What's Yours Is Mine: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Cerise Preston Story Book 1) Read Free

huge splash at BVR with this kid and patted herself on the back for a Step One well done.
    “Don’t you think it’s a little too soon to have a kid in here doing a demo already?” Blake challenged when Ceri told him about Sugar Matteson. “Studio time’s not cheap, you know.”
    “You think I don’t know that?” Ceri demanded in a low tone, brooking no argument.
    Blake raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I just hope that you know what you’re doing.”
    “I’m doing exactly what I’m being paid to do,” she thrust her chin forward, hands on hips. Blake raised his hands again and turned to leave, smart enough not to argue.
    Cerise scoured all the worst places for all the best voices for two months running, and out of some of the dingiest clubs in the city she brought twelve new recording artists to BVR, seven of whom immediately hit the top 100 list in R&B singles. Refusing to succumb to the temptation to lead a lifestyle comparable to that of the Hamilton’s, she saved and invested the scads of cash coming in rather than spending it on material things. Her little car was perfectly serviceable and she didn’t want to go through the hassle of moving to a larger house so life remained pretty much the same with the exception of a fabulous new collection of suits, shoes and handbags. If she wanted to expand her home, the thing she would need most would be a new closet. As she finished getting ready before work, she glanced in the mirror, taking in the sight of her new pewter silk blouse, pin-striped grey Italian suit, and brand new pumps that cost more than her current rent payment, smiling like a Cheshire cat. She certainly looked the part of a successful recruiting agent for the world-renowned studio but her quest for satisfaction far eclipsed her current position. She was headed in the right direction and there was no stopping her now.

Chapter 3
    Cerise sat in her Cordovan executive chair, facing the windows, looking out at but not seeing the bustle of the city below her. She’d come a long way, and one of the most surprising aspects of her plan was the growing respect that she felt for Blake Hamilton. From what she had seen of him over the course of the last several months, he actually was a man of integrity who cared deeply about the company he had inherited from his father and was committed to running it the way it should be run. She had seen pictures of Hamilton’s family on his desk but found it odd that he never mentioned his wife and young son during any of their interactions. Perhaps he just preferred to keep his business and personal life separate.  The office was quiet this morning, with the administrative staff in meetings called by HR to increase “sensitivity and tolerance in the workplace,” leaving Ceri the time and space to ponder about the enigma that was Blake Hamilton.  The object of her thoughts knocked softly on her office door after letting himself in. Locking the door quietly behind him, he moved to her desk.
    “Do you have a moment?” Blake asked, taking a seat across the desk from her as she swiveled to face him.
    “Of course,” she smiled, surprised that she was actually glad to see him.
    “I just had to come down here personally to let you know how much I appreciate what you’ve done in the time that you’ve been here. You’ve discovered more new talent in the past several months than any of my other agents had in the last few years. I don’t know how you did it, but whatever it is, keep doing it, and thank you.”
    “Well you know, I had to make something happen, because ‘studio time is expensive, you know’,” she joked, reminding him of his earlier lack of confidence in her abilities.
    Blake had the good grace to look chagrined and nodded in agreement.
    “Whatever motivates you, Ceri, keep it up girl.” He stood to go and she came around the desk to see him out. He turned suddenly, causing them to be in very close proximity.