Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Carlene parked in front of the Sandbar and took a deep breath before getting out of the car.
The low thrum of music from inside mixed with the crash of waves against the nearby shore landed in her belly.
It should have relaxed her, but her nerves were too tense.
And it was impossible to deny her attraction to Jami any longer.
Somewhere between his arriving at her hotel and his kiss, she'd realized she didn't want to deny it any longer.
If they had to part eventually, at least she'd have this time with him. This memory to carry with her.
She smoothed her hands down her slacks, adjusted the strap of her bag, and squared her shoulders.
She could still taste Jami’s kiss, feel the heat of his hands on her skin.
The memory made her pulse jump, but she pushed it aside.
Whatever Vivian wanted tonight, it would not be pleasant, and she needed to be in her right mind.
Inside, soft lighting illuminated the restaurant, and most of the dinner crowd sat outside on the patio, enjoying the beautiful Florida evening. A few locals lingered at the bar, their laughter echoing off the wooden beams. The hostess greeted her with a polite smile.
“Reservation for Vivian Carr,” Carlene said.
“Right this way.”
Vivian was already seated in a booth, looking out the large window at the water, with her sleek blond hair perfectly arranged and a glass of white wine in front of her. She looked every bit the part of a power player pretending to relax.
“Carlene,” she said smoothly, standing to kiss the air beside her cheek. “You look exhausted, but in that chic, overworked way.”
Carlene smiled faintly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Vivian gestured to the seat across from her. “Sit. You’ve earned a real meal.”
Carlene slid into the booth. A waiter appeared almost instantly, took her order, and vanished. Vivian wasted no time.
“You’ve done impressive work,” she began. “The livestream was a success. The label’s thrilled. And Jami… well, he’s the kind of artist who shines under pressure. You’ve brought that out of him.”
Carlene forced a polite smile. “It’s a team effort.”
“Of course.” Vivian took a slow sip of wine. “But let’s not pretend you don’t stand out. Your name’s being mentioned around the executive table. They like your control, your polish. And they appreciate that you know when to step back and let the story write itself.”
That last sentence made Carlene’s stomach tighten. “Meaning?”
Vivian tilted her head. “Meaning, sometimes the best PR move isn’t to clean up every mess, but to let a little chaos play out. Conflict keeps the public interested. The band’s visibility has spiked since the leak. You can’t buy engagement like that.”
Carlene’s glass froze halfway to her mouth. “Are you saying the leak was intentional?”
Vivian’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m saying it worked. The attention is valuable, and the numbers speak for themselves.”
Carlene set her glass down. “That kind of strategy damages reputations. It damages trust.”
Vivian leaned forward, her tone still smooth but colder now.
“It builds legends. You’ve been in this business long enough to know the truth: nobody cares about perfection.
They care about stories. Struggle sells.
Redemption sells. And right now, Hart & The Hurricanes are more interesting than they’ve been in years. ”
Carlene felt heat rise in her chest. “You can’t justify sabotage for a marketing angle.”
Vivian gave a small, dismissive laugh. “Sabotage is such a harsh word. Let’s call it controlled narrative direction.”
Carlene’s jaw clenched. “You put people’s careers at risk. You blindsided an entire team.”
“You fixed it,” Vivian said simply. “And that’s why you’re valuable. Because you can turn a scandal into an opportunity. Which is exactly why the label wants to talk about your next move.”
Carlene’s voice was quiet now, the anger edged with disbelief. “You’re serious?”
Vivian’s eyes glittered. “Completely. There’s talk of a full-time position, corporate strategy, media relations, and real influence. No more freelance projects. No more uncertainty.”
Carlene stared at her. “And what would that cost me?”
Vivian’s smile widened. “Just your loyalty. Don’t dig where you don’t need to. Let the narrative play out. The band gets its spotlight. You get your seat at the table. Everyone wins.”
Carlene leaned back, the sound of the waves outside growing louder in her ears. She realized then that Vivian wasn’t offering her an opportunity. She was delivering a warning.
“I’ll think about it,” Carlene said evenly.
Vivian’s gaze sharpened, sensing the lie but letting it pass. “Do that. The board meets next week. I’d like to present your name before then.”
The waiter returned, bringing their meals. Vivian smiled again, polished and perfect.
“Congratulations, Carlene. You’ve proven yourself indispensable.”
Carlene managed a polite thank-you and stood. The night air hit her like a splash of cold water when she stepped outside. She walked toward her car, her thoughts racing. Her access to the servers, the praise, the silence, all of it connected now.
The label hadn’t been cleaning up Reed & Carr’s mess. They’d been orchestrating it.
Her hands shook as she unlocked the car. Jami’s truck was parked across the street, his familiar silhouette just visible behind the windshield. The sight of him steadied her, even as a mix of fear and anger burned in her chest. He stepped from his truck and sauntered toward her.
He’d been right not to trust this.
She took one last look at the restaurant, where Vivian sat framed in the window, still smiling like she’d won.
Not yet, Carlene thought.
Jami stopped in front of her. "Everything okay?"
She swallowed the knot in her throat. "It's okay."
"Just okay?"
She took a deep breath. "Can we talk about it later?"
"Yes. Are you coming to the farm?"
She stared into his eyes. The dark brown was impossibly dark in the dim lighting. He was handsome, strong, and so sexy. She smiled softly. "Yeah. I'm coming to the farm."
He leaned in and kissed her, then opened her car door and waited for her to get in.
He closed her door securely and tapped the roof twice.
She waited for him to saunter across the road to his truck before she started her car.
He climbed inside and started his truck, then slowly pulled away, clearly sure she'd follow. She did.
Whatever happened next, she wasn’t going to face it alone.