Chapter Forty-Four
One Week Later
Jace
The meeting with Everleigh and Victor had gone well. They’d offered me twelve weeks of touring with five concerts per week and six week breaks between sessions–two weeks on, six weeks off. It wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned, but I’m not complaining. I assumed they’d want the tour on consecutive weeks, so this is better, giving Zoe and I time between venues to be together and travel.
The best part about it? Those five venues include three islands in the Caribbean, Vegas, and Kansas City. Oh, and the other best part? They offered Zoe twice what she was aiming for, and they adored her. Not that I expected anything different.
And we’d celebrated on my desk. And in the elevator, hours after Janice had called it a night. Could someone have seen us? Yes. Did they? I have no idea. Once I sunk into her, I didn’t give a shit anymore.
But today? Today, we’re meeting with Ethan James and the tension between my shoulder blades is so tight that I have a muscle twitching in the center of my back.
“Now look who’s fretting.” Zoe nudges me with her elbow as we ride the elevator to the top floor.
I rake a hand through my hair. “What if he’s changed his mind?”
“He’s not changed his mind.” She crosses her arms over her chest and glares. We were supposed to meet with him last week, but with my work schedule, settling into my condo, and going out to celebrate with Everleigh and Victor, there was no time to fly back to Kansas City.
Last night after we made it back to Kansas City, we’d gone to dinner with my brother and Carly. Zayden had also stopped by, sharing with us the progress in the case against Fletcher.
It probably won’t lead to a prison sentence, but it’ll cost him money to fight and get the word out that he’s shady. Not that it’ll come as a surprise to anyone in the business. But maybe some young musicians will see the allegations against him and go in a different direction. One can only hope.
Before I can say anything else, the doors slide open and Ethan’s outer office is on full display–white walls, marble flooring with gold and black swirls, and records encased in frames adorn the walls, boasting of his brilliant success at taking talented musicians to the top.
The receptionist opens her mouth to speak when the door on the right opens, and Ethan steps into the waiting room. “Hello, Zoe.” He nods at her and shifts his gaze to mine. “Jace.”
“Good morning, Mr. James,” Zoe says in response.
“Ethan. Please can me, Ethan.”
“Ethan.”
I swallow over the lump in my throat. I’ve been to too many of these offices and had doors slammed in my face to be at ease. Rejection after rejection flashes before my eyes. My knees wobble as Zoe grasps my hand and drags me forward.
It shouldn’t matter if he rejects me. Everleigh and Victor have provided me with an amazing and lucrative opportunity. Between the tours and my saved earnings, we’re set for the foreseeable future.
But a record deal? My mouth is so fucking dry that my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. A record deal would solidify my future. Zoe and I’s future. Our children’s future. It would…. Fuck it. It would mean the world.
It would prove that the 16-year-old kid who dropped out of high school wasn’t a complete idiot. That the guy who fought so hard to lay the booze and drugs down was worth something. That the love in Zoe’s eyes is for a man that’s deserving of that love. Shit. I’m going to get sick.
She squeezes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile.
“Let’s go in, shall we?” Ethan steps aside and waves his arm toward the office behind him.
My feet itch to go the other way and disappear. I don’t want Zoe to witness another of my rejections. To see my humiliation.
“Sit.” He nods at the two black chairs across from his desk and slides into his executive chair, tenting his hands on the wooden surface.
After we’re seated, Zoe says, “Thank you for allowing us to change the meeting date. We had a lot going on.” She crosses her legs and rocks the top foot up and down.
“I’ve heard.” Ethan leans back into the seat, causing it to squeak. He studies me with a solemn expression and clears his throat. “I’m sorry.”
Fuck. Here it comes.
“I’m sorry that I listened to a bunch of bogus lies about you and didn’t question what I heard. I knew Fletcher was a snake, so I should’ve–” He jerks his attention to Zoe. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” She waves her hand dismissively toward him. “Do not feel guilty about insulting my father.”
“Okay.” He nods and continues, “I shouldn’t have listened and used my own intuition to guide my business decisions. You were that good then, and you’re even better now.”
I lick my lips. “Thank you.”
“No….” He lifts a stack of papers. “Thank you for the opportunity to sign you. I’m not beating around the bush. I want you signed to my label.”
My hands shake until Zoe reaches over and grasps the one closest to her. The second my hand is in hers; it’s like a soothing balm, and the shaking stops.
“I’ve prepared a solid offer, that I’m sure Zoe will consider fair compensation. My goal is to produce your first album by next spring.”
“Next spring?” I arch an eyebrow. I was foolishly hoping it would happen sooner. “Like in another year and–”
“No….” He shakes his head. “Like in five months.”
“Woah.” I fall back into the chair. Am I ready to put out an album that quickly? Do I have the songs? Yeah, I probably do. Once the dam burst that was blocking my creativity, the words gushed out of me.
“Can I see the contract?” Zoe lifts an outstretched hand toward him.
One side of the man’s mouth tips upward. “You’re going to love this deal.”
As her eyes eat up the contract, I wait patiently for her response. Is this real? How is this reality? A recording contract? An album in five months? My heart thuds in my chest.
“This is good.”
“I’m not going to lowball you. You know the business.” Ethan shrugs. “Besides, the world needs Jace’s songs and voice.”
“Yes, they do.” Zoe smiles broadly.
The rest is a whirlwind as I read through the contract, trying to find the part where it says, you’re a fool, this is not real, but there’s nothing there. It’s real. And it’s more than I could have hoped for.
After I sign, Ethan shakes our hands and motions us toward the door. “Thank you, and welcome aboard. I look forward to watching you climb the charts.” His eyes narrow a fraction. “Do not disappoint me by losing your muse.”
“I won’t.” There’s no way I’m letting Zoe get away from me. Ever. I clutch her hand in mine, needing something to tether me to reality. Everything I fought for. That was denied to me. It’s all right here. Zoe. Happiness. My career. Life is fucking good. Words and chords float in my head, causing my fingers to twitch. I’m not losing my muse. She’s unleashed it.
“Zoe?”
“Yes?” Her flushed face meets his.
“The offer still stands.”
“I don’t want to be tied down to an office.”
“You can scout talent from wherever you and Jace travel. There’s no reason for you to stay glued to a desk and chair in this building.”
Her mouth drops open, and then she snaps it back shut. “I don’t know what to say.”
He grins. “Say yes.” His lips twitch a little. “Because your father is going to lose a lot of clients and potential clients over the next few years, and I’m sure you had several possible clients in line.”
She glances at me as if in question. “If this is what you want to do, do it. I support you one hundred percent. Besides, you were raised for this very thing.” I shouldn’t grin, but I do. “And it’ll piss your dad off to no end.”
She grins as if she was thinking the same thing and sticks out her hand toward Ethan. “I’d love to.”
“Consider it done.” He gives her a quick handshake, and ushers us toward his receptionist’s office. “Welcome to James Entertainment, Zoe and Jace.”
Excitement rolls through me in waves as the elevator door slides shut. At the whoosh, she leaps into my arms, throwing her full weight into me. “Congratulations, Jace.”
“This would’ve never happened without you.” I kiss her lips and sigh.
After all these years. After all the pain, heartache, depression, gallons of alcohol, drugs, walking away, losing Zoe, giving everything up, regaining perspective and sobriety, claiming Zoe, it all comes full circle.
I pull back and cradle her face. “Zoe, I love you more than life itself. You give me hope and acceptance. Two things that I’d given up on years ago.” I reach into my pocket, pull out a black box, and hit the stop button, suspending us between floors. Her mouth drops open as tears shine in her eyes. “I know this is too soon, but I’ve waited long enough. I’ve ached for you, dreamed about you, and loved you more than anything in the world. I’d give up everything to make you happy. But I would like to think we’re finally at the part of our story where we can have it all and stop hurting.”
I snap open the box, displaying the two-karat solitaire nestled inside. Her shaking finger touches the ring. “It’s beautiful.” She looks at me, and her eyes glisten as brightly as the diamond under the jeweler’s show lights.
“No….” I shake my head. “You are.”
“Stop.” A tear streaks down her cheeks.
“Never.” I smile and drop down to one knee, staring up at the woman who makes my life complete. “Zoe, would you marry me?”
“Yes. Of course, yes. Today. Tomorrow. The next day. And every other day.” I slip the ring over her finger.
“I love you so much, Jace. It would be my honor to be your wife.”
I launch to my feet and claim her mouth, basking in the happiness, letting it settle into my soul. And for once, there’s no fear that it’s going to be yanked out from below my feet. This is our future. This is no mistake. I’m claiming it and never looking back.