“We need to watch this Dary Kincaid situation,” he stated, in a voice that let her know in no uncertain terms that thiswasthe way forward. “‘Porchlight’ is over, and you’ve already committed to the soundtrack. But if anything else starts cropping up…” He narrowed his eyes at something invisible, that ruminating, angry stare making her feel a deep, gnawing sense of foreboding. “I’m going to have to have a chat with Brad and Steven at Copper Canyon about where they see We, The Romantics’ future. The runway they’re giving Darcy is fucking outrageous.The label only has so much money to shell out on marketing and promotion, and if they’re intending to funnel even more into Darcy…” Harrison shook his head. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
Ice slid through her veins, making her freeze completely.
Harrison had such deep pockets and connections, he hadswayat Copper Canyon.
And this was why she’d been an idiot to push it, no matter how inflammatory Harrison’s comments about Darcy. Because Harrison wasn’t one for empty threats, and the last thing she wanted was for something to bounce back on Darcy. Even when she’d wanted to bring about Darcy’s downfall last summer, she hadn’t wantedHarrisonto do it.
Now… it made her stomach ache, and that spot between her eyes started tingling with the telltale signs of a migraine now that the adrenaline was starting to melt away.
“I mean, after the song for the soundtrack… I don’t see why we’d be working on anything again any time soon,” she tightly agreed, looking down at the half-eaten bowl of fruit salad, cottage cheese, and the pieces of toast on the small plate next to it that she definitely wasn’t going to finish.
“Good,” Harrison stated, firmly. There was both a threat and a promise carved into that single word that Juliet didn’t doubt for a second.
Juliet wishedLaura was back from her holiday.
She wished Robbie wasn’t at a private resort in Fiji.
And mostly, she wished she had Darcy here.
But that was the worst possible thing to wish for, after this morning with Harrison.
So, actually, she didn’t wish that; she hoped Darcy would always stay far, far away from here.
Thief – 6:43P.M.
Are you using… The Notebook?!
She looked down at Darcy’s text, in response to Juliet having sent a picture of her writing a ridiculous song in the notebook Darcy had given her.
It’s just not Christmas without that strung popcorn/
Who needs presents under the tree on Christmas morn/
If you ain’t got that string with kernels and cranberry/
Your holiday just won’t be so merry
Thief – 6:43P.M.
Also rhyming cranberry with merry?
Juliet, I think you’re better than that
She chuckled, leaning back in her chair in the makeshift backstage area set up for the musical guests at the festival. There were a few other singers – mostly local talent – who’d been performing on and off throughout the day. But Juliet was the final act.
What could possibly be a better way for Harrison to sell as many tickets as possible? He got Juliet here singing a setlist of holiday songs without needing to spend a dime.
Juliet – 6:44P.M.
You know what? Using cranberry is actually far less conducive to having a halfway decent rhyme. If you think you can do better, you are MORE than welcome to try
Seriously. Do it
She reluctantly put her phone face down as she heard a knock on the door behind her. Wisely, too, given that her mom pushed it open without waiting for any response.
“You ready, Jules?” Her mom asked, closing the door behind her.
She met her mom’s eyes in the mirror, rolling her lips tightly as she hummed in affirmation.
