UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Chapter 5

Her form-fitting pencil skirt hugged her hips, sketching out a pulse-quickening curve; the hem had ridden up just enough to bare a stretch of pale thigh that glowed softly under the lights. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders, swaying as she typed, like it was wordlessly teasing the air.

She sensed movement, lifted her head, and looked at me, a hint of mischief flickering in her eyes.

“Ethan? It’s late. What are you doing here?”

Her voice was low and a touch husky—like a late-night radio host—scratching at some itch under the skin.

I swallowed, my throat dry as sand, and scratched my head, awkward.

“I… just came from Serena’s drinks. My head’s a mess. Needed somewhere quiet.”

Even I could hear how flimsy that sounded, but her gaze felt like it saw through everything, leaving me nowhere to hide.

Chloe let out a soft laugh, the corner of her mouth curving with layered meaning.

“Drinks? With Mr. Carter and his crowd, right? Come in. Sit.”

She gestured to the chair across from her with effortless poise. Her blouse shifted open with the motion, revealing more luminous skin.

I tore my eyes away, heart hammering like a drum. By the time I sat, my palms were slick.

I stared down at my phone, but my head was full of Mr. Carter’s disgusting hands and Serena’s cool, distant eyes.

Chloe leaned back, crossing her long legs. The skirt inched higher, tracing the line of her thigh, like it was testing my self-control. Her perfume thickened in the small office, sweet to the point of dizzy.

She looked me over, teasing in her tone.

“You look like you got spooked. Come on—what happened?”

I hesitated, then couldn’t hold it in and spilled everything from the night.

“Carter was gross—hands everywhere. Serena acted like nothing happened and told me to drop it. I… I don’t know what to do.”

My voice shook, angry and lost, like an animal forced into a corner.

Chloe listened, a small furrow forming between her brows. Something complicated flickered in her eyes.

“Carter. There are plenty like him in this business.”

She paused; her voice went low, like she was sharing a secret.

“Ethan, you’re new. Some things you have to learn the hard way. This world isn’t black and white. Artists, managers, investors—everyone’s playing their own hand at the table. Serena handled it that way because she knows how to protect her place. You want to help her, but you’ve got to learn to protect yourself first.”

“Protect myself?” I gave a bitter laugh and looked up—only to crash into her gaze.

Her eyes were as deep as the night sea, with a dangerous tug that made something inside me slip. I glanced down fast, hiding my unease. “I don’t even know what I’m doing.”

She nodded, stood, and poured a cup of water at the cooler, then handed it to me. Her blouse fell fully open with the motion, the outline of a lace bra catching the light; the rise and fall of her chest made my pulse riot.

When I took the cup, my fingers brushed hers—warm like a live wire. My heartbeat went off the rails.

She didn’t seem to notice. She settled back into her chair, crossed her legs again, and the skirt slid to mid-thigh, exposing more porcelain skin. Her perfume felt like an invisible net, and I was stuck in it.

“Drink some water. Breathe.”

Her voice softened, like she was soothing a skittish animal.

“When I started out, I felt the same. Thought this business was filthy to the core. Once, an investor tried to drown an artist I managed in drinks. I almost flipped the table. And what happened? The artist got shelved, and the company warned me. That’s when I learned anger doesn’t fix it. You have to learn to swim in muddy water.”

Her eyes dimmed as she spoke, as if she’d brushed a scar she didn’t want to touch.

Cold Spotlight