I hadn’t thought about what I’d say. Shit.
Just channel the king inside you.
Rah—that freak was probably transmitting psychic messages to me. He could fuck off.
I put out my hand. “Hey,” I said. “You’re Linyue, right? Julie Branch, music talent agent and outreach coordinator for Jewel. Nice to meet you.”
Linyue flicked her gaze between me and Helena, who was the cold rigid metal of a signpost right now. “You’re Ms. Warrick’s friend,” she said, cautiously shaking my hand.
“Helena’s been working extensively with my team to help us expand Jewel into the music industry. She’s been an invaluable contributor. Although I think I owe you some of the thanks, too, because from what she’s said about you, you’re the one she learned all her organizational skills from.”
“Oh, she was saying that, was she?” Linyue said, a glint in her eyes. Helena looked desperately at me, signalingwhat are you doingwithout words. As if I knew!? Did I look like I knew!?
I hoped I did.
“Oh, she was,” I said, pushing out the biggest smile I could manage. “Specifically once we were a few glasses of wine deep, so I won’t embarrass her too much saying it in front of her. Well, I know you’re a busy woman, so I won’t impose too much, but Helena and I were having a social morning and I was making breakfast for two, so if you wanted to talk logistics, it could be breakfast for three.”
Helena laughed, stilted and awkward. Linyue looked at her. “Where did you find this one?”
“Er, it’s…”
“It wasn’t too long ago,” I said. “A tech and talent mixer in Williamsburg with me and the Jewel founder…”
Helena paled. Linyue narrowed her eyes at her. “This is what you were going to that party for? Why did you never say anything?”
“We… I didn’t think it was… well, I didn’t want to announce anything prematurely,” Helena said, her voice small. Linyue frowned, and I had the awkward realization I was probably making things worse.
“Helena’s not feeling her best,” I said. “We were supposed to meet in Midtown today, but she woke up a little under theweather, so I drove down here and came to meet her where she was able. Speaking of, you should sit down,” I said, gesturing Helena back inside. “You’re looking pale.”
With Linyue’s eyes on me, Helena mouthedwhat are you doing,and I didn’t know the answer, so I just gestured her inside again. Linyue backed me up. “If you aren’t well, you should rest,” she said. “Drink more hot water. Ms. Branch and I will talk.”
Helena laughed self-deprecatingly, stepping back towards the doorway with one last confused look my way. “Sorry about this. I’ll be inside.”
“The coffee should be ready in the kitchen,” I said as she pushed the door nearly shut, walking inside, and then I was alone with Linyue, who gave me an evaluating look.
“You work on the app?”
“Yes,” I said, standing up taller. “I’m in charge of outreach into the music industry. I spend a lot of my time going around to different music studios, talking to producers. Keeping a network active. Helena’s been accompanying me on some of it lately as an expert consultant.”
“Hm.” She adjusted her glasses thoughtfully. “You’re an interesting one, Ms. Branch.”
“I have certainly been told that.”
“It’s good that you’ve come around to help Ms. Warrick when she isn’t well.”
I relaxed, a more natural laugh coming out unbidden. “Well, fair’s fair. I wasn’t feeling too well the other night, and she practically dragged me here to make sure I sat down and ate properly. I’d never had hong shao rou before, and she fixed that.”
She lit up. “The spot on Duane Street?”
“I’m going to assume yes, because she said it came with your recommendation, so I owe you thanks for that too.”
She gave me a conspiratorial look. “Did the owner try to talk to you?”
“No, we got delivery, but now I feel like I need to go in to see if the owner does talk to me.”
“Do not let him. He’s a terrible conversationalist and doesn’t know it. He thinks people come in to talk to him. He’s lucky he’s a good cook, or he wouldn’t have any friends.”
“Now that I’ve seen what a tough critic you can be, I’m realizing I should have prepared more to meet you. I dread to think of what you’ll tell people about me.”
