Page 21 of Love Me Steadfast
She scribbles something on her pad. “So this is a cure for boredom?”
A twinge of discomfort tightens in my shoulders. She makes it sound like I’m some ungrateful playboy looking for a pet project to boost my shitty image. “It’s another way I can serve my community.”
Her eyebrows arch up. “By running the region’s best music club into the ground?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “I only took over today. Maybe give me a chance to prove myself?”
She jots this down. “I’m sure you’ve heard about Dagney Cole. Did you know she played at The Limelight?”
“Uh, no.” Her death has been all over the news. Another young, promising musician who lost a battle with addiction. “When?”
Annaleise’s pen hovers above her pad. “About six years ago. Before she signed with Tempest Records. How’d Ray take it?”
She better not be twisting this into something it’s not. “It didn’t come up.”
Annaleise’s gaze lingers another moment. Is she waiting for me to say more? Because there isn’t. “Did your relationship with the Hannahs factor into your decision to rescue the club?”
She’s dropped a hint in her question, but she also gave me an out. “Rescue?”
“It’s not hard to obtain financial records.”
And yet, Ray and Morgan were the ones who needed rescuing, not the club. “It’s a tough business, but The Limelight isn’t going under.”
“Why didn’t Morgan take over?”
I rub down my thighs with the heel of my hands, slowly. Annaleise absolutely knows where Morgan is right now, and she also knows I can’t talk about it. “That’s between her and Ray.”
She wets her lips, but her expression doesn’t change. “What about Charlie?”
“What about her?” It comes out too sharp, but I will be protective of Charlotte Hannah until the day I die. Even if my plan doesn’t work. Even if she doesn’t stay.
“She’s a successful musician,” Annaleise presses. “Steeped in its culture. Why not involve her?”
“Again, that’s a question for Ray.”
“Right before our meeting, she came storming out of the back door. What had her so upset? Did she want The Limelight for herself, and you beat her to it?”
Is this really where she wants to go with this story? “Out of respect for what the Hannahs are dealing with right now, could we pass on the family drama angle?”
She sighs through her nose. “There’s a rumor that an outside investor was interested in The Limelight.”
My shoulders feel pinched, or maybe the muscles are fatigued from forcing them to stay out of my ears. “There were other offers, yeah.”
“You outbid them, or did Ray choose?”
“He chose me.”
Her eyes light with triumph. “Why?”
“My plans aligned with his.” It’s not a lie, but it’s all I can give her.
“So this other investor was a threat?”
“This is a prime location, the possibilities are endless.”
“It was a developer?”
“Among others.”
