Free Manipulated: a Rockstar Romantic Comedy (Hammered Book 3) by Cari Quinn, Taryn Elliott

assistant cleared her throat. “Perhaps it would be better if you spoke to Mr. Lewis. Is noon good for you?”
    I frowned, digging my choppy nails into my thigh. I hadn’t gotten a manicure in weeks. I had planned to get my portfolio in order this week so I could start applying hardcore for a couple of apprentice positions I’d seen listed online, but I was still in holiday sloth mode.
    Besides, he couldn’t need my portfolio. What would the head of a record company need to see my photos for? Surely they had a bevy of photogs at their fingertips. I’d been out of the game so long that most of my stuff was old and out of date.
    Except the shots from the party at the Houdini estate, along with the ones of Ava. We’d finally finished up a few days after Halloween. I’d taken a series of pictures of her that took her from the bedroom to the boardroom, and I was really proud of them. A photo of Ava in a pinstriped blazer with a lacy cami beneath had become her preferred promotional shot. In it, she had the stem of her glasses propped against her glossy red lip. The picture had accompanied the online version of her Music Life article and would be in the print copy too. More photos from that shoot were on Ava’s website.
    My sister was gorgeous, and I liked to hope I’d captured her essence along with her beauty. She was so much fun, with that little sparkle of mischief, and I’d worked hard to show off that side of her.
    But jeez, Donovan Lewis wasn’t going to be impressed I’d gotten a job shooting my own sister. Big whoop.
    Still, I’d have to wing it. I only had a short time until the meeting. Maybe he didn’t even care about my background. This could have to do with Owen, and I was wondering for nothing.
    “Should I bring my portfolio?” I blurted.
    “Yes. That would be excellent. So is noon acceptable?”
    It was because it had to be.
    Swallowing hard, I shot to my feet. “Sure. I’ll be there. Thank you for—thank you for calling.”
    The instant Donovan’s assistant had hung up, I called my sister and filled her in.
    Her earsplitting screech told me succinctly that she thought this was a good opportunity. “Oh my God. This is big. Huge. Are you tripping?”
    “Uh, I guess.”
    “You guess? Aren’t you over the moon? Donovan Lewis is a kingmaker. He’s the kind of guy who can open every door for you. If he takes a like to you, you’ll be set forever.”
    “Ugh. Is he that kind of mogul? I’m not into casting couches.”
    Ava laughed. “Good luck there. I’ve never heard of a single lover he’s had. I’m sure he must’ve had more than a few looking like that, but he’s locked down like a vault.”
    “Oh, well, that’s fine then. I’m not interested in any of that.”
    “He’s all business, sis, so get your mind out of the gutter. You know, I bet I know what he wants.” She snapped her fingers and let out a cackle of glee. “The Hammered tenth anniversary coffee table book is getting all the buzz now. Keys told me they’d have an announcement about it this week, and she was hoping I’d put my name in the hat to take on the writing duties. Sounds like a fun gig, and I’ve heard whispers I was being considered, but I can’t just drop things and go with them on tour or whatever they have in mind.”
    My mind was spinning. “Coffee table book? On tour?”
    “Yeah, yeah, that’s what I’ve heard. I might be interested if the timing wasn’t so sucktastic. I’m supposed to start that Eastwood biopic soon, and I’ve got a million other projects I’m involved in. Like that piece I’m doing with Music Life on that new band, Warning Sign. Did you hear the goss on their lead guitarist? Dude’s banging a senator’s girlfriend. There’s elevator footage—”
    “Wait.” I pressed a hand to my forehead. Way too much information all at once, but that was my sister. “You think they might be tagging me for this book?” Excitement bloomed inside me and was squashed as quickly as it