35. Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Scarlet
M y body’s sore from what Ace did to me last night. Hours spent with him taking me hard and then slow, exploring every inch of my body, pushing me to the limits with each deep thrust. Even now, as I walk to Nate and Theo’s room, each step sends a delicious reminder of what he did to me.
I have no idea where Ace went, and I’m getting fed up with waiting for him to come back. I knock on my brother’s door, and it swings open to reveal Theo.
I step inside, expecting just him and Nate, but the whole band’s there—Kit included. I pause, confused. They didn’t call a band meeting, but then again, I’m just a fill-in with only five days left on the tour. My eyes scan the room, landing on Ace. He stands with his arms crossed, looking serious, but when our gazes meet, he gives me a smile that makes my heart skip. Still, the tension is thick. Something’s going on, and I’m not part of it.
All eyes are on me as I walk toward Ace, and for a moment, I feel a surge of anxiety. Did I mess up? Did the media catch wind of something? Beck. That asshole better not have gone to the press about what Ace did to him. If he has, I’ll have no choice but to set the record straight and let everyone know what he did to me. But God, I don’t want that out in the open—the ugly truth of it all. I don’t want my past with Beck dragging me back to a place I’ve been fighting so hard to escape.
“You might as well tell her,” Xander says, his eyes fixed on Nate.
I glance at Nate, sitting next to Theo, both of them silent as hell. The quiet is starting to get to me, the tension building with every second that passes. My gaze snaps back to Xander, waiting for him to speak up, to explain what the hell is going on. But instead, he looks over at Kit.
Kit steps forward, and that’s when the worry really starts to kick in. My heart races, and I feel a tightness in my chest. What the hell have I done to make them all so on edge?
“Scarlet, we’ve had a label reach out to us,” Kit says, her tone a little too serious for my liking.
“Okay...” I reply slowly, still not sure how any of this has anything to do with me.
“They’ve been keeping an eye on the tour, and they’re impressed with how you’ve stepped into the band. They want to sign you—along with a few others—for a new band they’re putting together.”
A smile creeps across my face as the weight of uncertainty finally begins to lift. I can feel a spark of excitement starting to build. “Really?” I ask.
“Yes, they reached out to me yesterday,” Kit confirms.
“Wow,” I reply, my smile growing wider as the excitement settles in. I glance around the room, taking in the hopeful looks from Ace, Xander, and Kit. But when my gaze lands on Theo and Nate, their serious faces pull me up short. The lack of enthusiasm on their part makes me pause, and I can't help but wonder why they aren’t as thrilled for me as I am.
My smile fades as I glance back at Kit. “Is there a catch I don’t know about?”
She shakes her head. “They haven’t given us any details on what they’re offering yet, just that they’re interested and want you to give them a call.”
“Okay,” I reply, still feeling a bit unsettled by Theo and Nate’s lack of enthusiasm. I glance at Ace, who stands next to me with a proud look on his face. His support is the one thing I can count on right now.
I turn back to my brothers, my curiosity getting the better of me. “What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice steady but tinged with confusion. “Why aren’t you guys as excited as everyone else? This is a big deal, and it feels like something’s off.”
They exchange a look before Nate finally speaks. “We were screwed over by our old label, Scar. We don’t want that happening to you.”
Are you fucking kidding me right now? I finally get a glimmer of a future after this tour, and now they’re telling me it’s a bad idea. I let out a sharp, exasperated sigh, my chest tightening with frustration. I fold my arms, shooting a glare at Nate, then Theo.
“Nah, hear us out, Scar,” Theo cuts in, trying to smooth things over. “We just don’t want you to get taken advantage of like we were.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I snap. “I can’t believe you’re trying to shut this down before I even get the chance to see what’s on the table.”
“The label always takes advantage of band members,” Nate says. “They work you into the ground, Scar. Trust us, we’ve been there. We know exactly how much they exploit you.”
“So this whole meeting was basically to decide whether you should even tell me about this offer?” I ask, my voice shaky with a mix of hurt and disbelief. The sting of betrayal cuts deeper than I want to admit. After everything I’ve given these last two months, this is how they repay me? “If I hadn’t walked in on this, would any of you have bothered to tell me?”
Nate’s expression softens a bit, but his tone remains firm. “We’ve seen too many bands get chewed up and spit out by these labels.”
I shoot him an incredulous look. “So, you think I can’t handle it? Is that it?” I glance at Ace. “So, you’re with them?”
“No, I’m fucking not,” Ace replies, his voice firm and unwavering. He meets my gaze, his confidence giving me a sense of relief. “I told them it was your choice, not theirs.” The weight lifts off my chest, knowing he’s got my back in this. “As did Xander.”
I turn back to Nate and Theo, my anger bubbling when I catch the irritation carved into their faces. It’s obvious—they didn’t want me to know they were the ones blocking my shot. They took their chance to make a life out of their music, and now they’re trying to pull the rug out from under me. Well, fuck that. My fists clench, and I don’t give a shit about whatever excuse Nate’s about to spit out. I move forward, cutting him off before he can even open his mouth.
“I’m so fucking tired of this shit with you two,” I snap, leaning over them. “You think you control my life. Well, I don’t answer to either of you. I make the decisions, and I’m the one who gets to choose what happens next. Whether it’s joining a band, signing with a label, or who I fuck— it’s none of your damn business.” I watch as their faces tighten, knowing the last part stung. “So here’s the deal: I don’t need your approval. Get it through your fucking heads and stay out of my way. I’m living my life, not yours.”
I stand upright and shift my focus to Kit. "Kit, could you please forward me the label's contact information. I would like to make the call myself."
She smirks and nods. “Okay.”
I turn and walk toward the door, not bothering to glance at anyone in the room. My hand grips the handle, and with a sharp yank, I throw it open. Without a second look, I step through and slam it shut with a resounding crash, leaving the tension behind me
I storm into my room and drop onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The anger still simmers, tight and raw, twisting in my gut. My entire life, they’ve made decisions for me—decided what’s best, without even asking what I wanted. How many choices did I never know about because they were too busy controlling everything? I let out a long, frustrated breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside.
The door swings open, and Ace walks in, grinning like a damn fool. “You know how fucking hot that was, right?” he says, dropping down beside me on the bed. I can’t help but let out a breath, the tension in my chest loosening a bit just from his presence.
He shifts, pulling me gently by the waist until I’m lying on top of him. His lips meet mine in a soft, lingering kiss, and I melt into him.
“I don’t think those two assholes will be prying into your life any time soon after that,” Ace says with a chuckle. “I never thought I’d see the day when Theo was speechless.”
I can’t help but smile at how happy he is over such a small victory. Resting my chin on his chest, I feel the comforting warmth of his body beneath me. “I swear, sometimes they think I'm stupid, Ace,” I say. Ace’s gaze never wavers from mine, his hand propped under his head as though he’s hanging on every word. “I get that labels exploit you, work you to the bone. But what those two idiots don’t seem to understand is that they had their shot all those years ago. I’ve never had mine—not like you guys did.”
“So, you’re going to do it?” Ace asks, his fingers lightly brushing a strand of hair from my face.
“Yeah, I want to,” I say, my voice a mix of excitement and nerves.
“Good,” he replies.
But then a thought strikes me, and I hesitate. “Did Kit mention where the label is based?”
Ace raises an eyebrow. “Nah, why do you ask?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, exhaling slowly. We touched on the idea of the future that night at the rooftop restaurant, but it feels too soon to dive into it now. I don’t want to push him or rush us into something we're not ready for.
“Just say whatever’s on your mind, Scar,” he encourages, gently.
“Why do you think—”
“Because I can tell,” he interrupts. “Like how you get this little crease in your forehead when something is weighing on you.”
I take a moment, trying to piece everything together. Finally, I look up, meeting his eyes. “What if it’s back in New York? What if we never get to see each other?”
I lower my gaze, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle in. Long-distance relationships are never easy, and I can’t shake the fear that, eventually, he’ll grow tired of waiting for me.
Without saying a word, he rolls us in the bed, positioning himself on top of me. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist, and he gently cradles my face in his hands. His eyes lock onto mine—intense and filled with passion.
“So what if it is? There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about anyway,” he says firmly.
I start to wonder what could be making him so serious, the shift in his demeanor making me worry.
“Scar,” he starts, his voice thick with raw emotion. “You’re my fucking everything. I don’t want anyone else but you. If you end up on the other side of the world, I’ll cross oceans to be with you. I want you to chase your dreams with everything you’ve got, and if that means we’re apart for a bit, then so be it. But know this—I’ll be right there with you, every single step of the way. I’m not going anywhere, no matter where life takes us. I promise you that there’s no way in hell I’m letting you go. I’m all in, and I’m not backing down. I fucking love you, Scar. Like I’ve never loved anyone else in my life. You’re my everything, my fucking life.” He takes a deep breath, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “And I want you to move into my house with me. Let’s make this real, Scar. No more doubts, just us.”
My heart pounds in my chest as his words hit me like a wave, knocking the air out of me. He’s so sure, so raw, and it feels like everything inside me is being pulled toward him. I blink, trying to process the weight of his confession, of the intensity in his eyes, the love and devotion etched in every syllable.
"Are you serious?" I breathe out, my voice barely a whisper, the question hanging between us.
He nods, his grip tightening on me, but there’s no hesitation in his touch. "More than I’ve ever been about anything."
At that moment, all my doubts and fears dissolve into nothing. What remains is the unwavering certainty of his love and the unspoken promise of a future together—no matter the distance between us.
My heart races as I stare at the number on my phone, my thumb hovering over the call button. The seconds feel like an eternity. The label—Neon Records— is right there, but the fear of what’s about to come holds me in place, frozen in uncertainty.
“Just do it,” Ace encourages, echoing his words from the last two times I hesitated.
I meet his gaze, the fire in his eyes grounding me as I take a steadying breath. This is it. With a burst of determination, I press the button.
The call connects, and I hold the phone to my ear. Ace’s gaze never wavers from mine as I hold my breath. With each ring, the pressure mounts, my heart beating louder with each passing second.
“Neon Records, how can I help you?” A smooth female voice says on the other end of the call, and a jolt of adrenaline rushes through me.
“Hi, I’m Scarlet Reynolds,” I say, my voice trembling slightly at first but steadying as I continue. “I’m calling to speak with Tony Montgomery. He asked me to give him a call.”
“Hold, please. I’ll connect you,” the woman replies.
As I wait, my heart races. I can’t help but glance at Ace, who gives me an encouraging nod.
The line goes dead for a moment before a deep voice comes through. “Scarlet. This is Tony Montgomery.”
“Hi, Mr. Montgomery,” I reply, forcing myself to sound calm.
“I’ve been following your progress with Broken Oasis,” he says. “You’ve made quite the impression, stepping in and holding your own. It’s not easy to fill those shoes.”
“Thank you,” I respond, feeling a rush of pride. “It’s been a wild ride.”
“I’m putting together an all-female band, and I think you’d be a perfect fit.”
My breath catches in my throat. “An all-female band? Really, that sounds incredible!”
“This is a big opportunity. You’ve got something special, Scarlet. I want to offer you a chance to thrive in a new setting, with a group of women who share your passion for music.”
“That sounds incredible!” I can’t help but smile.
“I’m glad to hear that, Scarlet,” he replies. “In a few days, my secretary will reach out to set up the contract for your lawyer to review. If everything looks good, we can start putting the band together and get this project off the ground.”
“Thank you so much!” I can hardly contain my excitement as I hang up the phone, a wide smile stretching across my face. “He’s sending a contract!”
Ace’s face lights up with excitement. “I knew you could do it, Scar!"
“I can’t believe this is really happening!” I say with a smile as I look over at Ace. This is it—a new chapter, a chance to finally step into the spotlight I’ve always wanted.