Chapter 7: First Rehearsals

Laura's POV:

“How could he?” I asked no one in particular, forcefully stepping on the car brakes, halting in front of the house.

I drew a deep breath, closed my eyes and just sat there…for God knows how long.

I pulled the key out of the ignition and came out of the car.

I will be taking rehearsals in his house?

Under his ‘supervision’?

I scoffed. What a joke?

He should be feeling so accomplished right now. I hated that he always had his way. Always.

Six years ago, his Dad pulled up at the police station, just few minutes after he was arrested, with dozens of lawyers swarming in his entourage. I stood there watching, scared and shaking, while he was released and walked off scot-free.

No trial!

No nothing!

I didn't even get a chance to have my revenge on him for his malicious behavior.

Not even a chance!

“What's up with you?” Brian walked up to me, I was still standing in front of the car, staring absentmindedly into space.

“Hey, Brian.” I forced a smile.

He saw through me alright. “What's wrong?”

Brian was taller than I was, as he bent over me with concern— he towered over me entirely.

“Nothing.”My voice trembled a bit. “Just work stuff!” I muttered— telling the truth in a sense.

“Okay.” He nodded, still not believing me.

We entered the living room together, Gwen was perched on a couch.

“You look like shit!” She muttered on seeing me.

I slumped beside her, tired and not knowing what to do.

It was times like this, I regretted not being a user.

Brian walked over, his figure towering over me. A hand extended a glass to me.

I took it, staring gratefully at his concerned face.

“What's up with the Record Company?” Gwen asked softly, squeezing my shoulders while I emptied the glass in one gulp.

The liquid was fiery. Hot, scorching a path through my throat and temporarily loosening the lump that had built up in my throat.

“Jaxon Fallon.” I tasted the name against my lips, anger welling up in my chest.

“He's got the company under his thumb!”

“What?” It was Brian, his voice echoed through the living room.

“Why will he suddenly buy the company?” Gwen was wide-eyed, staring at me. The tension in the room was solidifying, you could taste it.

“I ran into him at that Fintech Gala.” I sighed, resting my head on the couch and telling them about how the ‘Almighty’ Jaxon Fallon had swarmed over me from the elevator, even sending his secretary over at the end of my performance— to say it in her words— ‘To arrange a private session the next day.’

“That pervert!” Brian cursed, Gwen mumbled something under her breath. Hissing angrily.

“How could he?” Her voice was low, but in one sentence, it manage to voice out all the anger in my chest.

My first rehearsals with him was tomorrow!

How convenient!

Gwen pulled me closer, I just leaned in— hugging her. Like I had learn't to. All this time.

“We would fine a way through this.” She muttered. “Trust me.”

And sure, we did!

Next morning, I was sitting in some countryside studio, in the middle of California scowling at the man I resented the most. Jaxon Fallon.

Ryan was busy on his phone, having his usual routine of yelling at my lawyers. Then my agent, then some more yelling at my band.

“It seems your band members wouldn't make it in time?” He asked, smiling smugly to himself. His eyes weighing me in an amused manner.

I scowled again.

“You sure have a lot of free time on your hand.”

He chuckled softly, his voice deep and masculinely rich.

“Since you're one of my major investments, I have to put in more effort.” He retorted back.

I snorted coldly, picked up a guitar that was lying on the table in front of me, and strolled to the window.

His studio overlooked a large, private garden, and looked extremely serene apart from the occasional hooting of birds, and the whirling of trees. Breeze and the likes.

I strummed a cord, since I came here for music. I might just ignore him and give my all to it.

I pulled another set of strings, nodded my head slowly at the melody.

My drummer, Lucas thumped a few strokes on the drumset.

We continued for a while, I passively played making my own melody and also determined to ignore the Rich pervert who was doing his best to look genuinely intrigued.

“Wow.” He erupted into an applause at the end of our play, wearing his best pince-charming smile. “Watching you play, has indeed made me believe, I haven't made a wrong investment.”

I snorted. Threw the guitar back on the table and walked back to the chair, I was sitting on.

Ryan finally laid his phone down, looked up at me and said. “The pianist called in sick. Will might have to reschedule today.”

My eyes darkened, I gripped the armrest firmly “My tour is in a few days, how can he call in sick?”

“I'm still keeping an eye out for someone.” Ryan muttered, he looked like a cornered animal. He averted his gaze from me.

How could this be happening now?

My lungs constricted with every sinking thump of my heart beating.

Why was everything going this way?

And then my gaze hardened, I looked up and met the ‘billionaires’ eyes. cold and unflinching.

All this started with him. If he hadn't showed up on that staircase.

If he hadn't staggered into the record company and suddenly declaring himself the boss behind the scenes.

All this wouldn't have happened.

All this couldn't have happened!

I was already livid with anger, glaring daggers at him.

He cleared his throat, my stare had clearly unsettled him.

“Uhm…I could play for you till you get a new pianist.”

“What?” Ryan and I exclaimed at the same time.

Now I was looking at him, curiously. Trying to find out what was going on in that twisted mind of his.

He smiled, a wide toothy grin.

“You don't want me to play for you.” He chuckled softly.

I looked away, trying to make myself not to understand what those words meant

Ryan cleared his throat after a few seconds of ackward silence, all eyes were now on me.

Everyone wanted to hear what I did say to this.

I was staring at the floor, taking in the well polished marble tile, decisively silent.

I was not going to have anything to do with Jaxon Fallon!

Never!

Ryan cleared his throat again. “Mr. Fallon has suggested he could…”

I looked up glaring at him, the words crawled back in to his throat. He stuttered, swallowing hard. his face as red as an overripe pomegranate.

Jaxon was watching from the side smirking.

I wasn't going to give him the privilege of always taking advantage of me.

Not again.

“We can go on without a pianist for now..”

I began, a thick silence sat between us, as my words fell.

The over egoistic maniac and playboy, gave a cold snort. Stood up and stalked out of the room.

He was already growing on my nerves so bad.

So badly!