Author's Note; Hey you guys! Thank you so much for the reviews on this story. We are both so excited about the response. We hope you enjoy it as it continues. I, Angel422, will try updating my other stories as well over the next couple of days around being at the hospital. My new nephew is in the ICU at the hospital. We were just informed last night that he's going to be fine although he will be in the hospital a little longer on a feeding tube. So, hang in there with me guys. I do intend to update soon. Thank you so much for reading this fic Undiscovred91 and I have been writing. We are enjoying it immensely. Lots of love and hugs to you all. Your reviews make the day brighter. Please R&R. Angel422 and Undiscovered91.
The next morning at G Major...
"Dude, Darius wants to see you in his office ASAP." Spied informed me as I walked into the studio the next morning—snatching me away from the entrance before the door had even finished closing behind me. Typical Darius--I'd barely taken two steps into G Major and he was already issuing orders. I didn't have enough caffeine in me for that yet.
With a sigh, I turned towards one of the empty studios intending to stash my purse inside it before running to meet with Darius only to find myself intercepted immediately by my boyfriend causing me to clench my teeth together in utter aggravation.
"No, Jude, he wants you in his office like, right now." Spied stated firmly as I sighed with trepidation. Well, at least he didn't use "dude" this time. That was still a habit of Spied's that I was desperately trying to break. Obviously, I wasn't succeeding with my ambition.
"Fine." I growled as I spun around on my heel, my loose blonde curls whipping into Spied's face in the process. I couldn't help but wonder what the problem was as I stalked toward Darius's office. Lord knows, whatever it was, it would, no doubt, be my fault. Maybe he somehow learned that I was the one who had broken the very expensive, very complex coffee machine last week? Well, damn, they really ought to leave out instructions for machines like that. I was claiming ignorance.
Approaching the wooden enclosure that was Darius's domain, I knocked on the door—standing a moment in silence before receiving his usual reply. There was nothing unusual about his voice today, but the tone in which he said 'enter' always made me feel like I was marching towards the guillotine or something--basically, my doom. Like tip-toeing over flaming coals without shoes on.
"Come in." He barked, and I obeyed like the whipped puppy I was supposed to be—raising a brow at his expression as he glanced up at the doorway before staring once again into my face.
He was sitting behind his massive desk in a luxurious leather chair, and I realized, without shame, that I wanted to sit in that chair. It looked like heaven compared to the pieces of crap they called chairs situated in all of the studios. For once, he wasn't immersed in paperwork, talking on the phone, or doing something on his computer. That should have warned me in itself because Darius was famous for multi-tasking. He never just talked to his artists in his office without doing something else simultaneously. I shivered as I made my way over to one of the guest chairs, which were still way better than the studio ones, while his gaze followed me expectantly—uncertainly even..
This couldn't be good.
Without an invitation, I plopped into one of the chairs and waited for him to address me first. I've learned that the best policy involving Darius is to let him initiate any conversation--small talk is a big no-no. He seriously needs a girlfriend. Maybe she could help him remove that stick that's currently stuck up his ass.
"Jude." He stated simply in that 'we need to talk' tone while never breaking eye contact with me. I made it a point not to blink. Was this some type of interrogation technique meant to persuade me to spill my guts? His expression seemed to be asking for some sort of response. I almost shrugged.What was I supposed to confess? Sorry, D, you're an intimidating guy, but I've heard my name pronounced in every possible manner and I have yet to crack. Is it possible that he found out about the phone call I had given Tommy Q?
I remained silent, knowing that my contract was a touchy subject and that Darius was just testing the waters with that statement. Who knows, maybe this meeting wasn't even about my contract. Well, I wasn't going to act like the blonde I was and stick my foot in to see how cold the water was, then accidentally fall in. Nope, I was staying firmly planted on solid ground. I agreed quite firmly with that statement 'look before you leap.' Darius leaned forward and steepled his fingers together as I narrowed my eyes.
"You seem interested enough in the idea of switching studios that I've made arrangements for you to work under Tom Quincy." Darius stated simply as I just stared at him flabbergasted--trying to process the reason behind this sudden decision. Wait, what had he just said? I was feeling very blonde at the moment. Darius sighed.
"You'd only be there temporarily, of course--a month at most. And…I expect you to head over there today." Darius informed me sternly as I looked around the room just waiting for someone to jump out and say 'you're on candid camera.' What the hell? And then my gaze found his, and I continued to stare at him, my chin no doubt residing on the plush carpet below my flip flops. His words finally clicked inside my brain, and I practically screeched my response in his general direction.
"You want me to what?" I yelled loudly as Darius flinched. He had to be kidding. Come on camera crews. Where were you?
I couldn't read Darius' expression as I searched his face for any reaction to my response. At first, I could've sworn that the corners of his lips tilted up slightly, like he wanted to smile. But less than a second later, his face was back to being a statue of resolute granite. This whole situation was just confusing the hell out of me, kind of like that Phil Collins song, "Sussudio." Even to this day, I don't think anyone really knows what he was trying to say.
"You'll be working at Galaxy Studios under Tom Quincy for the next month, starting today." Darius clarified, even though he and I both knew that I had understood his command the first time. The disdain was evident in his tone, though, when he pronounced the owner's name. We all knew that Tommy was more than just the owner of G Major's rival studio, he was also Darius's ex-brother-in-law--aka, ex-husband of Portia Mills, the baby sister of Darius.
"Wha..." I trailed off, still trying to comprehend what had brought on this sudden turn of events. Why the heck would Darius be loaning me out to his biggest competition?
I never got the chance to ask because Liam marched into the office, obviously disregarding Darius' conversation with me as unimportant. I was promptly dismissed, and before I knew it, I was standing back in the lobby of G Major, getting directions to Galaxy Studios from Lisa, the receptionist.
Darius and Liam...
The two men watched the blonde firecracker storm out of the office, both unsure of how this sudden situation would play out.
"Are you truly confident that we'll win this?" Liam inquired, searching his boss' face for any clues or indication that this wasn't guaranteed to end in their favor. He had always been a shrewd businessman, but Liam was unsure about the deal Darius had made with Tom Quincy last night, mainly because Jude was such an unpredictable asset to the company.
"Jude is one of the most stubborn, abrasive, and brilliant artists I've ever known--even Quincy won't know what hit him. There's no way they'll produce a hit in a month; it's a done deal already. We'll have Jude for good, and Quincy will be out of our hair. Easiest bet I've ever made." Darius responded confidently to his second in command. However, Liam did catch a quick glimpse of fleeting uneasiness in his boss' eyes that belied Darius' false exterior and that worried Liam. In turn, Liam couldn't help but wonder if Darius had just made the biggest mistake this company had ever made.
A couple of minutes later the men were immersed in a discussion about finances, and Spied sighed heavily as he removed himself from the position he had been hiding in for the past couple of minutes beyond the office doorway. He had been merely going to the kitchenette to grab a bottle of water from the fridge when he had heard Jude's name being discussed upon walking past Darius'door and he had decided to stop for a quick listen.
Finally getting that bottle of water, Spied made his way back to the studio where the other guys from SME were waiting, turning over the conversation in his mind like the revolving chamber of a gun in Russian Roulette.
Jude at Galaxy Studios...
I emerged from my Mustang and took in the outside appearance of Galaxy Studios for the first time with decided unease. It was nothing incredibly spectacular, but I did find myself giving points to the owner for the absence of a hideous, neon orange sign above the door. Darius really needed to ditch that thing over at G-Major--sometimes I swore it actually scared people away.
Walking up to the front door, I took in a deep breath before reaching out to grab the handle, twisting it in order to enter my new prison--at least for the next four weeks. My eyes met an interior made up of low lighting and fancy rugs.
And as my eyes adjusted to the change in brightness, I thought I immediately noticed a familiar figure standing several feet away and my heart bloomed. Within a couple of moments, we were locked in a warm embrace.
"Jude, it's so good to see you! How have you been, since..." Georgia asked quietly stopping suddenly in the midst of her question, leaving her inquiry open to interpretation. We both knew how it was meant to end—'since Darius took over.'
With a sigh, I answered her, conveying my true answer through my tone instead of my words. "As well as could be expected, I guess." I replied as I stared at her almost lovingly. So the rumors about her working here were true then. I had to mark a few more points in Tom Quincy's book. He knew how to hire a staff that could take a company amazing places. She gave me a knowing look, and I couldn't believe how happy I felt upon being reunited with this true friend.
"What about you, G? How's it been working at Galaxy Studios?" I reciprocated as I glanced around the lobby, noting the tasteful yet comfy-looking couches located nearby.
"Great, actually. Look, Jude, Tom told us all about the arrangement he made with Darius, and I just have to tell you that I'm glad to see you here with us. It's a wonderful studio, Jude. Obviously you know about the bad blood between those two, so be on the lookout--Tom always tends to carry an ace up his sleeve, just in case." Georgia warned, making me wonder if there was more to this little 'arrangement' than Darius had let on.
As I continued looking around the studio, I found my eyes looking suddenly into Tom Quincy's intense gaze from across the room where he was conversing with someone who looked to be a sound technician. He smiled that cocky, arrogant smile of his, and I smiled sweetly back, all but conveying that it was 'on.' I could tell he thought he had won. Trouble was, his studio was beginning to grow on me.
Turning back to Georgia, I replied in a mischievous tone. "Then I guess it's a good thing I know how to play poker well." I stated quietly as my eyes locked with Tommy's once again—his gaze conveying arrogance while mine conveyed stubbornness. It wouldn't be long until he found out that he wasn't the only one who knew a thing or two about card tricks.