Jason Wilde's studio was a chaos of half-empty coffee cups, tangled wires, and guitars leaning against walls like they'd been left mid-thought. It wasn't glamorous, but it bled creativity.
Lex stepped inside, the faint hum of unfinished tracks buzzing softly from the control room. Jason sat cross-legged on the worn leather couch, strumming lightly on an acoustic guitar that looked older than half his equipment.
Sitting opposite him, arms folded and eyes narrowed, was Quinn Harper.
She was exactly how Lex expected—sharp edges and an 'I-dare-you-to-waste-my-time' vibe. Her dark hair was pulled into a loose bun, loose strands falling into her face as she listened to Jason play. She wasn't smiling.
Lex smirked slightly. Jason didn't mention she'd show up this fast.
"Well, that didn't take long," Lex said, stepping further into the room.
Quinn glanced at him but didn't shift from her seat. "Figured I'd get it over with."
Jason grinned, setting the guitar down beside him. "She doesn't trust producers."
Lex arched a brow, taking a seat near the console. "Can't blame her. Most of them are idiots."
Quinn's gaze flicked to him, her lips twitching faintly. "You're not wrong."
Jason leaned back against the couch, arms stretched out casually. "I told you, Lex isn't one of those 'pop factory' types. He's building this thing from the ground up."
Quinn crossed her legs, fixing Lex with a careful look. "That's cute. But every producer says that right before they tell you to write a summer anthem about tequila and bad decisions."
Lex chuckled softly. "I'm not looking for anthems, Quinn. I'm looking for the songs people play at 3 AM when they're half-drunk and too tired to lie to themselves."
Jason gave a low whistle. "Man's got a way with words."
Quinn tapped her fingers against her arm, considering Lex carefully.
"Jason said you've got three artists."
Lex nodded. "Aiden Frost's leading. There's potential there, but he's all instinct and no compass. The other two—Leah and Miles—are raw. Good voices, but no direction."
Quinn tilted her head slightly. "And you think I'm the direction?"
Lex leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I think you know how to dig into things people try to hide. That's what this project needs."
Jason watched the exchange quietly, sipping from his coffee like he was watching a game of chess unfold.
Quinn didn't answer immediately, but Lex could tell she wasn't here just to say no.
"I don't do bubblegum," she said finally.
"I'm not asking you to," Lex replied smoothly.
Her eyes narrowed faintly, as if testing him for cracks. "What's the catch?"
Lex smirked. "There isn't one. You write the way you want. I let the music do the talking."
Jason laughed, shaking his head. "You're in trouble now, Lex. She likes it when things are too good to be true."
Quinn shot Jason a glare. "Shut up, Wilde."
Lex grinned but kept his tone calm. "You'll get full creative control. I'll handle the production and marketing."
Quinn's gaze softened just slightly, but she didn't let it show for long. "I'll need studio time. No interruptions."
Lex nodded. "Done."
Jason smirked, leaning in toward Quinn. "See? I told you he's not like the others."
Quinn rolled her eyes, but the tension in her shoulders eased. "Fine. I'll give it a shot."
Lex extended his hand across the table. "Welcome aboard."
Quinn eyed his hand for a second before shaking it, her grip firm but brief.
As she leaned back, Jason glanced at Lex with a knowing look. "Now comes the fun part. Aiden's been trying to write something for weeks. Let's see if Quinn can light a fire under him."
Quinn smirked faintly. "I'm not babysitting. If he can't keep up, that's on him."
Lex's eyes glinted. "Trust me—he'll keep up."
Because if there was one thing Lex understood, it was that pressure created diamonds.
And Quinn Harper was about to make sure Aiden Frost became one.