.”
As I turn to walk by the coffee table, Evan leans over and his hand shoots out, grabbing me at the elbow. I stop in my tracks and turn my head to look at him.
“Don’t go,” he says softly.
With confusion, I look around the living area, spying a desk along the far wall. “Well, I suppose I could work here just as easy as my room.”
“No,” Evan says gruffly as his hand slides down my arm and takes my hand. He gives it a tug, indicating for me to walk out from behind the table, which I do. When I’m standing directly in front of him, he reaches out with his other hand and takes my briefcase. After he tosses it on the couch, that hand then goes to the side of my head before his fingers latch around the back of my neck. “Don’t go. Don’t work. Stay here with me, and let me do all kinds of dirty things to you. Let me do all the things I wanted to do last night but couldn’t.”
“Evan,” I whisper, my entire body igniting with electrified desire. But still, I try to maintain some sanity. “We shouldn’t. You’re my employer. This isn’t good business.”
His grip on my neck tightens, and he gives me a little shake as his eyes darken to an olive green. “Fuck that, Emma. For just once in your life, do something daring. Do something crazy and impulsive, and do it while you’re sober and without champagne guiding your actions. Stay here with me… let me have you… because you want to. Even though you know you shouldn’t, let your desires make the decision and do it because you’ll regret it forever if you don’t take that chance.”
They say when facing imminent death, your life flashes before your eyes. Apparently, that happens when faced with imminent sex with a rock god who stands before you asking you to let go of everything that keeps you safe and secure.
My life does indeed flash before me. I think of my boring business suits and my granny panties. My penchant for burying my nose in a book versus socializing with people. I note with some disappointment in myself that I eat the same thing for breakfast practically every day—a bagel with low-fat cream cheese.
I admit to myself that my life is patently dull and I’m perhaps tired of that.
My eyes bore into Evan’s as I make my decision. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
CHAPTER 13
Evan
My legs almost buckle when Emma tells me the words I’m dying to hear.
She’ll stay.
While I don’t want her to change her mind, I do want to make sure she knows what she’s getting into with me. Leaning down so my face hovers right over hers, I tell her, “I’m going to do filthy things to you, Emma. You’re not going to know whether to beg me to stop or to keep going.”
Her pupils dilate and she licks her lips before swallowing hard. Her voice quavers with what I think might be a bit of fear, but her words are strong. “I can handle it.”