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Alexis came around, forcing my arms up as she began slipping pins into place along the dress’s seams. “Sounds like he really wants to show you off,” she said.

I bit my bottom lip. “Is this really as last minute as it sounds?” I asked.

“It’s 'call in all the favors' level of last minute, yes,” Violet answered.

Alexis helped me out of the dress, wrapping me in a sheet as she did so. She guided me to a sofa in the rear of the store. “Sit while I go finish this up. There’s snacks under that tray, and coffee in that carafe.”

I smiled appreciatively, but I had no appetite. Settling on the stiff blue cushions, I stared at Violet who perched on the opposite armrest. “Did you ask her how much it would cost to rent that dress?”

Violet blinked at me. “Rent?”

My jaw dropped, my voice cracking with a small laugh. “I’m not keeping it. It’s way too nice.”

“It’s extremely nice. And extremely yours.” She crossed her legs, kicking her red-heel side to side. “You don’t get it yet, do you? This is part of working for Beats and Blast.”

“Wearing fancy dresses and getting my hair done is part of my contract? I thought you told me I wouldn’t have to change who I was.”

Her mouth quirked in a dubious smile. “You like that dress, though.”

I shrugged awkwardly. “I did before I knew I was keeping it.”

“Amina, relax. Bach is paying for everything.”

“Well maybe that’s what bugs me,” I mumbled. “I don’t need special treatment. Or a nice house. Or a roommate who walks around half naked. I just need people to hear me sing.”

She’d started to play with her phone, but she froze midway, gawking at me. “Did you saynaked?”

“I... said half naked. Half.”

Violet put her fingers to her temples. “My god. I’ll tell him to keep his clothes on while he has company over. That’s so like him, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said, not sure if it really was. I didn’t know if I was explaining myself well. This was about Bach, but it was also about seeing so many gobs of money being thrown around just to rush me into the spotlight. Did people care if I owned an expensive dress if my voice was good?

Sitting in silence, my mind wandered back to a certain word... a certain moment.

Bach. Naked.

Jesus.

I’d assured her he wasn’t fully nude, but what did it matter? Those damn red briefs didn’t exactly hide much of his stellar body. My face began to burn; I sank deeper into the sofa, biting my thumbnail, trying to shake that sensation of attraction.

“Bach scares you,” Violet said suddenly.

I went stiff as I tried to think of how to explain myself. Violet watched me like a hawk. I wilted under her perceptive stare. No, I couldn't tell her that Bach didn't exactlyscareme... he made my heart race in a way that worried me. An alluring, naughty, inappropriate emotion came over me when I thought about him.

Violet nodded to herself. “I'll keep him away from you tonight.”

“What?”

“I won't let him make you nervous when we're relying on you performing at a hundred percent at the gala.” Alexis was back with some papers that she handed over. “Ah, thanks. I'll pay your invoice right now. And sorry again for all this trouble.”

“No, no, thank you. It's fun to be challenged like this,” she said, then she smiled at me. “I'm sure you'll be amazing tonight, Amina.”

“If I fail, at least I'll look good because of your dress.”

She laughed like I was joking.

I wasn’t.