Broken Record

Chapter 36: Stevie (3 months later)

"Hello, Stevie." Cortland smiled at Stevie as she entered the conference room.

    "Hey, Cortland." Aero gave her a head nod as she sat down next to him. He'd been more quiet around her than normal the past few weeks, but Stevie just chalked it up to his grueling tour schedule and secretive personal life issues. She hoped he was doing okay though.

    "Hello everyone. Stevie," Benton nodded at Stevie as he undid the button on his sports coat, seating himself at the head of the table. He steepled his fingers together, every bit the man in the ivory tower controlling the world below. But Stevie wasn't intimidated by his marble veneer anymore. It was part of Benton, one of his many unique personality traits. Stevie felt lucky to know the man beneath the mask that he wore as the CEO of Pacific Records.

    "Well, I have to be honest, I didn't expect this day would come." Benton smirked as he glanced up at Stevie before addressing the rest of the room. "It appears that in just shy of six months, Stevie Marlowe has produced not three, but four, viral hits, each with over one billion streams." The table of record executives, legal reps, and fellow producers clapped. Aero smiled wide, the first one she'd seen in a while.

    "And while Miss Marlowe didn't exactly bring her skills to Pacific Records of her own free will, we're very grateful that what started out as...let's say a mishap," a few legal team members in the room chuckled, "has led to a wonderful partnership." Benton's eyes found Stevie's, his smile flattening into something more serious, something far more personal than the business contract being discussed. Stevie wanted to get him home, to his penthouse, on his couch, run her fingers through his perfectly quaffed hair. But she simply nodded at the other end of the long glass table, restraining herself.

    "Stevie," Cortland interjected, shifting in his chair, "you certainly are the most unique case in all my years as a lawyer in the music industry. I couldn't believe the mastermind behind all of those...mishaps, as Benton so kindly put it, could be from just one person's mind. But when you explained your process, your vision, even a music illiterate like myself could see how truly talented you are. We'd like to offer you a full-time position here at Pacific Records. And we promise that your offer won't come with any viral hit stipulations."

    Everyone let out a laugh and Stevie smiled before looking down at her hands in her lap. She knew this job offer was coming. She'd gone over every detail of this meeting with Benton when they'd been laying together in his bed last night. He had his arm around her waist as she leaned against his chest, rubbing cream on slightly reddened wrists which had already healed enough by morning.

    "Thank you, Cortland, and everyone so much. Truly, I couldn't have imagined this would be my life six months ago when several very large and very angry men showed up at my apartment door back in Seattle." Stevie took a quick breath, stealing herself to address the room. "I've learned so much here and it's certainly put to shame the reputation I had of places like this. There is so much talent, just in this room alone, and it's an honor to be part of it." Stevie turned slightly, facing Aero. "Aero, you've been the best mentor and friend throughout it all. Seriously, those viral hits belong to you as much as they do to me." Aero nudged her in the side, a satisfied grin on his handsome face. "But, I respectfully have to decline the offer. I'm going to...do my own thing. Start my own, legit, indie label. I promise, Cortland, no more pirating." Cortland let out a laugh, his disappointment falling away at the happiness he saw on Stevie's pixie face. "And I won't be far, collabs are always on the table."

    "I think we know a thing or two about collaboration contracts."

    "Well then, Stevie," Benton smiled, everyone in the room taking it in for the rare sight that it was. "You are officially free and clear of any charges related to the IP infringement on Pacific Records Company and you are a free agent to pursue your career as you see fit." The room erupted in clapping, and Stevie felt so grateful for this place, so in gratitude to all that she had learned and had been able to create, and so in awe of the love that sat across from her at the other end of the table, no longer her secret to hide now that she was free to start her own career.

    As everyone stood, filing out of the conference room, Stevie lingered by the door, waiting for Benton to exit last. He stood over her, not touching but just a few inches away, the tension between them as electric as always.

    "I love you Stevie Marlowe." Benton breathed out the words, his voice so low she barely heard them.

    "I love you too, Benton West." Stevie looked up at him, a smirk pulling at the corners of her lips, "but you're not the boss of me anymore."

    Benton chuckled, leaning against the wall, his eyes scanning the hallway before he dipped in close to Stevie's ear, his words harsh with need. "But Mr. X still is."

***

Stevie drove home to her apartment, feeling like she was on Cloud 9. She still had so many things to do to get her own independent label off the ground, but today was for celebrating, not for stressing. She entered the apartment unit, girly stuff filling the space. Technically, it was barely Stevie's apartment anymore. After telling her sister the truth about Benton, Stevie had all but moved in with him over the past few months. With today being her last day at Pacific Records, she'd be making the move official this weekend.

    "Yo! I'm home!" Stevie yelled at the entryway, looking for her sister Olivia.

    "Oh, hi!" Olivia was in workout clothes, her arms full of decorations. "What do you think?" She waved her hand around the space, now filled with trendy knick knacks and actual picture frames. Stevie had barely bothered to get a throw blanket for the place.

    "Looks like Olivia!" Stevie's tone was sarcastic and Olivia huffed out at her before setting her items down on the coffee table.

    "It looks amazing is what it looks like. You practically left me a blank canvas." Benton had generously agreed to let Olivia live in the apartment rent free until she got a new job. One of the perks of dating a man who had too much money not to do something good with it every once in a while.

    "Well, I'm glad you're clearly getting settled. Have you um, met with that guy that Cortland told us about?" Stevie chewed on her fingernail, nervous to bring up the topic of officiating the divorce, but still wanting to check in and make sure it was damn well happening.

    "Next week!" Olivia's voice was too cheery as she made her way into the bedroom, adding what had to be the tenth throw pillow to the bed.

    "Stevie," Olivia walked over to her and grabbed her slender shoulders, looking her in the eye, "I promise, I'll be fine. Between you and mom and dad and--" Olivia stopped herself, licking her lips before continuing, "I just need to do this my way, okay? I promise, it's happening. I don't...I don't want Derrick back. I just can't do everything in one day." Stevie nodded, appreciating the conviction in her sister's voice.

    "Okay, so enough about me, tonight's the night, right? I get to actually meet, or I guess re-meet, the infamous Benton West for dinner?" Olivia batted her eyelashes and Stevie playfully slapped her arm, still not girly enough to get all ridiculous about her boyfriend meeting her sister for dinner.

    "Yes, yes, tonight's the night. Try not to embarrass me, okay?"

    "Hmm, can't make any promises."

Stevie laughed and headed off into the bathroom to take a shower. As the water ran, she heard her phone vibrate and reached over to the counter to check her screen.

    Benton West @ 5:23 PM: Can't wait for dinner tonight. And for after.

    Stevie Marlowe @ 5:25 PM: What's 'after' exactly?

    Benton West @ 5:26 PM: You. Tied up. Perfectly immobile beneath me.

Stevie let out a small gasp, never tiring of his directness and his promises. Benton brought out her inner needs, her connection to herself, her planning for a future. She typed out a text before ducking under the spray of the hot shower water.

    Stevie Marlowe @ 5:28 PM: Can't wait, Mr. X.


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