Slipping back inside the boardroom to gather my things, I turned toward the table of baffled men. “Unfortunately, I have to cut this meeting short, gentlemen.”
“We’re not done here!” the first man exclaimed. “There are still negotiations to be had, and contracts to sign.”
“Frankly, Mr. Cavender, that offer right there is our final offer, and it is overly generous. Should you choose not to sign it today, there will be no further negotiations, and Hartstrings will walk away from this deal without so much as a second glance. Believe me when I say we have many other independent labels that would love to work with us.” Turning toward Carl, I said, “They have until the end of the day to review. If you don’t have their signature by then, please formally withdraw our offer to purchase Ridley Records.”
Carl nodded once. “Of course, Ms. Hart. It would be my pleasure.” As I moved to walk past him, he gently grasped my elbow. “Is everything okay?”
My concern must have been written on my face, because all I saw was sympathy on his own. “I’m not sure yet,” I said, swallowing the panic rising in my chest. If I let it in now, I would never be able to face whatever was waiting for me at home. “That’s what I’m going to find out.”
OLIVIA
Lukas:
“Hey, Livvy. Call me when you get a second.”
Lukas:
“Your assistant said you’re in a meeting, but this can’t wait.”
Lukas:
“Uncle John’s in the hospital. You need to come home.”
I stareddown at the myriad of missed texts from my brother for what seemed like the hundredth time since I boarded the Hartstrings private jet just over four hours ago. My phone had been blowing up all morning, but I’d ignored everything for the sake of closing the deal. That was just part of the job.
The flight attendant advised me to fasten my seatbelt as the pilot announced our descent to Nashville, And tucking my phone away, I closed my eyes, gripping the armrest like I did every time I flew. You’d think I’d be usedto it by now, but apparently not. I hated heights, and I hated flying even more. It didn’t matter that the plane was private. It just meant there were fewer people to witness my anxiety at the slightest hint of turbulence.
The moment the plane came to a stop, I grabbed my things and thanked to the crew as they dropped the stairs. The central Tennessee air was muggy, even though the sun had already gone down. Not that it made much of a difference either way. It was just as humid after dark.
I scanned the tarmac and spotted a blacked-out SUV idling just ahead. The headlights illuminated a tall figure standing just outside the door.
“Little ostentatious, don’t you think? Too good for commercial these days?” my brother shouted as I walked down the stairs. I smiled as he met me at the bottom, wrapping me in a warm hug. He smelled like home, like pine sap and sawdust and good memories. “Good to have you back, Livvy. Despite the circumstances.”
“Yeah, they’re not great,” I agreed, blowing out a breath. “How’s John doing? Is there any news?”
Lukas inclined his head toward the vehicle. “Come on. We’ll talk on the way.” He grabbed my bags while I slid into the passenger seat. As he settled behind the wheel, he looked over at me and smirked. “Sure you don’t want to sit in the back? Isn’t that what you’re used to these days?”
“Fuck off,” I muttered. “It isn’t like I have much of a choice. You try taking conference calls and reviewing profit reports while driving and tell me how that works for you.”
My brother’s laugh was deep and throaty. “Naw. I passed on that shit, remember? You’re the prodigal daughter.”
“Lucky me,” I sighed, melting into the leather seat. We were silent as we drove away from the airport and merged onto the highway, heading toward our small hometown rather than thecity. “Wait, we aren’t staying in Nashville? I thought John was at the hospital there.”
My brother paused. “He was.”
I turned in my seat to face him. “Was?”
Lukas sighed, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. He looked so much older than I remembered. It hadn’t been that long since I’d seen him, a couple of months at most, but there were deep bags beneath his eyes and an exhaustion that seemed bone-deep.
“He said he wanted to go home and spend whatever time he had left in the town he loved, so…”
“And you let him? The doctors just let him? Can they do that?” I questioned, pulling my brows together.
My brother shrugged. “We can’t force him to stay against his will, Livvy. They advised against it, but he signed an AMA and wheeled himself out this morning.”
I rubbed my temple. “So, what? He’s just going home to die?”
Lukas’s thrumming stopped, and the silence that took its place told me everything I needed to know.