Page 38 of Private Tutoring (The Forbidden Reverse Harem Collection #23)

HARMONY

I wouldn’t have believed anything was real about the whole weekend if not for Mom. Not only did Stephen, Matthew, and Roberto show up at Mom’s and admit they loved me, they treated me to one of the best sexual experiences of my life. Which was saying something after all the ways we’d been together.

To top it off, they met Mom, charmed her, and then whisked me off to New York.

They even offered to pay for Mom to visit me on opening night.

She turned it down, and I knew it was because she needed to work.

They’d tried to take care of that too, but Mom was too proud to take what she considered a handout.

Matthew promised to film the show and send it to her.

By the time we made it to New York and I’d settled into the penthouse with them, the nerves over my decision had stopped. All I felt now was excitement.

Matthew met me backstage seconds before the curtain was supposed to open. “You’re going to be amazing.” He kissed my cheek, gripped my hands, and winked. “If you get nervous, you know where to find me.”

I wouldn’t get nervous, but it was nice of him to give me a solution to a potential problem. “Thank you.”

“Oh, and your mom is watching the whole thing live.” He grinned at my incredulous expression.

I wore a full face of makeup that made emoting difficult, but he knew how to read me. “How’d you manage that?”

“I have my ways. I think she’s starting to realize that we’re exactly what we promised.” He released my hands. “Show time. Break a leg.”

“I don’t like that expression, even if it is considered good luck.” I rolled my eyes, which almost caused one of my fake lashes to stick. Grimacing, I fixed it and shook out my hands. “Let’s do this.”

The lights dimmed, and I filled my lungs with air, holding it tight as the curtain opened and I walked on stage.

Time blurred as I sang, performed, and ducked backstage to change costumes.

The entire production progressed without a hitch, to the point that it was almost unreal.

Matthew had planned for everything. Thanks to his studious nature and history with musicals, he’d taken the time to consider everything that could possibly go wrong and build up a countermeasure to take care of it.

I closed my eyes as the last soaring note rose from my throat. The curtain closed, and applause fractured the air.

A wall of performers closed in around me, all of them bouncing and laughing with the vibrant energy of a successful show.

“Congratulations.”

“You did great.”

“I can’t believe this is your first show.”

The words swirled around me. I enjoyed the moment, but something nagged on the back of my mind.

Turning, I spotted Leighona standing in the shadows, her eyes filled with tears. I hugged my former classmates, grabbed two bottles of water from the cooler next to the rack of costumes, and approached Leighona. I held out a bottle, a kind of peace offering. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head hard and dashed the tears from your eyes. “Why?” Even after a full week of rest, her voice sounded like sandpaper.

I opened the water and took a drink. “I never wanted to take this away from you. And I’m sorry I accused you of threatening me.”

“But I did. I thought if I could just get him to stop looking at you, he’d realize I could do this.” She shook her head and sighed. “He was right. I’m no good for this role.”

“That doesn’t mean you’ll never perform.

You have a lower register, and there are thousands of roles where you’d be perfect.

No one could have known that this role would take your voice.

” I had no desire to make enemies, not even for the sake of my career.

There were enough roles for all of us. We all had different abilities, different ranges. “I want you to be successful.”

“Thanks.” Leighona twisted the water bottle between her hands. “I’m sorry too. I never should have said those things.”

“It’s okay. Just please don’t do it again. We need to be supportive of each other. Lift each other up.”

Leighona rolled her eyes, but her smile ruined the mean-girl look she’d been going for. “You sound like a commercial. Be happy and everything will go your way.”

“Ha. We both know that’s not true. But tearing down other people has never helped me.” I stopped there. Leighona didn’t need a lecture from me. She needed a friend. “Here’s to next time.” I held out my bottle, and she clinked hers against it with a wider grin.

“Harmony, there’s someone here to talk to you.” Damien grabbed my elbow and guided me toward Matthew’s office. “I gotta say, you slayed it out there.” He bumped my shoulder with his and pushed me toward the dark hallway. “Good luck.”

“Um. Thanks.” Good luck? For what? I approached Matthew’s office, my heart in my throat. Had Dean Carpenter changed his mind? I’d gotten in one performance, but there were three more before the end of the show’s run.

I opened the door and stepped through. My foot barely made contact with the concrete floor before I froze. Recognition struck, rendering me speechless.

Travis Straplin stood beside Matthew’s desk. He looked like he’d stepped out of the box office on Broadway, his three-piece suit immaculate and his hair slicked back.

“Harmony, you know Mr. Straplin.” Matthew gestured toward me.

Mr. Straplin stepped forward. “Please, call me Travis.”

“Um, no way.” I shook his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Straplin.” I raised my eyebrows at Matthew in a what the hell? kind of way.

He grinned and coughed into his fist. “Travis wanted to check out our talent on opening night.”

Travis. He called the talent agent notorious for getting Broadway stars their big break by his first name. Holy shit. I lost the ability to speak.

“Yes, well. I’d emailed Matthew a few times throughout the semester, asking about any talent he might have.

He offered to let me come and see for myself, and I have to say, I was not disappointed.

” He rounded Matthew’s desk and picked up a stack of papers that he extended toward me.

“I’m prepared to offer you a contract, Miss Vogel. ”

My mouth hung open, and I snapped it shut. “Do you just so happen to walk around with contracts in your pocket?”

“No.” He grinned and reached down, pulling a briefcase off the floor. “I carry them in this.”

“Oh, well, in that case.” I took a step closer. “Sorry. I’m not usually sarcastic. It’s just…this can’t be real.”

“It’s very real.” He set the papers on the side closest to me. “You can take that with you. Look it over, show it to a lawyer, and call me if you have any questions.”

I looked to Matthew, who stood with his hands in his pockets and a giant grin showing all his teeth. He shrugged when I kept staring. “This is your future. Your decision.”

“What’s your opinion?” I needed a secondary opinion before I ripped the papers off the desk and signed without even reading the first line.

“I’ve never known Travis to steer anyone wrong. He recognizes talent. We both believe you can have a future in the business.” He brought one hand out and tapped the papers. “You can read the papers. He’s not going to rescind the offer because you wanted to verify the fine print.”

“Definitely. You might even want to ask for a few things to be changed. You have the power to do that, Miss Vogel. Remember that. Broadway needs you and your talent, that gives you leverage.” He said it with a straight face, and it made me want to believe him.

I’d never had leverage before. “How long can I take to make a decision?” I already knew I wanted to sign, but I didn’t want to look desperate.

If he really meant it, I could have Mom look at the contract with me and help me negotiate.

She worked as a paralegal for a fancy lawyer. He might even look it over for me.

“Two weeks?” Mr. Straplin grasped the briefcase and pulled it to his side. “If you need more time, call and let me know.” He held out a hand. “I look forward to the chance to work for you, Miss Vogel.”

I shook his hand. “Thank you.”

He walked out, leaving me alone with Matthew. “Is this real life?”

“It damn well better be.” He laughed while sweeping me into his arms. “Stephen and Roberto are waiting for us outside.”

“Okay. I need a minute to change.” I kissed his cheek and bounced out of his office, going straight for the changing room with my name scribbled on the nameplate in white chalk.

I scrubbed my face and changed into comfortable clothes, called out goodbye to my friends standing around chatting, and made my way to the door that opened into the rear parking lot.

We’d ridden over in Stephen’s SUV, and the three of them stood in front of it, waiting for me. I paused to take in the sight. Three gloriously handsome men who loved me unconditionally.

My stomach did a little flip. They loved me. I’d thought that was too good to be true, but I saw it in the way they looked at me, how they treated me. I didn’t know this kind of happiness was possible until I met them.

I whistled on my way across the parking lot. “Looking good, gentlemen.” Stephen and Roberto had watched my performance too. They’d been in the middle of the auditorium, and I’d sang Cosette’s songs directly to them throughout the night.

We met halfway between the door and Stephen’s SUV, the night air warm and fragrant.

“You were amazing.” Stephen brought a hand out from behind his back, revealing a dozen red roses.

“I cheered so hard I lost my voice.” Roberto croaked and held out a box of fancy chocolates. “I knew you had range, but damn.” He shook his head. “Incredible. You’re going to knock Broadway on its ass.”

“He told you about the offer?” I glared at Matthew, who raised his hands.

“Offer?” Roberto and Stephen echoed. “What offer?”

Oh. So they didn’t know. I told them about Mr. Straplin, and Stephen swept me into a spinning whirlwind almost before I finished talking.

“I knew it.” He lowered me to the ground but held on tight. “Let’s go celebrate.”

“I have just the place in mind.” Roberto held open the passenger side door. “Shall we?”

“Harmony.” Delilah’s sharp voice cracked the still night air. She stormed toward me, a full scowl twisting her face into something unrecognizable.