Crying Plea

Laughter burst from the table, some of it lighthearted, some of it sharp-edged. Darren sat back, watching as the amusement played out around him.

Sophie raised a perfectly shaped brow, swirling her wine glass between her fingers. "So let me get this straight," she said, a slow smirk forming. "You're saying that if you get Ava Monroe to sign, my company will owe you?"

Darren leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against the table. "That's the deal," he said simply.

The laughter came again, louder this time.

Tamara, who had been more composed, let out a small chuckle. "Darren, Ava Monroe is the biggest name in the city right now. Getting her to sign anything requires connections, power, and a whole lot of money. No offense, but I'm not exactly sure where you stand on that spectrum."