Masquerade (G!P)

•two•

"Are you ready?" Lauren asked, tapping her pencil on the soundboard. I nodded. The beat for the song I wrote came on, and I pulled the headphones over my ear.

Now you finally tell me how you feel
Guess your words just came a little too late
All the drama, boy it's overkill
Don't be mad at me cause you been replaced
Know your place

But if you woulda manned up, put your hands up, stand up
Tell me how you really felt
Then maybe it'd be different

If you spoke I would've listened, but now I'm with somebody else
And he loves me, too much for me to mess this up
And it sucks to be all in your head
Wondering, where this thing could go
But

You'll never know,
What we could've been
If you would've shown
Your way back then

Boy you gotta (yep, yep)
Boy you shoulda (yep, yep) but you didn't know so
Now you'll never know,
You'll never know

Claps echoed outside the room. I blushed slightly, feeling Lauren's eyes on me. She grinned, as if she was proud of me.

"Dinah!" The producer yelled, calling her assistant over.

"Yes Miss Jauregui?"

"Clear my schedule," The blonde nodded and scurried off, leaving me in a room with just Lauren. She smiled at me as I walked out of the booth. She stood up, approaching me.

"Miss Hamilton," Lauren called. "Why don't we go out for lunch?" My eyes widened in surprise. She wanted to take me?

"Why me?" I asked nervously. She chuckled lightly.

"If I'm going to be helping you make your music," Lauren explained. "I'm going to need to know more about you, correct Miss Hamilton?" I nodded.

"Start by calling me Normani," I demanded politely. She nodded.

"Very well," She held out her hand. "Normani." I almost melted when we touched. My name sounded so right coming from her.

Lauren pulled me out of the studio swiftly, waving to some of her employees. We passed her private studio, and I got a glimpse of the awards and plaques on her wall. She was such a successful singer at sixteen! If she was working with me personally then maybe she sees something in me.

A limo driver is waiting outside of the building, constantly checking his watch. He opened the car door to allow Lauren and I to enter. He gave me a brief smile, nodding before turning to speak to Lauren.

"Armani's," She ordered. The driver nodded and closed the door as Lauren got in. She sat across from me in the limo, looking at me. I blushed under her gaze.

"You're very beautiful," Lauren blurted. "Normani."

"Thank you," I bowed my head so she couldn't see the blush. "Miss Jauregui."

"Call me Lauren," She demanded. I nodded my 'okay' and looked back up.

"You were at the masquerade ball?" Lauren nodded.

"Were you a fundraiser or something?"

"Yes," She said. "I was a special guest that night."