Laz gave her a polite smile. “I get it from my father.”
Sanaa smirked. “Don’t get cute. I appreciate your passion; however, I have no interest in bringing in drama.”
Laz dropped his charming act and leaned in closer to her so that she could see the passion in his eyes. “I would say to not believe everything you hear. My only interest is in the music, always has been and always will be.”
Sanaa rolled her eyes, and the expression made him realize that he lost her, both her interest and, possibly, her respect.
She stood. Damn. Laz felt she would be dismissing him soon. He would wait to stand until Sanaa said it officially.
“I have great A&R and enough managers. But I don’t want it to be said that I’m not open or flexible, even though I’m not.” She came around her large glass desk. “Since you’re doing work on your own, you’re more than welcome to contact me if you find that next big artist that’s going to blow me away and bump up Section Eight’s status.” She extended her hand to him. “Until then, good luck.”
Fuck!
Laz smiled as he stood. “Thanks for the opportunity. Hopefully, I’ll be back to show you some great artists for your company. I’m hoping to meet up with an artist who fits that bill.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it, or I guess I should say, hear it.” She sat back down and brought her attention to her tablet.
He took the elevator to the lobby. When he exited the elevator, he noticed the stares from the sour receptionist and the security guards. Damn, bad news traveled fast. He didn’t know if the looks came because he had been dismissed or because of the stories about him and Kat…or both.
So much for the word not getting out. He didn’t know if Zinner said something or Kat or both. Either way, Laz knew he wouldn’t be able to redeem himself until he found the right talent.
He had to show people his professionalism. For now, he would have to go home, change, and hit the road. Something good would have to come to him soon.
Chapter 3
“Miss Shields!”
The raised voice got Avery’s attention before the snickering around her from her classmates registered. “Yes. I’m listening.”
First lie of the day. Forget burning a candle at both ends. Avery’s candle had been thrown into a fire pit and melted all to hell. Going straight from cleaning toilets to a statistics class paled in comparison to being able to take a hot bath and then a long nap, one with the air-conditioning on while remaining bundled up under a cozy comforter.
Enough daydreaming. Avery blinked and even started bouncing her knees under her desk to look alert when she caught her professor’s glare.
“What did I say?” He placed his fist on his hip.
Knowing Professor Klein, some sort of test or quiz would be on her horizon. She took a stab at the answer since she had almost zonked out a couple of minutes ago.
“Quiz on Friday.” If she said it with confidence, maybe she would come off as attentive.
Her instructor regarded her for a moment before saying, “I sincerely hope you’re ready for it.”
Avery exhaled, but quickly realized she would be tested on subject matter she had no clue about. She needed to pay attention if she planned on graduating on time. For her final semester, she had to make this good.
At the end of the class, Avery gathered her belongings and started to go.
“Miss Shields, may I see you for a moment?” Klein waved his hand in the air to summon her to him.
Damn.
Avery slung her bag on her shoulder before she approached her teacher. Luckily, this class ended her day. She didn’t have to rush off to another class or lab. Sleep sounded good, but she couldn’t do that until she did some hard studying and finished a paper for another class. She hoped after all this hard work, it would be worth it in the end.
“Yes, sir.” She stood next to the desk.
“There’s a nice coffee shop downstairs.” The older man slowly loaded books and papers into a vintage-looking briefcase.
Avery blinked at his statement.
“And at the convenience store across the street, I understand they sell those energy drinks that are supposed to make your heart race.”
She started to understand her professor’s agenda with this conversation.
“And if you walk early enough in the morning time before the sun comes out, it might get some blood flowing so that you feel revitalized.” He pumped his fist covered in green and purple thick veins in the air.
“I understand.” She started to walk away.
“No. I don’t think you do.” Professor Klein adjusted his horned-rimmed glasses on his thin nose before he approached her. “You’re one of my better students in here.” He cleared his throat. “When you’re awake.”
“I’m sorry for nodding off. It’s hard juggling a couple of jobs, bills, and school.” Avery looked back at the students milling out of the room. To her, they all looked like babies. “I’m not like the rest of these students. I have responsibilities.”
“So do I.” He clasped his hand in front of his body. “I need to make sure all of my students are grasping the work. That’s my job.” He pointed to her. “Your job is to show up. I don’t mean just physically.” He pointed to his temple. “You have to be here in your head, too. You have to work hard to get what you want because no one else is going to give you anything.” He placed his hand on her arm. “If you need help or if you want to talk, my office door is always open.”
The offer didn’t come off as perverted or weird. Professor Klein regarded Avery like she would be conquering the world one day. Too bad she didn’t feel that way.
“Thanks for the talk. I’ll be more alert for the next class. I promise.” She headed to the door.
“Chapters twelve and thirteen.”
Avery turned back to her teacher.
“Read those chapters in preparation for the quiz on Friday.” He met up with her at the doorway. “By the way, good guess on the quiz. I guess I’m a little too predictable.”
Avery smiled. Yes, very good thing.
“See you in a couple days.” He strolled down the hallway.
Avery took the stairs down to the bottom floor and rushed across campus to the library. She would need to find a quiet corner to hide herself for a couple of hours before heading to her quiet, lonely apartment.
She scaled the stairs up to the library’s third floor, her usual sanctuary. She burst through the door and headed to the reference section. Thanks to Google, no one used that part of the library anymore. Therefore, it remained serene.
She got to the corner desk area where she normally sequestered herself, and had to stop in her tracks when she heard voices. Not voices really. Sounds. Moaning.
Avery stopped at the end of a wall of bookshelves and peered around the corner. She spotted a young couple kissing and groping each other in the place where Avery wanted to hide herself and study. Who knew that she had been using a spot that must have looked like the sexiest area in the library?
She watched the young man snake his hand up the woman’s T-shirt. Avery could only see motions as his hand moved around under the thin fabric, but that didn’t take away from the salacious nature of this impromptu show.