BEN

As I watched Piper disappear into her house, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. She'd had a rough night, and I hoped she would take the day to recover. I turned the car around and headed back home, the events of the night replaying in my mind.

Last night got way out of hand— I couldn't let it happen again. Not with her. She was my ticket back into the public's good graces. Danny called me yesterday... I lost 3 brand deals. Shit was getting bad. I couldn't take her down with me.

Once I got back to my place, I parked and sat in the car for a moment, letting out a deep sigh. It wasn't like me to play the knight in shining armor, but seeing her overwhelmed and vulnerable had stirred something in me. I got out of the car and walked inside, not liking this feeling I couldn't shake.

I kicked off my shoes and headed to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. As I took a long drink, I glanced at my phone and saw a slew of notifications. News about last night had spread like wildfire. There were pictures of Piper and me at the bar, and speculation was running rampant.

"Great," I muttered to myself. "This is exactly what she didn't need."

I sat down on the couch and scrolled through the headlines. It was all typical tabloid nonsense, but I knew it could affect Piper's career. She didn't deserve this kind of scrutiny, especially with the Grammys coming up. I scolded myself for when giving a shit about how she might be feeling. What the hell was I thinking? I couldn't care about anyone this much, let alone her. I didn't didn't care about people's feelings. I couldn't. Not again.

Despite my inner battle, I put my phone down, I found myself thinking about Piper's pretty face, her tear-streaked cheeks, and the way she looked at me with those big, vulnerable eyes this morning. Why couldn't I stop thinking about her? She was just another country singer, after all. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.

I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes, trying to shake the image of her from my mind. But even as I drifted off, her face lingered in my thoughts, and I felt an unfamiliar pull in my chest.

---

When I woke up, it was late afternoon. I stretched and groggily got up from the couch, feeling a bit more rested. I checked my phone and saw a message from Danny.

From Danny Briggs
Meeting tomorrow 8am @ Studio G with Piper James' team

Oh shit. We'd be going over the official stuff for the single. Between her performance yesterday, the Grammy's, and our single, yesterday's drunken mistake will be long forgotten.

She was electric on stage last night. I couldn't keep my eyes off her as she gave it her all. I felt a pang of guilt for not sticking around, but the phone call from home dragged me away.

I always forget how much I love being on that stage. It might be my favorite place to play. Something about it just feels like... home.

That evening, I found myself scrolling through social media again, checking on how the story was developing. The initial frenzy seemed to be dying down, which was a relief. I saw a post from Piper's friend, Grace, talking about Piper's incredible night at the Grand Ole Opry and her surprise duet with Dolly Parton. The comments were overwhelmingly positive, praising Piper's talent and the unforgettable moment.

"That's more like it," I thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

The next day, I walked into the meeting room with a confident stride. I immediately spotted her sitting with her team, looking more composed and professional. I couldn't help but wonder how Piper was handling it.  She was clearly trying to keep it together, but I could see a hint of weariness in her eyes.

"Morning, everyone," I greeted, flashing a smile as I took a seat across from Piper. She glanced up and gave me a polite nod, keeping her expression neutral. I don't know what I was expecting, but her usual warm smile wasn't there when she saw me. Instead this felt strictly like business— which is probably the way it should be. But I felt... bad. After the other night I thought we agreed to at least be friends. Clearly the headlines had her second guessing that. I needed to get back on her good side.

"All right, let's get started," said my manager, Danny, clapping his hands together. "We're here to discuss the collaboration between Ben Morgan and Piper James. This is a big opportunity for both of you and your respective careers."

"Definitely," I said, leaning back in my chair and looking directly at Piper. "I think we'll kill it." I smiled.

Piper's manager, Emily, jumped in. "We've got a few ideas for the direction we want to take with this song. Something that blends both of your styles but also brings something fresh to the table."

Piper looked at me, her eyes bright with excitement despite her composed demeanor. "I think we can do that. But, I think that we should ultimately choose the direction we want the song to go if it's going to be authentic." Damn did she stick to her brand. I wasn't even sure if it was a brand of just... her.

I nodded my agreement. "Absolutely,"

Danny started outlining the business aspects of our partnership. "We'll need to discuss royalties, distribution, and marketing strategies. But first, let's talk about the writing schedule. We need to make sure both of you have enough time to contribute fully without overloading your current commitments."

Emily pulled out a proposed schedule. "We've looked at both of your tour dates and other obligations. If we dedicate three days a week to writing sessions, we should be able to get a solid draft within three weeks."

I nodded, glancing at Piper to gauge her reaction. "That works for me. What do you think, Piper?"

She nodded, her professionalism never wavering. "That sounds manageable. I'm excited to start."

Emily leaned in, her tone turning serious. "We also need to consider the public image aspect. After last night, there's going to be a lot of speculation about your relationship. We need to make sure this collaboration is seen as professional and focused on the music."

I looked at Piper, who seemed to be handling the mention of last night with a cool exterior. "Well make something that will make them forget about anything that happened the other night." I promised. "The music will speak for itself."

Piper nodded in agreement. "Exactly. This is about the music, and that's what we want the focus to be."

Danny wrapped up the meeting with a few more logistical details, and soon we were standing to leave. As we gathered our things, I found myself next to Piper.

"You doing okay?" I asked, my tone light and teasing.

She nodded, her smile professional and distant still. "Yes, thank you. I'm just ready to get started on this song." She tucked a piece of her blonde hair that had followed forward behind her ear, exposing the small pearl earring. Then it clicked. A pearl's got layers, right? All smooth and perfect on the outside, but hiding something deeper. That's Piper—graceful and composed, but with this guarded core I can't quite crack.

I felt this weird mix of admiration and frustration bubbling up. Sure, I admire her determination and all, but damn, her coldness stings. Makes me wonder if I'll ever get past those layers to see the real Piper. For now, though, I have to deal with the fact that she's a pearl—beautiful, rare, and just out of my reach. Maybe it was better this way.

I didn't know why I felt such a strong pull to be around her or just to know her. Something about this girl was intoxicating, but knowing me I'd fuck her life up. I was a mess, a tornado, shit... probably more like a tsunami. I had no business in her life as anything other than her coworker.

"Me too," I said, leaning in slightly.

We walked out together, a sense of shared purpose settling between us. Despite the chaos of the past night, we were about to work on something new and something I hadn't done in a long time... I couldn't help but feel a thrill at the prospect—not just of creating a hit song, but of getting to know the woman behind the professional facade. Piper James was proving to be full of surprises, and I was eager to see what else she had in store.

We stepped outside, and before I could second-guess myself, the words were out of my mouth. "Hey, Piper, are you going with anyone to the Grammy's?

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Um, no, not yet. Why?"

I gave her my most charming smile, trying to play it cool. "I was thinking, maybe you'd like to go with me? Even if it's just as friends. It could be fun."

Piper's eyes widened slightly, and I could see the hesitation in her gaze. "I don't know, Ben. With all the rumors already flying around, it might just add fuel to the fire."

I shrugged, keeping my tone light despite the unexpected twinge of disappointment I felt inside. "I get it. No pressure. Just thought it could be a good time."

She smiled, but it was more guarded now. "I'll think about it, okay?"

"Sure thing," I said, playing it cool. "Let me know what you decide."

We parted ways, and I couldn't help but feel a little let down. But as I walked back to my car, I couldn't stop thinking about her pretty face, her determination, and the spark in her eyes when she talked about music. She was a pearl through and through.

I drove home and spent the rest of the night mulling over song ideas and determined to shake Piper from my mind. I decided to call over Kylie. She was a wannabe singer who would probably never make it, but she was always eager for my attention and a good distraction.

I scrolled through my contacts and found her number, pressing call without hesitation. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Hey, Ben," she purred, her voice dripping with eagerness. "What's up?"

"Hey, Kylie. You free tonight?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

"For you? Always," she replied. "What do you have in mind?"

"Come over to my place. We'll figure it out," I said, already feeling the familiar detachment I usually had with her.

"Sounds perfect. I'll be there in an hour," she said before hanging up.

I put my phone down and sighed, running a hand through my hair, not sure if I actually wanted the company.

Kylie showed up right on time, looking sexy in a tight dress and high heels, her makeup done to perfection. She gave me a sultry smile as she walked through the door.

"Hey, handsome," she said, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Miss me?"

"Always," I lied smoothly, pulling her inside and closing the door behind her.

We settled on the couch, and Kylie wasted no time in cozying up to me, her hand trailing along my chest. Imagines of what this would be like if it were Piper. God dammit. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake her from my thoughts.

Kylie noticed my distraction and pouted. "Something on your mind, Ben?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "Just a long day. Let's not talk about work."

She nodded, leaning in to kiss me, but even as I kissed her back, It was frustrating. Kylie was right here, eager and willing. It was too easy. She was too easy.