My insides tightened, and I held back the anger I felt at her words.
“I’d just be a silent partner, so it really should have nothing to do with me. My sister, Cassidy?who is well-loved in the community?intends to open a restaurant. Vegan. Farm-to-market. Exactly the kind of place William was talking about. He just doesn’t want us to buy Kincaid’s because he wants to merge it with the music store next door, and I don’t intend on letting him do that.”
She eyed me, and I tried not to squirm. It felt like I was under a microscope. One I hadn’t been under for a long time. Probably since my Juilliard days and the open mic nights Ava and I had played.
She steepled her fingers together in thought.
“I’m still not sure why I would care,” she said.
I looked behind her to the plaques and pictures on the wall. Victoria was with a whole slew of celebrities at different charity events, and there were several charity-of-the-year awards. Her life was about the image she portrayed. The donations she gave at those prestigious events were much more for her than for the cause itself.
“I can donate another fifty thousand toward your charity of choice,” I told her.
Her eyes narrowed, and then she chuckled.
“This is exactly why I love dealing with people with money. They’ll throw it around like water to get what they want.”
It irked me not only because I hated having to buy my way through this. But I wasn’tgoing to let William win any more than I was going to let him take away Cassidy’s new dream or Elana’s old one. I would be there to help all the women in my life, no matter what it cost. Even if it cost me everything.
“I’ll have a talk with William. You can write a check to the Quiet Escape Women’s Shelter and leave it with Demir at the desk,” she said, turning to her computer, dismissing me in a way very few people did these days.
“I’ll have my manager wire the money over. I don’t actually carry checks on me. I’m not sure anyone does anymore,” I said, and her eyes narrowed at me and my sarcasm while watching me leave. “It’ll happen once I get a call from Elsa that the deal is moving forward.”
I shut the door behind me and headed out.
“Have a nice day,” Demir croaked at me as I got to the office door. I just waved when, normally, I would have at least asked if he wanted a picture. I wasn’t in the mood.
Marco was waiting outside the office for me, and we made our way down to the garage and out into the heavy New York City traffic. The noise and chaos had once felt exciting?inspiring?to me. I’d spent many hours on these streets when I’d been at Juilliard, letting the city fill me with chords. Now, the music inside me was springing from a different well. One that felt stronger and more authentic. Maybe just different.
Maybe justmore.
When we arrived at Lee’s office, the first candidate was already waiting for me. She was a smartly dressed redhead with curves, freckles, and ivory skin. I greeted her with a smile and a handshake before standing behind Lee’s desk, leaningup against the wall.
We spent a few minutes on normal job-like things. Her background and her goals. Then, I asked her, “So, I’m sure you’ve been following the shitstorm up in Grand Orchard. What would you suggest Tristan and I do about it?”
She considered me with a tilt of her head.
“Are you serious about her, or is this just another passing fling?” she asked, and I cringed because I hated that the world would even think it. Dani was right. We needed to say something, and yet I still loathed to talk about Tristan with anyone. I didn’t even want to talk about her with Lee. It somehow felt like a sacrilege of the “us” we were building.
“Serious,” I said, and her eyes widened in surprise.
“GiveRolling Stonean exclusive then,” she said. “The whole love story. How you met, who pursued who, the whole shebang.”
I hated it, the idea of opening myself up that much to anyone and letting them see what I felt for her. Sure, Tim and Faith had interviews. They talked about their marriage as well as the ups and downs of it. His alcoholism and partying. Her calling him out on it. They talked about their love, their daughters, their family. But this, with Tristan and I, was new and fragile. The emotions were unnamed even though they felt permanent.
Lee asked her a few more questions before we thanked her, and she left.
He turned to me, adjusting his glasses, and then said, “Well?”
I flicked my leather bands and rubbed a hand over my face. “I don’t know, Lee. She seems…impersonal.”
“You and Dani had a friendship. Nothing is going to feel the same.”
“I’m friends with all of you. Alice. Marco. My band. I don’t want anyone in my life who doesn’t treat me that way. I don’t want to be just a job. That’s what happened with Fiona. She only cared about what I could give her at the end of the day.”
Lee sighed. “Being professional and not your buddy doesn’t mean it’s going to end the way Fiona did.”
I nodded. “I get that. I do, but I also know friendship breeds a loyalty I won’t ever have from people who see me as their paycheck.”
