Page 8 of Stolen Voices

The invisible string that runs from my gut to my brain tugs. This is the right move.Leap.

“Okay, I’ll sign.”

“That’s fantastic. You won’t regret it.” Hudson pulls out the contract. “You’re more than welcome to have your lawyer look over the paperwork.”

“Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you.” Silla reaches for the contract, but I snatch it from her claws. I refuse to let her “lawyer”put his grimy hands on this. I’ll take my chances with these two before I’d ever let that snake look at this contract.

I flip to the last tab and signmyname.

Calliope Astra Wright.

I slam the pen down. Hudson reaches across the table to shake my hand for the second time today. “I promise this is going to be a success. Anything you need, you let us know. Right, Eli?” He nudges Eli with his shoulder.

“Yes. Welcome to Blaze,” Eli muses, his voice low and thick with an emotion I can’t quite decipher. He holds out his hand.

My heart thunders as I place my small one in his. A flash of heat licks my skin as our palms connect. The fire travels up my arm and invades my chest before spreading to my core. Our eyes collide, and my breath hitches as his fingers squeeze my hand.

What the hell was that?

Before I can define the exchange, it’s over. Eli releases his hold, taking his warmth with him, leaving me bereft as the strange feeling lingers in my hollow chest. His mask of indifference is back in place, like the fiery exchange of energy between us never happened. Like the attraction I felt was one-sided.

It’s for the best. I’m his client. Nothing more.

Then why does the idea of ignoring what just happened make my heart twinge and break?

My palm still prickles as if burned when I grab my journal and clutch it to my chest. The urge to write is strong. I need to get out of here.

“Nice doing business with you, Elijiah.” I emphasize his full name, letting the lush taste of it linger on my tongue.

His eyes widen, and I know I’ve hit the mark.

Yeah, I know your name too.

Without overthinking or looking back, I strut out the door and head for the elevator.

Silla catches up with me quickly, her nostrils flaring. She pushes the button, calling the cart. “I don’t know what you were thinking signing without my permission.”

“You wanted me to sign. The terms were fair. Decision made.” I step into the elevator and push the basement button, knowing Silla has a car waiting there. She follows, and her robust perfume sucks the air out of the elevator as it slowly descends.

Silla and I ride in silence all the way to our adjoining penthouse apartments in Beverly Hills as I go over every detail of our meeting. Or should I say every detail of Elijiah Miller? The sexy-as-hell dickhead talent agent I just signed up to work with.

I can’t shake the memory of him touching me. The heat that spread through my body like hellfire, settling low between my legs.

“Callie?” Silla’s nasal voice catches me off guard as I turn the key, unlocking my apartment door.

“Yeah?” I turn to find her red-faced and angry.

Her fake gel-infused lips purse as she wags her finger at me. “Don’t even think about fucking him. He’s mine.”

“What are you talking about?” I shake my head at her. I’m so tired of her manic behavior. It’s only gotten worse in the last year. I just need to bide my time. Three more years.

“Eli. I saw the way you looked at him.” I pray she can’t hear the thump of my heart at hearing his name. “He’s not for you. So stay the fuck away from him, or else...”

The hairs on my arm stand on end at her warning. It’s not the first time she’s threatened me, but sometimes I catch a malevolent flicker in her eye that scares me. My gut warns me to be careful. Maybe I should be more worried about her than I already am.

Silla turns and enters her apartment, slamming the door behind her. The sound makes me jump and forces me to rush into my home. Back against the door, I slide down, landing on my butt.

Unable to hold in the plethora of emotions from today any longer, I let the tears fall. My fingers find my pen as the words flow through me and onto the paper.