"So, where are we with ideas for Jake's new EP?"

"Well, what if we started a concept album? I know a lot of artists who went platinum with concept albums- The Killers, Coheed and Cambria-"

"Jake doesn't write songs in concept form." I mutter, but not quiet enough; everyone turns to look at me, including Jonah, in tandem.

"Did you have something to add, Mr. Novak?" Jonah inquires, and I nervously shift in my seat.

"I-I just think that it would easier to let Jake pick what image he wants to project onto the album."

"Bold of you to assume that Jake has a choice in this, Castiel." Bela says, and everyone laugh. All but Jonah.

"What did you have in mind, Castiel?"

I see Bela clench her fists out of the corner of my eye. Good, I think to myself. You can't undermine me this time.

"I...I was thinking we could elaborate more on what he did with his last album. It was more free and loose with its ideas. Less stereotypical. For a concept album, he would have to follow a strict idea of what it should have, which is not how writing songs work."

"Okay, but what about projections? How do we know that the public won't reject it for another up-and-coming artist?"

I silently thank the cosmic beings above for Ezra, who made sure I was prepared for anything when it came to this meeting.

"Actually, according to three different music columns from major newspapers, the public are looking towards this "new" Jake, so to speak. They like the cool, carefree Jake Harding than the stereotypical boy band era Jake."

"Well, you've got it all planned out, Castiel, but what about profits?" Bela counters, and I suppress an eye roll. Bela Talbot is the definition of annoying. She was always looking for a way to knock me off so she could take my spot.

"Like I said, if a teenage girl likes the new version of Jake more than the current Jake, the sales will go through the roof because everyone and their brother will be using it for things on Instagram and Tik Tok. Mr. Carver, I promise you. Let Jake take charge on this, and you'll get a platinum record."

"I admire your dedication to Jake, Mr. Novak. Alright, I consider it."

I grin as I close my paperwork, sneaking a glance over at Bela. She returned my glance with a look of pure anger, which I simply smiled kindly back. Ha, I won this round, Bela. Soon, the meeting ended, and I gathered my stuff to leave.

"Mr. Novak, can I talk to you for a moment?" Jonah asked, and my anxiety stirred. Did I do or say something wrong earlier?

"Yes, sir. Am I in trouble?"

"No, quite the opposite, actually. How would you feel about taking over the songwriting position on Jake's team? Kelly had to leave so suddenly with the baby, and we haven't found a replacement yet."

"Sir? You you want me on the recording team with Jake?"

"Yes. Mr. Novak, that is exactly right. Of course, I'll let you take some time and think about my offer, but I hope you decide to take it." Jonah replies, and I feel my brain turning to mush as he leaves the conference room. Jonah wanted me on the recording team?

"I wouldn't get to comfy, Castiel. Jonah eventually see that you will screw up at some point and he'll have no option but to let you go."

"And I'm sure you're only saying that because you genuinely care about Jonah and the label, not just because you hate the fact that I beat you." I say, hoisting my bag onto my shoulders. "You don't scare me, Bela. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go."

She scoffs, turning and leaving the room. I shake my head and chuckle, heading to my office. I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. Taking it out, I see Hannah's face lighting up my screen.

"Hello?"

"AHHH! DID YOU HEAR THE GOOD NEWS YET?"

Holding the phone away from my ear to avoid hearing loss, I put the call onto speaker phone. "No, what happened?"

"Claire and Kaia are getting married!" Hannah responds, and I smile. "And of course, you're invited, but you'll get the invite in a few weeks."

I grimace, knowing that what I was about to tell Hannah was going to unleash holy wrath. "...About that."

"Castiel Novak, you better tell me that you're on the first flight out and coming to our sister's wedding, and not that you can't make it because of work."

"I'm sorry, but I just got an offer to join Jake's recording team, and I can't really leave right now."

"Cas, you know that Jody will be furious if she finds out you're not coming."

"I know, but-"

"And what about Adam? He's been wanting to come to Lawrence forever. Why don't you bring him with you?"

"Hannah, I know he wants to, but there are so many things there that I don't want him knowing about."

"You mean Dean?"

"Yes, among others-"

"You are so stupid sometimes, you know that? The dude has been with you four years, Cas, I'm sure he won't care that your ex-boyfriend-slash-fiancee still lives there."

"But I do, Han. I care. I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have work to do."

"But-"

"Goodbye, Hannah."

She sighs. "Fine. Call you later, then."

I disconnect the call, rubbing my temples. What if Hannah was right? Adam and I have been together for four years and we've had our rough moments. But why was I so worried, then? I don't even know if Dean still lives there, and I don't have to worry about Chuck and Becky, they're long gone.

"Damn it, Hannah, I don't like you very much right now," I mutter as I sit down at my desk. I pull out my song book and start humming a melody for the tune Jake and I started the other day, seeing if he could use it. "I was a wreck when you came along/when there was nothing left, you showed me the best... No, that's too boy band-y for him."

"Too boy band-y for who?"

I turn and see Gabriel, one of my younger siblings, standing at my door holding a bag of what looked like... Panera? Which was surprising, considering the fact that Gabriel hates fast food. Since when did he eat at Panera?

"Gabriel? Wh-what are you doing here, man?" I say, pulling him in for a hug.

"Mom recruited me to come get you when we found out that Claire was getting married."

"I just got off the phone with Hannah! Does she have like, super powers or something?"

"Nope, we've known about it for weeks. Hannah just found out today because she wouldn't have been able to keep it a secret from Kaia." Gabe laughs, and I chuckles.

"Well, hate to disappoint you, bud, but I can't make it to the wedding."

"What?! Why?"

"Because I have a job, Gabe, which apparently no one takes into consideration when asking me to join things."

"But it's Claire's wedding, Cas! She's our sister!"

"I know that, Gabe, but it's real life too! I won't always be able to make it to family events like this."

"But what about Adam-"

"No, not you too! Hannah already pulled the Adam card on me today." I sit back down with a sigh.

"Is this about Dean coming back to Lawrence?"

Dean was there? "No, I didn't even know that he was back. This has nothing to do with him, Gabe." I say, rolling my eyes. "And another thing. Why does everyone assume that I know what Dean has been up to for the last five years?"

"Well, you were going to move with him to Manhattan, Cas. Either way, if you're not coming to the wedding, can you at least let me crash at your place until I leave?"

"Oh, so now I'm a hotel?" I say, chuckling. "Yes, you can stay with us. Just make sure you don't leave the place a disaster while you're there. You know how Trevor feels about picking up other people's messes."

"I'm sure." Gabe says, rolling his eyes. "Trevor just likes to flex his muscles at people."

"Hey, you're lucky I'm letting you stay with us. I could be a bad brother and force you to get a hotel room, but I'm not that person. So suck it up, buttercup."

He mutters something under his breath as he digs into whatever he got from Panera, and I turned back to my song book. As I plucked a counter melody out on my guitar, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on at home. Jody knows that I can't come home most of the time, and even if I wanted to come home, I wouldn't want to. So why was she pushing me to come home?

"Dude, your phone is ringing."

"Oh, sorry." I say, picking up my work phone. "Carver Records, this is Castiel. How may I help you?"

"Mr. Novak, it's Jonah. Can you come to my office please?"