Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Fisher
Vivian’s already at her usual table when I arrive to meet her for breakfast. I check my watch. I’m ten minutes earlier than our agreed time. She’s not usually late. But she’s not usually early, either. The hairs at the back of my neck stand up. Something’s wrong.
“Hey,” I say, sliding into the chair opposite her.
“Hi, Fisher.” She looks a little surprised to see me.
“Were you not expecting me?”
She shrugs. “Of course.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask her.
“Yeah. Rough night with the little one. And… you know, I think we’re coming to the end of the album. Things will shift again.”
The end of the album. That’s a good thing for Right Records. But it means I’ll have no reason to be in Colorado.
“It’s sounding spectacular.”
Finally, she smiles. “Yeah, I’m really happy with it. I really worried about recording after the baby. You change in so many ways after a child. I thought maybe I’d be so focused on motherhood that I wouldn’t be able to be a musician anymore.”
“You’ve proved yourself wrong.”
She nods. “Yeah, I think I have. I really want to finish off ‘Dear Husband’ today. We’re so close. There’s something missing though. You want to come into the studio? You’ve already earned a producer credit on this album. You may as well.”
She didn’t have to mention the producer credit, but I appreciate it. I’ve enjoyed working with her. “It would be a pleasure. I’ve really loved this time in the studio.”
“I thought I’d better put you to work, seeing as you insisted on coming out to babysit me.”
“Not babysit,” I say. “Just to make sure you’re happy. And anyway, I’ve enjoyed it. The break from New York has been…”
“How is Juniper?” she asks.
I chuckle. “She’s going to be hard to leave.”
“You wouldn’t think about splitting your time between here and New York?”
I have thought about it. I’ve thought about it a lot. Especially since going back to New York. “I’m away five minutes and Gerry Banks is already trying to destroy my business.” I grin at her but instead of smiling back, she winces. My stomach turns over. “What?” I ask.
“Well… speaking of Gerry. He called me again yesterday. He asked if he could take me to dinner. I told him I was away recording my album and he…” She shakes her head, like she can’t quite believe what she’s about to say. “He said, ‘I know you’re in Colorado.’”
It’s like I’ve taken a punch to the stomach. “How did he know?”
“It gets worse. He says he’s staying here. Arriving in two days.”
I sit back in my seat. How is that possible? This is my best friend’s place. “Is he a member?”
Vivian shrugs. “I have no idea. He just said he was arriving with some friends and that he wanted to take me and Beau to dinner. I told him we already had plans but…”
“He’s not going to give up. He’s followed you out here to Colorado, for crying out loud.”
“You think he’s followed me?” she asks. “Maybe it’s just a coincidence.”
I’m angry, but I’m also stunned. Why would he think he could follow Vivian out to a place like this? It’s so remote. And she’s with her family. “It’s not a coincidence. No way. He wants to get you to sign with Re Records.”
“That’s what Beau says. But I’m signed with you.”
“He’ll probably tell you that he can get you out of it, or will ask you the terms… and you’re only signed for one album. He’ll probably want the next one.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Maybe some people would take it as a compliment, but I think it’s creepy that he’d follow me out here.”
“He’ll stop at nothing,” I say, almost to myself.
“I’ve told him I’m not interested. And I’m really not. But I just wanted you to know that he’s about to show up.”
“He probably doesn’t know I’m here.” Or maybe he does. He seems to know everything about my artists. Most likely he thinks he can steal Vivian right from under my nose.
“Well, I’m busy. Beau and I are eating in our lodge, like we do every night. I want to sleep and work and hang out with my husband and kid. That’s why this place is perfect.”
“I’m glad it’s worked for you,” I say. “And don’t worry about Gerry. I’ll deal with him.”
She sighs. “He can’t force me to have a conversation with him.”
“I’ll arrange for more security on your lodge and the recording studio.”
“I’m not frightened.”
“No, but you shouldn’t have your peace disturbed. We thought you’d avoid fans and paparazzi by coming here. We hadn’t thought we’d have to protect against stalker record company executives.”
Vivian laughs. “It’s true. Maybe he’s just a superfan. He probably wants tickets to my next show or something.”
“Thanks for telling me,” I say.
“I have nothing to hide. I’m really enjoying working with you. I have no desire to move anywhere.”
“Thanks for saying that. If you don’t mind, I’m going to talk to a few people. Get some things in place.” I look up, and Byron is coming through the entrance to the breakfast room.
“Yeah, go do whatever it is you need to do. I’ve eaten already, so I’m going to go off and start for the day.”
We both get up and Vivian heads out, saying a quick hello to Byron on her way out.
“Can we talk?” I ask him.
“Can I eat while I listen?” He orders breakfast from a waitress who’s standing nearby, and we go and grab a table in the corner of the room. I explain that Gerry’s coming to stay at the Colorado Club.
Before he says anything in response, he picks up his phone, taps out a message, presses send and turns back to me.
“No one comes to the Club without full details being provided. It’s possible he’s staying with a member.
They’re allowed to bring a limited number of guests per year, but we’ll have full details. ”
The manager of the Club, Hart, heads toward our table and greets us with a relaxed smile. “Can I invite you gentlemen to our private dining suite?” he says.
Byron stands, and we follow Hart to the other end of the restaurant, through a door I’ve never noticed, and then through a second door into a small dining room with an oval table with twelve chairs.
It overlooks the same view as Blossom, with the same floor-to-ceiling windows.
Byron takes a seat at the head of the table and the manager and I sit opposite each other.
“We’re aware that Mr. Banks will be arriving in two days,” Hart says. “He’s a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin.”
Byron nods his head. “They were one of the first members to sign up, is that right?”
“Correct. They’ve never brought a guest before.”
“And was Mr. Banks always due to be one of their party on this trip?” Byron asks.
There’s a knock at the door and the three of us fall silent. One of the waitresses from Blossom arrives with Byron’s breakfast and sets it in front of him, complete with coffee and orange juice.
“Do you want anything?” Byron asks me.
My appetite died as soon as Vivian mentioned Gerry. I shake my head.
The waitress leaves.
“He was added two days ago,” Hart says. “Provided all the details we asked for and we ran him through all the normal checks. Everything cleared, so we proceeded as usual.”
“Two days ago. So that’s when he found out where she was staying.”
“Security around Ms. Cross has been watertight,” Hart says.
“Yes, I’ve been in contact with her manager, who’s delighted there’s nothing leaked to the press about her whereabouts or even that she’s away recording.”
“I don’t think the Club has leaked anything,” Byron says.
I think about whether Vivian coming to see Riley after she’d been sick had been a wise move. But honestly, if it had leaked that way, the press would have it. It wouldn’t just be Gerry Banks.
“This is Gerry digging,” I say. “He probably bribed someone. It doesn’t really matter who. I don’t think he’d target the Club. He wouldn’t know this is the place to start. It’s probably someone on her team. These things get out.”
“So what do you want us to do about it?” Byron asks. “We can inform him he’s no longer able to be accommodated.”
Hart nearly chokes. “Obviously, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin won’t be happy.”
“Then I’ll give them a refund of their membership. The important thing is you get what you need, Fisher.”
I sigh, grateful to Byron for his loyalty. The problem is, it doesn’t solve the issue with Gerry. He’ll just find Vivian when she leaves this place. He’s going to keep coming after her. “I don’t know what I need.”
Byron glances at Hart. “I’ll let you know my decision.”
With that, the manager excuses himself.
“I’m happy to uninvite him,” Byron says. “But you’re just putting off the inevitable. If he doesn’t meet with Vivian here, it will be somewhere else. Better he wastes his time where we can all witness it rather than back in New York.”
I nod. “I know. This isn’t about Vivian. At least, I don’t think it is.”
“You don’t think the CEO of one of the biggest record labels in the business wants to sign the biggest star in the business?” Byron asks, like I’m an idiot.
“Well, of course he does, but it’s more than that. It’s the fact that she’s signed with Right Records. With me. That’s the issue for Gerry.”
“Then you need to find out why.”
I nod. I have to confront him. I have to find out what his problem is. And I want to solve it. I’m done spending time and energy on Gerry Banks. I need to speak to him. Why he’s so intent on having me fail.
“Is he staying in the same lodge as your members?”
“I can check.”
I don’t want to have this showdown in public. But I need a witness.
“I’m going to be right by your side,” Byron says. “You’re not having this conversation without me.” He offers before I even need to ask.
Of course. That’s what we do for each other.
That’s why I know I can handle Gerry Banks. Because I have five brothers who have my back. No matter what.