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Why couldn’t she be Ashley’s agent or manager?

48

Madison took a sip of wine, putting down her fork and knife as she listened to Payton. “So, this just happened?” Madison asked.

“Yeah.” Payton nodded. “Three hours ago.”

“Wow.” Madison had thought about what Payton might do next. She still felt guilty about Payton resigning, but it really was the only way that this was ever going to happen.

“I think I’m going to spend the next month or two doing this,” Payton said as she finished her lasagna. “While I’m looking for something else.”

“Be Ashley’s manager?”

“Yeah. She has no trouble getting gigs, but she doesn’t get paid enough. I want to see if I can get her to take on less work, but still make enough. Make more than she is right now.”

“And because you asked for more for this wedding, you’re able to take a commission?”

“Yes.” Payton reached for her wine glass and took a drink. “We’ll draw up a contract if this is actually going to work, but for right now, I offered ten percent. Ashley insisted on twenty.”

“That’s fair.”

“She wants this to work as much as I do,” Payton said. “We actually had a really good conversation. About what she wants. I don’t think she even realized how close she was to burning out. She couldn’t keep going like that. She’s singing five or six nights a week, every week.”

“Payton, you don’t waste any time,” Madison said as she carried their dishes into the kitchen. “This is amazing.” She loaded the dishwasher and turned to Payton. “And you have a business degree.”

“Yeah.” Payton brought their glasses in and added them to the dishwasher.

“You were my best P.A. by far, and I’m not just saying that. I mean it. And that job encompasses so many skills.”

“Did you miss me this week?” Payton asked with a smile.

“So much.” Madison stepped towards her, her hand on Payton’s cheek as she leaned in for a kiss. “But I’m not talking about work,” she murmured before parting her lips against Payton and kissing her fully.

EPILOGUE

Snow flurries drifted down onto New York’s quiet streets, and Payton leaned in a little closer to Madison as they strolled along. They’d had dinner at one of Madison’s favorite Indian restaurants and gone for a drink after, but with the news dominated by the impending snowstorm, the streets were nearly deserted at 11:30PM, everyone hunkering down.

The snow crunched beneath their boots. It was starting to accumulate as they continued walking towards Rockefeller Center. They were hoping to make it in time before the lights were switched off.

“I know we could do this another night,” Payton said as a taxi blew its horn somewhere in the distance. “But I don’t know. It was just so peaceful when we came out of that bar. It didn’t feel real. Seeing the city this quiet.”

“I’m glad you suggested it,” Madison said, wrapping her arm around Payton’s waist as they walked. “If it was up to me, I’d have been in front of my electric fireplace right after dinner.”

Payton laughed softly. “You should have told me.”

“But I will get there eventually. And in the meantime, I get to feel like I’m in a snow globe.”

“It does kind of feel like that.” Payton glanced up, the snow falling a little heavier now, the skyscrapers reaching up to the clouds. “Or a horror movie.”

“It doesn’t feel eerie though. Just strange,” Madison said as she looked around. There was just the occasional person that passed them, bundled up with their hat tugged low and a scarf around their neck.

“Peaceful.”

“Hm.” Madison’s gloved hand slipped into hers as they continued on. “How’s it going with Ashley?” she asked after a while. “I’ve been worried about you working with your best friend. That it might change things.”

“No, it’s been good. I mean, it’s only been two months since we officially agreed to do this. But I hope that me being her manager never gets in the way of our friendship.”

“Especially when you live together too.”