Page 6 of Resist

“Moving on,” I said, once again tapping my screen. “Lucas.” My eyes found his; a perfect mixture of blue and grey, sun and storm. They were a contradiction of sorts: innocent and pure set among steam so hot it near melted my skin.

He nodded, timid but casual, and it made me blink.

“I … I don’t think your performance is strong enough to open the show.”

“Ouch! His balls, she just crushe—”

I held up my hand, interrupting Noah. “I’m sorry, but why can’t you talk normal like the rest of us?”

Brad groaned. “He can. He’s just a Star Wars nerd that hasn’t grown up yet.”

Noah glared at his brother then leaned back in his chair, smiling boldly at me. “I can speak however you want me to speak. I’m very good with my tongue.”

“Sliiiick,” Matt warned again.

I raised one eyebrow and seared the arrogant son of a bitch with a look of contempt so sweltering that even my adult son would have cowered.

Noah swallowed.

“Noah, is it?”

He nodded.

“Let’s get this out in the open now, shall we?” I paced to my left, my heels echoing on the hardwood floor underfoot. “I’m not your friend. I’m not your enemy. And I’m certainly not your pathetic pick-up line test dummy. I’m your boss, and I’m here to provide you with the very best and long-lasting employment I possibly can. That means striving for improvement, which almost always means change. And the most efficient change comes from working together. Professionally.” I paced back to where I’d originally been standing, not wanting to remain stationary for too long. The constant movement was helping my nerves, and nerves were definitely something I did not want to expose. “I don’t want to destroy what you’ve all built so far. I respect what you’ve achieved or I wouldn’t have invested in all of your futures. Wild Nights is what it is because of you and your hard work and dedication.”

“So why change it?” Josh snapped.

“Because it can be so much better.”

“Do we get a say in the changes?”

“Yes and no.”

“What kind of an answer is that?”

“It’s an ‘I’ll decide when and if I see fit’ kind of answer.”

“Helena, if I may …”

“Yes, Matthew.”

“If you feel the opening act isn’t strong enough, what do you propose?”

“I propose you open it as one, because asoneyou are Wild Nights; the strongest you can be.”

Matt smiled, as did Lucas, surprisingly.

“What about Dimps’ solo?” Josh asked.

I furrowed my brow. “Who’s Dimps?”

Lucas raised his hand.

“Ohhhh, that’s right. You all have nicknames, don’t you? Josh, I hear yours is Bugs?”

Brad stifled a laugh.

“And what’s yours, Brad?”