Mia Barnes was a punctual person. Yet, there she was, pacing across the marble floors of the bustling New York office, threatening to be late for a very important meeting. It wasn’t her fault. She’d arrived at Ward Industries’ mega complex a half hour early. She valued time – her time – but she always spared a few extra minutes to ensure she was early. No, Mia was waiting on her associate, Tyler Abbott. He was young and a fresh implant to New York City. When they were in public, she watched out of the corner of her eyes as he marveled at the skyscrapers and jumped at every horn. She tried remembering being fresh faced in the city, but each time she closed her eyes she failed to capture the warmth of the first time she set foot on the streets of the place she now called home. Seven years later and she was as smooth as granite, cold to the city. The rumbling of the subway no longer fluttered her stomach. The seemingly never ending sea of cabs no longer tickled her excitement. But the warm grass between her toes in Central Park on a warm summer morning, the fresh smell of coffee wafting from an insulated cup… Mia smiled, forgetting where she was. Forgetting how important the meeting at Ward Industries was for Monarch Records.

Angrily, Mia went to grab her phone from her purse. She’d call Tyler one more time before going up alone. It wasn’t the first time she’d went into a meeting solo, and she was sure it wouldn’t be her last. The music industry definitely didn’t breed men who were on time. A wave of panic shook down her frame as her fingers searched for the outline of her phone. Another wave of panic came when in her confusion, a passerby pushed into her shoulder sending her forward, spilling the contents of her purse on the floor. Her day was proving to be one horrible event after the next. Mia valued time and organization. She craved control. As she bent down, careful to mind her pencil skirt, her heart thumped with the fleeting fear of losing control. She hadn’t climbed the ladder in the music industry without having a tight hold on herself. She wasn’t going to let one late band manager and a spill in a busy lobby get to her. She couldn’t let it get to her.

She quickly shuffled her contents into her purse, thankful that at least the spill had located her phone. As she stretched to snap back up to her feet, she froze. A strong hand grasped her waist sending red hot flames throughout her body. Breathless, she regained her composure and turned around.

Standing with his hand still on her waist was the most attractive man Mia had ever laid her eyes on… and she’d seen quite a few men in her twenty six years of life. Looming a few inches over her in an impeccable grey Armani suit that didn’t tame his broad shoulders was a flesh and blood gift from the heavens. His hair, which was short on the sides but flopped lazily on top with thick wild strands, was the color of rich espresso beans. Piercing blue eyes stared at her, very obviously undressing her. Not that she minded. He was chiseled, with high cheek bones and a concrete jaw that wore a thin layer of stubble. The nostrils of his sharp nose flared not from rage but insatiable lust. And his lips… fine, firm and delicious.

Mia had always been aware of her sexuality. She knew what her body could do, what it could elicit from men. She embraced sex, owning her dark fantasies. And while she needed order in her life, needed to be in control, in the bedroom she wanted anything but. She craved submission, though her sexual greediness often led to disarray. She stared at the man in front of her and thought about the firm hand that was on her waist, wishing that hand would tie her tight to her bedposts. She ached to know what was beneath his expensive suit. Those undressing eyes could watch as she convulsed beneath him.

“Are you alright?” He questioned finally, his lips curved into a daring smile, as if he could read the thoughts running through her mind.

His voice sent shivers down her spine. It was a voice that could undo her.

She hadn’t known that he’d been staring at her from across the lobby, fascinated with the black lines running down either of her stockings. Or that when she bent over he could do nothing but stare at the way her ass filled the well-fitting skirt. He had to cross the room in long strides just to touch, to possess even just a little.

“Quite,” She nodded, unintentionally licking her lips.

Mia was flush with anger over Tyler and raw lust for the stranger in front of her. She cursed at herself for stumbling over her words. She never let men gain this much leverage over her. Not that any man ever looked at her with such passion.

Before she could register what was happening, his spare hand was cradling her hand, inspecting her phone. She sucked in a deep breath as his calloused thumb rubbed small circles over the soft skin of her hand. They stood so close together she could smell the rich fragrance of his cologne- leather and wood. The smell tickled her belly. She inhaled deeply, savoring the flavor. And just when he went to speak, her phone buzzed in their hand, the screen lighting up to indicate a call. His eyes flashed down, capturing the name displayed, Tyler Abbott.

He released her hand, “It doesn’t look to be broken, thankfully.”

“I’ve got to take this,” She said sheepishly holding up a finger. She fought the urge to ignore the call, ignore the meeting, and pull the man into a storage closet. Instead she slid a finger across the glass screen and slipped outside.

“Where the hell are you, Tyler?” She spoke, regaining composure as she gained control.

“I’m sorry, Mia, but I didn’t realize it was going to take me forty minutes to travel four blocks,” Tyler responded sharply.

“You guys have been in New York a month, you should know by now.”

“We should know a lot of things,” He said thinly. “I can see you- okay, I’m here.”

Mia hung up the phone and slid in into her jumbled purse as her eyes narrowed on Tyler nearly sprinting down the street. Dressed in dark black skinny jeans and a hip plaid buttoned shirt, the kid didn’t look half bad. He was a year or so younger than her, but acted like the four boys of the band he represented, all freshly twenty one. Mia learned a long time ago that rock and roll men never aged and thus, weren’t for her. Besides, she
never
mixed business and pleasure.

“Planning on shocking the old men into letting us be the opening gig?” Tyler asked as he slid to a halt in front of her, gasping for air.

She ushered him inside with a frown, “What?”

“You look hot,” Tyler grinned, following behind Mia like a lost puppy.

She glanced down briefly at her outfit. A thin black sweater that stretched down nearly to her elbows and featured a low cut that still left plenty to the imagination. A gold necklace with a bold red pattern of gems filled the space on her chest. It matched the understated gold watch on her wrist. Her black pencil skirt was tailored perfectly, and her stockings led into a black pair of Louboutin heels. Nothing extremely out of the ordinary. She’d even only put on a thin layer of black eyeliner and a dark red lip, deciding to keep her makeup minimal for the meeting.

“I always look like this. You’re just used to seeing me in jeans at events,” Mia informed as she called the elevator.

Tyler grinned, “I’ll make it a point to stop by your office more, then.”

They slid into the cab of the elevator and found a cozy spot amongst the people. Mia looked over at him with a sparkling smile that she could tell made his cock twitch, “Tyler, stop by my office without my invitation and you just might leave with a bloody nose.”

His smile fell and Mia winked, turning her attention on her watch. They were dangerously close to being late. When the cab stopped on their floor, she yanked his arm out and swiftly walked to the receptionist’s desk. Mia quickly informed her who they were, and the pretty young girl pointed them to a set of glass doors. If Mia wasn’t worried about being late or pulling a manila folder from her bag she would’ve noticed that the devilishly handsome stranger from the lobby was inside the room at the end of a long glass table, his heavy eyes hard on her as she smoothed her composure and entered the room.

“Sorry, boys, but Tyler doesn’t seem to know his way around the streets yet,” She announced as they walked in.

“Quite alright, I was running late myself.”

Mia paused briefly, her eyes darting towards the familiar voice. She locked eyes with the stranger who wore a smirk as he slid from the table and stood, smoothing his suit over his figure. She shook hands and shared introductions with the other two men in the room, her body going through the motions, just waiting until… his handshake was strong and firm. He spoke, his low voice sending throbbing waves to her core, “Benson Ward.”

The touch of his skin against hers threatened to send her back into a frenzy, let alone the tone of his deep voice. She couldn’t afford that luxury, so after a lingering moment; she released his hand and took a seat at the table. Tyler soon followed. She’d have to come to terms with the fact that her dreamy stranger was a man she’d shortly be doing business with. Her body ached knowing it would never feel his calloused fingers rubbing against her. She inwardly cursed at herself and flipped open her folder.

“Monarch Records is pleased you have given us some of your time, Mr. Ward, especially for something as pressing as the opening of your new venue.”

“We’re looking for a fresh sound for the grand opening of The Dark Room,” Benson said smoothly, his gaze hard on Mia. “My associates have told me that is something Monarch can provide.”

“Burnside is about as fresh as they come,” Mia pressed back. “We signed them six months ago, and their debut album is set to release this upcoming spring.”

“Our concern, Miss Barnes,” Announced one of the other men whose name she didn’t remember. “Is that Burnside may be
too
fresh. We aren’t sure very many people will get excited for a band they don’t know.”

Benson watched as the firecracker a few feet away gave a compelling case for her client. Well, he was sure it was compelling. Because he didn’t hear a word she said. He was too busy watching the curve of her body. The way her dark green eyes flickered with passion and how her plump limps moved when she spoke. Her hair, black as coal, lying in long soft layers against her neck bounced as she moved. The swell of her breasts with each breath made Benson want to pin her down against the table and suckle each taut nipple.

She was captivating, strong and dominant. It was a completely different picture from the frazzled, breathless woman he’d encountered in the lobby. He’d seen the name flash on her screen and assumed she was taken. He laughed at himself, now knowing the truth. The name belonged to the lost puppy trailing behind her into the conference room. Benson’s eyes darted over to the boy who watched Mia in amazement. Tyler was in a trance as he watched her speak, his eyes moving from her breasts to her face. He knew that look. The boy was head over heels for Mia. A tight ball of anger and jealous formed in Benson’s stomach. He tried pushing the feelings aside.
Catch a grip, Benson
, he told himself,
You’ve seen the way she looks at you.
Like she wanted to stop time and get lost in his body. He flashed the same look in her direction, intent on getting what he wanted. Her. But she was too busy engaging with his marketing and promotional leads to even notice him. And they were too busy staring at her chest to make any level headed decisions. Benson slid back into the conversation.

“What you’re not understanding is that I have access to more than Burnside,” Mia exasperated.

“More than Burnside?” Benson questioned, an eyebrow raised.

Mia had forgotten he’d been there. No, she hadn’t. But his eyes were hard on her body igniting a fire between her legs and if she paid attention to him, she feared a wet spot may pool on her leather seat. She tried fighting her urges with a sharp tongue.

“Where have you been for the past five minutes, Mr. Ward? I’m trying to express to your associates that Burnside doesn’t have to be the only band performing. I’m asking for a chance. These boys have worked extremely hard and this would be a wonderful opportunity for them.”

“We don’t always deal in opportunities here,” Benson said honestly.

“What if I can get Charlotte’s Drive as a headliner,” Mia blurted.

That peaked some interest. Though owning dozens of venues, Benson didn’t have much time for music. But he knew who Charlotte’s Drive was. Everyone knew who they were. Their faces were plastered on the sides of city busses and stretched across teenage girl’s black tee shirts. Charlotte’s Drive could be just what the venue needed to bring in big crowds on its opening night. Benson went to speak but was cut off by Tyler, frantically hissing in Mia’s direction.

“Charlotte’s Drive is on tour right now, Mia!”

She barely shot him a glance, “Grant owes me a favor. A big favor.”

Why was he getting jealous at the mention of another man? Benson leaned forward and pressed his hot palms against the chilled glass of the table. Mia swallowed hard and gazed at his long fingers. A playful grin graced his face and their eyes met. Instead of blushing, she grinned back, almost as a challenge, and then turned her attention back to the business.

“Charlotte’s Drive
is
on tour right now,” She admitted. “But I know I can get them for a night. Imagine the publicity. Let Burnside open, play a few songs off their upcoming album, get some fans. Then we’ll hit the crowd with mega sensation Charlotte’s Drive for the rest of the night.”

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