Page 2 of Stolen Voices

I roll my eyes.Called it. This is the real reason the douche-nozzle reached out to me. “Depends.”

Cam groans. “No. Dude, come off it. I’m not owing you a favor for this.”

I chuckle, rubbing my chin. Torturing my little brother is what I live for. “If you got yourself an assistant, then you wouldn’t have to ask me for things.”

“Fine, what’s this going to cost me?” he asks.

“You must really need my help if you gave in so easily,” I muse.

“Kind of. It’s McKay’s birthday, and he has a hard-on for this model chick. I found out she will be at the club opening. Figured I’d wingman for my main guy, like he does for me ’cause you suck at the job.”

“As your brother, I should not be helping you get laid.”

Cam laughs. “You know I don’t need help in that department. I only force you along to distract whatever friend my date brings along. Don’t act like you don’t get your dick wet half the time.”

“Fuck off. It was one time, and I was hard up. And need I remind you I had to pretend I was a baseball player? Damn cleat chasers,” I grumble under my breath.

Cam cackles, and I can picture him practically falling off the massage table, laughing at my expense. “That was fucking awesome, man. I forgot about that. That chick was so thirsty for a ballplayer. Wannabe WAGs at their finest.”

Little does he know it’s not only a problem for professional athletes. Aspiring actresses and singers alike throw themselves at me, thinking that if they sleep with me, it will help them get ahead in the business. I have to be extra careful so as not to come off like a creep. I refuse to be like that. It’s why I have strict rules: no dating colleagues, clients, actresses, singers, or anyone in the business.

“Alright, this was a fun walk down memory lane, but I have shit to do.”

“Are you meeting with that popstar chick today?”

“Yep.”

Callie Wright. My heart gives an extra thump in my chest as my eyes fall on her open file on my desk. Every time I look at her picture, this indescribable feeling settles in my stomach. I can sense she’s seen more, lived through more, than other women her age.

“From everything I heard, she’s a pill to work with.”

“Don’t judge, brother. Meet her and then decide with Hud. This could be huge for Blaze.”

“I know.” Doesn’t mean I like it.

We don’t need another bubblegum pop princess with a diva attitude and no talent. Performers like that are a dime a dozen. But I trust Hudson—my business partner and best friend—and this is the way he wants to go. Hudson really wants to sign her. He hasn’t steered us wrong yet.

I get what he sees. At twenty-two, Callie is gorgeous, talented, and a rising star on the pop scene. Six years ago, she landed herself a starring role in one of the biggest teen musical movies in the world. The movie had four sequels that she rode to the top, which lead to her putting out an album this past year.

I couldn’t find anything about the girl from before that time. Almost like she never existed before her rise to fame. It’s strange. I found one interview from two years ago, where she admitted to being named after one of the Greek muses. It wasn’t hard for me to figure out that her real name was Calliope.

What I really want to know is … why?

Why can’t I get any more background information on her? It’s like someone is purposefully trying to keep her past hidden. I worry that could come back and bite us in the ass. But I support my partner one hundred percent.

I met Hudson Campbell at our college freshman orientation, and we have been friends ever since. He comes from one of the wealthiest families in the world. Some would even call him Hollywood royalty. Hudson’s grandfather, Harvey, started The Campbell Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful management agencies in the business.

That’s where Hudson and I began our careers, interning for his father, Harold, who was our mentor until the truth came out and the scandal surrounding him rocked Hollywood. Turns out, our hero was nothing but a predator and used his position of power to manipulate far too many young women. Interns, actresses, and singers were his prey.

Working in this industry is not for the faint of heart. A lot of shit that would turn your hair white goes down in Hollywood. We just never thought Harold would be at the center of those reasons.

It’s been hell on Hudson and his family. It’s been a year for him as more and more sordid details of Harold’s misconduct come out. At first, Hudson desperately tried to help save the family business. That only lasted two weeks before he decided it was a sinking ship that should not be saved. Hudson came up with creating Blaze—a place we can run our way and where our clients would be safe.

Aside from my brothers, I would follow Hudson into the fire. So, I did. Best decision I ever made.

I love what we have built here. I’m not a talented actor, but I have always had a fascination with the job and the stuff that goes on behind the scenes when creating movies. Music is more Hudson’s thing, and while we divide and conquer, we sign clients together and have a deep understanding of what the other is working on.

“Alright, kid. I’ll get you on that list for free this time because it’s McKay’s birthday.”