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He shifts on his bench, and I swivel to face him on a more even level.

“I think you do.”

“I’m not gonna fuck you, Orin.”

His eyes go wide. His face flushes. “How dare you! Why would you even?—”

“Save it,” I spit out, impatient. “Just tell me what you want.”

He looks like he’s about to continue his pointless denial when he decides better of it. Good. I’m already sick of this conversation.

“I want an exclusive.”

“From whom?”

“Luke.”

I hurl a bitter laugh. “Never gonna happen.”

“Fine, then you.”

I grit my teeth. “Which publication?”

“All of them.”

“Yeah right,” I scoff.

“What’s the difference? If I own you, I own you. What does it matter where?”

I free all my resentment and anger into my scowl.

After a short standoff, he sighs. “Look, I’ll make it look good, I promise. I’ll even let you submit the questions as long asthey’re substantial. I don’t care what the story is, I just want it juicy and I want it first.”

For the hundredth time today, I scrub at my face. I hate everything about this. It doesn’t mean everything he’s saying isn’t true.

Luke’s latest stunt put us over the edge, and right now, I have no hope of getting a workable demo by Friday. Our entire legacy crashes in four days if I don’t do something.

Orin and his media empire have the clout to turn this thing around for us. If he keeps his promise, we’d be back on top like none of it even happened. The Label would be thrilled and forgive anything. More importantly, the pressure would ease off Luke and Callie. For now.

“Let me think about it,” I say finally.

His face lights up with surprise and excitement. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting that answer.

“If it happens, I want everything you just said in writing, got it?” I warn with a cold stare.

He holds up his hands. “Of course. Whatever you want. But remember, I want substance. I’m not making this offer for some disclosure about your strawberry allergy as a kid.”

“Yeah, I got it,” I mumble, dropping to my back on the bench again.

This time he takes the hint and rises from his machine. I feel his hungry gaze as he walks away but ignore it.

Sleazeballs like him always end up on top. It’s easy when you’re willing to step on and exploit every other person in your path. As much as I can’t stand the guy, he’s just a photocopy of most of the other industry movers and shakers I’ve encountered over the years. And for some reason, this one has always taken a special interest in me.

The irony is, because he’s an egotistical, self-indulgent opportunist, I actually take him at his word. Idobelieve he’ll make us look good and do what he can—not because he wantsto help, but because it would serve his needs. He gains nothing from adding his voice to the existing cloud of criticism. Bucking the trend is where the attention is. Plus, I doubt he’ll want to betray his promise and alienate me after finally trapping me in his web.

Maybe it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I used that to my advantage. Would it be so bad to turn the tables and exploithimfor once?

I just need a story worth sharing.