Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
The manager of the Club, Hart, heads toward our table and greets us with a relaxed smile. “Can I invite you gentlemen to our private dining suite?” he says.
Byron stands, and we follow Hart to the other end of the restaurant, through a door I’ve never noticed, and then through a second door into a small dining room with an oval table with twelve chairs. It overlooks the same view as Blossom, with the same floor-to-ceiling windows. Byron takes a seat at the head of the table and the manager and I sit opposite each other.
“We’re aware that Mr. Banks will be arriving in two days,” Hart says. “He’s a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin.”
Byron nods his head. “They were one of the first members to sign up, is that right?”
“Correct. They’ve never brought a guest before.”
“And was Mr. Banks always due to be one of their party on this trip?” Byron asks.
There’s a knock at the door and the three of us fall silent. One of the waitresses from Blossom arrives with Byron’s breakfast and sets it in front of him, complete with coffee and orange juice.
“Do you want anything?” Byron asks me.
My appetite died as soon as Vivian mentioned Gerry. I shake my head.
The waitress leaves.
“He was added two days ago,” Hart says. “Provided all the details we asked for and we ran him through all the normal checks. Everything cleared, so we proceeded as usual.”
“Two days ago. So that’s when he found out where she was staying.”
“Security around Ms. Cross has been watertight,” Hart says.
“Yes, I’ve been in contact with her manager, who’s delighted there’s nothing leaked to the press about her whereabouts or even that she’s away recording.”
“I don’t think the Club has leaked anything,” Byron says.
I think about whether Vivian coming to see Riley after she’d been sick had been a wise move. But honestly, if it had leaked that way, the press would have it. It wouldn’t just be Gerry Banks.
“This is Gerry digging,” I say. “He probably bribed someone. It doesn’t really matter who. I don’t think he’d target the Club. He wouldn’t know this is the place to start. It’s probably someone on her team. These things get out.”
“So what do you want us to do about it?” Byron asks. “We can inform him he’s no longer able to be accommodated.”
Hart nearly chokes. “Obviously, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin won’t be happy.”
“Then I’ll give them a refund of their membership. The important thing is you get what you need, Fisher.”
I sigh, grateful to Byron for his loyalty. The problem is, it doesn’t solve the issue with Gerry. He’ll just find Vivian when she leaves this place. He’s going to keep coming after her. “I don’t know what I need.”
Byron glances at Hart. “I’ll let you know my decision.”
With that, the manager excuses himself.
“I’m happy to uninvite him,” Byron says. “But you’re just putting off the inevitable. If he doesn’t meet with Vivian here, it will be somewhere else. Better he wastes his time where we can all witness it rather than back in New York.”
I nod. “I know. This isn’t about Vivian. At least, I don’t think it is.”
“You don’t think the CEO of one of the biggest record labels in the business wants to sign the biggest star in the business?” Byron asks, like I’m an idiot.
“Well, of course he does, but it’s more than that. It’s the fact that she’s signed with Right Records. With me. That’s the issue for Gerry.”
“Then you need to find out why.”
I nod. I have to confront him. I have to find out what his problem is. And I want to solve it. I’m done spending time and energy on Gerry Banks. I need to speak to him. Why he’s so intent on having me fail.
“Is he staying in the same lodge as your members?”
“I can check.”
I don’t want to have this showdown in public. But I need a witness.
“I’m going to be right by your side,” Byron says. “You’re not having this conversation without me.” He offers before I even need to ask.
Of course. That’s what we do for each other.
That’s why I know I can handle Gerry Banks. Because I have five brothers who have my back. No matter what.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Juniper
It feels like it’s been raining for a month straight. It’s only been three days, but there’s a feeling of damp everywhere I go in Star Falls at the moment.
“Mommy, can we go to the playground?” Riley asks as she tucks into her cereal at our small dining table. “You said yourself that we’re not made of sugar.”
I laugh. When Riley was little, she was like a cat. She never wanted to go out in the rain. I used to coax her outside, telling her she wasn’t made of sugar, so she wouldn’t melt in the rain. I only have myself to blame for her wanting to go to the playground in this downpour.