Chapter 22
Luna
“Hi,” I say the minute Rio’s face materializes on my screen. “I was following the concert footage. God, people love you. How do you feel?”
“Good.” His eyes are heavy, like his lids are about to droop at any time. “They showed me so much love in LA. I’m happy. Ficha Mundial is too. They’re pulling no stops for the promo and want me to start thinking of the next album.”
“That’s amazing. You deserve it. But, you look tired, mi amor.”
“Sí. The jetlag is beating me up.” He runs a hand over his face. “But tell me about your day. You did good in the interview. How do you feel overall?”
“I’m excited. I never dreamed that a company like Elevate would want me to work for them. And this is the second time they make an offer.”
“Who wouldn’t want you, Luna? You’re amazing and talented.”
My face tingles. “Thank you, mi amor. Victor said they’ve been watching me thrive under the harsh light and carry myself with grace.”
“You have. No one has caught those hands.”
I laugh. “Not that I haven’t wanted to catch a couple of people.”
“Right. But your restraint is legendary. So when do you start?”
“This week. They’re being super flexible.
I’ll get to work from home part-time, which will be really good, and I can use the time I would have spent commuting to dedicate to Morena & Miel.
Sel will be taking more of the bulk of the business.
Thank God she’s game. Once I get more experience, I’ll amend our schedule as necessary. ”
“You’re going to be really busy.” He stretches and leans closer to the camera, watching me with a smile. “I wish you were here.”
God, me too. I’ve been missing him for the past three days like crazy, but can’t help teasing him. “Wouldn’t that make you more tired?”
A lazy smile curves his full lips, and I feel it deep between my legs. “Yeah, but I would sleep better for the first time since I left you. You knock me out because I work for it. Besides, I would rather make you come than get eight hours of sleep.
I smile back and press my legs together. “That’s really good to know.”
His gaze narrows. “You sound surprised. I must not have done my job right.”
I think about our time in the casita and how he made the stars burst behind my eyelids before leaving while I clung to him for dear life.
“If you did a better job, I would still be lying in a puddle somewhere.”
“Yeah? New goal unlocked.”
My eyes go to his lips, and my hand drifts down between my legs, spreading them.
“Que tu haces, Luna?”
I pan the camera down to give him a full view. He sucks in an audible breath. “Cono, me vas a matar.”
I press my middle finger to my clit and rock my hips to rub against it.
“Fuck, baby. I want to be there. You got me so hard.”
I tilt the camera to my face. “Show me. I want to see it.”
His camera moves down his torso, over the panther tattoo on his belly, to the hard-on outlined on the bedsheets.
“Let me see,” I half-beg, half-demand.
He obliges me, uncovering that gorgeous cock, laying fully hard on his stomach. And the flashback is so vivid, so overwhelming, that I can feel it sliding up my walls, digging in, and stretching me.
“Wow. I miss it everywhere, in my pussy, my mouth, even in places I’ve never had it. God help me.” The last sentence comes out hoarse, like a moan, as my fingers circle and press.
“Jesus, Luna.” His hand is firm around his dick, sliding down to the tip and back up to the base.
I press and rub on my pearl, transfixed as he strokes himself to orgasm. I’m desperate for more, so I prop my phone against a cushion and rub my clit and my nipples until I come, and my pussy pulses against my digits.
And we both smile at each other.
“Come see me in Miami this weekend.” His voice is soft and his eyes glassy.
I nod, suddenly craving him more than minutes before. “I’ll be there. Ahora duermete, mi amor. You need to be up early.”
He yawns and nods. “I can’t wait to see you, mi Luna.”
His. I love it when he calls me his.
It’s what I am.
Nothing’s ever going to change that.
“Te amo.”
* * *
Luna
I’m rushing through life today. It’s been nonstop. I overslept and had to take an Uber to work with my suitcase because I’m flying out to Miami right after my workday to meet Rio. And that is what’s making it all palatable.
Work is a three-headed beast today. Since I arrived early this morning, there has been one issue after another.
I don’t have an assigned client yet, so they’re having me work on ad hoc projects.
I’ve had to write three press releases because the CEO of one of the companies we represent offended their clientele by releasing a statement saying they only cater to certain demographics and their products are not for everyone.
All of Elevate has been in a panic since.
A notification comes through on my phone.
My boss, Victor, wants to see me in his office immediately.
I push to my feet and head to meet him. I knock, and he waves me in while talking on the phone.
His square-shaped face is set in a serious expression.
His eyes, already too close to each other, but his eyebrows are almost knit together in a frown as he nods and takes notes.
Whatever is being said, he doesn’t look pleased.
I’m left to look around his traditional corporate office décor, with gray walls and bookcases behind his matching mahogany desk. Awards and books written by some of the authors we represent line the shelves.
He clears his throat, and my attention is back on him.
“Thanks for coming, Luna. You’re doing a great job so far.
You hit the ground running like you’ve been working at this level for years.
It shouldn’t surprise me. Maeven Tatis speaks highly of you, but in the PR world, we often make our clients sound better than they are. I’m glad this is the exception.”
Thanks? What in the world of backhanded compliments is happening here?
“Okay,” I say instead.
“All that to say, I have been impressed with your ability to craft messaging and your sound recommendations. Your choices are well-informed, and you keep your ear to the ground. So, I want to assign you a client. It will be under my supervision while you’re on probation, but you will be responsible for the portfolio. ”
A jolt of adrenaline courses through me, making me straighten up even more.
My first client so quickly. This is great news.
I wonder if they’ll assign me to one of the female singers.
It’s got to be Nyxara Solé. I independently drafted a proposal for her and put it on his desk.
We can do so much more to further her career.
It doesn’t matter, though. Whoever it is, I will make it work.
“Thank you, Victor. I’m so excited. Who is it?”
He adjusts in his seat. “This client has had a challenging history and will require a lot of hands-on guidance for a successful strategic rehab.”
My stomach sinks. Oh crap. He’s going to assign me Killa-Kyra, the boxer and rapper who consistently keeps feuding with everyone online, including friends, while complaining everyone envies her.
My hopes are a little beat up but undaunted.
I will find ways to channel that fighting energy into pushing her music.
Maybe a collab with a boxer or a gym. I could probably also get her to host an episode of Catch These Hands, the popular show about sexy street fighters. She would rock that.
“I can work with any client. I won’t let you down.”
The quick grimace doesn’t put my nerves at ease. “I’m glad you said that because I need you to keep an open mind. We just acquired his contract this morning.”
His contract? A new client? “I’ve heard nothing.”
Victor clears his throat, the sound causing a weird tingling at the base of my spine. He’s adjusting in his seat like the chair is biting his ass. He’s definitely setting me up for something.
“You see, Luna, this acquisition was kept under wraps. We didn’t know if it would go through until the last minute and wanted to keep the media’s nose out of it.
But now that Thierry Banks is fully part of Elevate, we can share the news with the world.
That will be the first task you will undertake under his portfolio. ”
The blood drains from my face, my fingers shooting to my temples. I couldn’t have heard him right. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
His face reddens but he clears his throat again. “I know there’s a history there, but this is purely transactional. He’s a client like any other.”
“Except, he’s not.” My tone is harsh so I pause and take a breath. Because hell no, this is not happening to me. “Victor, I don’t think you understand. It’s not just history. It’s deeper than that.”
I keep my voice in check, low and soft, trying to find a way to rationalize with him without giving in to the anger that’s surging through my chest. Because…there’s no motherfucking way.
“Yeah, I remember the big public misunderstanding. But no one remembers that anymore.”
I remember. I still don’t drink in public because I’m scarred by that day. I vividly still hear Adina and her mom telling me to keep my mouth shut, threatening my mom and me. I open my mouth, but he continues.
“Thierry and Adina Belmont are no longer together. You’re in a high-profile relationship with Rio.
This is a good opportunity for both you and Thierry.
Your history puts you at a unique advantage.
You have insight into his past, personality, and relationships.
It will help you craft authentic content and find him opportunities where he can excel. ”
This is a hell no. “I understand and trust your judgment, but I think everything you said is the exact reason Thierry and I are not the right fit. We all moved past it, but there’s still bad blood with the Belmonts.”
He waves a hand. “Don’t worry about the Belmonts. They’re not going to be your clients. Thierry is. You said you trust my judgment, right?”
No, I fucking don’t anymore. But I can’t say that to my boss. I nod instead.
A smile flickers and wavers on his lips.
“Then trust me. This is a growth opportunity for you. You’ll be able to demonstrate not only to me, but also to the agency, that you can handle a challenging portfolio and turn it into a success.
You’ll have my support and oversight all the way.
To prove my confidence in you, I’m also adding Nyxara Solé to your portfolio.
I read your proposal and love everything you outlined for her. ”
The rumbling in my chest, the heat in my skin, the fuck no at the tip of my tongue…
I stomp on all of it and stay silent. How badly will a refusal affect my career?
It’s my first assignment, and I’m already telling them that I can’t handle it because it’s someone I hate.
He’s going to see me as emotional and take back all those great words he just said.
I didn’t make it through the last six months only to let the past get in my way.
“I want to say that I have reservations about this—not about my ability to perform my duties, but about the client. However, I trust your judgment here. I accept the assignment, but I will not deal with the Belmonts, only with the client.”
Victor nods. “This is a great step for your career, Luna.”
And also a pain I’m already feeling everywhere. Rio is going to hate this.
I stand but he stops me. “I’ll forward the emails and send the link to the SharePoint folder with the client’s information.”
I walk in fast steps to my office, not stopping even as someone calls my name. I close my door. My phone, sitting on my desk, lights up with messages. I dive for the first one.
Maeven
Call me.
I dial, and she answers on the first ring. “I was trying to catch you before you went in. My contact told me this morning about it and I didn’t want you to be blindsided.”
My skin is hot as my hands balling into fists. “Too late. I walked into a nightmare, but I accepted that shitshow of an assignment.”
She sighs. “As you should. You know I’m not going to sugarcoat this.
It’s true, you could have said no, but PR companies have a long memory.
I knew before you did and I don’t work for Elevate, which tells you PR people also have blabber mouths—unless you’re me or my people, of course.
My point is that you would have immediately gotten a reputation for being too emotional. ”
“I never saw this coming. Rio is going to flip.”
“Yeah,” Maeven says. “But he will have to understand. This is your job, and it’s just work.
You’re not going to be out there hanging with Thierry.
As a matter of fact, even if you’re in the same venue, keep your distance.
But on a positive note, if anyone can do this, you can.
The last six months have prepared you to handle it.
This is the type of portfolio careers are built on. ”
I nod like she can see me, but I’m not sure. I look around the room, and my eyes land on my suitcase, and for the first time, I dread my trip. Because there’s no way Rio will understand this when I don’t. I’ll just have to explain it to him like Victor did to me.
Like Maeven just confirmed.
But the knot in the pit of my stomach tells me it won’t be that easy.