As I hit the call button, I reach across the table and find Mae’s fingers. She entwines them in mine, and together, we face the beast.
The beeps of a connecting call echo through the silent room. The band was sent to pack their things, and truthfully, I would have sent them away no matter what the choice was because they would not be able to keep their opinions to themselves.
“Hello?” Mr. Midland answers. “Ms. Davis, I’ve been expecting your call this morning. You’re on the line with Mr. Watkins…” Mae’s eyes of terror reach mine at the sound of Trenton’s manager’s name. Of course he stayed in Nashville, lazy ass. “We also have the company lawyer here.”
A deep hello meets my ears, and suddenly, my tactics are shaken. Mr. Midland clearly expected a call like this, perhaps he was even hoping for this. He’s always had a soft spot for Mae;I’m not going to pretend he wasn’t the real reason I was hired in the first place.
“Thank you for taking this call. I know I sent an email last night detailing the issues we ran into with both Mr. Travers and an unfortunate situation at the hotel.” I pause for input, but there is nothing but silence on the other end of the line so I forge on. “After speaking with the band this morning, we have decided that the best action forward is to step away from theAll the Miles Inbetween Tour. We have not made this decision light—”
The scraping of a chair on the other end of the line pauses my statement. “You cannot do this! This tour has been in the works for months. It is not conducive to a single headliner. Mr. Midland, this is a breach of contract!”
I wish I could be in the room watching Mr. Watkins’ meltdown, but hearing Mr. Midland’s admonishment will have to be enough. “Mr. Watkins, I hear your concerns. It is not what the agreement stated. However, these accusations against your client have been brought up before, and we prefer to protect our signees.” This shuts up Trenton’s agent just long enough for a door to squeak open and then slam shut.
“It seems Mr. Watkins has elected to step out,” the same deep voice I assume to be the lawyer answers. “Is Ms. Evans in the room?”
“Yes, I’m here.” Mae scoots to the edge of her seat and folds her hands in her lap.
“I have this contract in front of me, and while there are a few monetary items we will need to discuss, the emotional turmoil you suffered last night will be enough for at least a leave of absence. You will need to report your well-being of course. A renegotiation can be had by all parties at a later date.”
Mae and I let out a simultaneous breath that has Mr. Midland chuckling. “Did you hear the man, Ms. Davis?”
“Yes, Mr. Midland, I did.”
“Will that be all, ladies?”
Shocked that it had been this easy, I only manage to cough out a “yes” in answer. The label choseher.I doubt she understands what that truly means.
With that, the call ends.
A shared breath escapes Mae’s and my lips.
With that, Mae smiles for the first time this morning. She nearly skips to the door to the hallway. “I’m going to tell the band, and maybe write a song.”
Thatta girl.
With the door cracked open, Mae turns to me briefly. “Thank you, Raleigh.” I never expect an expression of gratitude when I’ve only done my job, and rarely do I get one, but this morning I’ve earned it.
Mae has barely disappeared across the hall into Theresa’s room when her phone vibrates. I suppose in the excitement she left it behind. I try to ignore it but then it vibrates again and then again 10 times over. I grit my teeth knowing that a certain someone has just found out about the tour and that he is not happy.
“Can I just have one moment of peace?” I ask the ether.
“Wow,” I hear from my left. The light from the hallway that briefly illuminated the dim room has been overcast with a shadow. “Didn’t know I was that much of a drain on you.”
Tracing the shadow up to the doorframe, I find Dalton leaning to the side, his muscular arms crossed at his chest.
“Not you,” I answer with a forced laugh.
Never you.
Chapter 30
Dalton
“THINGS WENT OKAY then?” I ask, shifting slightly before realizing I should close the door. When I move into her space, and the door clicks closed, she takes a steadying breath and actually smiles.
“Things went better than okay, maybe even good. They’re letting Mae out of the tour for now.” A nervous laugh escapes her, but the joy bleeds away when a phone on the table vibrates and then vibrates again. Mae’s phone. “We won’t roll out of here for a few more hours.” She stretches backward in her chair and nervously eyes Mae’s phone as it skitters with another notification.
Hands now rubbing anxiously against her jeans, she sighs. “Still plenty of time for things to go awry.”
