Bad Taste (Part I) // Colby Brock

174 - Rebecca

Colby was still pouty with me an hour later. He was essentially avoiding me, showering without me before he went downstairs without waiting. It made it funnier that he was annoyed at me for such a silly little prank. Jake hadn't stopped teasing him, I was sure, because laughter erupted up the stairs every few minutes.

I was changing in the bathroom, my hair already in its usual style when I heard my phone buzzing in the other room. I took a second to adjust my crop top before I walked out to answer it, reading Maggie's name.

"Hello?" Her quiet voice asked, uncertain.

"Hello," I replied, walking toward my backpack, "what's going on?"

Maggie let out a soft giggle. "Nothing, Ms Woods."

"Why have you called me?" I asked nervously—my employees never called me, ever. They were too scared of me to do that. Jax had only ever had the balls because he was a little less scared. It was nice, though, to know they were getting used to me.

"Well," Maggie started, paper rustling in the background, "we've made a few projects and I'd like you to see them. I won't be here for very long so I thought I'd call you as soon as."

I hesitated. Did I want to go to the studio right now? It didn't seem like a good idea, although Colby was annoyed with me so it also looked like a great way to escape. I thought about Katrina and how she got along with everyone at the studio so well. Sam wouldn't have an issue with coming with us to look after her...

"I'll come down," I decided.

I could hear the smile on Maggie's voice when she replied, "That's great, thank you, Ms Woods."

Unsure of how to respond to that, I quickly hung up and slid my phone into my pocket. My eyes flicked to the door expecting Colby to come through but he didn't, so I headed for my shoes and slid a jacket on.

As I walked downstairs, I said, "Sam, come with me and Katrina to the studio." It wasn't a request, it was a demand.

A second later, Sam zipped into the hallway holding Katrina to his side. She looked at me with a smile on her face clearly knowing what was going on. I glanced at the hallway that led to the red room, considering whether I should go and say goodbye to Colby or not. Sam nodded at me so, reluctantly, I started walking.

The door to the red room was left ajar, revealing a few of the people inside having their usual endless conversations. I noticed Cassie and Reggie were distracted, though trying to make it look casual as they stared at a speaking Angela. I didn't even know she was here, really, but I also didn't care.

I walked up to Colby, who was pretending to be on his phone instead of eavesdropping. He instantly looked up at me, giving me easy access to kiss him. My hand automatically touched to the side of his face, holding him still. His lips were reluctant but I felt him quickly getting into it. When I pulled back, he looked me up and down and let out a sigh.

He'd given up on being annoyed with me.

Giving him a small smile, I turned for the door. Sam and Katrina were still waiting for me in the hallway. We got into my car, Katrina sliding into the passenger seat while we forced Sam to get in the back. He didn't argue with us but I could tell he was annoyed, which amused me more than I wanted to admit.

LA was fairly quiet for an evening, most of the cars spaced out irregularly. There were no complaints from me: a clear road meant faster driving.

Similarly to LA, the studio was quiet. There were only two cars on the parking lot aside from mine, both of which I recognised. Maggie car and Lewis's cars were side by side. I parked on the opposite side.

"Are you coming in with us, babe?" Katrina asked Sam as I turned off the engine. I waited for them, keeping my eyes through the windshield.

"I'm not sure, Kat," Sam replied. "Do you want me to come with?"

Katrina shrugged. "It'd be nice."

He sighed, his car door opening a moment later. I quickly climbed out, ignoring him opening Katrina's door for her. They were holding hands when they caught up to me, the three of us headed inside. I was stomping, as always.

Maggie was waiting for me at the top of the stairs, Lewis a few feet behind her with a smile on his face—a smile I hadn't seen before. They both greeted me before she led me towards the stairs. Katrina was already entertaining Lewis.

"What are these projects you've done?" I asked as we walked down the spiral.

"We all wanted to do something different," Maggie started to explain, "so we did some research together and discovered this new style. I don't... I don't think you'll like the style but I'm hoping you'll approve of the designs regardless."

"What's the style?" I questioned. We were at the bottom of the stairs headed for a storage closet by now.

"Sort of vintage. Helen got inspired by some art pieces she saw at a museum recently. The newbies like the style a lot so we all decided to work together." Maggie paused with her hand on the door handle, watching me. "Just tell me honestly if you don't like it."

I nodded and she pushed the door open. I expected, when I heard the word vintage, to despise whatever was behind that door, but I was presented with three gorgeous designs all in a style I'd loved since I was a child. It was old goth—lace, pretty gloves and randomly placed large jewels. I was stunned into stillness.

"It's vintage goth... I think people call it." Maggie told me uncertainly. After a few seconds, she looked at my face for some sort of reaction. I could tell she was surprised but she didn't say anything about my expression.

As soon as I gathered my thoughts, I cleared my throat. "Um, I think it's great," I said. "They're great, I mean. You've all done a really good job."

Maggie grinned. "I'm so glad to hear that."

"Do you happen to have an interest in this style?" I asked hopefully, turning my gaze on her for the first time since she'd opened the door. She looked shy, her cheeks a pale shade of pink.

"I like it," she admitted.

"I'd like you to do more in this style if you ever have time. This is my sort of shit."

"I can tell the others and we'll get right on it," she agreed immediately, the shock clear on her face. I nodded at her and walked into the storage closet, leaving her in the hallway. There were a few moments before she told me she should be getting home. I hardly acknowledged her, though.

She slid away shortly after.

Feeling the designs in front of me, I realised just how premium quality they were; how talented my designers had yet again proved themselves to be. Although they already had a pretty high salary, I was slowly considering giving them something more for the work they did. It was too good not to.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice anyone else downstairs with me until there was a heavy knock on the door beside me. I would have jumped if I wasn't still dazed.

When I turned around, I found my father standing in the doorway.