Broken Record

Chapter 21: Stevie

After the hallway encounter, Stevie hadn't seen Benton all week. She and Aero had been heads down on finishing Jelena's remix after Benton's advice and approval and they were close to being done. For a few hours each day, she felt like her old self. Like the girl in her rundown apartment, racking up millions of streams with nothing but her stitched together equipment and raw creativity. Except now, she had all the top of the line equipment and resources at her disposal. Still, when those hours faded and she lifted the headphones from her ears, a little voice at the back of her head was reminding her of how many hours until Thursday evening. Until her return to The Den.

Stevie swiveled in her chair as Aero put the final touches on the remix. It was 4:00 PM on Thursday and Stevie couldn't help but chew nervously on her nails. Something felt different about going back this time. Like she was agreeing to something, a commitment she didn't fully understand. She wanted to go, nearly desperate for it, but she also felt a foreign hesitation. A fear that if she kept dipping her toe in, she'd soon be fully submerged. Nowhere to go but deeper. No turning back. Could she really give a man like Benton, a man who feasted on power and could have any woman at his fingertips, that much control? What if she didn't meet his expectations this time? What if the rush they'd experienced, the exquisite fucking, had only been a symptom of the novelty? Stevie was lost in thought when Aero turned away from the production board, a crooked smile on his lips.

"I think we've got ourselves a banger. This shit's going viral for sure." Stevie lifted her head, nodding. "That would give you two out of three viral hits, right? Damn you might be the first to beat the devil's expectations." Stevie felt a warm flush spread over her cheeks. It was like Aero had read her mind, his response fitting in perfectly to her unspoken fears. But he was only talking about the music. Focus, Stevie, she thought to herself, focus on the fucking music.

"First time for everything I guess!" Stevie stood and made her way over to the tables, a heightened awareness at Aero's proximity to her because of Benton's heated question about the two of them last Friday. She'd seen more than a dozen women in the studio fall head over heels for a shot with Aero. The guy could have a new girl every night. Maybe even a few at a time. But he'd never even remotely directed that vibe toward Stevie. He treated her like a colleague, like an artist. Maybe even a little like a sister.

"Are you dating anyone?" The question popped out of Stevie's mouth before she could reign it in. She immediately wanted to explain herself, to make it crystal fucking clear that she wasn't trying to imply that she wanted to date him. Just that she wanted to know what it was Benton had thought he'd seen between them. Aero chuckled lightly, leaning back into his seat.

"Nah, not really dating anyone," his smirk grew wider, more masculine, "you know, just having fun. After everything with my ex--"

"Maria Brinkley." Stevie cut him off, always bewildered by the fact that he could speak so casually about one of the most famous women in Hollywood.

"Haha, yes. Maria. That was all such a shitshow. I don't really want to date famous chicks anymore. Too much drama." Stevie nodded her head as if she could relate.

"Totally." Aero laughed at her serious response.

"What about you?" Stevie scoffed, averting her eyes.

"Definitely not dating. I've never really been the girlfriend type." Aero let out another soft laugh, opening a beer on the edge of the table.

"Yeah, I get that vibe from you. You're too cool for that bullshit." Stevie looked at him, scanning for any signs of attraction. She knew men desired her. She and her sister had both inherited their good looks from their mother. But her quirky, offbeat style and edgy energy had definitely been a turnoff to some men. Not that she gave two shits. Well, at least until recently.

"Yeah, I guess. Polar opposites from my older sister in that way." Before Olivia had gotten married, every guy wanted to date her. To wife her up, as they say. She was the perfect catch, just as pretty as Stevie but without all the quirkiness.

"I think it's sick you do your own thing. I'm always finding myself drawn to preppy, dramatic chicks and I don't know why. Guess you can't help who you're attracted to."

Attracted to. Even that felt too benign of a statement for the draw that Benton had over Stevie. Was he attracted to her or was he just attracted to what she was willing to let him do? And why did it feel so important to know all of a sudden.?

"Hey, are you good? If you want to head out and get some rest, we're pretty much wrapped here. You've been working some mad hours this week." Stevie nodded, looking for her purse. Working long hours was nothing new for her, especially on music. But this week it had been about music being the distraction instead of the focus. A few hours to herself would probably be good before she headed back to The Den, her stomach already blooming with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

"Uh, yeah, yeah. I think I'm pretty beat. The remix came out great though, thanks for all your help."

"No thanks needed, you've become one of my favorite people to collaborate with. You should really think about sticking around after all your legal shit is sorted out. Do this for real." Stevie smiled, again at war with herself. Having this be her career, her everyday. How could that not be amazing? But just a few weeks ago, she would've rather sold her soul than work for the major record labels that ran the music industry under an iron fist. Now she was dangerously close to selling her soul for something else entirely.

"See you tomorrow?" Stevie opened the studio door, looking back over at Aero.

"I'll actually be out tomorrow. I have a set on Saturday in Vegas. Will be back next week though."

"Cool." Stevie slipped out into the hallway, her grip on her purse strap growing tighter. Why was she suddenly overthinking what to wear tonight? Should she lose the combat boots in lieu of some high heels? Shit, did she even have heels? Stevie pulled her phone from her purse as she made her way to the elevators, doing something she'd never imagined herself doing before.

Stevie @ 4:32 PM: Olivia, when are you coming to LA? I need some stupid girl advice.