Page 8 of The Second Ending
She waved back. “It’s great to see you too! How was your summer?”
They talked for a moment as the other choir members filtered in. Elise’s good friend Janet was there with a rather hunky man at her side, soon to be introduced as Carlos, a new tenor. She waved at Gordon, the choir’s pianist, and smiled at the familiar faces. Soon, the room was abuzz with chatter from people who hadn’t seen each other in a few months. Apart from one or two short greetings, Ashleigh kept quiet, standing on the sidelines along the back wall. She liked these people, and they liked her—she thought—but they all seemed so animated and involved, the last thing they needed was her stumbling awkwardly into a conversation and stopping it in its tracks. No, she was happy to stand here and smile. It was better for everyone.
It wasn’t long before the quality of sound in the room changed, and people began drifting to the wide semi-circle of chairs. There, at the centre, stood the choir’s director, looking very pleased with himself. He should. Randall had honed a good choir into something that rivalled the best in the city, second only to the large concert choir that sang with the symphony, and then second only in age and experience, not quality. There was another layer to the spark in his eye, though. Perhaps he would have some great announcement for them.
Ashleigh took her chair in the second sopranos. She was happier here than sitting next to Emma, a self-satisfied blonde with a pretty voice and fingers in every pie. Let Emma imagine she ruled this nest. Ashleigh was more suited to being in the cast than in the spotlight.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Randall’s voice boomed from the centre of the room. “I’m thrilled to have everyone back. A few announcements as we pass out the music…”
There was a lot of good news. He talked of the season and the repertoire they were to sing, he introduced a couple of new members, and then proudly announced that he had recently got married. This was met by applause and a squeal of joy—Emma, who else?—and at last, at a nod, Gordon played the first chords that they would use for their accustomed warm-up exercises.
Ah, it was wonderful to be back!
Masako found her at break, half-way through the evening. The alto had rushed in at the last minute, and hadn’t had time to do more than nod before Randall had begun his little speech. Now she approached Ashleigh with a great smile on her tired face. It couldn’t be easy running a business while raising four busy kids. Ashleigh knew Masako’s husband took a lot of the load at home, but she still must be run off her feet.
None of that damped the triumphant expression on her face.
“We did it!” she crowed.
“It?” Ashleigh’s brows rose.
“Got them to blink. Our press conference worked, and Laconia has agreed to talk. I’ve got my assistant setting up some meetings next week to negotiate. You’ll be there, right.” It wasn’t a question.
The idea of it sent ice water through Ashleigh’s veins. It had been her own stupid idea. She only had stupid ideas. Negotiations meant face-to-face talks, and that meant seeing Marcus again. He would be there. He had to be. The whole point of these talks was for Laconia to present a cooperative image to the press, and that just wouldn’t happen if Marcus passed the obligation off to someone else. Maybe she could beg off… find someone else to sit in and offer legal advice. It’s not like her particular presence was necessary. And anyway…
“You know they have every legal right to do what they’re proposing. I’m pleased they’re willing to talk, but ultimately, they might decide that revenue supersedes being the good guys in the papers for a week. People will forget this soon enough, but investors don’t forget their profits.”
But Masako just twisted her lips into a wry smile. “They can comfort themselves with their big fuzzy bank accounts as much as they want after the dust has settled, but if they come to a deal with us, we’ll save the field. That’s all I care about right now. I’m not out to destroy capitalism. I’m a businesswoman myself. I just want a place for the neighbourhood children to play.”
She squared her shoulders. “I’m doing this for my kids. I know you’re on my side, Ash. I appreciate your help so much, and I’m confident you’ll give it your all. We’re a team. You know, if you didn’t have a perfect figure, I’d come up with a wardrobe for you to say thanks. But you have the misfortune of looking great in regular clothes!” She laughed at her joke. “Let’s keep shop-talk to business hours. I’ll call you tomorrow. Right now, I need to shake the hand of the man of the hour. Randall, married! Who would have thought? Have you met Taylor? What’s he like? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.”
And with that, she gave Ashleigh another smile and drifted off to the constellation of well-wishers gathered around their musical director.
As she had threatened,Masako called first thing the next morning.
“We’ve got our first meeting with Laconia next Tuesday morning. Lana will email you the details. Let’s meet on Mondayevening to prepare.” She paused for a moment. “You’re not busy on Monday evening, are you?”
Was that supposed to be a joke? Ashleigh was never busy on Monday night. Or Tuesday or Wednesday…
“No, it’s fine. I can shift a couple of things.”
Like binge-watching old TV shows on Tuesday instead. Easy.
“Great. See you then.”
And just like that, Ashleigh’s evening was booked.
Masako was, on top of everything else, organised. She had prepared a list of issues and demands, a presentation on the vital need for open space for children to play, and the names and numbers of several key journalists who were, so she stated, “keenly invested in the outcome of these meetings.”
Ashleigh began to wonder why she was even there. With all the work Masako had done, there seemed little need for a lawyer. But, as with everything in this business, the implication was more important than any words.We have justice on our side. AndMess us around and we’ll sue. No matter that Laconia had far deeper pockets than Masako’s group of concerned families, and access to a far more experienced legal team than one self-doubting lawyer who mostly worked on domestic abuse cases. It still sent a message that they were serious, and were ready to play with the big boys.
She walked into the empty meeting room on Tuesday morning, half curious as to how the day would play out, and half terrified.
Hewould be here. Marcus. She spoke his name out loud, just to get that first utterance out of her system. She was prepared now, unlike at their first meeting where his unexpected appearance had all but flattened her. But would knowing make it easier or harder? Ashleigh did her calming breathing exercises, the same ones she did before a performance, the ones that helped her focus her mind and block out distracting thoughts.
Breathe in, feel the air flowing into the lungs, feel the chest expand, focus on the sensations.
Breathe out, follow the air, let the body relax with the exhalation, clear the mind.
