Chapter 17

Austen

SoulSource"s takeover becomes my entire identity at work for two months following the announcement. Evan has me doing way more than an intern should, but you can bet I'm not complaining. Not when this is so much more than just me getting a job after graduation now. This is about Corrin's future too. I want to ensure everything is exactly as it needs to be.

Meanwhile, Corrin is deep in his creative cave, music pouring from him now that he's no longer restricted to one genre of music. He's up all hours of the night strumming on the guitar as he analyzes what is and isn't working.

I sometimes watch him when he thinks I've already fallen asleep. It's easy to roll over on the bed and simply enjoy the view of him, headphones on and pen between his lips as he works out a note.

We moved him into my bedroom after the spring break trip. Tennyson said it was dumb to keep him on the couch. I agreed enthusiastically.

"Do you have the copies I emailed about ready?" I ask Janine, the SoulSource contact Miguel brought in to help with things. She works for Stryker Global now, though she'd been with SoulSource for nearly a decade before the change.

She grins, then opens her suitcase. "Yes, boss. Here you go."

I take the papers without commenting on the boss part. I'm no one's boss. My job is merely to get things from point A to point B so everyone else can work. The papers I need from Janine are meant to go to the legal team here later today when Corrin comes in for his meeting with the lawyers.

"Thank you for this. You fly out soon, right?"

"I'm packing up to leave now. Not sure why I even came since you're running this place like a well-oiled machine. This could have all been an email," she teases.

"I'm not running things. Intern, remember?"

She snorts, waving her hand toward me. "Yeah, sure. We'll go with that. Until next time. And maybe work on learning how to take compliments better. You're a great asset, Austen Page."

I watch her step into the elevator, then I take off to my desk. My new desk since I now have so much work, I couldn't keep up with it all. I file the papers in a safe place before opening my emails. Janine's statement reminded me I haven't checked it this hour yet. I insist on keeping an eye on the thing because I've almost missed more than one important notice regarding the acquisition.

There are a few more in my inbox since the last time I checked. I let myself delve into them. As soon as I fix one thing, another pops up. Some of the emails are directed to me and others are simply ones I'm copied on. My brain doesn't really see much difference between the two. I work on them all as if I'm going to get a grade at the end of this.

Which, technically, I am. With only a couple of weeks left until the semester ends, I have to finish the internship and hope for the best. Even if I don't secure a more permanent spot with Stryker Global, I have enough experience to go wherever I wanted.

Part of me is even considering taking the summer off to really enjoy the last bit of life before becoming part of the workforce. I could go visit Uncle Kelvin for a bit, or support Corrin as he finishes his album. I don't even know how much he has left to go.

As if my thoughts summon him, Corrin comes rushing off the elevator. I have a direct view of him from where my desk is positioned. His gaze connects with mine, and he gives me a smirk.

In a few steps, he's propped against my desk. I hear the sound of people spying on us, though I don't worry that they'll record it. They only want material for the office gossip train.

"I finished," he tells me a bit breathlessly.

My eyes widen. "You finished?"

He nods, happier than I've ever seen him. "It's done. The whole album. I mean, we have to record it professionally, but the songs are ready. I'm sure they'll tweak along the way, of course —"

"Holy shit!"

"There you go saying dirty words again," he teases.

I ignore the shot of arousal that comes. Standing from my chair, I wrap him in my arms. "You did it, love. I'm so proud of you."

Forget work. Forget my emails. Forget stupid meetings.

All I want to do is take him home and celebrate this exciting news.

Before I can do anything outrageous like I'm thinking, the elevator opens to reveal Tennyson and Miguel Stryker. I do a double take, the sight of them together throwing me for a loop.

"Ah, good. You're both ready. Let's go," Miguel says before turning for the conference room. Tenn makes a face at me behind his back, then scurries after him.

"I need to tell Miguel the news next. I'm sure he'll be happy." Corrin tells me as I pull out the paperwork Janine gave me earlier.

I throw my free arm around his shoulders as I steer us to the meeting. "You haven't told him yet?"

"You're the first person I told. I literally finished recording on my phone and drove here. I didn't want to share this moment with anyone but you."

My heart soars knowing how monumental those words are. Outside the conference room door, I pull him to a stop.

"I love you," I tell him as I wrap him tighter in my arms. "I love that you came to tell me first. I love that you're sharing my space and that I get to witness you enjoying your passion again. I love that my boss bought your company, which gave you the freedom you needed. I love that our silly plan to fake date led to more. But most of all, I love you, Corrin Ray. And I'm so fucking happy for you. I can't wait to hear your new music. I needed to say all that before we went inside though."

His eyes fill with tears. "Why would you do this now? I'm going to be a mess the whole time."

He hiccups, which makes us both laugh.

Tenn pokes his head out of the door. "What are you two doing?"

"We're coming. Give us just another minute," Corrin tells him as he wipes his eyes.

My brother rolls his eyes, then ducks back inside. As soon as he's gone, I'm tugged into a kiss. I open for him easily, my body weak for his. He keeps it mostly PG, though I can taste the mints he must have had before coming by the time we pull apart.

"I love you too. I realized it a while ago, but never said anything. I wasn't quite sure how to drop it into conversation." He blushes when I laugh. "Not all of us make declarations of love in the midst of the workday, you know!"

This makes me laugh even harder. I can't control it. He's being too adorable right now.

I open the conference room and usher him inside while I try to get ahold of myself. Miguel and Tenn are chatting at the long table like they're a pair of old friends. I guess they have to be with my brother signing on to become another member of the SG team.

"Before we start this, I need to tell you both something," Corrin announces. His serious tone has me settling down quickly.

Miguel leans forward, his gaze curious. Tenn matches the pose, though he's more amused than anything.

Once he has their full attention, Corrin takes a deep breath. "I finished the album. We can move into the next stage where the band comes in to layer the music. I don't know how you feel about producers, but I've got a few in mind who would fit this."

"That's fantastic news! Let's get the names of who you're thinking," Miguel says, eyes bright. "I'm letting you lead on this, Corrin. Your next album is your brainchild. You'll get full writing credit and anything else that comes along the way."

I can feel the relief pouring from my boyfriend now that he's shared his news. "Since the exciting part is over, can we get on with the boring parts?"

Miguel chuckles and waves me over. "You have the papers from the lawyers?"

"I do, along with all the other documentation. I took the liberty of working some numbers based off the data so you could see what the most viable department is. Some of what SoulSource considered business was actually the old guys funneling money into their pockets."

"Figures," Tenn scoffs. "No offense, of course."

"None taken. I like to think Stryker Global takes a different approach. While I do have an epic fuckton of money, I donate loads of it and what I don't spread around, I invest in ways to make jobs for others. Me staying successful keeps thousands of people employed so they can provide for their families."

Corrin grins. "Which is why I'm really glad it was you who bought out the record label. That's the attitude I've been hoping to find in a partnership."

I pass out the papers to everyone around the table, then I dive into a briefing of the material. It takes nearly an hour to go over it all so that everyone is satisfied. We bring in the lawyers at the end to watch it all get signed, and that's that. Corrin Ray, Loveless, and Stryker Global — the dynamic trio set to change the music industry.

"I'd like to keep you for another minute or two if you don't mind, Austen," Miguel says when I move to stand.

Looking at my brother and my boyfriend, I give them a nod to go ahead. "I'll be right out."

"Actually, you can both stay. It's nothing confidential. Not really." The man across from me pulls an envelope from his suit pocket, then slides it across the table.

It takes everything in me to calmly open the envelope. When I unfold the message inside, I send up a thanks to the universe that I'm sitting down. There's no way my legs would have held me up.

"You're serious?" I ask.

"Very much so. We'd love to have you on the team too. For real this time. You've gone above and beyond with SoulSource"s help. I know an asset when I find one. You, Austen Page, are an asset that I intend to keep."

"No fucking way! You got a job offer?" Corrin leans over to look at the paper in my hand. I pass it to him as Tenn joins in to read it.

"Damn, little brother. You're getting a nice signing bonus. I'm a little jealous."

Miguel shakes his head. "I gave him a signing bonus because I'm hoping he'll agree to be the personal tour coordinator for Loveless's next tour."

Time comes to a stop as I register what he just said. "You want me to be the… tour coordinator? Like for the whole tour?"

"I do. Please know you'd have a team, of course. This wouldn't be something one person could do alone."

"But I'm just an intern," I argue.

Corrin laughs at that. When I face him, he's smiling so big, I know his cheeks have to hurt. "You were never just an intern, baby. The number of hours you put in, the ideas you've volunteered — all proof you're vital to the company. Miguel would have been a fool to let you slip away."

"I agree. Even if I'm a little jealous you're going on tour with my best friend." Tennyson folds his arms and pouts. He looks a lot like Star with the move.

"You're his manager, so you're going too. I figured you'd put two and two together."

"Tennyson was never good at math." I grin as I make the jab.

My brother gasps dramatically like he's a Victorian woman scandalized by my words. "I believe that's what a CALCULATOR is for. Geesh."

"Well, as great as this is, I do have another meeting to get to while here in town. A present for Aiden since he refused to let me buy it last time we were here."

There's a twinkle in the man's eye. I have no doubt whatever he's going to purchase is large and expensive. And that in the end, Aiden will forgive him for it because they love each other.

He leaves us with instructions to go celebrate the news since the workday is over. We're quiet as he leaves, then we loudly cheer the minute he's out the door. I'm wrapped up in a group hug, which basically becomes a Corrin sandwich since my boyfriend is so tiny.

"We're going on tour!" Tennyson shouts.

I smile and nod. "We're going on tour."

Corrin squeezes out from between us, his hair a mess and his smile still at megawatt level. "This feels like a dream. Tell me it's not a dream."

Tenn reaches over, but I bat his hand away. "No pinching."

"Hey! That's the universal ‘not a dream move.' I was only trying to help."

"Yeah, yeah. No pinching my boyfriend."

"But he was my best friend first."

Corrin laughs. "You two better work out a custody agreement because when the tour starts, it will be months on end together. I won't deal with this fighting."

Tennyson and I grin at one another. We don't have to speak to know that this will be a running joke between us from now on. He'll either get used to it, or we'll annoy him to pieces. Probably a little of both.