was a display of everything Mia hated.
“The pleasure’s all mine, Nathan.” Her eyes flashed at Benson, whose face lacked any trace of emotion. “Benson Ward, Nathan Barker of Barker Records.”
Benson and Nathan shook and Nathan eyed the pair, “What a spectacle seeing the two of you together.”
“How so?” Benson pressed, an eyebrow cocked and his lips thin. He reeked of Alpha Male. The intimidation barely affected Nathan who was always too wrapped up in himself to take to any sort of threat.
“Mia, I’ve heard you’re doing quite well over at Monarch. I see sleeping your way to the top is doing wonders for your career.”
Benson’s hands balled tightly at his side and his jaw hardened. Mia gave him a reassuring smile and looked at Nathan. She’d encountered him before. She’d encountered a dozen people accusing her of sleeping her way to the top, especially when Charlotte’s Drive decided to sign with Monarch and not Barker. Her relationship with Grant was big news in the music industry- an even bigger story when the two split. The rumors flew about who her next conquest would be.
“It’s great to see you’re still insecure about a woman being successful in a male dominated industry, Barker. Or could it be that you’re worried about your own failing libido and you’re projecting your lack of a sex life on me?”
Nathan turned sharply and walked out with slumped shoulders. Mia smiled at her victory. She let the nasty comments get to her at first. She had worked her way through the industry just as everyone else had. She’d booked bands and bartended through college, and when she graduated with her degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing, she was a perfect candidate for Monarch Records. Grant had helped her land an interview, but he had no other influence on her career other than the nasty comments their relationship generated.
Flashing her eyes over at Benson, Mia could see he was still deep in thought. He hadn’t even cracked a smile when she insulted Nathan. Had she embarrassed him? She wasn’t too versed on the etiquettes of the wealthy. She attended Monarch’s masquerade balls for Halloween and launch parties every year, but she was sure that was a far cry from charity events and swanky balls. Yup, she had definitely offended Benson is some way. They finished shortly after Nathan left, leaving the restaurant without saying but a few words to one another. They slide coolly into the awaiting limo.
Benson was present, but he was not there. His eyes looked everywhere but hers. They would focus out the window then in his hands. His mouth had been pulled tight since Nathan approached them, the veins in his neck strained. His hands were still a tight white ball at his side. Mia watched the ticking time bomb next to her wondering when he’d blow.
“Are you embarrassed to have been seen with me?” She finally asked meekly, afraid of the answer.
“ Mia .”
“I didn’t sleep my way to the top. I’ve worked hard for what I have-”
“Be quiet,” He hissed, closing the distance between the two. He hovered over her, his body sending out waves of heat that flushed her skin. “Do you think that I believe that, Mia?”
“I don’t know what to think, Benson,” She tried to slip from his grasp but it was an impossible battle. “We were having a wonderful night until Barker came over. You have barely said three words to me since.”
He kissed Mia like the world was ending. Maybe it was. She was oblivious to everything but the way his hard body felt against hers. She’d been
“The pleasure’s all mine, Nathan.” Her eyes flashed at Benson, whose face lacked any trace of emotion. “Benson Ward, Nathan Barker of Barker Records.”
Benson and Nathan shook and Nathan eyed the pair, “What a spectacle seeing the two of you together.”
“How so?” Benson pressed, an eyebrow cocked and his lips thin. He reeked of Alpha Male. The intimidation barely affected Nathan who was always too wrapped up in himself to take to any sort of threat.
“Mia, I’ve heard you’re doing quite well over at Monarch. I see sleeping your way to the top is doing wonders for your career.”
Benson’s hands balled tightly at his side and his jaw hardened. Mia gave him a reassuring smile and looked at Nathan. She’d encountered him before. She’d encountered a dozen people accusing her of sleeping her way to the top, especially when Charlotte’s Drive decided to sign with Monarch and not Barker. Her relationship with Grant was big news in the music industry- an even bigger story when the two split. The rumors flew about who her next conquest would be.
“It’s great to see you’re still insecure about a woman being successful in a male dominated industry, Barker. Or could it be that you’re worried about your own failing libido and you’re projecting your lack of a sex life on me?”
Nathan turned sharply and walked out with slumped shoulders. Mia smiled at her victory. She let the nasty comments get to her at first. She had worked her way through the industry just as everyone else had. She’d booked bands and bartended through college, and when she graduated with her degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing, she was a perfect candidate for Monarch Records. Grant had helped her land an interview, but he had no other influence on her career other than the nasty comments their relationship generated.
Flashing her eyes over at Benson, Mia could see he was still deep in thought. He hadn’t even cracked a smile when she insulted Nathan. Had she embarrassed him? She wasn’t too versed on the etiquettes of the wealthy. She attended Monarch’s masquerade balls for Halloween and launch parties every year, but she was sure that was a far cry from charity events and swanky balls. Yup, she had definitely offended Benson is some way. They finished shortly after Nathan left, leaving the restaurant without saying but a few words to one another. They slide coolly into the awaiting limo.
Benson was present, but he was not there. His eyes looked everywhere but hers. They would focus out the window then in his hands. His mouth had been pulled tight since Nathan approached them, the veins in his neck strained. His hands were still a tight white ball at his side. Mia watched the ticking time bomb next to her wondering when he’d blow.
“Are you embarrassed to have been seen with me?” She finally asked meekly, afraid of the answer.
“ Mia .”
“I didn’t sleep my way to the top. I’ve worked hard for what I have-”
“Be quiet,” He hissed, closing the distance between the two. He hovered over her, his body sending out waves of heat that flushed her skin. “Do you think that I believe that, Mia?”
“I don’t know what to think, Benson,” She tried to slip from his grasp but it was an impossible battle. “We were having a wonderful night until Barker came over. You have barely said three words to me since.”
He kissed Mia like the world was ending. Maybe it was. She was oblivious to everything but the way his hard body felt against hers. She’d been
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