AG

I watched as she took her seat, her posture radiating confidence. The track I selected was a classic mid-tempo neo-soul number that I purposely messed with to see how she would react. I hit play, and the speakers filled with a cacophony of off-key notes and poorly mixed vocals. The beat was all over the place, and the bass was so heavy it was practically non-existent. It was a hot mess, and I wanted to see if she had the skills to tame it.

Nova's eyes narrowed as she listened, her mouth pursing slightly in concentration. She leaned forward, her hands poised over the soundboard like a pianist about to tackle a Beethoven sonata. Her eyes darted over the controls, searching for the culprits behind the mess. "Okay, let's start with the basics," she said, her voice a mix of determination and amusement. "We need to balance out the levels."

With the precision of a surgeon, she began to tweak the knobs and sliders, her movements swift and sure. Each adjustment brought the track closer to its former glory, the jagged edges smoothing out under her touch. The off-key notes slowly found their place, and the bass began to pulse with a rhythm that made the floor vibrate. It was like watching a sculptor chisel away at a block of marble, revealing the masterpiece beneath.

As the music started to take shape, I found myself getting more and more turned on. The way she moved, the focus in her eyes, the way her lips parted slightly when she was really concentrating—it was all so fucking sexy. I shifted in my chair, trying to get comfortable, but all I could think about was those full lips wrapped around something else entirely.

Finally, the track was playing almost perfectly. The only thing left was a faint static in the background that I had placed there on purpose. She cocked her head to the side, listening intently, and then her hand shot out to flip a switch. The static disappeared, and the room was filled with pure, unadulterated music. She sat back, let a sigh escape her from the effort, and looked at me expectantly. "Well?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I couldn't help but grin. "Impressive," I said, my voice gruff with desire. "You've got the touch." The air in the studio grew thick with tension as we stared at each other, the music playing softly in the background like a soundtrack to our silent dance of wills. " "I got something else for you," I said. I put the next track on. There's nothing wrong with this track; let's see what she does with it, I hit play.

Nova sat back in the chair and steepled her fingers, her gorgeous, wide eyes fluttering closed as she listened. The music filled the space between us. Her chest rose and fell with the rhythm of the beat, and her full, lush lips pursed slightly as she considered the track. She was a vision of beauty and talent, and I couldn't decide which was more intoxicating.

Her eyes snapped open, and she turned to face me, her gaze intense. "Okay, I've got an idea," she said, her voice a little breathless. "Let's add a bit of reverb to the vocals and maybe some panning effects on the chorus to give it a wider sound."

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from her. "Alright, show me what you got," I said, leaning back in my chair.

Nova leaned over the soundboard, her red bra out from the bottom of her hoodie. I had to bite my tongue to keep from reaching out and touching her. She worked with a feverish passion, her hands moving expertly over the controls, her eyes never leaving the screen. The track began to transform before my eyes—or rather, before my ears. The vocals took on an ethereal quality, floating over the instruments like a ghostly whisper. The panning effects on the chorus made the music feel like it was surrounding us, enveloping us in a warm embrace. It was fucking brilliant.

She stood because her arms were short to reach the higher knobs, and her hips swayed to the rhythm as she worked. The sight of her was like watching a symphony of sensuality and skill, and I was utterly captivated. "This," she said, turning a knob, "will give it that extra oomph."

The bass kicked in, resonating through the studio and vibrating in my chest. She had managed to find the sweet spot, making the music pulse with life. The static was gone, replaced by a smooth, rich sound that made me want to lean back and close my eyes. But I didn't. I couldn't. Not with her standing there, her ass sticking out, practically begging for my hands. She was a natural, a fucking wizard with the soundboard. And she had no idea how much I wanted to show her my appreciation.

When the track ended, she turned to face me. Her eyes searched mine, looking for approval, for validation. And I gave it to her. I nodded with a smirk, even though I wanted to pull her to me and kiss her little nose. I won't. "You're skilled, Miss Nova," I said, quirking an eyebrow. I stood and cut the red light.

"But that's not all I need from you," I said, my voice dropping an octave. I want to see what else you're capable of." "I want Cabanara with extra chicken and spinach and cheese bread." "Your lunch?" she said with her brows furrowed. My grin was wicked. "Yes." "I'll be in my office."

I watched as she sashayed out of the studio, the sway of her hips leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I couldn't believe that she had not only survived the embarrassment of walking in on me but had come back for more. And she had skills—damn good skill. But I had a feeling that was just the tip of the iceberg.

As she returned with my lunch, I could see the curiosity in her eyes. She was dying to know what her next assignment would be. And I was more than happy to keep her guessin'. I took the food from her, our fingers brushing together briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through me. "Thank you," I said, my eyes never leaving hers. I shut my door gently in her face. I hate to be such an asshole with her. But I have to be. Otherwise, I'll have my mouth on her pussy, moaning. I gotta do this shit for my own good.

She stood there for a few seconds longer, then finally turned to go back to her work area. She's so agreeable. I was sure she was going to give me shit for making her go get my lunch.

I sat in my office, devouring my lunch, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. Her sass and confidence were a breath of fresh air in this stale industry. The way she handled the situation yesterday. Her skills only served to solidify my interest in her. I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts. There was only one person I could call to get the inside scoop on this intriguing woman.

"Yo, what's good?" a familiar voice answered on the other end. My homie Marcus recommended Nova for the job. "That woman you sent over here?" I asked, my voice low. "The gorgeous one with the eyes and the mouth that could cut glass?"

Marcus chuckled. "Yea, Nova.. She's dope right?"

"Fire and ice," I said, leaning back in my chair. "But she got skills. I had her working on a track today, and she didn't miss a beat."

"Told you she was the one," Marcus said smugly. "But watch out for that one, Artis. She's got a heart of gold, but that mouth.. damn."

I smirked. "Oh, I noticed." The thought of her standing up to me was strangely arousing. "But that's not why I called," I continued. I need you to find out if she's single; if I ask her, I'll look thirsty."

Marcus was silent for a beat. "You serious?"

"As fuck," I said. "I gotta know if she's ripe for the taking"

"Nah man," he said, his tone cautious. "She's not just a pretty face and fat ass, Artis man. She's got some shit to her."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" I quipped. "I'm saying, don't play games with her Art. I sent her to you because I know she'll soar under your tutelage" "I'm just trying to get to know her." "You know what, fuck it. I got this."

I hung up the phone, feeling a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. The idea of pursuing Nova was risky—she was my employee, after all, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was the one I had been waiting for. I pushed aside the paperwork on my desk and leaned back, letting the music from the studio wash over me. This sound was a reminder of why I loved this job so much—discovering raw talent and turning it into something legendary. And if that talent came in a package as sexy as Nova, that was just an added bonus.

Nova

My concentration was broken by a light tap on the glass. I whipped around to find Cam, one of the studio's engineers, standing outside the control room. He was tall, had fair skin, and a boyish charm that mirrored Chris Brown's. He had a mischievous smile that could make even the coldest hearts melt. He waved at me, and I couldn't help but let out a little laugh at the goofy expression on my face. He was definitely one of the sexier brotha's in this building. His presence was a much-needed distraction.

I stepped into the hallway, the sound of my sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. "Hey, Cam," I said, trying to play it cool. "Hey now," he said, smiling.

"Just making sure the new blood is holding up," he said, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Heard you had quite the introduction with our boss."

My cheeks flushed at the memory. "Yeah, I got cussed out." "How did you know?"

Cam leaned against the wall, his arms folded over his chest. "It's a small place; word travels fast," he said with a wink. But don't worry; Artis is all bark and no bite. Just don't let him get to you, and you'll be fine."

I nodded, taking his words to heart. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," I said, feeling a little more at ease. So, what's the deal with this place? Is there any juicy gossip I should know about?"

He leaned in closer. "You're the gossip, little mama," he said in a hushed whisper. My eyebrows shot up. "What?" I said. He burst out into a fit of chuckles.

As we shared a laugh, the door to 7 opened, Artis strode out of there like a storm cloud, sucking all the light-heartedness out of the corridor. His eyes were dark and intense, and he didn't even glance at Cam as he approached. He held out a flash drive to me, and I took it without a word, feeling the weight of his gaze on my hand.

"You're going to need this," he said, his voice low and gruff. I looked up at him, my heart racing. "What is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"A project," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. "I want you to mix it. make it sound like it's going to top the charts." He didn't elaborate; he just handed me the drive and turned to leave.

But before he could walk away, Cam spoke up. "Hey, Artis, you got a sec?"

Artis paused, his back to us, and I could almost feel the tension radiating off him. "Make it quick," he said, his tone clipped.

Cam looked at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I was just going to show Nova the ropes," he said casually. "Focus on 5, Cam," he said before he resumed his stalking.

Sexy ass. I thought to myself.

Cam and I shared a look.

"Well, that was... intense," he said, watching Artis' retreating back.

"Yeah, he's something else," I murmured, tucking the flash drive into my pocket. But hey, at least I have a new project."

Cam clapped a hand on my shoulder. "watch yourself," he said, with a menacing smile.

With a nod, I turned and headed back to my station, my mind racing with thoughts of the mysterious project Artis had entrusted me with.

As the day wore on, I couldn't help but feel the weight of his gaze whenever he passed by. It was like he was trying to see through me, to understand what made me tick. And every time he did, my heart skipped a beat, my stomach fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement. It was infuriating and exhilarating all at once.

When the clock finally struck five, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I needed some space to process. It's a new place with new people, i'm still trying to find my stride here. Ask questions without looking like a complete novice, while simultaneously exude confidence to prove I'm worthy of being here.

Artis appeared in the doorway, leaning on the door frame with one hand in his pocket and keys jingling in the other.

I looked over at him and smiled warmly. "You taking off?"

He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. "Yeah, got some errands to run." I nodded back, trying to act like his presence didn't affect me.

"Nova...I-- " He was suddenly interrupted by the eye-rolling receptionist. They took off walking down the hall. "let me get the fuck out of here." I muttered.