AN/ THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THE LAST CHAPTER GOT, IT IS UNBELIEVABLE HOW FAST THOSE TEN REVIEWS CAME IN. THINGS ARE PICKING UP AT SCHOOL, AND NOW THE MOCKS ARE NEARLY OVER, I'M GOING TO KICK BACK AND TAKE A BIT MORE ME-TIME.

SO, HERE'S THE NEXT INSTALMENT OF TMYLM. IF I GET TEN REVIEWS ON THIS ONE, I'LL POST THE NEXT CHAPTER AS SOON AS IT'S WRITTEN. READ, REVIEW, ENJOY…

"So here's my body that I'm giving to us, here's my arms that'll hold us up.

Here's my life dedicated to love, I'll try to give you everything you deserve.

And I can't promise that it's gonna be fine, but here I am if you're ready to try.

Here's my tears when you tell me those words, here's my life, for better or worse.

For better or yes, yes…"

Meetings at Soundproof Studios were never intended to be fun. Once again, Beca found herself stood in the firing line of seven angry glares. Well, angry might be a slight exaggeration, but they were definitely at least passive aggressive. It was perfectly clear that nobody wanted to be in the board room that morning, Beca included. Especially when she had yet to consume some coffee.

Silently, Beca waited for the Big Wigs to address her. She might not have any intention of conforming to their bullshit agenda, but she knew that she had to play their game, at least until they gave her an answer.

"So, Miss Mitchell," the balding man at the centre of the group began. "As I am sure you are aware, we have invited you here today so we can discuss our responses to your requests from the meeting last week."

Beca had to consciously stop herself from coughing in disbelief at that. 'Invited?' There was no welcome in the eyes of the people at the table; the request for her presence had been a summons. And what she'd asked for last week were not 'requests': they were demands. Demands which, if the board failed to meet them, would see her walking out of the label… if the Big Wigs didn't fire her ass first.

"Wonderful." Beca said through gritted teeth. "And…"

"We have come to the conclusion that we are unable to meet all of your demands at present."

That input came from the raven haired woman at the edge of the group. Just the sound of her voice set Beca's teeth on edge and gave her a sudden desire to punch something. Of course it would be her who announced the label could not give her what she wanted.

"I expected that much." Beca said, barely concealing her bitterness in the statement, "So what have you decided is going to happen?"

"Well, Miss Mitchell, we have reviewed your contract and agreed that a reduced workload is possible. From now on, you can have full authority over the artists that you work with. However, your request to work solely from LA is one we cannot grant. You know that this specific label is one branch of twelve across the country. As a producer, your role is to work for the company, as in, all twelve labels, as opposed to just one. You are to fly out to wherever you are needed when needed."

"And what about my third request?" Beca asked, feeling massively annoyed.

"You know we only allow a policy of business travel, Miss Mitchell." The balding man responded, his voice holding some regret. "For you to take someone else with you, you would have to fund their travel and accommodation yourself."

"And the work hours when I'm away?"

"You are to work as the artist requires." The raven haired woman declared, adding pointedly, "That is, after all, a producer. It is your job to see the artist gets what they need to be successful."

"So I'm just a means to an end then, is what you're saying, isn't it?" Beca snapped, disappointed that they had completely disregarded what she had asked for.

"Anybody can produce music, Miss Mitchell." The raven haired woman stated, her voice devoid of any emotion.

"What Miss Devon means to say," the balding man interrupted, sending a sharp glare to his client, "is that as a business, it would be most irresponsible if we started giving in to every demand a producer makes. We have 200 producers working for us across the country. They all feel very similar to you right now, so to give you what you want would mean giving it to everybody."

"And if you did that, the whole business will collapse." Beca finished his sentence for him.

The balding man looked up at her in sympathy. "I'm sorry Miss Mitchell. Truly I am, but I can't give you what you desire."

"Then accept this as my resignation. I shall work my two weeks' notice, but after that, I quit."

"Miss Mitchell," the balding man hastily began, "you are one of the best in the business. We have countless artists who rely on producers with your talent –"

"Then it's convenient, isn't it, that anybody can produce music." Beca retorted, sending a frosty glare to the woman; deciding that now she knew she wasn't getting anything off of them, she didn't need to play their games anymore. "I'm sure you'll find someone just as good as me in no time."

"Please reconsider, Miss Mitchell-" the balding man began.

"No." Beca interrupted. "That is my decision."

"And what are you to do, Miss Mitchell, seeing as though you don't really have any other labels to go to. I believe vacancies are few and far between these days." The raven haired woman chastised.

"Don't you worry about me." Beca smirked. "I have a plan, and it will see me very well."

"I'm sorry it has ended up like this Miss Mitchell."

"I'm not." Beca said bluntly. "It was going this way for a while."

"Is there anything we could do to persuade you to reconsider?"

"Seeing as though you denied every one of my requests, it's a no from me. Someone I love once told me she couldn't deal living with false promises. I feel like anything you say now is going to be a false promise."

The board were stunned at how flatly Beca refused them. They didn't get many producers that would challenge the board, and Beca was the first producer to ever tell them to stick their offers.

"Thank you for your time." Beca declared, noticing how the Big Wigs had been stunned into silence.

"We wish you well Miss Mitchell, with whatever you decide to do now. Just know, there will always be a studio with your name on it here if you want it."

"I doubt I shall ever want it, but I appreciate the gesture." Beca replied, slightly struck at how heartfelt his words sounded. "I'm grateful for everything the label has taught me working here over the years."

"And we are to you, for your work which always went above and beyond our expectations. We will watch avidly for your new projects, as I am certain they will be just as good as what you have made for us, if not better."

"That they will be."

"I'm truly sorry it has come to this Beca." The balding man said to her, addressing her as an equal for the first time since they had met five years ago.

"Time for this little fish to move into the big ocean," Beca mused, quoting the words of her old boss when she'd left for LA. "Thank you very much, Sir."

With that note, she nodded to the board and left the room.

She was slightly stunned.

She'd just quit her job.

And strangely, she was okay with it.

She'd finished earlier than she thought she would. Pulling her phone out of her bag, she messaged Chloe.

You think we can head out early? My treat? Xxx

Within seconds, her phone buzzed.

Sure thing Becs. Pick me up? Xxx

Beca smiled, quickly typing.

I'll be with you in ten. Xxx

Her phone buzzed almost immediately after.

Haha, I know your work is twenty minutes away. Don't get caught speeding Becs, one mugshot is enough for anybody xxx

Beca laughed at that, and replied.

I'll be there as soon as possible. Better late than never xxx

Chloe must have been sat by her phone, because no sooner had the message gone through had a reply arrived.

Don't be too long; I'm waiting xxx

Beca smiled, and put

Well, Beale, we can't keep you waiting xxx

Even though she was five miles away, Beca could practically hear Chloe thinking.

You kept waiting long enough ;D xxx

Beca cringed knowing it was a reference to their shared shower of freshman year. Her phone buzzed again in her hands.

Honestly, who knew modesty could be so damn attractive? Xxx

Beca smirked reading that, and smirked even harder at the message she sent back.

Hate to disappoint, but the modesty was abandoned pretty quickly. Anyway, what's wrong with being confident? Xxx

The reply came instantly.

Alright Demi. Get a move on ;D xxx

Grabbing her bag, Beca sent the reply as she walked down the corridor.

On my way xxx

At the other end, Chloe beamed at the message from Beca. Beca was coming, and she couldn't wait. Things were going to be better, and they were going to make things work: together. It was more than she could have dreamed of two months ago.

Wandering through Aubrey's house, Chloe couldn't help but be immensely glad Bree was at work that day. Beca wanted them to keep their relationship a secret, and Chloe wasn't good at secrets. Not when she had to keep them from Aubrey. But she was trying.

It was hard though, when she was so happy and excited that it was all she could do not to burst on the spot.

Twenty minutes later, Beca pulled up outside Aubrey's. She debated phoning Chloe, or going up to the door, but she then decided to be the most obnoxious girlfriend and honk the horn of the car.

Chloe knew that it was Beca outside as soon as she heard the honk. Grinning like a Cheshire Cat, she effortlessly slid into Beca's passenger seat.

"So where now Mitchell?"

"To Lauren's." Beca replied.

"Lauren's?" Chloe asked, barely concealing her disappointment.

"Only for an hour or so," Beca said, sounding suddenly guilty. "I promised Demi I'd drop by to tell her how the meeting went, and the outcome of the meeting leaves us with a lot to consider."

"What's happened?"

"I've quit my job." Beca announced.

"You quit?" Chloe asked in disbelief.

"Yep." Beca replied, popping the 'p'.

"But, Becs, you love your job."

"But I love you more Chlo."

"That shouldn't mean you have to give up your dream, Becs."

"I'm not giving up my dream. I'm just changing the plan a little bit. Me and Demi have a back-up plan."

"Oh god. That's going to end well."

"Yeah, we're going to set up our own label."

"Awww, Becs, that's real cool."

"Yeah, it will be. I'm sorry…"

"What for?"

"For jacking my job in. I'm not your big exciting music producer girlfriend anymore."

"I didn't fall in love with Beca Mitchell the music producer. I fell in love with Beca Effin Mitchell the acapella singer, DJ and dork."

"Yeah, but still…"

"You're setting up your own label. You're going to absolutely rock the industry. How could I be disappointed in that?"

Beca gave Chloe a shy smile.

"Seriously Becs, you could have quit your job and said you wanted to be a garbage man and I wouldn't think any less of you."

"Thanks Chlo."

"Let's take a detour. I take it you know what type of coffee Lauremi like to drink?"

"Well yeah, why?"

"Let's head to Starbucks. After all, coffee always helps."

Beca grinned at how Chloe had used Beca's own flawless logic against her.

"And right now, we need all the help we can get."

"Nah, Beca, we just need you."

AN/ THANK YOU FOR READING, I HOPE YOU LIKED IT. DON'T FORGET, REVIEWS ARE LOVE!